This past weekend, I went on a business trip and my boss let me take my close friend and cover artist, Anya Kelleye with me. We had a booth set up at the Inn at the Biltmore and that’s also where we stayed. Since this was a working trip, we didn’t really have time to do much, but we were able to at least tour the Biltmore mansion for about an hour. And that’s where something weird happened.
I write paranormal romance. I love paranormal stories. But, the thing is, I don’t BELIEVE in the paranormal. As a Christian, I can’t reconcile what the Bible says with the existence of ghosts. I’m a true skeptic when it comes to supernatural things, but I’m not a completely closed minded person. Anya and I were touring the house, and we had gone through several rooms, which I found interesting and beautiful. But I didn’t get any kind of weird vibes or feelings from them. Until we entered the tapestry room. This is a room that’s 90 feet long and there are several furniture groupings placed down the length of the room. When I entered that room, I had this overwhelming desire to cry. It was all I could do to hold it back. And I also had a desire to STAY THERE in the room. The feelings just flooded over me. When we left that room, the feeling was completely gone. I toured some other rooms with only an admiration and appreciation for what I was seeing. The tour took us back through the tapestry room and it happened again. I was choking back tears and pretty much freaking out for feeling that way. After we left the room, the feelings went away once again. And never returned in any other part of the house.
I can’t explain what happened. It wasn’t like I SAW anything or HEARD anything. I just FELT something. I’m still a little shaken by it. I’m a skeptic by nature, so this is a new thing for me. I hear people tell of all these experiences they’ve had, and I just kind of smile and nod, but I’ve never really believed them, even though I knew THEY believed it. (I don’t think they were lying to me.) So this is what I’m wondering. Even if I don’t believe in ghosts (although it would be cool if they were real), I’m thinking maybe a person leaves some kind of imprint behind. Some essence of themselves, of their personality. SOMETHING.
So what do you think? Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a paranormal experience? What do you think was going on with me at the Biltmore? I would love to hear what you all think. This is all kind of intriguing.
lauralynnelliott.com 
Actually there are several references to ghosts in the old testament. It’s not in conflict with Christianity as a whole. It’s generally considered a bad thing to try to summon them (unless you’re talking about communion with the staints). Seems like there was something in Elijah during war, too.
Anyway, I absolutely believe in ghosts. Didn’t used to but have seen some things that could not be explained any other way. As Shakespeare once said, There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. And fundamentally there wouldn’t be references to this kind of thing in EVERY SINGLE CULTURE IN THE WORLD if there wasn’t some basis in reality.
The part that bothers me about ghosts is if a person goes to heaven or hell (or actually paradise or torments until judgment), how can they be roaming the earth or called back to earth? Like I said, I’m not totally closed minded to anything because there’s so much we don’t know, but that’s the part I can’t get past. I have a close friend who goes to church the same place I do, and she had an experience that seemed to be “ghostly”, but…I just don’t know. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.
That makes the assumption that they leave in the first place. I don’t think it’s automatic. There’s too much anecdotal evidence about thresholds and white lights and whatever. The whole concept behind ghosts is the notion of unfinished business. They’re stuck here (depending on the type of ghost—there is also some evidence that there are kind of imprints…sort of like a series of actions stuck on repeat–those are more like echoes rather than actual ghosts–my husband watches all these ghost hunter shows while I’m working in the background and I’ve absorbed a lot of it). One other interpretation is that hell isn’t actually some fiery pit of despair–it’s being stuck as a ghost here on earth, without a body, with no way to interact with loved ones or the world. That would be a pretty epic torment for a lot of people.
Like I told you when it happened. I can’t totally discount all paranormal things. Too many things happen that we just can’t explain.
Who knows maybe you ought to research the Biltmore. Maybe someone is wanting you to write their story? 😉
LOL. Maybe there IS a story in this….
[…] were on a business trip but the atmosphere is wonderful! Check out Lauralynn’s latest post here for her “ghostly” experience in the tapestry […]
I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced a paranormal occurrence myself, but I believe. And from seeing the photos over on Anya’s blog, I can see it….
But that hotel? I want to go…Gorgeous!
The hotel is great. And since this was a group situation, the rates were better than normal, so my boss didn’t have to pay the full rate (which probably varies depending on the season). I can’t wait to go back.
Wow! That is fascinating and creepy… I wold love to go there!
I once rented a house in Philly and my daughter’s bedroom (middle room upstairs) was always cold. Every time I walked by that room I got an impending sense of doom. We hung a cross on the wall, it fell off. I would come upstairs and as I approached that room I would run down the hall to my own bedroom.
Also, I would have my bedroom door shut and hear the floorboards creaking outside my bedroom door. I would creep to the door, fling it open and there would only be an empty hallway. My hairs are standing up as I type this!
