Sharing your house with the “others”

From time to time people will talk to me about dealing with spirit activity in their homes. My first question is always what they want. Banishment is not always the answer. If a spirit is malevolent and disruptive getting it to move on may be the only choice.

In many cases, though, co-habitation with a spirit makes perfect sense. It can merely be a matter of expressing your authority and laying down some rules, such as no disruptions after 11:00 pm. When you establish a respectful relationship with spirits, they can be a guardian of your home, better than any watchdog.

Could you live with a ghost in your home? National Geographic follows several people who do, living in homes with strong and, in some cases, disturbing histories.