Christian Paranormal Research

Types of Ghost, Spirits and Hauntings

What are ghosts, spirits & hauntings? What are the different types of these entities? To help make things easier to relate to and understand, we need to understand some things about our universe, dimension and plane of existence. If we have a clearer understanding of our surroundings, we can better understand these phenomena and how it's possible for ghosts, spirits & hauntings to exist in our world. Scientific facts and leading theories are great places to start.


The Universe
The universe is made of energy. Everything around you is energy when broken down to it's purest form of subatomic particles including yourself. Energy cannot be totally destroyed, it just changes form. When you are born, a spark of energy brings you into this world, and within our universe are other dimensions or planes of existence. There are many doorways to these worlds and black holes will soon prove this. Astrophysicists agree that black holes exist and we now have the technology to create them with particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva. A black hole is a perfect example of how anything is possible in this universe because all the laws of physics go out the window when you reach the center, which is called the Singularity. Leading scientists agree the singularity is a very likely place to enter another dimension or plane of existence. This gives a great argument that doorways to other worlds do exist and how such phenomena like ghosts, spirits & hauntings are scientifically possible on our dimensional frequency in a universe made of energy.


Everything in this Universe has energy
Everything in this Universe has purpose
Everything in this Universe is connected


Ghosts
What are ghosts? A leading theory is that ghosts are the energy of a person or animals soul that once lived. Ghosts exist in between our dimension and the next, like a radio signal that isn't quite coming in clear on our dimensional frequency. They have not fully crossed over to the spirit realm. There are multiple reasons why ghosts make themselves known to us and how they interact with the living is usually determined by what personality characteristics they had when they were alive.


Ghost Personality Characteristics
Ghosts were once living, breathing, emotional human beings, just like you and I. It is believed that you keep your personality characteristics when you die. For example, if you were an evil person in life, you will be the same as a ghost. Mean-spirited ghosts usually torment the living at haunted locations, feeding off the victims' fear energy. The same goes for good people. If you were a loving person in life, you will be a loving ghost. Good-spirited ghosts are usually very protective of families that live in haunted locations. Remember not all ghosts are bad.


Why Ghosts Are Here
There are multiple reasons why ghosts make themselves known to us and why they are still here.  There doesn't have to be a particular reason, sometimes they just happen. There are no scientifically proven explanations at how or why.


Crisis Apparitions
Crisis apparitions are usually a one-time paranormal experience, when a ghost is seen at the time of it's death by family & friends as a way of saying goodbye or giving important information to the intended person.


Ghosts That Are Unaware They Are Deceased
Ghosts that are unaware that they are deceased, go about their business as if they are still living. They do not understand they have passed. A great example is the movie "The Others." The ghosts portrayed in the movie believe the living are the ghosts. Sometimes, ghosts can't see the living but instead feel their presence. This can cause stress on the ghost as well as the living and happens often when people move into the house of a recently deceased person, usually an elderly person who lived and died alone in the final years. The ghost sees the new owners as trespassers, but simply talking to the ghost about their death can help them cross over.


Ghosts With Unfinished Business
Ghosts with unfinished business can linger in this world for many different reasons. Each reason is unique in its own nature. They may find peace once their business is completed.


Ghosts That Are Trapped Or Lost
These types of ghosts usually know they are dead, but for one reason or another cannot cross over yet. Some may fear moving on because of the person they were in life and are afraid of judgement, or they fear leaving what is familiar to them. Some ghosts may be trapped in fear and held captive by another ghost or evil spirit, like in a murder suicide haunting. Other ghosts may be trapped at a location because an evil spirit or ghost may have drove them to suicide. Dark entities feed off the fear energy of ghosts and the living.


Vengeful Ghosts
An example of a vengeful ghost would be if a woman was murdered by a male and now as a ghost only torments or attacks males when they are present at the haunted location.


Hungry Ghosts
In Chinese/ Hindu Buddhist belief, the Hungry Ghosts are said to come back to this realm for reasons such as to visit their families or old homes. In Taoism religion, hungry ghosts are deceased people that in one way or another did not find everything they needed in the afterlife. These ghosts will come back to feed off victims fear energy. It is believed that leaving offerings of food, drink & money will appease them, so they will leave in peace.


