Reapers, Creepers and Shadow People: A Theory Inspired by Ghost Adventures at Waverly Hills

I finally had a chance to watch last week’s Waverly Hills Ghost Adventures episode. I was sorry it took me so long to watch. Waverly Hills is one of my favorite haunted places.

It’s because of the shadow people. They fascinate me as much as they scare me.

A painting of Shadow People I did when I was 16

THE THEORY

But something occurred to me as I was watching Zak, Aaron, and Nick investigate the haunted sanitarium, a theory about shadow people.

Maybe it’s one that’s already been proposed, but I haven’t seen it yet. It wasn’t among the theories proposed by Stephen Wagner on his About.com article addressing the shadow people phenomenon. (And he pretty thoroughly covered all the bases I’ve ever seen addressed on the topic.) So here’s what I wonder:

Instead of ghosts, demons, or aliens could shadow people be grim reapers that haven’t yet moved on? 

I got to wondering this when one of the people Zak was interviewing spoke about the “Creeper” who’s been reported at Waverly Hills. That was a name I hadn’t heard yet in association with the building.

But it caught my attention not just because of the name, but because people say they’ve seen it creeping along the ceiling.

WHAT LURKS ABOVE?

Twice now I’ve been in hospitals or hospital like settings (functioning ones, not abandoned ones) where I felt presences and had the oddest notion they were on the ceiling.

The first time was when I was in the delivery room as my friend’s baby was born. The second time was when my mom was in the hospice and had slipped into her Death Sleep.

Even though they were different occassions, the energy in the room felt the same both times. It was a sort of sizzling vibration of activity. Not people bustling about kind of activity. More like the air was filled and charged and ready to act.

And there was the ceiling presence. I couldn’t see it with my eyes, but I sure sensed it in the room with me. Specifically, above me.

REAPERS MAY NOT BE SO GRIM

After my mom passed, I mentioned the weird experience I’d had to some of  the nurses and other staff at the hospice. (As an aside, one of them even shared a fantastic book with me called Final Gifts. I highly recommend it if you ever have to deal with the death of someone close to you.) That’s when I learned many of them felt there were “beings” (for lack of a better word) who come to guide us as we transition from life into death.

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In other words, they believed in the notion of a Grim Reaper. What’s more, they believe its probably gotten a bad rap all this time.

Yes, it’s scary to die. It’s scary to think of Death coming to claim us.

But what if it’s not the bad thing we all assume it to be? What if the Reaper is really more of a helpful guide?

Assuming there are such “transition beings,” here’s some other questions I got to thinking about:

  1. What happens to Reapers when a hospital closes? Do they know to move on? Is it possible they stay behind, or are somehow trapped?
  2. Do Reapers have life spans too? Who comes to guide them when they die? If nothing does do they stay behind as ghosts? Or is that how shadow people are born?
  3. What about all the x-rays taken over the years at Waverly? Does that kind of technology increase or faciliate paranormal activity? Are there more shadow people in places where x-ray machines were in use?

Just a few of the things the Ghost Adventures boys got me to thinking about. What are your thoughts? (Either about shadow people or anything else the Ghost Adventures Crew might have ever made you ponder.)

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9 Comments

  1. Well, on one of the Ghost Adventures Episodes there was this treating hospital for tuberculosis which is a respiratory disease. Anyways while they were getting the info of what they had seen there in the past they talked about a creeper… It was a ghostly figure known for not walking but crawling and it has been seen crawling on the ceilings. So the hospital was closed down for some time, maybe the creeper is a trapped death? So if the ghostly figure could climb on walls perhaps this is the presence you felt? – Bryce

  2. O.O just figured out i was talking about the Waverly Hills Sanatorium…my bad.

  3. O.O just figured out i was talking about the Waverly Hills Sanatorium…my bad.

  4. No harm, no foul, Bryce! Thanks for the comment and taking the time to stop by. 😉

  5. Personally, I think their may be more to this creeper than you think. What’s the one Demon you rarely ever think about nowadays? Legion. I’m thinking that this creeper is this demon, mainly because it’s been seen before, and I believe that the Demon would look like such. It’s been seen before, but from what i know, It’s only been seen in mental and tuberculosis hospitals, and those usually have the highest rate of hauntings. As a Demonologist, I have a feeling about these things, like a hunch. But I’m pretty sure on this one.

  6. Author

    Interesting perspective, #6. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your opinion.

  7. I know this was posted some time ago but I want to share what I know so others could learn.
    Please keep an open mind, I share only my experiences.
    Thank you.

    Reapers are individual beings, much like us humans are. they think, they feel emotions, sadness, anger, happiness and even love. Reapers can DO both ‘good’ and ‘evil’ depending on the individual choices of course, they are like humans, free willed. Thus being grey in nature.

    Most Reapers can seem distant and indifferent to humans that’s because most of them like it that way, yes, they LIKE IT THAT WAY – – It would be like having a pet lamb before you slaughtered it type thing if they didn’t..

    But not all wish to remain indifferent, some can come into contact with humans without the intention of taking their life. I myself have experienced this. Some Reapers can and ARE guides and teachers and protectors of certain human beings. I will say this is very rare. But some Reapers actually watch over us as protectors and guides in our physical life. (before we die)

    Most Reapers will escort humans to the after life, but some can go on different paths such as interacting with humans in different ways.

    A Reaper CANNOT be trapped unless somehow unwillingly bound by someone. Which is unlikely, Reapers are NOT weak beings and can handle themselves very well.

    Reapers may very well dwell in hospitals because a lot of people die in them, so a Reaper may have several appointments at a single hospital.

    Reapers CANNOT die, in a human sense. They can however, cease to exist.

    All in all Reapers are highly Magickal beings and are very powerful, they are individual and each one is different in personality and preference.

    As for creepers, I do not know nearly as much about them as I do reapers but I will share what I know…

    Creepers are made up of shadow and darkness, they are there to protect the dead. They are also individual beings of free will. They can come in contact with certain humans and interact with them. They are very dark in nature but are also capable of doing good/feeling compassion.

    Creepers are NOT demons, they are just very dark natured, and can cause nightmares and hallucinations even insanity. Powerful entities not to be messed with.

    Hope you kept an open mind while reading, while I know some of you will disagree, that is fine. These are just my experiences and the knowledge I have gained through working with the metaphysical.

  8. Author

    Hi Miss Bloodmoon! THANK YOU for your thorough comments. I am in the process of writing a post about shadow people in particular. I’ll now be referring to your insightful comments as well. I’ll leave you the link as soon as I have it up. Just wanted to really quick thank you for taking the time to comment.

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