This is the first in a series about ghosts. Today, we'll explore the nature of ghosts.

What are ghosts? Exactly? Are they figments of an overactive imagination? Or are they something else, possibly part of another dimension we, as adults have learned to ignore because our physical senses don't perceive them?

We all know children and pets are often attuned to things adults ignore because we can't see or hear them. As adults, we've learned to acknowledge things our senses perceive. We've learned this well. Heaven forbid someone would think we were victims of an overactive imagination or were dreamers, existing in the world of our minds. Logic and proof are valued in this rational world of ours.

But what about those times when we daydream, those times when we think of nothing and our minds are receptive to things where logic and proof doesn't even exist? We all have such times in our lives, even though many don't want to admit it.

Have you ever been all alone, doing a mundane task that quite frankly is as boring as hell, and have heard your name? The sound is very distinct. You know you heard someone call your name! Or have you ever been doing something boring and have smelled your late aunt's perfume? Or have smelled your late uncle's cigar? "Where in blazes is that smell coming from?" you wonder. "I don't smoke! What the hell's going on?"Or have you ever been doing something where's your mind's not actively engaged, and you have the sudden urge to call a particular person because you know that person is in trouble? Its silly, really, because you can't possibly know that. But you give into the impulse and call them, and then are glad that you did, because your hunch, your inner feeling was right. They did need help, and further, they were thinking of you.

These are all products of the same process; being receptive to things that the physical senses don't, can't perceive. Call it what you will, hunches, gut feelings, sensitvity to unseen phenomena, they are as real as they are valuable. Why are they valuable? Because they help us operate in this plane of existence more efficiently and effectively. If we only existed in a place where logic exists, there would be no inventions, no products of art such as books, plays, movies, music. Think what a dull world that would be. How sterile!

"Okay," you say. "Even assuming ghosts exist, why would one contact me?"Well, maybe they are testing the waters, so to speak. They are trying to guage how receptive you are to them, paving the way for future contacts that you can either choose to ignore or acknowledge. Or sometimes too, a beloved late relative is simply checking on you to make sure you're okay. They cared about you when they were living and they continue to care about you. By you suspiciously sniffing the air, or trying to find out where that voice is coming from is proof, to them, you are, at least at that moment, willing to acknowledge their presence.In the next article, we'll explore this further. There are, after all, differences between male and female ghosts, as well as certain etiquette that must be followed when around them.Keep in mind that ghosts were once spirits in a real body, with lives which were as important as yours is to you. They also have distinct characteristics that continue to exist in the afterlive, and these characteristics will come into play after their bodies have long since ceased to exist.\

Until Next Time,Take Care,Ayn