Ghostly Types: The Woman in White
A ‘Woman in White’ ghost is a common ghost or spirit. Legend has it, a young woman was spurned by a lover or lost a child. She dies – usually a suicide – and returns as a ghost. Sometimes, she’s vengeful. Sometimes, she continues her sad existence. Let’s learn more about these ghostly ladies and their origins.
Woman-in-White Ghostly Origin
The ‘Woman in White’ legend originates in Mexico as La Llorona, the crying woman. If the legend is true, it’s the story a beautiful woman who loved the wrong man. Dona Luisa de Loveros fell madly in love with a handsome, married man, Don Nuno de Montesclaros. They had 2 children together, but he wouldn’t marry her. This drove her to madness and she killed her children. Authorities found her wandering by a bridge and sobbing uncontrollably. They hanged her for her crimes. She now haunts lonely stretches of road or abandoned bridges. If she finds a child left alone, she steals him away to the ghostly realm or drowns him.
In most instances, these spirits act like residual hauntings. They don’t interact with witnesses. In the 1 in 100 cases, the woman in white ghost is vengeful and attacks people travelling alone. We believe she acts like this due to loneliness: She wants someone to comfort her and forgive her for what she’s done.
Other Types Of Woman-in-White Ghosts
In other parts of the world, there are similar legends and spirits. In Russia, the spirit is called Baba Yaga. She lives deep in a forest, but doesn’t go looking for the living. She waits for them to find her. Then, she guts them and eats them. If you are looking for a lost child in the woods, she may help you find the missing child without out eating you. I didn’t find any information about what exactly she wants from you, but she’ll want something.
How To Clear A Woman-in-White Ghost
How do you banish a woman in white? Hard to say. The spirit may finally move on because her binding energy depletes, or she gets vengeance on the person who spurned her. I didn’t find anything in my research to indicate banishing tactics work.
Our advice, if you see a young woman, sobbing, and walking along dark roads or bridges at night, keep driving and don’t look back.
Jacob Rice has over 16-years experience investigating ghostly activities. He currently calls the Pacific Northwest home. When he’s not sleuthing, you can find him chasing after a pack of rescued mutts.