London is packed with ‘haunted’ attractions. Around Halloween, whether you are a believer or not, it is easy to be curious about the paranormal experiences that form the basis of so many events around the capital.
People are celebrating all over London - two skeletons in front of Big Ben.
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One exhibition in London goes as far as asking visitors to sign a waiver before viewing the painting ‘The Unknown Girl’.
The painting went viral in 2023 after reportedly haunting the owner and her family.
Leading paranormal investigator Danny Moss said that it takes having a paranormal experience to really believe it: “You can’t just walk into a room and expect something paranormal to happen, it just doesn’t work like the movies and what you see on TikTok”.
Danny donated another exhibit, the ‘Grace Doll’, saying that he was “very, very hesitant” to do so due to the artefact’s history.
The Grace Doll, donated by Danny Moss, has rules written by him, which must be followed by viewers.
The Grace Doll has been said to cause a burning sensation in the eyes of the viewer, and a ring of pain around the top of the head, which Danny reported himself.
It will be displayed with strict rules, although Danny states that to notice paranormal activity in such a busy environment would be “rare”.
While a lot of what is out there could be speculative, psychology undeniably plays a major role in paranormal experiences.
Danny mentions Ouija Boards and the ‘power of suggestion’. During a trial at ‘My Haunted Hotel’, participants exposed to names during a tour tended to spell these names with the boards.
The power of suggestion is a psychological phenomenon where an idea or belief becomes more likely to become an experience – whether real or imagination.
A study by Lange and Houran shows that when participants knew the location was ‘haunted’, they reported “significantly more intense perceptual experiences” than those who just thought it was a normal cinema.
Another study by Wiseman found that the lighting and size of the space have an effect on hauntings being reported.
‘The Unknown Girl’ was the centre of media attention last year. Already rumoured haunted, Zoe Elliott-Brown bought the painting, later reporting her mother’s health declining, and then hearing tapping for 3 nights before being chased by a black figure.
The painting was eventually auctioned to the London Bridge Experience.
Despite the cursed reputation, the charity shop disagrees. HARC declined to comment, but shared that the painting has no known haunted history. They stated that it was just a painting by a local artist, of a girl no older than 40 today.
Whether real or not, human fear can trigger a paranormal experience. While the waiver could be just a clever marketing trick to inspire fear, only viewers will know if the event is a trick or a treat.
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HeadlineCan Fear Trigger a Paranormal Experience?
Short HeadlineThere’s one exhibition this weekend requiring viewers to sign a waiver before entering. But are viewers actually at risk?
StandfirstLondon is packed with ‘haunted’ attractions. Around Halloween, whether you are a believer or not, it is easy to be curious about the paranormal experiences that form the basis of so many events around the capital.
One exhibition in London goes as far as asking visitors to sign a waiver before viewing the painting ‘The Unknown Girl’.
The painting went viral in 2023 after reportedly haunting the owner and her family.
Leading paranormal investigator Danny Moss said that it takes having a paranormal experience to really believe it: “You can’t just walk into a room and expect something paranormal to happen, it just doesn’t work like the movies and what you see on TikTok”.
Danny donated another exhibit, the ‘Grace Doll’, saying that he was “very, very hesitant” to do so due to the artefact’s history.
The Grace Doll, donated by Danny Moss, has rules written by him, which must be followed by viewers.
The Grace Doll has been said to cause a burning sensation in the eyes of the viewer, and a ring of pain around the top of the head, which Danny reported himself.
It will be displayed with strict rules, although Danny states that to notice paranormal activity in such a busy environment would be “rare”.
While a lot of what is out there could be speculative, psychology undeniably plays a major role in paranormal experiences.
Danny mentions Ouija Boards and the ‘power of suggestion’. During a trial at ‘My Haunted Hotel’, participants exposed to names during a tour tended to spell these names with the boards.
The power of suggestion is a psychological phenomenon where an idea or belief becomes more likely to become an experience – whether real or imagination.
A study by Lange and Houran shows that when participants knew the location was ‘haunted’, they reported “significantly more intense perceptual experiences” than those who just thought it was a normal cinema.
Another study by Wiseman found that the lighting and size of the space have an effect on hauntings being reported.
‘The Unknown Girl’ was the centre of media attention last year. Already rumoured haunted, Zoe Elliott-Brown bought the painting, later reporting her mother’s health declining, and then hearing tapping for 3 nights before being chased by a black figure.
The painting was eventually auctioned to the London Bridge Experience.
Despite the cursed reputation, the charity shop disagrees. HARC declined to comment, but shared that the painting has no known haunted history. They stated that it was just a painting by a local artist, of a girl no older than 40 today.
Whether real or not, human fear can trigger a paranormal experience. While the waiver could be just a clever marketing trick to inspire fear, only viewers will know if the event is a trick or a treat.
