Scarecrows go back to the Viking days. These spirits mean to protect a town or plot of land, but that protective nature can lead to some dangerous situations. Learn why scarecrows haunt places, how to protect yourself, and take the poll after the jump.

What are scarecrow spirits?

The fence warned, “No Trespassing,” but I ignored it. I didn’t think anything would happen. Then the air turned cold. Twigs snapped. My flashlight flickered, and a shadow loomed across the corn. I looked up, and the scarecrow was watching me: Its eyes glowing, arms spread wide, silently daring me to take another step.

Scarecrows go way back to Viking days. The farmers and villagers would put out a scarecrow to keep evil spirits from destroying crops, killing livestock and bringing disease to the town.

Sometimes, the scarecrow would become too protective because it would get possessed by nature spirits. Usually, these spirits would eliminate any threat to the plants and animals of the village. That means it would kill anything that seemed dangerous including people.

Some of the nature spirits would need human sacrifices before planting crops. Otherwise, the spirits would make sure the crops failed and the village starved. These sacrifice methods led to what we know of scarecrows today. The pagans of the day would take the sacrifice, do a little ceremony to offer the human to the nature spirits, and then cut their throats, and hang them in the fields.

Other scarecrow spirits are linked to a protector from the town or farm. That means it could be a deceased farmer, a sheriff, fireman, mayor – you get the idea. In some cases, the spirit comes from a dog that protected the land.

What places do scarecrows haunt?

I biked this road a thousand times and laughed at the scarecrow on the corner, just a silly Halloween decoration. But tonight felt different. I pedaled faster, heart beating hard. When I looked back, the scarecrow wasn’t propped up anymore. It was chasing me, head tilted, eyes bright, wearing a smile too wide, too playful, to mean anything good.

Scarecrows stick to rural settings, but that’s about it. Most of them have an anchor that keeps them bound to an area. Now, the area could be anything from a field, farmhouse, small country church, tree or thicket of brush.

Its historic haunting pattern will determine how much range it has. If you never see the scarecrow leave its field, then it’s bound to the soil. That may mean there’s a body in the field. In cases where it haunts an entire town, then it may be a former protector (mentioned earlier).

What do scarecrows want?

The old barn was supposed to be empty, forgotten. But on nights like this … when the moon is hidden, and the stars refuse to shine … chants echo across the fields. Tonight, peering inside, I saw figures in robes, their voices rising. Straw rustled, a figure stirred, and a scarecrow shuddered awake, sewn symbols glowing ominously on its burlap skin.

In general, protector spirits only want to keep the town and its residents safe from harm. They won’t harm anyone unless the victim is truly evil and wants to hurt people. In some cases, these scarecrows have appeared on country roads and caused people to drive into a ditch. It’s unintentional.

Nature spirits want to keep the land and its plants and animals safe from human harm. These scarecrows are much more difficult to handle because they don’t care if they hurt humans. Ideally, the best thing to do is stay clear of them and their haunting range. If you hear rumors about these guys, then don’t pollute, don’t say negative things about the area, and don’t say nasty things about the locals.

How do you clear scarecrow spirits?

The harvest moon rose blood-red tonight, staining the fields in eerie shadows. I’d come to document local legends, expecting folklore, nothing more. But the scarecrow I photographed wasn’t on its pole anymore. Its eyes burned like coals, straw limbs twisted into claws, and as it drew closer, I dropped my camera … running … praying … I’d reach the road in time.

You can remove them by destroying their anchors. That could be difficult because the anchor could be the land itself—a very tough task. Also, most of the clearing techniques require fire. You could easily burn down the entire town by doing that, so don’t even go there.

I think the best thing to do is bind the scarecrow spirit to its post. You can do that by securing it with iron nails, iron wire and salting the soil directly below it. You will need to check the nails, wire and re-salt throughout the year.

Scarecrow Spirit Poll

Don’t forget to leave a comment with your scarecrow experience!

Have you ever encountered a scarecrow spirit?

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Thanks for reading Ghostly Activities. Much appreciated and take care!