For Sale: Vintage and slightly haunted toaster?

Over the past nine years I have heard many stories about ghosts, strange events, spooky experiences and even haunted objects. If you do a quick Google search, it’s not hard to find a plethora of haunted items for sale and for auction. The fascination with these items is very popular and many of the haunted objects are selling for top dollar at auction sites. What’s the big deal with haunted items? Why would a person want to purchase them and who are these people that seem to have all the luck with finding these oddities? I have been reading a lot about these items and I have been paying attention to the writing styles that are behind them. Haunted Dolls are big sellers these days. I know grown men that hate dolls, because they are often creepy. The older dolls have the look of peeling paint and blackened eyes, fit for any horror movie. It seems to be the new thing to buy haunted. Perhaps people these days are lonely, bored or just crazy? Perhaps if they are like me, they would purchase these items just because the odds of them being haunted, well, it’s a fun gamble and well worth the risk. Who knows, it could be haunted!? What a great conversation piece to place on your mantle! It’s always fun to talk to people and hear their stories of how big of a sucker they were in purchasing online auction items. Some people are just collectors of strange objects, if funds were available, I would probably be one of those people.

 

Haunted objects, it’s a forgotten and slightly ignored subject in the paranormal field. It’s forgotten because the subject is slightly boring and there is nothing that “ghost hunters” can do! I too will admit that I would prefer to go into an old and creepy hospital compared to sitting for hours to monitor an old clock that’s believed to be haunted. One thing that a lot of researchers and even the skeptics are ignoring is the fact that there are a lot of reports of objects being cursed, haunted or have some kind of spirit attached. No, I’m not talking about the ones for sale on the Internet. I’m talking about the people that don’t call the ghost hunters; they just get rid of the object entirely. I have spoken with many people that have purchased or inherited an object, usually an antique of some sort and had a string of strangeness take place after the item arrived. Items such as books, clocks, old quilts, pieces of furniture, toys, photos, watches and even paintings area all deemed haunted. When the people obtained the items they were not afraid of them, not one bit. The experiences just evolved, that is what makes the stories more intriguing than a regular ghost story. Those that I have talked with over the years are more upscale and not the typical person that believes in such things as “ghosts.” They are not the types to call some t-shirt sporting ghost hunting team to visit their home either. The people are working citizens, educated and were not the least bit prepared to the string of mishaps that took place in their homes and lives. I have heard reports from sudden insect or rodent infestations after a small trinket was inherited. People have reported, strange noises, knocks on the wall, falling photos and even small fires. It is entirely possible that “bad luck” was blamed on these objects, so don’t peg me as a believer just yet. I’m not willing to accept the blame or the possibility of an innocent coincidence to justify someone’s strange events.

 

One of the most popular collections of haunted items is the traveling exhibit, featuring the RMS Titanic artifacts and replications. Many years ago, the Titanic exhibit passed through Oklahoma. I was able to walk through and see all the found treasures that were aboard the historical ship. The items that made me become totally conscious of the tragedy was items such as hair brushes, some with hairs still in them and personal jewelry, not to mention children’s clothing, it was indeed haunting. The Titanic exhibit was even showcased on SciFi’s Ghost Hunters/TAPS not too long ago. The “team” entered the exhibit in search of traveling exhibit ghosts because curators have been reporting eerie sensations, being watched and even cold spots. Well, anyone with a soul would have been affected by this exhibit, even ghost hunters. Being around personal items might create more than just an uneasy feeling; it’s a feeling of empathy, on a non-psychic level and of course the blatant and very harsh pragmatism that is involved with the exhibit, over 1500 people did parish. Ghosts or were heartstrings just being tugged at? These emotions can be mistaken for fear of course, how and why? I will leave that up to the person that is seeking ghosts, not thinking rationally about the environment surrounding them. The TV spirit hunters reported sudden cold spots in the exhibit while at particular locations; I looked on the website to make sure that they still had the ginormious Iceberg as a part of the display. Sure enough, Iceberg ahead! Ice is cold folks, especially in big chunks! Way to exploit a tragedy and turn it into folk lore for future generations!

