Special Edition: Whispers on the Wind – Unveiling Jekyll Island's Paranormal Past with the Green Sight PART 1

Greetings, fellow travelers on the path of the unseen!

Even on vacation, the "Green Sight" never truly rests. As I write this, I'm nestled on the beautiful shores of St. Simons Island, enjoying a much-needed Memorial Weekend 2025 getaway with my son (29) and my two grandsons (17 and 11). We've spent our days soaking in the coastal charm and, true to the spirit of inquiry, delving into the rich histories of both St. Simons and its captivating neighbor, Jekyll Island.

But it was a specific experience last night—a truly atmospheric trolley ghost tour—that ignited an irresistible spark. The tales whispered in the twilight, combined with the palpable sense of history clinging to the island, propelled me to dedicate this special edition of "Oracle of the Green Sight" to Jekyll Island. For this first part, we'll peel back the layers of this fascinating place, tracing its ancient origins and the profound spiritual imprints left long before the Gilded Age. The threads of the paranormal are woven deeply here, and I can't wait to share what my Green Sight has absorbed from this unique landscape.

Echoes of Ancient Shores: Discovery and Native Roots

Before the grand mansions, before the railway tycoons and industrial magnates, Jekyll Island was simply land. A vibrant, fertile crescent emerging from the Atlantic, shaped by tides and wind, and teeming with life. For thousands of years, this island, like much of the Georgia coast, was home to Indigenous peoples. The primary inhabitants were the Guale (pronounced "GWAH-lee"), a Muscogee-speaking people who thrived on the rich marine resources of the salt marshes and estuaries. [1]

These early inhabitants lived in profound harmony with the rhythms of the land and sea, developing sophisticated cultures and spiritual practices. Their animistic beliefs saw spirits residing in every ancient oak, every shifting marsh, and every ripple on the water. For them, a sudden chill wasn't just the wind; it could be a communication from an ancestor, a warning from a powerful land spirit, or even the subtle presence of a tiny, unseen guardian of the forest. Their deep intuition, their very 'Green Sight,' allowed them to live in constant, respectful dialogue with an unseen world that permeated their daily reality. Their profound connection to this land, their triumphs, struggles, and burials across millennia, undoubtedly left an indelible energetic imprint – a foundational layer for any subsequent paranormal activity.

The first Europeans to "discover" this island were the Spanish in the early 16th century, though their presence was often fleeting. They knew it as San Buenaventura. However, the island's enduring European name came much later, in 1733, when General James Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia, named it for his friend, Sir Joseph Jekyll, a British politician. [2]

The Unseen Tapestry: Gullah Geechee Spirits of the Sea Islands

As the tides of history continued to shape Jekyll Island, another powerful spiritual layer was woven into its fabric. The arrival of enslaved Africans, particularly those brought from rice-growing regions of West and Central Africa, led to the development of the Gullah Geechee culture along these very Sea Islands. Forged from resilience and enduring cultural wisdom, their descendants still carry powerful tales of specific spiritual entities known collectively as 'haints.' [3]

Now, a 'haint' isn't just your run-of-the-mill ghost; it's a potent spiritual presence, often lingering due to unfinished business, deep injustice, or simply a powerful connection to a specific place. These aren't always purely malevolent, but they command respect and attention, capable of influencing the living in truly palpable ways.

Take the chilling lore of the Boo Hag, for instance. Y'all, this ain't no fairytale about a simple bogeyman! A Boo Hag is said to be a truly terrifying witch who can literally shed her skin at night, leaving her physical body behind to roam free as an invisible, malevolent presence. She slips through keyholes, glides under doors, and targets sleeping victims. Her aim? To 'ride' people while they sleep, sapping their energy, leaving them waking up utterly exhausted, drained, and often with a feeling of dread, like they've done a night's worth of hard labor. Folks on the islands learned incredibly clever, culturally rich ways to ward 'em off. You'll still see porch ceilings painted 'haint blue'—that particular shade of sky indigo that spirits supposedly can't cross, or which mimics water they dislike. Or they might leave a broom or a hairbrush by the door, because a Boo Hag is compelled to count every single bristle or straw, keeping her occupied until dawn breaks and she has to scurry back to her skin. Talk about a magic alarm clock, right?! [4]

1. "Jekyll Island: A Glimpse into the Past." Jekyll Island Authority. https://www.jekyllisland.com/history/jekyll-island-history/. [↩]
2. Oglethorpe, James Edward. "A New and Accurate Account of the Provinces of South Carolina and Georgia." London, 1733. [↩]
3. Creel, Stephen. "The Gullah and Their Folklore." In *Folklore of the Georgia Coast*. University of Georgia Press, 2018. [↩]
4. "The Boo Hag: A Gullah Folktale." *Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor*. https://www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org/the-boo-hag/. [↩]