Not this ability, but I've had the occasional premonition or ability to "see" the future. It's usually never overly useful and always something mundane - someone being late for something, singing the next song on the radio in my head before turning the radio on, predicting who will be called next. The "logical" side of my brain says that I just pick up on patterns. The "spiritual" side says life isn't that black and white so there may be something there. 

Regarding ghosts, I have a friend who is pretty sensitive and has had a few encounters. I lived in a really old house back in my early 20s, and she and I both got weird feelings around the stairs. We concluded that it was likely a remnant of someone's energy who was responsible for fueling the coal-burning furnace and walked the steps a lot. Never felt dangerous, just out of place.

That's the closest I have for you, though. Now I'm tempted to ask my dad's GF about it, though. She is pagan and very in tune with things. For Christmas one year my sister and I made her some good fortune candles and smudge sticks as she'd had a particularly rough few months. No idea if they did any good, but it seems that the intention was what counted.

I have "talents" too and oddly enough the more I heal in therapy the stronger my "talents" become.

It never occurred to me that it was my SKs bringing shit into our old house. It would explain a lot because DD22 has "gifts" as well and the stories she and I could tell about our previous house would make us sound wackadoodle.

It never occurred to us to sage our house back then but we did sage the one we're living in now and got rid of someone very negative. 

My grandmother was a Romanian witch and she had a ritual for people or energies to leave and stay gone and I do that sometimes when needed. I have also stated to DH that enemies to our marriage will not be allowed to enter our home and that includes anyone deeply loved. DH knows damn well what I meant by that.

DH claims to not believe "in that hocus pocus shit" so DD and I keep it from DH. SS has gifts and picked up on DD and I so SS, DD and I just don't say a word to DH or SD.

Oddly enough when DD, SS and I spoke together when DH wasn't home, to ban a negative energy, it marked the time that DH stopped going through his depressive avoidant episodes. SD is like a completely different person for the better when she comes over.

My therapist knows of my "talents" and actually incorporates them into my healing. 

Sorry, I'm not sure if I went off on a tangent. I get so excited to hear of others with talents and could trade stories all day long.

I get premonitions a lot - like I need to talk with X person, then within the hour that person calls. 

I'm open to ghost things; I've had two weird encounters that are totally unexplained. In college, in my early 20s, I lived in an old (turn of century) apartment with a room-mate. Less than 10' away was the funeral home. For perspective. :-)  We'd have doors open unexplained sometimes. The wierdest thing was one time I was sitting in the living room and the curtain that was pinned up to the wall fell down. I went over to pick up the pin from the floor (never happened before so that was odd) and couldn't find it anywhere. Note that I was facing the window so saw the curtain fall. I shrugged, went to get something else to hook it up with, pulled it back and there was the pin - IN THE WALL. Impossible that curtain could have fallen and the pin stayed in the wall.  That gave me the creeps so I left for a while.

I also, in the house I lived in with my exH, heard footsteps and we both smelled random cigar smoke now and then. Never in the same place, like it wafted through the room. This we think was the former owner's father who passed away in the home years before. We decided it was a good ghost. It eventually faded away after living there for about a year.  In that same house, one night I was getting ready for bed, turned to turn off my lamp, and clearly saw an orange, glowing orb. It was about an inch wide, clearly 3-D with a little trailer, moving completely independently of my lamp and my eyes. I cannot explain this but to say that it was there in front of me, it was very pretty, and I was calm.

Regarding SDs, I feel nothing supernatural about them. They have no interests and no concerns but for their little bubble. DH does not believe in anything supernatural at all, but he knows of my experiences. I just keep my emotional and sometimes physical distance and don't get sucked into any negativity if I can help it!

I don't believe in ghosts in the sense that anything you're experiencing is a soul trapped in this world. I believe in energy and I believe that places CAN retain good and negative energy. I've felt a malevolant presence in two places where horrific things happened and I have had times when I've been bothered by what you might consider spirits. I believe there is a spirit world, but I don't believe they are ghosts of dead people - if that makes any sense.

I'm not that spiritual, my DH is maybe a little more spiritual than me. But both of us are really good at predicting the future. It's almost uncanny at times that we can predict exactly how some things going to happen or sense something right before it happens. For us I don't think it is spiritual I think it's more of highly tuned situational awareness. We are both highly observant people. Being super observant like this helps us to realize when things are different than they usually are which leads to our "predictions." I have photographic memory so I immediately notice anything that is different or out of place.

My mom is spiritual and she swears that she can sense things happening at a distance to people she knows and she'll call to check on them after not talking to them for a while and they will be picking up the phone to call her or something.

BM and SD are both very spiritual and superstitious. They do smudging and the ritual where you rub an egg on yourself to pull out the bad spirits and SD has never once been to our house without wearing some sort of evil eye jewelry. 

