The Enfield Poltergeist Case, England: 15 Months 1977 to 1978
PK energy (psychokinesis, or the ability to move objects through the power of one's mind), which is what poltergeists are widely considered to be. Other theories are that spirits use the PK energy to do tricks. "Some people, often teenage boys or girls at the age of puberty, seemed to be able to extrude an unknown kind of force that was capable of intelligent action...ghosts, or spirits of the dead, were somehow able to manifest themselves by absorbing energy from their victims and putting it to their mysterious purposes" (22).
Based on everything I now understand about poltergeist phenomena, it sounds like both things at once since the former is the psychological approach and the latter is a more spirit-based one.
Phenomena: (all happened many times throughout the course of the poltergeist episode)
- knocking on walls/floors/knocking that followed people around
- throwing things around (marbles, Legos); when the objects were picked up, they were burning hot
- overturning tables/chairs
- spontaneous combustion
- constant electrical issues with equipment, usually draining power very quickly
- shuffling sound across floor
- a heavy chest of drawers/chairs slid along the floor on their own
- being hit with flying debris (several people experienced this); things would pick themselves up and drop onto the floor
- odd objects would appear where they shouldn't and without people seeing them placed/appearing there; objects that should bounce also wouldn't as if they were being stopped by an invisible force or balanced in a slightly impossible/precise way
- photo phenomena (a hole appeared in the picture negative as if someone poked it through with a needle)
- furniture with people on it (usually Janet) jumping up by itself and twisting itself around 180 degrees
- Janet went into several trances over this period of time that resembled unconsciousness; she also went through personality changes and seemingly changed at times into someone else
- doors opened/closed/slammed on their own
- Janet passed through a solid wall somehow; she was picked up and taken through the apartment wall by some type of force
Enfield had much of the same phenomena repeating, but these were the main highlights. What's interesting about Enfield is quite similar in phenomena to what happens in demonic cases, especially in the beginning; however, what really separates the experiences is the lack of an evil presence (it wasn't mentioned once in Enfield), intensity, and malice. There was a certain level of intensity to the phenomena, but it wasn't to the level that demons get once they truly get going (think 20 on a 10-point scale) nor did this case display the cruelty demons exhibit towards humans in their behavior. This was not a demon but since this case was used (for some reason) in The Conjuring 2, I think it's important to note that this was not a demonic case at all.
Michael Taylor/Ossett Murder, England: 1974
Michael Taylor's troubles began when he became a part of a Christian Fellowship group after financial issues; he claimed to have felt something evil after becoming close to the female preacher.
Now, something that has come up in other possession narratives is an element of voluntarily opening oneself up to something mistaken for God that is not. Soon, Taylor began speaking in tongues as he enthusiastically embroiled himself deeper into the church. Eventually, he ended up eventually slapping the preacher, Marie Robinson (who he'd felt an intense attraction to) after what he described as a "sinister transformation". Robinson had rejected his advances and that's when Taylor began to change into something "bestial" while yelling in other languages. Taylor then slapped her, hard, and it was difficult to restrain him though many people grabbed him (so unnatural strength is present, a marker of possession phenomena.) Right before the slap, Taylor stated that he saw an illusion of Marie transforming into something with slitted-eyes; he felt evil within him and appeared naked in front of her—he tried to resist the carnal feelings but couldn't; Marie said that Michael came on to her and she resisted his advances. The attack was during a service and witnessed by many other parishioners.
Though he didn't have a history of mental illness, I like to keep it in mind that demonic possession and some mental illnesses can mimic each other; then unnecessary exorcisms happen, which are dangerous and can result in people's deaths. But that piece of phenomena about feeling an evil presence cannot be ignored: all, not some, ALL demonic narratives feature that. Jinn intrusions don't, dybbukim interference doesn't—but with demons, it's the marker of how you know what you're dealing with. I always keep listening further to make absolutely sure.
Taylor also went through personality changes, which is very common in these narratives, changing into someone angry/irritable/sullen/lacking joy, especially in public; he started doing weird things like spitting on people claiming it was "the milk of human kindness", which would probably be how demons view humanity as a whole. (They appear to hate us, seen in their malicious behavior towards people.)
During the exorcism, Michael went through convulsions/screaming/biting/scratching/spitting like an animal, and had to be tied down; one of the congregation involved in the exorcism felt very strongly that Michael would hurt his wife, Christine, if they let him go, which they did out of sheer exhaustion (this can happen if the exorcist is not adequately prepared beforehand).
Seemingly, Taylor was sent home without exorcising all the demons and he murdered his wife and the family dog (both had been seriously mutilated). The congregation claimed they cast out 40 demons but left three "murder, violence, and insanity". I just have to say that I personally think they should have addressed those first, but that's me (perhaps they were the most powerful and therefore, the most difficult to expel). I'm not an exorcist.
Taylor was discovered naked, roaming streets, covered in blood, and claimed he was covered in "the Devil's blood", which landed him in an institution for the next few years. When released, he was arrested for inappropriately touching an underage girl. He was apparently exhibiting the same type of behavior at the time before he murdered Christine (but this could be hearsay).
This entire case implies that murder is not something every demon is capable of since if it was just any old demon in any of these more publicized cases, then there would be much more murder directly linked to all cases. It's very rare to have murder present (only a few modern cases ever where they were clearly possessed when perpetrating the crime.)
What makes me think this is inherently demonic is the presence of the big three in my acronym for demonic versus other types of phenomena: EPIM. Evil Presence, Intensity, and Malice. It sounds like Michael opened himself to this other presence when wholeheartedly embracing the church and then it bypassed infestation/oppression because he gave himself over willingly. It's only the unwilling that get subjected to the mental/physical stimulus torture of breaking down one's will for possession.
His behavior could possibly be jinn, but it's unlikely with the noting of the evil presence and the outright hatred for humanity. Jinn aren't known for that, though they can be very negative presences that are unfriendly/even outright dangerous to humans. More research is needed on my part to make that full distinction.
Derry, Ireland - Date Undisclosed
- a couple began having strange occurrences that sound demonic in nature:
- a rosary and crucifix were torn from where they were and thrown across the room; prayer card bursting into flames
- holy water used for the blessing boiled then froze
- uncontrollable vomiting from one of the men in the house.
The phenomena is compelling with this one, especially the sincere hatred of holy articles. Unfortunately, not much else is reported but a cleansing prayer was done, which seemingly got rid of it though it must not have been very powerful to leave without a fight (or the exorcist was incredibly effective).
Belfast, Ireland - 2010
- holy pictures thrown off the walls
- screaming during the middle of the night could be heard
- talk of an evil spirit there, having to flee (though many people mistake very negative for evil-something to look forward to)
- the young son was taken from his bed and thrown onto the floor
- prayers were said by the family but interrupted immediately by banging upstairs and they found their clothes on the floor
There isn't a ton of detail in these cases from Ireland, but they have markers I look for: intense hatred of anything holy and an almost allergic reaction to prayers, holy objects, etc. alongside people being thrown, becoming very ill and so on. Only demons truly react that way with holy articles; they are bound by certain rules in our world. How or why is not what I study since I look at the patterns of these narratives, but it does raise very interesting questions and theories.
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References
Knowles, Zachary. 2017. True Ghost Stories: Real Demonic Possessions and Exorcisms.
Playfair, Guy Lyon. 2011. This House is Haunted: The True Story of the Enfield Poltergeist.
Rush, Chris. 2017. “Demonic Possession Cases Still Shock and Terrify Ireland.” https://www.spookyisles.com/demonic-possession-ireland/
Wan, James, dir. 2016. The Conjuring 2.
