Blog 36: "October Ghost Stories, Haunted Dolls"

"Child's Play," The Movie
Remember Chucky? From the movie, "Child's Play," released on 11/09/1988 in the USA. I was in high school at that time, and I can recall the success of this movie. Not just at the box office, but scaring the daylights out of all of us! Especially, those of us who had an appreciation for dolls.

I had a lot of dolls growing up, and my friend Maria and I would play with our dolls for hours. From my house to hers, we were all about Barbie dolls and other types of dolls. I collected a lot of dolls and kept them for many years, as I plan to keep (some) of my daughter's dolls as well. As I began to understand more about life, as I thought I did as a growing child, I remember looking at all of my dolls thinking, "What if they come to life at night while I am asleep, or gone to school?" At one point, I used to believe that all of my toys came to life when we were not at home, (I understand Andy - "Toy Story"). Overtime, my imagination got the best of me, and I started putting those dolls away in storage in our attic, including the doll houses. I did not have to look at them, looking at me, with their eyes open any longer. Not to mention the dolls whose eye would open and close pending how you held the doll in your arms.

When the movie, "Child's Play" hit the big screen, it was only confirmation bias toward my beliefs and/or questions about dolls, lol. Makes me laugh! Make no mistake, Child's Play is a horror film and it will make you react exactly how the Director, Tom Holland, wants you to which is to jump in fear. After watching Child's Play, all bets were off for me to have any dolls in my bedroom. However, the question remains, "Can dolls be haunted?" ​

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​Haunted Dolls
Whether or not dolls can be possessed has been a topic of discussion for many years, long before my existence. Haunted doll collectors will tell you yes, dolls can be haunted. Nebulous Children will tell you yes, all toys can be possessed by Dark Angels. What I will tell you is to be careful with what you bring into your home. 

Some of you appreciate collecting dolls from various cities or countries when you travel. However, try not to be so quick to bring those dolls into your home. You never know the type of rituals that are practiced, or who presides over those customs. Someone close to me brought back some statues from another country. I went over to the home to visit, and walked in and saw those statues. I had a very bad feeling that was not paranoia, but what was strange was that my oldest daughter who was maybe 3-years-old at the time, would NOT go near those statues. Trust kids! I said, "You have to burn those statues and remove them from your home." This person thought I was just joking around, but I was serious. Weeks later, I asked about those statues and this person said to me, "I got rid of those statues because everyone who came around me had a weird feeling about them." 

Every walk into a home and see a large gathering of dolls, as shown within the above picture? I have and it is creepy  to me, just a bunch of eyes starting at you as if they are human. How do we deal with those fake faces, and unsettled feelings about dolls? Mannequins even have power right? Walk into a department store at night! Some dolls even make strange noises which adds to their creepiness, as if they are ventriloquized. Dead eyes, frozen stare? Sounds like they are haunted to me and it can be frightening, especially to children. Now, add the ability to see ghosts to the equation. Understand why many Nebulous Children prefer not to have dolls?

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Haunted Doll Possessions​
Dolls can be beautifully designed. Most of them are gorgeous, adorable, and easy to purchase for our children. Dolls are perceived as harmless and can put kids in a good mood, especially with the ability to change their clothes and hair. However, haunted dolls are a thing, and can be purchased. The question is, do you know what is haunting the doll, or possessed it when you purchase it? The answer is no and that is the problem.

Nebulous Children can see ghosts, and have told me that any toy can be possessed. Nebulous Children can see the actual ghost that "hides" near the doll making it move. In building 2, all of the Nebulous Children saw ghosts that would activate the toys or make them move or start their sounds. It was not just one child or one toy, but all of the children who could see ghosts witnessed this phenomenon in various parts of the building. It was incredibly scary because when they would leave the building, I still had to be there, and with the dolls and other toys.

Many of you have memories of haunted dolls and toys, just as Nebulous Children and I have experienced them. I noticed that a few of the parents would embrace these dolls and toys with the hope that they will conjure up a spirit to talk to, or that something will happen by way of these toys. The cuteness of the dolls would make it easier to talk to the ghosts, and make them feel more comfortable. Yes, until they look like Annabelle. Remember Annabelle? She was no ordinary doll. "Annabelle" the movie, and "The Conjuring" are closely related with original stories deriving from the 1970s. 

The Conjuring frightened millions of us and to this day, I cannot watch it again. It was far too real to me after working with Nebulous Children for many years, especially given their own homes being haunted. Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are now both deceased, were paranormal investigators who worked with the families from The Conjuring movie, The Amityville Horror, and also Poltergeist, which are other movies that I decline to watch during Halloween. There are stories written about the Warrens working with the original family, who owned the Annabelle doll in the 1970s, which is when the possessions allegedly started with the family. Personally, I do not like possessions at all which is why I will not view these movies again, although I do currently own a Raggedy Ann doll. 

*On a side note: I have a close friend who grew up near Amityville. My friend confirmed to me years ago, before I worked with any Nebulous Child, that the story is true and that the home was possessed.*
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​Will You Still Purchase Dolls?
After all of these scary doll movies, working with Nebulous Children, and witnessing toys in building 2 move and work without any children playing with them, yes I would still purchase dolls if my girls were still little. However, no porcelain dolls or statues from various places, don't judge me. However, I did purchase a doll on a trip with my husband for my youngest daughter from an island. I thought the doll was so cute and it felt like a safe purchase. Once we arrived back home and I gave it to her, she would not play with it. I flashed back to my oldest daughter not going near those statues mentioned above, and I permanently took the doll and put it away. I still have it somewhere within my home, along with the bear from building 2. Check your dolls. I am sure that they are watching you!

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN - with lots of candy!
Image Credit:
​Haunted Dolls photo located on www.vox.com, Getty Images
Chucky image, www.strangeharbors.com
Annabelle image, www.m.imbd.com

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