Types of Hauntings
Written by: Tyler L. Yates
When paranormal research groups are out investigating claims of ghost, they are often looking for five basic types of haunting activity. The first kind of activity is known as a residual haunting. A residual haunting is defined by the Kentucky Paranormal Research group in their article “Types of Hauntings,” as follows: “A residual haunting is believed to be activity of reoccurring or traumatic actions from past events that leave an imprint on the environment.” This type of haunting is probably the most common. Activity that is associated with this kind of haunting, includes, footsteps, scents, sounds and images. These haunting described as an imprint or energy is thought to dissipate or dwindle over time. The energy that is stored that creates these unexplained events, does not have an unlimited power source and will eventually fade away. This kind of haunting may cause initial alarm, but there is nothing to fear because what one sees is just like watching a TV screen.
The second kind of common haunting is what is known as an intelligent or interactive activity. When people hear the word ghost, this is what most people think of. But the truth is that this kind of haunting is typically very rare. Unlike a residual haunting this kind of haunting, just as the name implies can in fact interact with you and is aware of you. Dale Roberts is an accredited author in events of the paranormal and is an HPI Ghostwriter and has been featured in Time and National Geographic.Roberts has this to say about intelligent activity;
Back to Einstein’s theory. As matter beings, we are all energy beings on the quantum level. We are made up of atoms and neutrons. As matter/energy beings we have intelligence. While we live, we have an energy aura that surrounds our living bodies. This aura is created by the millions of electrical currents that are created though our bodies… When our mortal form dies, the aura that constantly surrounds our bodies, leaves our bodies. We lose 6 ounces on the instance of death.What is this 6 ounces? Perhaps it is energy leaving our body. Our soul. This energy, the aura, or you may even call it you soul, is carrying the information of what we used to be. It can do this, then why couldn’t it also carry our intelligence? If it can carry our former intelligence of our previous life, then it should be able to interact with us intelligently. When we see this aura, we call it a ghost.
While this is often thought to be the most common explanation for the appearance of ghosts, there are many others. With this thought in mind, the idea that ghost or the entity is intelligent, it makes sense that is would try and communicate with those still living. These ghosts are often connected to the place they died, their home, personal objects, people and other things and places that played an important part in their living lives. They are sometimes thought to linger because their death was unexpected or unwanted, and they feel as if they still have stuff to do. Basic kinds of communication include the opening and closing of doors and windows and disembodied voices and sounds. Their presence can often be felt, in the form of sharp temperature change, in the form of smells or even physical touch (Kentucky Paranormal Research). The presence of a spirit is often described as that feeling that one gets when someone is watching them. It is also described as a physical presence or an incasing feeling. When people do see a manifestation it is often in the form of mist or a reflection. There are not many well document full body apparitions. It is often one person’s word, and it is up to us if we believe them or not. While some apparitions can and are caught on film, in a world filled with ways to fake these images, one has to be skeptic in believing if the pictures are real or not.
The next kind of haunting is known as poltergeist activity. Robert Schoch in his book, The Parapsychology Revolution A Concise Anthology of Paranormal and Psychical Research, he compiles a wide base of knowledge on the paranormal. A section of his book covers the topic of poltergeists and is written by a featured author by the name of William G. Roll and he has this to say about poltergeist;
Poltergeist occurrences are displays of energy that induce the movement of common household objects which ordinarily are held in place by inertia and gravity. At the same time the events reflect psychological tension between the central person and others, including investigators.
The creation of this phenomenon, “…usually originates from a human being.” (Roberts) The central person referred to by Roll, is unknowingly projecting energy with their mind and affecting people and objects around them. This projected energy is displayed by tapping sounds, objects moving on their own and electronics turning on and off. As with residual hauntings there is not any intelligence with poltergeist activity and the energy causing these activities is just a reaction displayed in its surroundings. Also the energy will dissipate over time and will often continue long after that “central” person has died or left the affected area. This kind of activity is rare due to the fact that it is very hard to categorize, and identify.