Residual Hauntings
Residual Haunting activity can occur when an energy imprint has been left behind. This can range from a traumatic or stressful event such as a murder, rape, suicide, war, catastrophe, etc. It can also occur from positive high energy events such as a ball/dance/celebration and you will hear the music, singing, dancing and conversation. Another reason could be from an imprint left of someone doing the same action over and over and over again in their life, like climbing the stairs at the same time each day or performing another activity repetitively. When a residual haunting appears, you are essentially witnessing or hearing an event in time being replayed over and over again. There is no interaction with the living nor is there any danger since this is an imprint and not a haunting.


Child Ghosts
Child ghosts are the ghost of children that have passed for one reason or another. This type of paranormal activity is very sad for obvious reasons. These types of ghosts are usually lonely and seek attention, inadvertently terrifying people by making toys or other objects move. Some believe these ghosts are actually demons in disguise.


Ghostly Sounds and Smells
Ghostly sounds like knocking, screams, music, moaning, and voices are quite common around haunted locations. These sounds can be residual or intelligent. Knocking is an old way of communicating with the dead. Ghostly smells are also a very common occurrence in areas with high levels of paranormal activity and they can be residual or intelligent as well. Perfumes, cigar smoke and food smells are just a few of the scents one may encounter. Beware of foul smells like rotting garbage or sulfurs, to name a few. Foul smells like these could mean dark entities, demons or very evil ghosts are making themselves known.


Animal Ghosts
Animal ghosts are the ghosts of deceased animals and can remain in this world for numerous reasons, like their human counterparts. Animal spirit guides are different than animal ghosts. Look in the spirit section for more information on animal spirit guides.


Living Ghosts
A living ghost can be when the soul leaves the body of the still living. Such as out of body experiences, near death experiences and astral projections. There are some rare cases of people seeing themselves as a ghost only at a different age. This can happen if something traumatic took place and a piece of you was left behind or imprinted in some way at a location. These rare types of ghosts can show intelligence and self awareness.

Doppelgangers

Doppelgangers can be harmless or becomes an omen of death. The harmless doppelgangers are often times an unconscious projection of a person’s will. The entity is visible to others, but the projector rarely sees it. This is a good thing, because it is believed that when a person witnesses their own doppelganger it then becomes a omen of their impending death.


Ghost Vessel, Ghost Ship, Phantom Vehicle or Ghostly Object
A Phantom vehicle may refer to a ghostly or haunted vehicle.  For insurance purposes they record it as;  a vehicle that causes death, injury, or damage without making physical contact. These types of ghostly phenomena could be due to the enormous amounts of human energy that have passed through these vehicles when they were in service and can be very disturbing because they are usually connected to tragic events. For example, a ship carrying thousands of passengers throughout its carrier could store tons of energy and eventually take on a type of life of its own. There are many reports of ghost ships seen by sailors. Many are apparitions of ships that have sunk, wrecked aground, or disappeared years or centuries ago. Some sailors say siting a ghost ship foretells of impending doom on the high seas.

Many apparitions of trains, cars and carriages have been seen as well. According to the legend, every April 29th, Lincolns Ghost Train is seen. The funeral car carrying the body of Abraham Lincoln rumbles through the town of Urbana, Ohio, following the route it took back in 1865 when it carried the President's body back to Springfield, Illinois.


Spirits
A spirit is a generic term used to describe any entity that was never human like angels, demons, elementals. However, a human spirit, is the soul of a person who has crossed over and is not bound to this world like ghosts. They do have the ability to visit us humans, especially loved ones, and then they return to their other dimension.


Angels
Angels are spirits aligned with God.  They are positive energy beings that were never human. Some believe there is a hierarchy of Angels, each with a specific purpose. Different ways to evoke these spirits have been around for centuries and they will protect you from dark entities as well as the living. It is said an Angels aura is so bright that it gives the appearance of wings. Angels represent the good and positive forces of the Universe, however, they are very powerful beings that are not to be trifled with.


