Overview
A family in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, says a series of unexplained encounters have haunted their two children for years. Ten‑year‑old Fae Jackson first reported seeing a faint figure and hearing a whisper—“Can you hear me?”—in her bedroom, an episode she describes as the start of a “sixth‑sense” that later extended to her younger brother, Ashley, now seven. Their mother, Lynn Jackson, 39, says the phenomenon feels less like a gift and more like an uncontrollable invisible force that she cannot protect her children from.
Family Background and Early Signs
According to Lynn, the first indications of Fae’s alleged ability emerged when she began primary school. She would describe classmates and teachers in vivid colors—“my friend is purple” or “the teacher is red”—which Lynn interpreted as possible aura perception. “She meant the color around him,” Lynn recalled, noting that such descriptions are often cited in anecdotal reports of psychic sensitivity. The family kept the experiences private, hoping they would fade, but the sightings intensified when Fae turned ten.
Reported Phenomena
Fae recounts daily encounters with apparitions: a “frustrated female spirit” that shook her bed, an elderly woman’s energy pressing against her back in the shower, and a recurring figure she calls the “druggy man,” a slumped silhouette that appears beside her at night. One of the most striking incidents involved a mirror in which she saw a human head, glowing red, perched on her shoulder—a vision she later interpreted as her late grandfather acting as a spirit guide.
Ashley’s experiences began three years later, despite Lynn’s efforts to shield him from his sister’s stories. He started refusing to enter certain rooms alone and reported seeing “a head following him around.” The parallel timing of the two children’s reports has led the mother to conclude that they may both be sensing the dead, a belief she describes as a “burden” rather than a talent.
Expert Perspective
Psychologists caution that vivid sensory experiences, especially in children, can arise from a range of factors, including heightened imagination, stress, or sleep‑related phenomena such as hypnagogic hallucinations. Dr. Eleanor Hughes, a clinical psychologist specializing in childhood anxiety, notes, “When a child repeatedly reports visual or auditory anomalies, it is essential to explore both environmental triggers and possible underlying psychological conditions before attributing them to paranormal causes.” Parapsychology researchers, while acknowledging that anecdotal cases like the Jacksons are of interest, emphasize the lack of reproducible evidence for psychic perception and advise rigorous, controlled investigation.
Broader Context
Claims of psychic abilities and hauntings have persisted across cultures, often surfacing in families under stress or during periods of significant change. In the United Kingdom, the Society for Psychical Research continues to collect and analyze such reports, but its findings remain inconclusive. The Jacksons’ story adds to a growing catalog of contemporary accounts that blur the line between subjective experience and objective verification, highlighting the challenges faced by families, clinicians, and investigators alike.
Current Situation
Lynn Jackson says she is now focused on safeguarding her children’s wellbeing rather than proving the existence of spirits. “If they had an illness, I would know where to go for help. However, there is no clear path,” she said. The family has begun consulting a local therapist familiar with trauma‑informed care, hoping to address the anxiety that the alleged sightings have generated. As the Jacksons navigate this unsettling chapter, their experience underscores the need for compassionate support and rigorous inquiry when confronting claims that sit at the intersection of psychic belief and supernatural intrusion.