The realm of demonic activity is the next type of haunting covered. Never to have been thought to be human, demons pose a natural threat to those who are. This kind of haunting is pure negative energy and their only goal is to create human pain.Some think that demons are the 1/3 of the angels that followed Satan and have now become demons. They are often categorized into three different ways depending on their appearance. Roberts’s categorization is as follows:
1. As angelic, a being of beauty that will manipulate the person to commit something that is sinful or out of the ordinary.
2. Horrific, evil looking. Some people claim, they have seen demons that are incredibly hideous to look at. I believe demons do this for a scare effect, they know what we fear and this is not their true appearance.
3. Black mist, black fog, black shadow, black smoke. Most demonic hauntings, the occupants claim to be followed by black mist or black fog.
Paranormal investigators let or bring someone more qualified in this field take charge of this kind of investigation.Demonologists are sometimes consulted in this kind of case. They are people who specify in this field of paranormal work. Very often a priest or clergyman is brought in, to perform a blessing to force the demon away. Cases of demonic activity are extremely rare, but keep in mind there many are documented cases and probably many more we would never hear about. When a clergyman or priest handles this sort of case, the knowledge of the case is not made public. So many cases never reach the public’s ears.And with many demonic cases that do, the facts are unreliable or are misconstrued. In every line of work there is often a risk involved, for paranormal investigators; the area of demonic activity is one of those risk. This topic should not be taken lightly, but not feared due to the nature that this activity is very rare. Demons can present themselves in the same way as an intelligent haunting and are sometimes thought to be an intelligent haunting.
The last kind of haunting or paranormal activity I will talk about covers shadow people, or shadow creatures. “They are different from ghosts. They are usually shapeless dark masses… This is a type of haunting activity that has no real explanation.” (Roberts) While they appear as humans they don’t have human facial features and they often don’t wear clothes. When they are seen they evoke a feeling of dread and a feeling of never to have been human. “Some are seen as child sized dark humanoids. Some people say they seem to be made up of dark smoke or dark steam. At times when they move, they appear to be moving on an invisible track from one place to another…” (Roberts) When caught on tape or film, they seem to be standing looking at the floor and appear as a quickly dark moving mass. While little known about shadow people, this just adds to the interest of investigators.
While a lot is unknown about these 5 basic kinds of hauntings and sightings are often rare, there are many who still believe. For me and for many others, we can attest to the truthfulness of some or all of these kinds of hauntings. While science may not have an explanation we still have our personal experiences.
The second kind of common haunting is what is known as an intelligent or interactive activity. When people hear the word ghost, this is what most people think of. But the truth is that this kind of haunting is typically very rare. Unlike a residual haunting this kind of haunting, just as the name implies can in fact interact with you and is aware of you. Dale Roberts is an accredited author in events of the paranormal and is an HPI Ghostwriter and has been featured in Time and National Geographic.Roberts has this to say about intelligent activity;
Back to Einstein’s theory. As matter beings, we are all energy beings on the quantum level. We are made up of atoms and neutrons. As matter/energy beings we have intelligence. While we live, we have an energy aura that surrounds our living bodies. This aura is created by the millions of electrical currents that are created though our bodies… When our mortal form dies, the aura that constantly surrounds our bodies, leaves our bodies. We lose 6 ounces on the instance of death.What is this 6 ounces? Perhaps it is energy leaving our body. Our soul. This energy, the aura, or you may even call it you soul, is carrying the information of what we used to be. It can do this, then why couldn’t it also carry our intelligence? If it can carry our former intelligence of our previous life, then it should be able to interact with us intelligently. When we see this aura, we call it a ghost.
While this is often thought to be the most common explanation for the appearance of ghosts, there are many others. With this thought in mind, the idea that ghost or the entity is intelligent, it makes sense that is would try and communicate with those still living. These ghosts are often connected to the place they died, their home, personal objects, people and other things and places that played an important part in their living lives. They are sometimes thought to linger because their death was unexpected or unwanted, and they feel as if they still have stuff to do. Basic kinds of communication include the opening and closing of doors and windows and disembodied voices and sounds. Their presence can often be felt, in the form of sharp temperature change, in the form of smells or even physical touch (Kentucky Paranormal Research). The presence of a spirit is often described as that feeling that one gets when someone is watching them. It is also described as a physical presence or an incasing feeling. When people do see a manifestation it is often in the form of mist or a reflection. There are not many well document full body apparitions. It is often one person’s word, and it is up to us if we believe them or not. While some apparitions can and are caught on film, in a world filled with ways to fake these images, one has to be skeptic in believing if the pictures are real or not.
