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Types of Hauntings
Residual hauntings are somewhat hard to describe, but are fairly common. Also known as "psychic impressions," residual hauntings are considered by many as the most experienced type of haunting. When a ghost or event is seen over and over doing the same thing, this is a residual haunting. Most footsteps and ghostly noises that are heard in a haunted place are of the residual haunting type. The residual sounds can be heard over and over. For example, it is said that in the Queen Mary's Second Class Pool Room, one can hear splashing, though the pool is now empty!
Think of a residual haunting as a movie being re-run on TV day after day. It is believed by ghost hunters that some events, due to perhaps strong emotional energy attached to it, imprint themselves somehow on the environment where the event took place. Sort of "trapped in time," the event is recorded in the atmosphere of a place. If one were to see a ghost doing the same activity over and over, and with no response to the present environment, it is most likely a residual haunting. Residual hauntings are past events playing in the present, but with no interaction with today. It is a common ghost hunters theory that most residual hauntings occur in places built over top of limestone, quartz stone and/or water. These seem to act as a transmitter, perhaps creating the perfect environment to allow the residual haunting energy to manifest.
How can residual hauntings occur? Energy is spirit and spirit is life. All of us are spirit, with or without the physical body, and we live and exist within spirit. Spirit is the life-force of all, whether plant, animal or human being, and is everywhere. Everything that is, exists within spirit. Spirit or energy is everywhere. Thus, is it possible for an event or person to imprint its energy upon a place? Most ghost hunters believe so...
Intelligent hauntings are those in which the ghost interacts with the present. It is intelligent, in that it may communicate with those on the earthly plane. The disembodied person has elected for some reason to stay or maybe just visit the physical world, due to a connection with a person, place or thing. Intelligent hauntings may also occur due to a spirit's compelling need to deliver a message from the other side of the grave, or to watch over loved ones. In addition, it is also plausible that intelligent hauntings occur due to attachments the ghostly person feels through memories, trauma, tragedy or any other emotional tie, effectively binding the mind to:
1) maybe not realize the person's body is indeed deceased
2) completing unfinished earthly business
3) re-living traumatic events, as the mind replays the event in trying to comprehend
4) perhaps hang around loved ones or persons the ghost finds like company with
5) not letting go due to fear of death and moving on to a new world
It is important to understand that there is no devil, demons or evil spirits as traditionally taught -- just disembodied people with varying personalities. Some ghostly people, are negative, while others are positive and very upbeat. One may imagine that many people you meet here on earth range from joyous to downright angry and dark. Ghosts, or spirits of people are no different. One must understand that a person does not lose the mind he or she has upon death of the physical body. Though not common, angry spirits can be encountered, no doubt. And to be trapped in the earthly realm as a spirit is a form of hell; for it is fear that holds ghosts of intelligent hauntings here no matter what the intent. Whether it is worry about someone, anger of having died and suffering loss, condemnation or doubt, all are simply different forms of fear found in the lowest part of hell called the earthly plane. Ghosts, or people trapped in fear do not need "cast out," or "exorcised;" they need patience and understanding - from one human being to another. For it has been said, "Ghosts are people, too."
Intelligent hauntings manifest typically in what some may consider "signs." Hiding or moving objects, doors opening and closing, strange sounds, spiritual presence (goosebumps, eg), disturbance of electrical devices are all examples of ghosts attempting to gain someone's attention and communicate from the spirit realm. One may also experience dreams and visions of loved ones, especially right before or after sleep when most are open to contact (and the left brain is quieted down). It is also not uncommon to physically see a ghostly loved on, as well. The best thing one can do is remain open to the contact and listen to what is heard deep within, as that is how ghosts primarily communicate. Speak to the spirit, your ghostly friend, in words of peace, understanding, blessing and love.
Poltergeist hauntings may be the most misunderstood type of haunting, as some believe that poltergeist hauntings are not even a haunting at all. The German word, "poltergeist," means "noisy ghost." The best defining mark of a poltergeist is if there is any manipulation of the physical environment such as the movement of objects, physical attack, spontaneous combustions, etc, then this is a poltergeist-type of haunting.
