Ranked top by local ghost experts in the world’s 10 most haunted islands is a big deal. Should we celebrate for longer than just Halloween night?
Why Does Half the World's Population Believe in Ghosts?
Ghosts have haunted humanity since anyone can remember.
Lots of people have a personal ghost-encounter story.
Some who suffer loss from a recently-deceased loved one sometimes relate unexpected experiences soon after, of sensing and seeing a presence as if their lost beloved came to say a final "farewell".
Some of the deceased, including the not-so-recent, show up in photos and more lately, CCTV footage and selfies.
Atmospheric Photographs?
Among recent explanations for ghostly phenomena is the Stone Tape theory - ghosts are 'atmospheric photographs'. Scenes imprinted into a site and its surrounding environment.
The "ghost" is caused by an intense emotional moment imprinted by human drama into the location's electromagnetic mix.
A form of memory-movie that can be picked up by someone of sensitive disposition, or unluckily passing through the anomaly.
A ghost sometimes is seen roaming the battlements of Carisbrooke Castle. Island folklore identifies it as the unhappy soul of doomed king of England Charles I., imprisoned here for a year in 1647.
During his time in Carisbrooke he attempted two escapes, and failed.
King Charles quilled a book entitled "Majesty in Misery". What happened to him after was a trauma so horrifying most assumed it sufficient to cross the ghost-forming threshold required to create an atmospheric photograph.
Trauma so bad, it imprinted the king onto the battlements, to this day, haunting through weather fair and foul.
Most Haunted Small Island
Local paranormal experts claim the Isle of Wight is the world's most haunted small island but it has competition.
Weighing in with a hefty claim to that title is Poveglia in Italy, Venice’s cursed isolation isle for plague victims, 160,000 dead and buried. Countless more lost minds and lives in the asylum housed on the small islet.
But the Isle of Wight is bigger and probably suffered worse.
Undoubtedly among the world's most beautiful islands, the towering glory of west Wight and Alum bay, the awesomely picturesque sub-tropical Undercliff, to mention a fraction of the Isle of Wight's scenic wonders.
The tiny island in Venice's lagoon is beautiful too, but at a mere 7 hectares is miniscule compared to the 380 square km of Isle of Wight.
Ghost Island
The Isle of Wight's location close off the south coast of England has attracted countless attackers and invaders and a brutal 7th-century extermination event which saw the loss of three quarters of this island's inhabitants.
Unfriendly with extreme prejudice, Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans, French and Spanish slayed multiple generations of Wight folk. Tuberculosis, plague, shipwreck and disasters since the stone age burial tombs were dug, must bring the total to an unhealthy but winning host.
Wednesday Addams would holiday here.
Afterlife Options Or Just Oblivion?
Sometimes more sometimes less, roughly half the world’s population believe that when we die, we die, all that we are is snuffed out in a dark oblivion of nothingness.
You and I, our family, friends and neighbours will be no more than gift-box dust or worm food six feet under.
Most people prefer not to think about it, probably assume continuity in one form or another. Some may believe in an instant ascension, others expect to wait until time tolls the day of their Resurrection along with everyone else who believes.
A few of us may anticipate the zombie apocalypse ready with Kataklysm soundtrack loud in the headphones.
What Does the Bible Say About Ghosts?
Current favoured holy books don't say much about ghosts being atmospheric photographs. The Bible has no mention of spirits of the dead sticking around to haunt the living.
Everyone is quiet asleep waiting for the Day of Resurrection at the end of time.
The supernatural is divided into three categories:
Holy Spirit influence.
Helpful angels.
Unhelpful demons.
The ghostly figure on Carisbrooke Castle battlements must come into this last category.
'Atmospheric Photograph' may account for some forms of ghost but not all. Another explanation for ghosts is they are people, just like you and me.
Not sleeping but awake and trapped in time.
Ghost island it probably is. Welcome.