The next kind of haunting is known as poltergeist activity. Robert Schoch in his book, The Parapsychology Revolution A Concise Anthology of Paranormal and Psychical Research, he compiles a wide base of knowledge on the paranormal. A section of his book covers the topic of poltergeists and is written by a featured author by the name of William G. Roll and he has this to say about poltergeist;
Poltergeist occurrences are displays of energy that induce the movement of common household objects which ordinarily are held in place by inertia and gravity. At the same time the events reflect psychological tension between the central person and others, including investigators.
The creation of this phenomenon, “…usually originates from a human being.” (Roberts) The central person referred to by Roll, is unknowingly projecting energy with their mind and affecting people and objects around them. This projected energy is displayed by tapping sounds, objects moving on their own and electronics turning on and off. As with residual hauntings there is not any intelligence with poltergeist activity and the energy causing these activities is just a reaction displayed in its surroundings. Also the energy will dissipate over time and will often continue long after that “central” person has died or left the affected area. This kind of activity is rare due to the fact that it is very hard to categorize, and identify.
The realm of demonic activity is the next type of haunting covered. Never to have been thought to be human, demons pose a natural threat to those who are. This kind of haunting is pure negative energy and their only goal is to create human pain.Some think that demons are the 1/3 of the angels that followed Satan and have now become demons. They are often categorized into three different ways depending on their appearance. Roberts’s categorization is as follows:
1. As angelic, a being of beauty that will manipulate the person to commit something that is sinful or out of the ordinary.
2. Horrific, evil looking. Some people claim, they have seen demons that are incredibly hideous to look at. I believe demons do this for a scare effect, they know what we fear and this is not their true appearance.
3. Black mist, black fog, black shadow, black smoke. Most demonic hauntings, the occupants claim to be followed by black mist or black fog.
Paranormal investigators let or bring someone more qualified in this field take charge of this kind of investigation.Demonologists are sometimes consulted in this kind of case. They are people who specify in this field of paranormal work. Very often a priest or clergyman is brought in, to perform a blessing to force the demon away. Cases of demonic activity are extremely rare, but keep in mind there many are documented cases and probably many more we would never hear about. When a clergyman or priest handles this sort of case, the knowledge of the case is not made public. So many cases never reach the public’s ears.And with many demonic cases that do, the facts are unreliable or are misconstrued. In every line of work there is often a risk involved, for paranormal investigators; the area of demonic activity is one of those risk. This topic should not be taken lightly, but not feared due to the nature that this activity is very rare. Demons can present themselves in the same way as an intelligent haunting and are sometimes thought to be an intelligent haunting.
The last kind of haunting or paranormal activity I will talk about covers shadow people, or shadow creatures. “They are different from ghosts. They are usually shapeless dark masses… This is a type of haunting activity that has no real explanation.” (Roberts) While they appear as humans they don’t have human facial features and they often don’t wear clothes. When they are seen they evoke a feeling of dread and a feeling of never to have been human. “Some are seen as child sized dark humanoids. Some people say they seem to be made up of dark smoke or dark steam. At times when they move, they appear to be moving on an invisible track from one place to another…” (Roberts) When caught on tape or film, they seem to be standing looking at the floor and appear as a quickly dark moving mass. While little known about shadow people, this just adds to the interest of investigators.
While a lot is unknown about these 5 basic kinds of hauntings and sightings are often rare, there are many who still believe. For me and for many others, we can attest to the truthfulness of some or all of these kinds of hauntings. While science may not have an explanation we still have our personal experiences.
Authors Note |
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Please keep in mind, these views are my own and don't represent the groups as a whole. If you have any comments, I'd love to hear them. You can email me at- tyler@prowyl.com
- Tyler Yates |