It's a bit of a chicken and the egg situation, when I first met SD it was like there was some sort of "stay away" energy around her put in place to repel me.  She never opened up to me and honestly I think it's her mom's negative energy that kept me and her from ever developing relationship. I wasn't always as negative as I am now, I went in to being a stepmom with a fully opened heart and was rejected over and over. So maybe my negativity towards the whole step parent situation is just bm's self-fulfilling prophecy. I wanted to love her daughter but she didn't want me to and she got what she wanted.

I am an open door when it comes to spirituality and discussions. I was raised Christian, follow that path, and for the the path is a duality to Paganism and other belief systems. That being said...

The house that I moved into and subsequently bought with Husband. It definitely has something to it, but what that is has yet to be determined and I have been really wanting my Chumash leader friend to do a blessing, or some Sister-Help for banishing the negative energies. The area that I live in is full of loads of Tribal energy, alongside Catholic/Christian energy and teachings. 

Before my arrival, Husband had a few instances whereby he would see a little girl in a room and approach to find the room empty. A toy in one of the living rooms (we have 2) that had no batteries in it suddenly started moving, a car or something, with lights on, all by itself. For myself, not much. Sometimes I say "hello" to whatever might be there. Ive witnessed a bright light, a pop sound, and then thought I heard hello once. That was a REALLY long time ago.

Once, more recently, I found something that none of us 3 could claim. Hanging prominently from a post in the hallway. A rubber bracelet with Italian colors The word "Italia" on it. Just, weird.

Husband is a bit supersticious and faintly religious. He prays. Catholic upbringing and devoutly catholic family. 

SD16 is definitely Pagan. She reads Tarot cards to friends. Is very much an animal whisperer "nature witch" type. Shes mentioned her Pagan leanings. Toxic Troll is hardcore Christian right type, but "indentifies" as bi sexual, so her core values are at odds with her other opinions. If that makes sense. SD23, I feel that there is something there that goes beyond spiritual malady, posssibly demonic. She goes into rages quickly and easily. She posts things that are very demonic. Her visuals are very dark. I love the gothic asthetic, but there is a darkness there that makes me want to wash my spirit and mind whenever she enters it.

When anything at all has had to do with her, it brings out the darkness in Husband. SD16 doesnt like her sister. SD16 definintely has a light inside her that everyone kind of sees, but her sister has a repugnancy...

When her sister lived with us, SD23 could enter a room and without saying or doing anything, suck the energy and joy completely out of it.

That being said, I definitely feel heaviness in my home and welcome any advice!

I've smudged before and need to again.  Now that the skids are aged out , there isn't that daily bombardment of negative energy coming from BM's way.  Her house isn't that far away and I swear I had to put a force field around us to stay sane.  I could feel it coming at us.  I bet if I threw water on her she'd melt like the wicked witch she is.  

As in life not everybody is a great person in their afterlife.  Some people are just a$$holes, spirits included.   Saging is good and helps, also letting them know this is your space and negativity won’t be tolerated can help too. 

I too am spiritual and believe in ghosts and spirits. I am Native American and practice smudging (what we call what you're doing when you burn sage to purify a space). I've done it a few times in our house but I should start doing it more especially with my SD10 being so moody all the damn time. I'm pretty good at picking up on people's energies and vibes. SD sometimes drags over whatever energy she had at BM's to our house. Especially the first day she's with us. Those are always the hardest with her. Sometimes I meditate and try to change the energy in our house. Other times I've smudged the whole house and hit her room especially hard.

I also read tarot cards. I've noticed sometimes if SD is over when I do a reading it turns out kind of wonky. Like it just doesn't quite make sense, or it doesn't feel right to me. So, I have to shuffle the cards longer and keep my energy on them. I think they pick up on her energy.

SD also has the Glimmer (as you so perfectly put it). My SO has told me stories about how when she was little she used to ask about her brother and sisters. BM had three miscarriages before SD was born and neither parent had mentioned it to SD, but somehow she knew about them. She also says she's dreamed of them. I believe her as I have people who have walked on come to visit me in my dreams as well. SD also believes she sees spirits and ghosts.

I honestly never thought of her bringing a spirit or a ghost with her to our house but now that you've mentioned it, it's very likely she has. Our house has been in a FUNK and SD has not been sleeping well. (Most of the not sleeping is her being an a-hole though... some of it could be related to the vibes in our house, though...) SD's energy most definitely affects the energy in our house. I do my best with smudging and what not.

I'm a bit of a skeptic, but I don't dismiss these kinds of energies and powers either.

Neither DH nor I have had any significant other-world experiences -- until we bought our current house. Now we both occasionally hear voices, music, even parties going on. It's a happy energy and we've told the spirits that they are welcome any time.

