The idea for this Freaky Friday came this morning as I was watching a Facebook reel about two young girls who were trick-or-treating on their own. They were probably about ten years old, and they knocked on the door of a nice house in a nice neighborhood. A friendly man came to the door and chatted with them about their costumes while he offered them candy. He then asked them if they’d like another piece. Of course, they said yes. Then he asked them if they would like even more candy. They paused, only for a moment, because their parents had told them to be polite and not take too much candy. He assured them that he was fine with them having more candy, and they eagerly agreed. He opened his door a little wider and asked them to come into his house while he got more candy. They went inside, and he closed the door.
Luckily, this man is known on Facebook for showing parents how gullible their children (and perhaps the parents themselves) are in situations that look safe but definitely aren’t. He immediately asked the girls why they came into his home, and they responded, “To get more candy.” Then he asked them what their parents would say if they knew the girls had gone into a strange man’s house. They realized they’d made a mistake, and he encouraged them to talk to their parents about what they’d done.
But even after he’d pointed out the danger, one of the little girls asked him if she could look at his large aquarium and see his fish. She listened, but the danger didn’t register. She was still blinded to the fact that she could have just stepped into a very dangerous situation.
Several years ago, one of my nieces took a college internship in Chicago. She stayed with us for a few days before moving to the “big city.” And she asked me for advice about living in the city. I told her that the best advice I could give her was to trust her instincts. If an elevator opens and there is a person inside who makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t get in; wait for the next one. Don’t feel embarrassed by your choice; just listen to what your inner safety alarms are telling you. If you generally walk down a certain street, but you get a funny feeling, listen to it. Become an expert at listening to your “inner alarms.”
These inner alarms – whether you call them instincts, intuition, or the Spirit – have been proven time and time again to lead us away from danger and into safety. Sometimes, they are just “hearing” our parents’ voices in our heads, reminding us of something we shouldn’t be doing. Sometimes, it’s a parent receiving a feeling to check on a child and make sure they’re okay. Listen to those voices. I can’t count the number of times I’ve felt and responded to those feelings and was able to steer one of my children away from danger.
So, now, let’s move this to the paranormal.
This is the season to do “scary.” From haunted houses to haunted asylums, we love to be frightened and are intrigued by the supernatural. We want to see a ghost, and we don’t want to see a ghost. We want to feel a chill run up our spine -like a supernatural rollercoaster. We are holding our trick-or-treat bags and are being invited in for more candy.
Listen to your inner alarms. I have had several occasions in my life where I realized that the supernatural phenomenon before me was not the harmless spirit of someone who’d lived before. Whatever it was, it was darker, angrier, and much more dangerous. In those situations, I walk away – quickly.
I’ve heard seasoned psychics tell the group they are with to run back to the tour bus because they were encountering something that was far more powerful than the psychic was prepared to deal with.
No one is an “expert” on dealing with the supernatural. There are people with more experience, but we are mere mortals, and there are things on the other side who have waited for a very long time to exert their influence over someone.
Most of you know my feelings about things like Ouija boards and seances—DO NOT USE THEM. You are opening a door into the unknown, and you don’t know what or who you are inviting in. You are walking into the stranger’s home, hoping all they have for you is a Snickers bar, but once you step inside, you no longer have control.
Enjoy this “scary season,” but also trust yourself and your inner alarms. If you are on a haunted tour and the guide seems to be trying to antagonize the spirits, it’s okay not to continue the tour. If your instincts tell you that something is wrong, listen to them. If you’re feeling more than just “goosebumps and a spooky feeling,” if there is heart-pounding fear involved, walk away. The promise of “extra candy” just isn’t worth it.
Happy Friday!!!