The most haunted house that I've ever lived in, so far, was my Grandmother Hester's house, in 2014-2015.
This house was originally built by my grandmother's second husband, Feister, for his second wife, Margaret. My mom and her siblings all grew up here, in a very not-so-happy home. A home filled with mean spirits and abusive parents.
But growing up for me, this was the house was different. This was the house that our side of the family spent many holidays in, and had many "Hester Fests" in the backyard during the summer.
Although I personally didn't like to be alone in any of the rooms. Didn't help that grandma had a room of creepy fuckin dolls and mirrors, but there was something else that my kid self didn't understand. I always felt like I was being watched and judged harshly. Someone hated me, and it wasn't just Little Girl! Although I liked going to grandma's house, I didn't like spending the night or being inside the house alone. I always felt unwelcomed--strong reminders that I didn't live there. (I preferred being outside or in her greenhouse.)
Fast forward to 2014. My grandmother was in hospice, and although she and I had a rocky relationship, she said that my family and I could live in her house for free for a year. Strange and completely unexpected, but we accepted. Me, hubby, toddler, baby, and dog.
Grandma died, and then it was chaos, moving grandma's stuff out and our stuff in on one weekend. Normally, I like to introduce myself to the house spirits before moving in anywhere. Didn't have that option. Lots of confusion and the sibs arguing over their mother's stuff.
Once we were finally moved in, I introduced myself to the spirits and gave offerings and all that. I explained what had happened, and apologized for the chaos. Most of the spirits were cool with us. They were friendly and active, and most of all they were cool with my Spirit House Rules. We had a great relationship. Super active house, even out on the property.
The yard was massive and mostly tree-free, although my grandma had some pawpaws and lots of plants--although due to her age, my grandma wasn't able to care for the land like she use to, so a lot of the beauty was replaced by disarray. But there was a spot with a cluster of pine trees...this was a place of power. Neutral energy, but powerful energy. At night, I could see lights and sense entities on the property. I often honored Sister Moon outside. I spoke to the Nature Spirits and regularly made offerings. Then I began seeing a Woman in White who said she was a Sidhe. She always stayed outside, but would appear to me when I was looking out windows. I was never scared, but felt blessed instead. Whenever I walked the property, I could sense Her with me. I always stopped by the pine trees--I never went into them, though, but I gave offerings outside of it.
During this time, my relationship with Artemis grew stronger, too. She helped a lot with my protection and bane magiks. We lived in a high crime area, near an elementary school, that also had a lot of registered sex offenders living nearby the school. Needless to say, I had goddess guided practice.
However, there was one spirit in the house that hated me.
She mostly stayed off of my radar, until I caught her mimicking my husband's voice, trying to lure my toddler son down into the old, empty basement. The stairs weren't safe, so we kept the basement door locked. It was a low ceiling basement and my husband and I are over 6ft, so we never used it, not even for storage. Nothing was down there, except for an old suitcase and an empty oak barrel.
She'd done this before--according to my toddler who always thought daddy was downstairs while he was at work.
When I caught this spirit doing this, I flew into a rage. I put my son in his crib, grabbed my space cleansers and confronted this spirit. Mama Bear was furious.
This spirit didn't stay gone, although I certainly gave them something to think about. They had strong ties to the house and to that basement, and I didn't understand at first. In 2014, I was getting back into divination and developing my psychic abilities more. Plus I was dealing with the grief from my grandmother's death and a friend's death. I didn't realize it at the time, but the birth control I was on was making me suicidal. I was a hot emotional mess. This spirit used my emotions and grief against me, but the other entities in the house didn't let her affect me as much as she wanted. I kept experiencing memories of abuse that weren't mine--brutal flashbacks and urges to harm, which I turned on myself. The other spirits were trying to shield me and give me clues, but I struggled and so did they. Everything was just so chaotic.
Eventually one of my aunts--who's a practitioner and a psychic--told me about the house. How the basement was her, another aunt, and my mom's room--and how my mom often got the worst of the abuse down there.
She then told me that the spirit in the basement is Feister's second wife, Margaret. Old Margaret was pissed that he remarried and move his new wife's family into HER house. Again, pissed, that Hester's granddaughter moved in next. It was HER house!
I had a name and some history. Margaret.
Shortly after, Hestia told me that I was moved into this house to heal it for future families. I was one of Her Hearth Keepers, this was my job. Heal the house. Seemed daunting with everything, spiritual and not, that I was dealing with. But I did as Mama Hestia told.
With a calm, but stern mind, I contacted Margaret. With new information, I was respectful, but not a doormat. She was not going to bully me. We were not going to be scared away, and she wasn't going to harm us. I wasn't my grandmother, nor anyone else. I was a Witch, a psychic, and a Daughter of Hekate and Hestia-Vesta. I was a survivor of abuse. Old bitter Margaret would not win this fight. Either she'd work with us, leave, or I'd hand her soul over to Hekate.
She was disrespectful, but her energy had shrunk. No longer a big bad ass monster who preys on children... She was angry, hurt. I didn't immediately react to her disrespect. I knew it would take time for her to understand, I had to be patient and compassionate. She never tried to harm any of us again, she mostly just sulked.
She and I had a long talk and about the future once we moved. This discussion included the other friendly spirits in the house, too. (I also talked to the Nature Spirits, who weren't part of the inside drama.)
Healing the house took a lot of magik, a lot of cleansings, and a lot of relationship building with the many inhabitants of the house and the property. Margaret did calm down. She had to learn to accept that the house wasn't ever going to just be hers--she would have to share it...or move on. I could help her, but I don't remember if she ever wanted my help.
Towards the end, the house's abusive memories faded. Margaret was calmer. The other spirits happier. I and my Spirit Allies had healed that house. Even my aunt felt the difference.
When it was time for us to move, I addressed the House and Land Spirits. I thanked them for accepting us and helping. I reminded the House Spirits that future families will not be like us. They may not acknowledge them at all, or they may be fearful, or try to make them cross over or kick them out. I asked that they be gentle and understanding of their future neighbors and roommates. I also invited them to come with us. As long as the Spirit House Rules are followed, they'll always be welcomed in our home.
They thanked me and we moved on.
What of Margaret and future roommates? *Shrugs* I haven't been to the house to check in, which I can do astrally. Maybe I'll make a house call?
Maybe I should contact Hester to see why she picked me to live in her home for a year--she and I didn't get along. In fact, although she's one of the ancestors that I interact with the most, she and I still have a strained relationship. Psychic abilities aren't talked about in my family--they're like the elephant in the room, though. I wonder how much Grandma Hester really knew? Or if it was all just the Gods putting me where I needed to be?
I will say this. I've been doing a lot of family tree research, and even though Margaret's not blood, I've included her in my step grandfather's history, too. Hoping to learn more about her, try to understand her better. It's weird learning about her, since she and I didn't get along either. Spirit Work's crazy, yall.
Thank yall for the support!
Face to the Sun.
Trust in Joy.
Follow the Bees...
- Priestess Foxlyn