Vampiric Entity or Shadow Being?

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Hello Bishop Manchester. When I was a child I use to see a black figure moving across my window. It moved at a very fast speed. It looked like it was wearing a cloak, no facial or body features, that's the best way I can desribe it. I always though I was seeing things until one day when I was twelve, I was outside playing with my dog when I seen it moving across the back of my house, I know I saw something because my dog growled at it! I didn't see it for many years after that, but about two years ago, I woke up during the middle of the night, and lifted my head to see what time it was, when I did so I THINK saw the same black figure standing at the foot of my bed. I quickly gasped for air and put my head back down, about two seconds later I lifted my head back up and their was nothing there. Maybe I was tired and my eyes were playing tricks on me. What do you think these shadow beings are? - Ruben

While a number of witnesses believe that shadow beings act as benevolent guardians watching over us, just as many witnesses have no doubt they are demonic. Some believe shadow beings to be ghosts, but the many stories received and compiled convince others that these beings are a type of inter-dimensional phenomenon from which apparition is only one sub-category. Serious research into this paranormal (and possibly psychological) genre will paint a clearer understanding of the nature and make-up of these dark mysterious beings. One thing you can be sure of is that your experience is by no means unique.

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Shadow-like creatures of modern folklore are attested by many witnesses who claim dark forms, seen mostly in peripheral vision, appear like flitting phantoms in cloaks, hoods and sometimes hats. Reports of shadow beings are not dissimilar in many ways to ghost sightings.

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Shadow beings are typically described as black humanoid silhouettes with no discernible mouths, noses or facial expressions, child-sized humanoids, or shapeless masses that sometimes change to human like form and featuring eyes that are either glowing or not apparent. Movement is said to be quick and disjointed, and some stories describe the visible outline of a cloak, and sometimes a wide-brimmed hat.

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Images seen in peripheral areas of vision can be caused by pareidolia, a condition in which the brain incorrectly interprets random patterns of light/shadow or texture as being familiar patterns such as faces and human forms. The same condition can also be observed in macular vision in low light conditions, or when viewing a complex but random image. A common example would be perceiving a shadow, thrown by an item of furniture in a darkened room, as being a person. Hypnagogia, also known as "waking-sleep," a physiological condition in which a person is part-way between sleeping and waking, can also account for such perceptions. During hypnagogia, a person can be conscious and aware of their environment, but also in a dream-like state where they can perceive images from their subconscious. People experiencing waking-sleep commonly report the sensation of lights or shadows moving around them, as well as other visual hallucinations. A feeling of dread is also a sensation that occurs when experiencing hypnagogia. Hypnagogia is sometimes known as faces in the dark phenomenon because those who experience this state commonly report seeing faces while experiencing waking-sleep. Similar hypotheses have been put forward linking this condition to a number of other apparent paranormal experiences, including alien abductions, paranormal nocturnal visitations, and religious experiences such as contact with angels or demons.

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My own view is that your experience could be any of the above. I am always struck how the aliens in popular culture, sometimes called "greys," frequently resemble depictions of demons in past ages; especially medieval paintings. I do not believe in alien abductions or aliens walking among us. I do, on the other hand, know that demons sometimes invade our environment and sometimes attempt to interfere in our lives and even possess us.

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Bishop Manchester. For personal reasons I don't want to disclose my identity. But what you have said in regards to the existence of vampires and their nature I believe to be true. I previously lived in a small town in the Plains States of the US. Approximately one year ago I encountered what I believe to have been a vampire while living in this small town. The day it occured I had checked out a copy of Bram Stocker's Dracula. I also checked out a book dealing with some folklore surrounding vampires. Oddly, in this very small rural town I also came across a copy of fictional vampires/occult stories from Russia. Anyway. Later that night I went to bed, having read only a small portion of the books. I knew very little about real vampire folklore at the time. I awoke in the middle of the night and discovered I had left a light on in my bathroom. I was about to get up to turn it off. For some reason I decided not to and went back to bed. I later woke again and then chose to turn off the light. Finally, just prior to dawn I was startled awake by the growling and barking of my dog (a pit bull) in my room (I used to sleep in my living room). I could barely see him, since it was still very dark and only a limited amount of diffused dawn light was available through a window across from me in the kitchen. I told him to "shut up" thinking he was barking at some one walking near my house. He obeyed, and slowly returned to his bed/box not too far from my bed. Just then as I was laying down again, I saw the black figure of a very tall/gaunt man move out of the living room and into the kitchen. I saw him as he passed the kitchen window I mentioned earlier. I sensed that he exited via my back door located in the kitchen. He moved at an incredible speed. Again there was very little dawn light. I was shocked, got up and turned on the lights. Later I began to read the books I checked out and did some internet research thinking that perhaps my interest in the topic drew such a being towards me. What I discovered is that (1) in Eastern European folklore a vampire can be disuaded if a candle is lit near the sleeper and (2) vampires can take on the shape of a slender tall mist like form. On another occasion I had a dream about a blond man with crystal blues and very pale skin with blue blood vessels on his face. He began to try to hypnotize me with his eyes. I felt totally overpowered in the dream. As if a force was pushing against me and into my mind. I then turned my head down to the ground and began praying to God. Immediately the dream ended. I also prayed after the incident mentioned above and haven't experienced anything further. I think my interest in the occult may have drawn this to me, though I am only interested in fighting such entities - not dabbling in the occult. It should be noted that I later discovered that (1) there was at least one young woman in town attempting to be a witch and (2) she was friends with a couple who claimed to be practicing Satanists; also living in this same town. I admire persons who fight against these beings and believe what you have said about Highgate. Again please forgive me and I apologize for not leaving my whole/Christian name. I will however use my middle name which is Bradley.

I suspect you might be right when you attribute the possibility of this interference being your own fascination with things occult and having diabolists active nearby. There is also the possibility of it being yet another shadow being with a psychological explanation. Having said that, the demonic aspect cannot be discounted, and I would put more store in the protection afforded by a silver crucifix, holy water and other religious items blessed by your priest rather than a candle flickering throughout the night; though I can understand why you would want to bring light into your immediate dark environment at such a time. Prayer is also extremely beneficial when something seemingly unearthly has occurred, or is still occurring, but do not attempt exorcism unless you absolutely know what you are doing and, even then, make certain it is the appropriate formula intended for use by laity.

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