Paranormal Encounters: From Haunted Tennessee To Scotland’s Ghostly Castles

As October arrives and the veil between worlds grows thinner, it feels like the perfect time to share some of my own paranormal encounters. These stories stretch from my childhood home in Tennessee to haunted castles and battlefields in Scotland.

Growing up in a Southern Baptist household, speaking about the paranormal wasn’t exactly encouraged. But my experiences—sometimes eerie, sometimes comforting—stayed with me. Over time, I realized they weren’t imaginary. They were part of my spiritual gifts.

Today, I’m leaning into those gifts fully, developing my intuition through what are known as the five clairs. These abilities—clear seeing, hearing, feeling, knowing, and smelling—have guided me through many of these encounters.

The Five Clairs Of Psychic Intuition

Many people don’t realize they have these natural gifts. With practice, they can become stronger:

• Clairvoyance (clear seeing): Seeing visions, apparitions, or symbols through your third eye.
• Clairaudience (clear hearing): Receiving words, whispers, or inner sounds from the spirit world.
• Clairsentience (clear feeling): Chills, tingles, or sensations tied to spiritual presence.
• Claircognizance (clear knowing): Sudden, strong knowing without physical proof.
• Clairalience (clear smelling): Catching scents associated with spirits or memories.

Each of my encounters has tapped into one or more of these abilities, shaping how I experience the paranormal.

Paranormal Experiences In Tennessee

A Haunted Childhood Home

The house I grew up in always felt unsettled. At night, the hay fields filled with fog, our animals acted restless, and the silence carried a strange weight.

One night, I awoke to a woman whispering my name in my ear. The closet light was on, no one was in the room, and the rest of the house was silent. Years later, I discovered that both a sibling and my grandmother had the same exact experience in that bedroom. Another sibling even saw a shadowy mass standing in the corner of their bedroom.

The History Of Haunted Land

Research later revealed that since our home stood near the Elk River—land once inhabited by Cherokee Indians and later disrupted when the TVA created Tims Ford Lake, flooding entire towns and even relocating graves. With such deep history tied to displacement, grief, and sacred land, it’s no wonder the energy around our property felt haunted.

Haunted Castles In England And Scotland

My travels overseas brought even stronger experiences.

Hampton Court Palace, England

In the Queen’s chambers at Hampton Court Palace, I felt overwhelming chills and nausea, as if I had stepped into echoes of childbirth and grief. The energy was heavy, layered, and unmistakably haunted.

Edinburgh Castle & The South Bridge Vaults

At Edinburgh Castle, the Prisons of War carried the presence of pirates and prisoners who never left. Later, in the underground South Bridge Vaults, I encountered the infamous spirit known as Mr. Boots the Watcher. The oppressive energy in those vaults lingered long after I left, and when I returned in 2019, I felt him again.

Stirling Castle & Mary Queen of Scots

Walking through Stirling Castle, I felt a strong connection to Mary Queen of Scots. The air was heavy, the corridors unsettling, as though history itself was watching. Many believe the “Pink Lady” who haunts the castle is Mary herself, and I could feel her presence all around.

Glencoe And The Massacre of 1692

At Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, silence met us under drizzling rain. The land still carries the grief of the 1692 Glencoe Massacre, when Clan MacDonald was betrayed and slaughtered by soldiers of Clan Campbell. Standing in the glen, I could almost hear the cries in the wind—a haunting that goes beyond legend.

The Battle Of Culloden

The most powerful site I visited was Culloden Moor, the battlefield of the Jacobite Rising of 1746. My clair senses were overwhelming—I could see and hear the cries of the Highlanders, feel their sorrow, and sense the weight of lives lost. It was more than history—it felt like ancestral memory.

Paranormal Encounters In The Smoky Mountains

Not all experiences happened abroad. One of the most recent occurred in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

One night, through clairvoyance, I saw a Native American man in a white feathered headdress sitting silently in the loft corner. At first, I was afraid—until I heard through clairaudience, “Do not be afraid.”

Research revealed the Cherokee once lived in the Smokies until forced out by the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Whether he was a spirit tied to the land or one of my guides, his presence was protective. He reminded me of my healing gifts, encouraging me not to give up on my spiritual path.

Why Paranormal Stories Matter

Not every paranormal story is terrifying. Some are lessons, reminders, or even encouragements from the other side. My experiences have confirmed that my psychic gifts are real, and they’ve taught me never to hide them out of fear of judgment.

If you’ve had encounters of your own, know that you aren’t alone. Sensitivity to the unseen isn’t strange—it’s part of being human. But always remember: protect yourself, respect the spirits, and never investigate without permission.

Closing Reflections

From a haunted childhood home in Tennessee to the battlefields of Culloden, the paranormal has walked with me across time and place. These encounters aren’t just ghost stories—they’re windows into history, ancestry, and the mysteries of the soul.

Have you ever had a paranormal experience? I’d love to hear your story. Share it in the comments, or send it directly to me—I may feature it in a future post.

Until then, may you walk gently through this season when the veil is thin, and may the spirits who find you bring wisdom, healing, and connection.

By Candlelight,

HN Staples

"The paranormal is not the absence of reason, but the presence of mysteries our senses are too small to hold." -HN Staples