I really honor and acknowledge my "women's intuition".  It's definitely a real thing.  My exhusband was smart enough to recognize it as well.   I think it scared him a little.   I have a close friend who sees ghosts.  When I lived in my old house I specifically told her "if you see anything here, I don't want to hear about it."

We moved 4 years ago into a 200 y.o. house and know at least 3 people died in the house.  My friend let it slip that there are two friendly entities/ghosts in the basement.  It's a walkout basement and was used as actual living quarters back in the day.  I told the entities they were here before me, they're welcome to stay, but I highly suggest they move on.  We won't acknowledge them because I don't want to encourage anything.  We've never heard or seen anything strange. 

BUT...when my exhusband and I and our very young son started attending a small, bible study type church after years of not going to church...goodness.   I was being pestered horrifically by constant annoying stupid stuff for a week or two.  This was when I still lived in my old house. 

My DW is a sensitive and gets "feelings".  Over the years of our marriage I have learned to trust her instincts though I am a skeptic far more than a believer.

During our 8 year Expat adventure we made very close friends with a number of couples. Two are "blended" as far as the sensitive and not balance goes.   The DH's pretty much shrug and listen, the DW's are the ones with the gift.  My DW's is very light, though her full on "Rafiki" friends tell her she has very strong sensitivities that would blossom if she allowed it.  She struggles regarding the balance between her science/bean counter analytical side and her gift side.  

As for "Rafiki".  Our son teases his mom about her gift.  When we were on leave one summer from Expat assignments he referred to the most vocal of our friends as "Rafiki".  The Lion King mystic character.  That stuck.  She is a doll and our first dinner with she and her husband after that leave she got an odd look on her face and asked "Who is Rafiki?".  Neither DW now I had mentioned it to her. She had a thing on it I guess.  We busted out laughing and recounted our son's tagging her with the "Rafiki" monicre.  She laughed.

Rafiki is a licenced Rieki Master.

According to Rafiki, my wife has a number of loved family members around her pretty much all of the time.  I see and feel nothing other than periodic waves of remarkable calm.

The other close couple friends where the DW is a senstivie is my own personal plantar faciitis savior.. She is both a licensed Reike Master and a licensed Reflexologist.  She was a huge help with my safety boot driven foot problems.

Interestingly, our Rieki master friends studied two variants of the philosopy.  Rafiki studied in the Eastern tradition, and the Reflexologist studied a Western tradition.  Though the basics are similar, the practices are decidedly different in how they each apply it to clients.

If you have a gift, use it.

My DH was raised Catholic and is now 100 percent agnostic.  Me, I was raised loosely Hindu and am just now starting to reconnect with spirituality.  I do believe in spirits and afterlife, both.  I saged my house when I first moved in, but not after Bratty left.

I don't think it specifically helps with stepkid issues, but I feel more centered when I practice spiritualality.  That helps me in life generally!

Several years ago (before the Big Ban), I wrote a similar post and deleted because I was attacked publicly and via PM. I believe. Go ahead and say I'm whackadoo.

I've had many encounters with multiple ghosts/spirits. It is well-known to several generations that my Dad and I are the only ones his grandmother tolerates. A number of people have tried to enter "her" room, but are incapable of remaining. None of my aunties would so much as pause in the doorway. One cousin was literally bounced out of the bed. Another was specifically told to Leave Now. For me, that is THE most welcoming, comfortable room in the house. I feel 'safe' and content. 

I worked at a historical mansion for 10 years and had encounters with both ghosts: one a prankster, the other temperamental and occasionally destructive.

My mother 'visited' me while I was driving at night and literally saved my life. 

But I don't think people should not be allowed to post their beliefs.   Sorry if that happened to you but I like this thread 

I would consider myself "agnostic." I think we are connected in ways we can't comprehend. We aren't here to understand either. We are just a blip on the radar through out the universe. I don't believe in a "god" though. I do believe in other life somewhere....not Hollywood aliens though lol. 

I have "sensed" things throughout my life and I feel like everyone can say they have...deja vu type experiences for example. 

One major thing for me was when I was 14. My moms friend son (who I basically grew up with) committed suicide. I woke up out of my sleep at his time of the death... I didn't know then what had happened. I was getting ready for school and my mom came in crying (on the phone with her friend) saying he died.

There are small other things.. thinking about someone and then the text/call. My friends wife who hadn't seen or spoken to in years did this too me last year. I was telling SO about her how I should really reach out to her and BAM she texted me literally 20 minutes later.. I was shook haha. I think that's an example of our connections with each other that are unexplainable. 

No particular ghost stories just random feelings and senses throughout life. 

This is a fun post btw! 

