What is a Ghost?
Just what is a ghost? And how do you see one? There are many theories about what ghosts are – internal projections, energy forms, and disembodied spirits of the dead. We have broken them down into some widely accepted categories, but these meandering thoughts are by no means the final word on what 'ghosts' may be.
Residual Residual ghosts can be likened to tape recordings, endless loops of the same scene being played over and over to different people, and usually always seen in the same location. A traumatic moment in time leaves an indelible impression on the building or area, replaying itself for eternity. This could be anything from a "glimpse of the past" – a recreation of some traumatic or emotion-laden event - to footsteps up and down a hallway.
Anniversary Anniversary ghosts do, as the title suggests, only appear on an anniversary of some significance – deaths, birthdays and other times that held some meaning for the deceased or are of historical significance. Like the residual ghost, they may be re-enacting a certain event in time on that one day or night.
Intelligent Intelligent hauntings are interactive, sometimes verging into the territory of the poltergeist. These entities are playful, sometimes inquisitive and occasionally dangerous. They may try and attract your attention by creating odours, moving things, making noises such as footsteps, slamming doors, or levitating, moving and hiding objects.
Poltergeist The poltergeist – German for "noisy spirit" – seems to straddle the categories of ghost and psi (the term applied to unusual abilities of human origin such as ESP and psychokinesis, and the investigation of "exceptional human experiences" such as out of body and apparitional events). As the name suggests, they are noisy, often throwing objects around, pinching and prodding residents and generally disrupting the residence. Interestingly, these cases are generally short in duration – anywhere from 3 to 6 months – and often centre on a teenage or female presence in the home. This would seem to indicate that the activities are in some way attributable to the teenager or focus person, who may be a natural medium or suffering from repressed emotions that are somehow outwardly manifested. Research is still continuing into this phenomenon.