What Should You Do If This Happens To You?
“It Is A Good Idea To Press One Eyeball Slightly. . .”
What should you do if a ghost suddenly looms before you? Right off the top, we can advise that you not scream and run—especially if it’s dark. This is because you could hurt yourself by tripping and falling, or by running into something. If you’re on a stairway, you could even take a neck-breaking tumble—which would no doubt then be blamed on the (probably) innocent ghost.
Also, it’s almost never a good idea to turn your back on something you think might be dangerous, be it a bear or a disembodied being.
Nor should you throw a rock or other object at the ghost just to see if it’s real; your projectile is is likely to travel right through the wraith and break something or injure someone on the other side. And, again, you wouldn’t pelt a bear with a rock, so why would you throw one at a ghost?
Beyond these few safety advisories, noted British ghost hunter Peter Underwood offers some further guidance on what to do if you see a ghost in his 1986 book, The Ghosts Hunter’s Guide. The thing that Underwood stresses most is to stay still and remain calm—ghosts almost never harm anyone. Their boo is worse than their bite.
“There is nothing to fear,” says Underwood.
The famous ghost hunter further recommends that you appreciate your unique and privileged situation—that of seeing an actual ghost—and that you make the most of it through careful observation. Try to notice “. . . the exact spot it seemed to appear from; exactly where it stands or moves; its overall appearance; it’s degree of transparency (if any); it’s facial expression, its mode of gait and whether its feet appear to touch the ground; its method of disappearance; details of dress and height (compare with nearby physical objects); and whether the figure appears to walk through any objects. Do not approach the figure; do not try to move at all, but observe everything about the figure; if it moves and turns a corner or otherwise disappears from view, follow as quietly as possible (one of the reasons for soft-soled shoes) until it disappears completely—or turns out to be a human being! It is a good idea to press one eyeball slightly; if the object seen remains as before, it has no objective reality; if you see double, there is something there—outside you’re head.”
Underwood advises that as soon as possible after the experience has ended, write down everything you can recall about it. “Take your time, do the job thoroughly and talk to no one about the matter until you have completed the report to your entire satisfaction. See that anyone else who has seen the figure does the same, but do not compare notes or discuss what you have seen or heard until all such reports are completed, dated, timed, signed, and witnessed.”
Being as scientifically scrupulous as possible will make your account more credible when you share it with people who were not along for the ride.