Chef's ferals would leave such a negative energy it was unreal.  I have done a cleansing before and burned sage, made a line of salt and used mantras.  It was though the Gir was purposely sending negative vibes through the ferals and you could just feel the seething hatred.  They were always on their worst behavior. 

I was raised in a cult that strictly forbid any thing like this.  While at one of the cult's large conventions in Montreal in the mid seventies, my sister and I were exploring the ancient hotel and the elevator stopped at the top floor which was an old abandoned ballroom/party room.  It was pitch black, cordoned of with only the light of the elevator illuminating the very eerie drop cloth covered furniture.   We had not hit any buttons to go to that floor and no one was on that floor.

We started banging on the close door and lower floor buttons.  It seemed the doors were open for minutes not seconds!

There are so many mysteries in life, I dont discount anything.  I'm not particularly religious but I support all religions because life is tough and whatever helps us get thru is good.  I'm also not psychic but I can usually tell what's going to happen.  Call it women's intuition or whatever.

Back in the day when I was hiring, our company gave many guidelines, things to look for, questions to ask.  But then there was my gut.  Without exception, whenever I went against my gut, I was disappointed.  And, my gut gave me a 1 second response.

I don't think I'm psychic or anything like that, but I did grow up in a "happily haunted" house. My mom went back to work after my younger sister was around preschool age (I'm three years old than her, and our brother's two years older). Apparently, our "housemate" didn't like that. Whenever Mom, an ER nurse, had to go to work, she'd find her keys were missing. Or her nurses' cap (dating myself here!). Or one of her white shoes. She's call out to our friend, "It's not funny! I need to go to work. I'm leaving the kids with my mother- they'll be fine." She'd then go into the living room and right in the middle of the coffee table, she'd suddenly find whatever it is she was looking for. It wasn't my brother or sister or I!

Also, and I didn't know about this until much, much later in life, we had one of those large chect freezers in our basement. Mon kept the key on a hook on the wall, apparently. None of us could reach it. Whenever she'd go down to get something out of it, the key would be moved to another hook up near the rafters! So she just started keeping it on the higher hook, and that issue stopped. I guess our "ghost nanny" wanted to keep us safe!

One last thing- pretty much every night from the time I was old enoguh to remember until I was around 13-14 years old, I'd SWEAR I could feel someone sitting down at the foot of my bed. I'd look, and no one would be there. I'm not sure what to make of that, but it was bizarre.

Ooh I have goosebumps now reading all these stories! I also love them. My DH is a 'man of science!' so he detests anything like this. It's funny because my MIL has a shelf of her crystals and puts them outside under the moon she says. DH rolls his eyes and I think, wow I have to try that! 

I am more and more open to this idea of having positive energy in my home. I didn't even consider that anything negative in my home stems from the skids bringing the toxic energy of BM here. Wow it makes so much sense, thank you! 

I have experienced a few ghost encounters. Years ago when I was in my early 20's my BF at the time lived in a house in the hills and he claimed he sees his ex GF's mother who recently passed. Apparently she really loved him with her daughter. He warned me I may sense her so try not to let her bother me. I honestly thought he was all CooKoo. 

A few nights later I slept over (he lived in his parents granny flat) and I woke up and it was so cold. My arms felt all goosebumps. Then I heard a noise from the foot of the bed that I can only describe as breathing. But, it was a huff of breathing like frustration. It didn't stop. I even strained my eyes and ears to think what it could be. I woke up my BF and when he went to listen it stopped. He believed me though and said he warned me. 

A few weeks later I arrived at his house and he wasn't home. It was dark and freezing outside. He was still at work, and said just let yourself in. I had study to do, and figured I'll sit at his office chair and work on his computer. I turned on the lamp and was reading my study notes, when that exact same feeling happened. I realise now it must have been that negative energy people can sense. I looked around and couldn't see anything and when I turned back to read, in my ear loud as day I heard the breaths of breathing. A few tiny strands of my hair around my ear moved AGAINST MY FACE. That same heavy frustration of breath. I screamed and ran out of his room. I grabbed my keys and sat in my car and locked the door until he came home. I was terrified! Thinking back now it wasn't even the breathing, it was the energy that scared me the most. It made me feel cold and I was literally unable to go in there. When we broke up for other reasons, I felt a massive weight had lifted from my chest. 

I told my DH this story and he said it's a bunch of crap and I was just cold and it was probably the heater not working or making noise. I can't tell him this stuff.  Thank you for this post, because I am so open to learning more about how to manage positive energy in a home. I agree with CLove there needs to be a forum on here based on spiritual posts like these! :) 

My mother and I are a little "sensetive"to certain places.  We have felt and maybe glimpsed a few things over the years but too many to post.

I can say that the house I have lived in for the last 14 years is the only place that I have felt "nothing".  No energy except that it feels comfy and safe