A common thread between different poltergeist hauntings has strongly indicated that they are caused by Psychokinesis (the ability to move things by power of the mind alone). The question becomes whether the Psychokinesis is from the people who live within (or visit) the place where the activity takes place, or if it is actually occurring from an unseen troubled spirit, called a ghost. The reason for this is because typically poltergeist hauntings center around an adolescent girl (although young males and even adults have exhibited the same phenomena) in the household. Typically, this central person is usually emotionally disturbed in some fashion, and is somehow the root cause of objects moving, knocking sounds (and other noises), the turning on and off of lights and electrical appliances, etc. What is interesting is that the person whom the activity centers around, is unaware that they are the one who is bringing about the disturbance. But in true poltergeist hauntings, none of the activity will continue after the person is removed from the environment, as they are not there to create it or influence an unseen entity. However, it has been reported that activity can return later if the "right" person visits or lives in a notably poltergeist-haunted place. This would lend one to believe that it requires a combined psychic energy to manifest such terrible hauntings.
Author Brad Steiger contends that the central figure in a poltergeist haunting actually brings additional energy which the troubled ghost then uses to manifest with physical attacks or manipulation. This can be especially true if one is somewhat psychic and/or full of fear. The ghostly entity seems to feed off of low energies such as fear. This is when more harmful attacks can occur. Sometimes the effects of a poltergeist are more playful than harmful, but have been known to be downright nasty. Reports of scratches, bites, harmful objects being put in one's way (such as glass shards on a pillow or tacks under a bed sheet) have been noted, as well as ghost possession. Perhaps Brad Steiger's best phrase is, "Ghosts haunt houses; poltergeists haunt people." Perhaps many times, the troubled spirit wants only to communicate a message to those who still are in bodies.
Whatever the truth of the poltergeist phenomena, poltergeist hauntings are a powerful demonstration of the human psyche. Mysteriously, poltergeist hauntings seemingly go away as quickly as they began. The most famous and terrible accounts of a poltergeist attacking a family is the Bell Witch. John Bell's daughter was severely troubled and central to the haunting. Many believe she was sexually abused by her father and this is what sparked a nightmare for the family. What brings credible evidence to this haunting is that (President) Andrew Jackson (who was a friend of John Bell) paid him a visit with his riders to free John's family from the poltergeist. The Bell Witch was reported to have met them on the road in front of John Bell's home in a bush and would not allow their wagons or horses to pass, audibly warning them to leave. Andrew Jackson was later noted for saying he would rather face the British again, than face the Bell Witch. The poltergeist was blamed for eventually poisoning John Bell.
Portal hauntings are widely debated and yet much is known. Some ghost hunters believe that portals exist between the physical and spirit worlds. Portals would then act as a door for ghosts to cross over from the other side to the physical realm. Others believe portal hauntings to be doorways between the earth and other dimensions...even other worlds! Still, no one knows for sure if portals actually exist and if so, what they may be.Some paranormal investigators believe that strange entities (that appear other-worldly and do not seem human) captured by ghost photography, seem to be around areas with high activity and are thus suspected to be portal hauntings. These portal hauntings have also been identified as having a high occurrence around graveyards or near underground waterways for some reason. Some have fostered the notion that graveyards may have been built unknowingly, yet guided by the subconscious or higher powers that be, in areas that portals exist.
With all this said, we simply do not know if portals exist at all. It is interesting to note that most near death experiencers recall going through a tunnel of light during their cross over from this world to the next. But can this tunnel of light work in the opposite direction, and allow ghosts or disembodied persons to come back to earth and visit? And are there other tunnels or portals that may explain some of the strange type of hauntings people have experienced?
Finally, in ghost photographs, many ghost hunters strongly believe that "vortexes" are evidence of portals. A vortex usually appears as a streak of white ectoplasm mist, and is typically confused with photos of mistakenly snapped camera straps in front of the lens.