 

Energy- It is totally possible that items can be some kind of “collector” of energies from the past. If someone prayed to a rosary several times in a day over the course of twenty years, it is possible that those persons “energy” could be somehow, be collected within the object. Anything is possible right? I recently read a story about a haunted bedroom set. She purchased a full sized bed, dresser and armoire. Once the woman settled into her not so new antique bedroom set, strange things started to occur. Nightmares, waking up in terror, voices and even the feeling of being cold, while under the blankets. She dealt with them for a while and finally realized her problems started once the furniture arrived. She sold it (not on Ebay) and the terror stopped. On a psychological level, even small changes can generate anxiety within a totally stable person. She was convinced that the bedroom suit had some kind of bad Mojo to it, but it could have been because it was different, different enough to cause interrupted sleep. Kind of like when you go stay at a friend’s house, or a hotel, maybe a B&B and you just have a lot of trouble sleeping. You brain is aware of what is going on, your senses are peaked but you are in that state of “cat nap”. It’s just uncomfortable. Throw in the belief of ghosts and you have a whole new batch of nightmares heading your way. More and more I have watched places and items, just because they are old earn a haunting status, because of its age and outer appearance. I have learned because some items or places are old, does not make it haunted, creepy maybe, but not haunted. I will be so bold to state this as a fact.

 

Thinking- When we obtain something new, we subconsciously remember the day, if it was a fantastic gift, you will remember it more, it’s that simple. People have things that are strange and odd take place all the time, throw in a rusty old tea set and watch the imagination can run wild. Awareness is what is taking place, later putting two and two together, and then even as more time passes by, making a full fledged mystery out of it, mystery means “ghosts” in today’s society. Today, it’s easier for people to admit they have a ghost or haunted object, before they would ever admit that they are forgetful, having sleep problems and should probably see a doctor. It is possible these have allowed their imaginations to run wild because they have a new creepy doll sitting in their living room. That’s what you get for buying creepy dolls! The best part of a haunted item is that the majority of reports are that when the people “get rid” of the item, the haunting, bad luck and curse seems to stop instantly. Sure, it can be in their minds, but then again, there is always a possibility!

 

I am a proud owner of a vintage ventriloquist dummy that was sold not as “haunted” but just as “it’s creepy, and it scares my kids, I need to get rid of it”; it was given to me as a birthday gift. Of course in the right hands, the dummy would be a full fledged demonically tuned haunted doll ready for sale on the Internet, with a hefty price tag of course and totally worthy of contacting those as seen on TV ghost hunting teams! The doll sets proudly in my living room. I have yet to have any disturbances, but its faded little eyes do follow you wherever you are in the room!

 

On this blog, I would like to open it up for you to post your theories, stories and ideas about haunted items. Is it a paranormal-psychosomatic or is there something else? Please share your story & thoughts.

 

Here is a listing of items that are for sale on the internet if you are willing to become a collector of haunted items.

 

Oh, if you need “removal” of your haunted items, contact me I will come and pick them up for you!

 

 

• http://www.squidoo.com/dollrobert
• http://reviews.ebay.com/HAUNTED-DOLLS-AND-THE-SHAKEN-BABY-SYNDROME_W0QQugidZ10000000001040944
• http://www.warrens.net/annabell.html
• http://www.melodief.com/ghosts/contributions/clock.htm
• http://www.squidoo.com/tales-of-haunted-grandfather-clocks
• http://antiques.about.com/cs/holiday/a/aa102203.htm
• http://interiordecorating.suite101.com/article.cfm/haunted_furniture
• http://www.johnzaffisparanormalmuseum.com

 

Oh, want to buy more than just a haunted item? Try buying a haunted house?

http://www.sdparanormal.com/Haunted_House_Listings.html

 

PS- before you attempt to exploit your house to sell in this type of fashion, remember that stigmatized property takes 50% longer to sell and will depreciate the value tremendously! Think twice before you attempt to rake in the “big bucks” with a bogus haunted property.

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