Guardian Angels/Spirit Guides

A guardian angel/Spirit Guide is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person or group, kingdom or country. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity. The concept of tutelary angels and their hierarchy was extensively developed in Christianity in the 5th century. The theology of angels and tutelary spirits has undergone many refinements since the 400s. Belief in both the East and the West is that guardian angels serve to protect whichever person God assigns them to, and present prayer to God on that person's behalf.

Animal Spirit Guide
Native Americans believe that when you are born an animals spirit enters your body. They could be a type of animal guardian of your soul and will protect you along life's journey.

Demons
Demons are negative non human spirits, commonly used in Judeo - Christian terms as fallen Angels. The term also applies to many different Gods & Spirits in other cultures that predate Judeo - Christian ones. It is believed there is a hierarchy with demons as well, ranging from the very powerful to lesser ones. Demons are very deceptive about concealing their true identity, often disguising themselves as harmless spirits or ghosts. A demon can appear as many entities to confuse its targets and to extract more fear energy out of victims by making their numbers seem greater. However they usually attack in waves starting with the lesser Demons leading the way. Once the victim has been morally broken down over time the more powerful Demons step in for the possession. Foul smells like rotting garbage or flesh and sulfur are tell tail signs of a demonic presence. The sounds of animal grunting or growling are associated as well, and their appearance can range from a dark shadow-form, human -like form to, half animal-like creatures. Never taunt or challenge a demon unless properly trained, as this usually increases the violence at a haunted location. They have a hatred for mankind and think of us as lowly and stupid. Most demonic entities like a challenge and are incredibly conniving; they may have you believing they are good spirits or may appear to have gone away, only to confront you again at the least expected and most vulnerable moment. Their main goal is to break down a person's free will in order to make way for possession, beginning as oppression. This can take days, months or years, but time is of no concern to them... they don't give up easily.


Elementals
Elementals are non human spirits with a connection to the elements of earth, water, air and fire. They are also referred to an older order Gods, Fairies and Elves in other cultures.


Shadow People
Shadow ghosts or spirits is a type of spirit or ghost. This phenomena could just be a type of form either entity can take, but no one is certain. Their appearance can range from dark gray to black and height varies from 1 foot to 6 ft or above. Some call them watchers or observers from another dimension. They can be seen as dark smoke like figures or blobs or wearing a black hooded cloak or black cape and top hat. Some have described hollow eyes while others say red eyes. In some cultures it is also believed that these were once human but had moved out of the light of God and are now unable to only appear as a shadow. Their true identity and purpose is generally unknown.

Hauntings
A Haunting is when paranormal activity has been occurring for a lengthy period of time in a certain location. An area can become haunted for many reasons, not just untimely deaths or tragic accidents. Sometimes an area can become haunted because it was the favorite place of a person who has passed. People do not have to die at a location for it to become haunted and it can technically happen anywhere. The architecture of a structure, the minerals in the land, underground springs and other water sources can have a major factor as well. For example, you should never build structures on top of limestone or water tables, because limestone retains energy and water is a conductor of energy. This belief dates back over 5000 years in ancient China and other areas in the region.


Haunted
Haunted can refer to a person, object, or place that has a ghost or spirit attached to it. Haunted objects can be anything from jewelry to old furniture and often have an aura in photos. Sometimes it can be a person that's haunted and not the area.


Intelligent Haunting

An intelligent haunting (also known as a classic or traditional haunting) occurs when a spiritual entity is aware of the living world and interacts with or responds to it. It is believed that such a ghost or spirit may be able to communicate with the living, not just by talking, but by moving inanimate objects such as furniture or toys, making physical contact and making their presence felt.

Portal Hauntings

Portals aren't really a new concept, as we've seen them in a lot of sci-fi flicks. But in the real world, portal hauntings are considered controversial as there is little known and the idea is mostly theory or speculation. Portals are thought to be doorways to another world or dimension in which entities travel through. It's speculated that portals are not limited to one location, region or limited to sacred ground. Typically places that experience a wide array of different types of anomalous activity such as glowing balls of light, odd creatures, strange shapes, or unexplained mists or fog, are suspected to have a portal in which these energies are traveling back and forth.