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Varla Ventura

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Ghost Taps, Pookas, and Other Creatures of the Night

Posted: 10/01/2012 4:25 pm

My recent appearance on Coast to Coast with George Noory on the topic of vampires and werewolves, brought on some interesting callers, many of whom mentioned the duende, a sort of Latin American version of a goblin or sprite. And maybe this late-night interview and callers sharing stories of mythological beings, real life ghosts, and other paranormal phenomena opened the gates to a new encounter with what I believe was another episode of "The Haunted Nursery."

Three nights ago my slumber was interrupted not by the crying wails of the Baby Ventura but rather a gentle tap on my forehead. When I opened my eyes, a bit confused, I looked around to see what had made midnight contact with my face: a pillow? An errant arm or hand of my beloved? No and no. I even wondered if a drop of water had mysteriously fallen from the ceiling. As I was contemplating the possibilities, the spot on my head still cold from the touch, I heard a very gentle laugh from the baby, who, upon inspection, was sleeping peacefully. And then just moments later a steady tapping began in the kitchen (down the hall but still relatively close, it's a small apartment). I listened, a little breathless. Tap tap tap. What was it? The fridge churning? The wind rattling the windows? Tap tap tap. Pause. Tap tap tap. Pause. This went on for two or three minutes, something that sounded like a cupboard opening and closing. Keep in mind I've lived in this apartment for nearly ten years, and this sound I had heard only once before: I was in the middle of a radio interview, which happened to be on the topic of the paranormal, and heard something similar coming from the kitchen. It lasted about two minutes and then left. Nothing until just the other night. (Though there have been other experiences, see " The Haunted Toothbrush.")

The next night I listened intently to the noises of the night to hear it replicated. Nothing. And the next night. Nothing. So I was left to wonder, was this a playful tap from one of the inhabitants of the Haunted Nursery? Or perhaps it was another type of creature altogether?

When dealing with the spirit realm, some may tell you, all bets are off. The creatures that lurk, in the dark of the night, aren't always ghosts or ghoulish apparitions. Countless volumes of folklore, especially Irish and Welsh mythology, detail dozens of creatures that lurk under bridges, besides roadways, on beaches, and beneath the hydrangea in your garden. Pookas, for example, are sometimes mistaken for horses or even rabbits. For one of my recent books, Taming the Pooka, I read a great deal of W. B. Yeats. Yeats was a scholar of Irish folklore as well as the occult. In 1911 he became a member of The Ghost Club -- a paranormal research group, one of the first of its kind! It would not surprise me to hear that Yeats himself encountered a Pooka whilst roaming the country roads, warm from a pint at the pub.

Maybe I'm just overtired, or all the stories I've been reading are getting to me. Because I heard something, quite distinctly, go bump in the night.

 

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
fifi lahkay
I'm thinking, I'm thinking...
11:55 AM on 10/05/2012
We were having pie at a restaurant a few weeks ago, and watched as a tea pot moved about 5 different times, traveling around 9 inches of table, including turning twice, the last time slowly so that the handle was facing my s/o. It ended up about two inches from his hand.

After the first movement, I picked the tea pot up (which was actually a carafe with a fairly rough bottom) and inspected the area for water which would explain its movement (hydroplaning). It was dampish, but not enough to cause it to move. I wiped the bottom with my hand, and set it back down on the table. A few seconds later, it moved quickly, and stopped abruptly. It continued doing this, traveling across a dry table.

I don't know what the message was, but it didn't seem negative; it just wanted my s/o to have some tea I suppose.

I've seen a lot of strange things in my life, but this one just may have been recorded on security video--not sure, as I've been shy of calling the place and asking if they did indeed catch it on camera.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nick Vanocur
Part philosopher, Part cartoon character
10:59 AM on 10/06/2012
My spooky experience in restaurants is that when they put the check down closest to me it never moves.

p.s. - your mini bio brings up the issue of if it is possible to be a conventional non-conformist?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
fifi lahkay
I'm thinking, I'm thinking...
11:39 AM on 10/06/2012
Hm...I changed my mini a long time ago (in cyber years).  At least 6 months. 

Maybe the powers that be like the old one better lol.
11:16 PM on 10/02/2012
Peace not to grieve. Yrs later I heard his voice when was scared. Have had many experiences . This is my tapping one
11:14 PM on 10/02/2012
I had a very similar experience. Never knew anyone else also had had. 19 ish. My Bobby od died. Everynite IT began. Sounded like my terrace door slam/ sound of lvrm chair someone sitting . Scandanavian wood etc trend in 60's. Locked bdrm door.. THEN the tappings began. On door knob. NYC apt. Terrified to move. Fd came over.Then ouiji bd. Said was Bobby happy at ea
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Rippington
Highly opinionated and most likely will offend you
12:40 PM on 10/03/2012
The human brain is an amazing place to visit.

Few things;
1.) You used the term "sounded like"... but was there a confirmation of the noise?
2.) The planchette on a Ouija Board is moved through involuntary muscle spasms that flow through the fingers into the board. When multiple people have their fingers on it... it moves much easier and rapidly. The subconcious brain also directs some/most of these spasms so you will actually be able to read words.

There is no such thing as the Supernatural.
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Nic the wonder puppy
When life throws lemons, throw them back
10:05 PM on 10/02/2012
the last time this happen to me it was a cat on top of my dog house
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04:12 AM on 10/02/2012
My favorite pooka--Harvey, of course.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Disturbed Individual
07:57 PM on 10/01/2012
I had the same issue as the little girl in the haunted toothbrush story...only my family was staying in a hotel in Montana... The battery operated toothbrush turned on 2 times before I removed the batteries and though it across the room...problem solved and point taken... no more mischief during our stay...