Ghostly phenomena: Heat and cold

In the previous article, we discussed what happens on a "normal" ghost hunt. Now let's talk about the odd things which we can encounter in paranormal settings, starting with unreasonable heat and cold.

Natural explanations

Haunted settings, particularly cemeteries, are prone to odd temperature changes. Some of these are natural phenomena.

For example, in winter stone or metal headstones seem to "draw in" heat or "radiate" cold. That's normal. If a cemetery is densely filled with headstones, a person might feel a chill upon approaching the graveyard.

Likewise, a dark grey or black marble headstone will emanate radiant heat at the conclusion of a bright, sunny day. That's a great example of stored solar heat.

However, sometimes we cannot explain the temperature shifts we encounter in a haunted setting.

Warm locations

For many people, paranormal warmth is similar to a blanket wrapped around the individual. Many people feel smothered when they experience this phenomenon. Others don't mind it so much.

At a rural New Hampshire ghost hunt in late 1999, one investigator felt prompted to lay down on an unmarked grave. She said that she felt warm, as if the ghost was protecting her.

In most settings, insects make this kind of experiment a poor choice. In New England, it's odd, but not risky.

More startling than the warmth, the woman insisted that she liked being on the grave, and wanted to stay there.

Sometimes, what's most frightening in a haunted location is not the ghost, but how it affects the living.

There are no significant records of confirmed higher temperatures in haunted locations. However, many people have recorded cold spots.

Cold spots

"Cold spots" are far more dramatic, frequent, and famous than heat in a haunted setting. However, in nearly 40 years of ghostly encounters, I've only once noticed a defined cold spot.

In this case, it was at Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, NH. The team was--as usual--drawn to the low, white headstone of Joseph W. Gilson. It's well-known for the most dramatic flickers of light at dusk. The lights usually hover about six inches to a foot above the stone, and they're a pale X-Files green. They resemble an amorphous blob, constantly changing shape, sort of like the little Flubber guys in the Disney movie remake. Sometimes the lights last only a few moments, but I've also seen them flicker for over an hour before gradually fading into darkness.

On this particular ghost hunt in April, there was a defined cold spot above the stone, and extending about two or three feet southwest of it. Stepping into it, I felt as if I'd entered the ice cream freezer at the grocery store.

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