Visiting the vicarage of Borgvattnet

My father is of the same opinion, and I guess that was why he thought he found the best birthday present ever for me a couple of years ago.  He declared to me that the present was spending the All Saints day, Halloween, in the northeast of Jämtland, Sweden, at Borgvattnet´s vicarage.

This was the time when I somewhat regretted my attitude, perhaps it had been better to be a non-believer in strange unexplainable things. This could have been the moment when I had gotten a SPA-weekend instead. But no, it was too late to back out at this point.

We drove north through valleys, farms and deep green forests until we reached the small village of Borgvattnet north of Hammarstrand in Ragunda, Jämtland. I entered the mysterious old vicarage with mixed feelings and a kind of horrified delight of what was to come. How would I react if something actually happened? Something I had never experienced before? What if I was proven right about the fact that there are unexplainable phenomenon?

We met with another family who were to stay overnight in one of the other rooms of the house. Together we got the grand tour and the host told us about the mysterious rocking chair, the strange images in the mirror, the crying ladies room, the singing radiators, the weird light reflections, the footsteps and, and…

The night I learned to use a divining rod to communicate with ghosts…

Then we got introduced to what we learned was the most important tool of all when it comes to the supernatural. A divining rod, not to search for water, but to be able to communicate with the spirits. With great enthusiasm we entered our new profession of being ghost hunters! We went from room to room with that same feeling as when you as a kid play the infamous urban legend game ”Madame in Black”. Curious and terrified of what was to come we went all in, and yes, things did began to happen…

It is all surreal and a bit embarrassing to write about now, but it was there and then when I for the first time sensed the presence of other energies, a distinct feeling of coldness inside. A bit like having half of the body standing in a freezer while the other half is in a sauna. I froze to the marrow as the divining rod in my hands gave signals of unknown presences.

When it was time to sleep my dad and I were placed in the room of the crying ladies “Gråterskornas rum”. The room has its name from the stories of people having experienced three crying ladies sitting on the sofa of the room. My dad and I asked the spirits which side to choose of the double bed in the room and I was placed next to the window. We felt it best to keep the lights on and we both had difficulties falling in sleep.

By midnight we still had not fallen asleep but as the clock turned one AM, I finally came to rest. I woke up suddenly from the strange feeling of having a large block of concrete on top of my body, like I could not move no matter what. I lay there like I was glued to the bed and that is really as close as I can get in describing the feeling. I did not see the ladies crying, but the presence of something unknown was not something I could get away from. The whole scenario lasted for about ten minutes and then it was like if nothing had ever happened. I was wide awake and it seemed my father was sleeping quite well. When he woke up he complained about the branches touching the window keeping him from sleeping. The strange thing is, there are no branches or trees next to the building…

The day after the questions popped up – did I dream it all? What should I tell friends and relatives at home? I could hear myself as I was trying to give a good explanation…

My dad and I spoke of our experiences, but it is not something we necessarily want to tell others. We share those memories my father and I, and we will always carry them with us, even if we may not ever be sure of what really happened. I am still convinced though, life is more fun if you dare to believe in what you can not describe!