Darlene, when I hear stuff like that, it makes me wonder what all is going on in this world. I used to walk with a friend a lot in the field on her property next to her house. There was always a place we would walk through that felt really cold. We figured it was an underground spring or something. But now I wonder….
I don’t know if I believe in ghosts – per se – but the spirit realm is all around us. Certain kings of Israel visited witches to conjure spirits …remember? I personally have never had any ‘encounters’ and I hope I never do! I’m a big, big, chicken…ha. I’d probably die of fright! I’m a lover…ha!
Nadja, I’ve always thought there was a possibility of things like demons or angels lurking just outside of our sight. I just have trouble believing that the souls of actual people are here on earth. But I believe in a literal Heaven and hell, so that’s what makes me skeptical of ghosts. You know, some of those kings of Israel were pretty wicked…we probably shouldn’t follow their examples. LOL.
I would probably freak out, too, if I actually encountered some kind of spirit. I have something under my bed to take care of human invaders, but I don’t know how to deal with inhuman ones. 🙂
According to the Winchester boys, salt, holy water, and iron cover most supernatural critters 😀
LOL, Kait. I might have to keep those on hand. I don’t think my Colt .357 will work on them.
I have been tugged both ways on this. I have a friend who is probably one of the most religious people I know who could tell you some stories of strange things that has happened to him that would raise the hair on the back of your neck; it did mine. I’ve seen things that would make you wonder. But then right now if there were ghost my mom would never have a moments peace; because of a couple people. So I know how I feel but can’t give you a certain answer. But you can always use it for the base of a new book. Peace.
Yeah, Jon, I’m not sure how I feel about this. You’re right, I could always make a good story out of it. 🙂
Maybe a hundred years from now when we’ve proved that the paranormal and Bigfoot 🙂 exists, we’ll laugh at our previous skepticism the way people probably laughed at the concept of electricity. I’ve never seen a ghost, but I’m pretty sure I’ve heard one more than once. (voices, sighing, etc.). I also have the ashes of a beloved cat, and I think her spirit is around. Long after she was gone, I once saw the door of my pet carrier fly open like she’d just whacked it with her paw and walked out. There are also times when I feel like she is walking on the bed at night.
Michelle, I knew you were a believer. 🙂 Even as a skeptic, I can’t discount the experiences of other people. Something is happening. That many people can’t be making stuff up. LOL.
I would like to visit a house that’s reputed to be haunted. I did stay in that haunted hotel that time, but I never went up to the haunted floor to check things out.
That’s kind of creepy about the cat carrier door. *shivers*
What’s funny is I’m such a believer I’d never be a good ghost hunter. I’d probably high tail it out of a haunted house the first time something tugged on my hair or moaned in my ear. I’ve heard too many stories about dark spirits following people home…
Did your friend experience anything similar in that room? Does that Inn have a history of ghosts? I’d love to experience something supernatural, of course I may very well change my mind if something weird actually were to happen 🙂
Emma, no one else seemed to be affected by the room. It wasn’t actually in the Inn, but in the mansion. The Biltmore house was built for a family of only three, but they always had guests there. The house is HUGE, about 250 rooms. There are 43 bathrooms. I don’t know of any ghost stories surrounding the house, so I have no idea what happened that day. I guess it will remain a mystery. I’m planning to go back when the gardens are in bloom, and I’m anxious to see if the room still affects me then.
No, Emma, I didn’t notice anything myself. But then I was busy telling Lauralynn about the room itself so I was too distracted to really notice anything out of the ordinary. 😉
Lauralynn you will definitely have to let us know how you get on when you return. Bring Anya again to keep the nerves steady 🙂
Anya, you will have to pay attention next time 🙂
I will definetly pay closer attention next time, Emma!
Anya will definitely be there with me. No husbands allowed on this trip. (Like my husband would really want to go to this house. LOL)
too scared is he? ha ha
LOL. Nah, just too bored with that kind of thing. 🙂
My husband would love it! Especially if he thought it was haunted. We’d need to leave the kids at home, though to appreciate it.
That’s actually interesting. I’d love to go there, and I will make sure to walk into the tapestry room… just to see if I feel freaky.
I’m not much of a ghost-believer either, but once when my husband and I were looking at houses with a realitor… one of the houses made me feel weird as soon as I stepped in. Within a few minutes, I just needed to GET OUT of the house. It was very strange, and a shame, becaue the house was beautiful.
My husband watches Ghost Hunters, and they say that high EMF reading (electrical) can cause you to feel this way. But it is more fun to think it is something “otherworldly.”
If you do go there and go into the tapestry room, Jennifer, let me know if anything happens. Since I don’t really believe in ghosts, this still baffles me. But there are a lot of things we really don’t know about this world, so it’s possible people leave behind some of their essence, even if their soul is elsewhere. Who knows? It is kind of exciting, though.