How are you being haunted?

 

Let us count the ways...

Residual

Residual hauntings refer to the phenomenon where a ghostly apparition or other supernatural event repeats the same actions, events, or sounds over and over, as if it were a recording playing on loop.  Residual hauntings are believed to be imprints of past events, often linked to traumatic or significant occurrences.

The thing about residual hauntings:

•   Repetitive nature
  

Residual hauntings often involve repeating the same actions or scenes, such as apparitions appearing in the same location, walking down the same hallway, or repeating a specific event.

• No interaction

The spirits involved in residual hauntings are generally unaware of their surroundings and do not interact with living people.

• Even imprints

Residual hauntings are thought to be imprints of past events, often traumatic or significant, that have left a lingering energy or "residue" at a particular location.

• The "stone tape" theory

The concept of residual hauntings is related to the "Stone Tape" theory, which suggests that buildings or objects can store records of past events, which can be later played back.

• Examples

This could include hearing the echoes of a party, seeing a spectral figure walking down a hallway, or hearing the sounds of an event that occurred at a specific location.

Interactive/intelligent

Intelligent hauntings refer to paranormal events where spirits or entities are believed to be aware of the living and able to interact with them in a conscious and interactive manner.  Intelligent hauntings are characterized by the entity's ability to react to the environment, communicate, and potentially interact with individuals.

The thing about intelligent hauntings:

• Awareness and Interaction

The entity is believed to be aware of the living and can react to their presence or actions.

• Communication

Entities may communicate through various means, such as moving objects, making sounds, or even appearing as apparitions.

• Unfinished Business

Intelligent hauntings may be linked to an entity that has unfinished business, such as a traumatic death, or a desire to interact with specific individuals.

• Intelligent Behavior

The entity may demonstrate behaviors that suggest intelligence, such as responding to questions, reacting to emotional states, or even exhibiting a degree of control over their environment.

• Potential for Harm

While some hauntings may be benevolent, others can be mischievous or even malicious, potentially causing harm or distress.

Crisis Apparitions

Crisis apparitions, also known as "deathbed apparitions," are visions or sensations experienced by a person that seem to coincide with a loved one's death or a significant life event.  These encounters can manifest as visual hallucinations, auditory experiences, or physical sensations like a touch or pain.

The thing about crisis apparitions:

• Definition

Crisis apparitions are described as a vision or sense of a loved one around the time of their death, often experienced by the bereaved.

• Nature of Experiences

These experiences can be visual (seeing the deceased), auditory (hearing voices), or involve physical sensations like a touch or pain that corresponds to a loved one's injury.

• Potential Explanations:

While some paranormal researchers suggest they might be a form of telepathy, others explore psychological and cultural factors, such as grief and family dynamics, that could influence their interpretation and reporting.

• Historical Significance

The concept of crisis apparitions has been explored by researchers like Edmund Gurney, Frank Podmore, and Frederic William Henry Myers in the 19th century, who found value in these experiences as potential evidence for paranormal phenomena.

• Examples

Stories often involve a dying person appearing to loved ones, sometimes communicating or bidding farewell, or a loved one's pain being felt by someone nearby.

• Verification

Crisis apparitions are often accompanied by notes about the time and details of the visitation, which can be later corroborated with the date and time of the death.

• Cultural and Religious Beliefs

Some cultures and religions interpret these experiences as evidence of the soul's existence beyond death, or as a way for the dead to communicate with the living.

 

Spontaneous Apparitions

Spontaneous apparitions refer to the unbidden appearance of a figure, often described as ghostly, that occurs without warning or prior indication. These experiences can involve various senses, but are most commonly visual, with the apparition appearing solid and realistic. While some may interpret these events as a manifestation of a deceased person's spirit, others view them through a religious or psychological lens.

The thing about spontaneous apparitions:

• Definition

An apparition is a visible non-physical phenomenon that resembles a human being, sometimes described as a ghost or spirit.

• Spontaneous Nature

These occurrences are unexpected and not predictable, happening in everyday settings and under low arousal conditions.

• Sensory Experiences

While primarily visual, apparitions may also involve auditory or olfactory sensations, such as smelling flowers or hearing voices.

• Interpretation

The meaning attributed to an apparition can vary greatly, depending on individual beliefs and cultural context.

• Psychological Factors

Apparitions have been linked to states of stress, grief, and altered states of consciousness, suggesting a potential psychological component.

• Religious Context

In some religious traditions apparitions are seen as divine manifestations or theophanies, with the Virgin Mary or other figures appearing to communicate messages.

• Haunted Locations

While some apparitions may occur in reputedly haunted locations, they are more likely to happen in familiar and mundane environments.

• Examples

Marian apparitions (appearances of the Virgin Mary), crisis apparitions (appearances of deceased individuals), and poltergeist phenomena (noisy spirits) are all examples of apparitions.

Thoughtforms

In Theosophy, a thoughtform is a tangible manifestation of thoughts, ideas, and emotions, often perceived as a form or shape. These thoughtforms are believed to be energetic structures that can be sensed, or even projected, by individuals. They are essentially a kind of energetic imprint of thoughts, feelings, and even music, according to theosophical sources.

The thing about thoughtforms:

• Manifestation of Thoughts

Thoughtforms are seen as physicalizations of our mental and emotional states, acting as energetic blueprints for reality.

• Energies and Aura

They are believed to emanate from the auras of individuals, potentially taking on the form of the person, objects, or even representing inherent qualities from the astral or mental planes, according to occultists like William Walker Atkinson..

• Clairvoyant Perception

In Theosophy, thoughtforms are primarily described as being perceivable by individuals with clairvoyant abilities.

• Influential Forces

Theosophists believe that the quality of our thoughts, and the thoughtforms they generate, can significantly impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

• Types of Thoughtforms

Annie Besant categorized thoughtforms into three classes: forms resembling the creator, forms representing objects or people, and forms representing astral or mental qualities.

• Examples:

Examples of thoughtforms include the energetic imprint of a room after a tense argument, or the lingering emotions after a concert.

Spirit Guides

In a haunting context, "spirit guides" might refer to entities, often perceived as spirits, that are causing or contributing to a haunting. These entities could be misunderstood or misrepresented guides, negative entities, or even lingering souls with unresolved issues.

The thing about spirit guides:

• Misunderstood or Misrepresented Guides

Some individuals believe in spirit guides as benevolent mentors and allies, but these guides could be misconstrued as negative entities if not properly identified, or if the individual has a poor understanding of their nature.

• Negative Entities

Some believe that negative entities, potentially including demons or beings with a bad attitude, can cause or contribute to hauntings by manipulating and scaring individuals.

• Lingering Souls with Unresolved Issues

It's also possible that spirits, or even ghosts, that are stuck between worlds due to unresolved issues or a lack of a proper afterlife transition, might be the source of a haunting.

• Differentiation from Angels and Ghosts

Distinguishing between angels, spirit guides, and ghosts can be challenging, but generally, angels are considered positive and helpful, while ghosts are more likely to be associated with lingering emotions or unresolved issues.

Poltergeist

A poltergeist haunting is a type of haunting characterized by disruptive physical phenomena, rather than the presence of a visible spirit. These disturbances, often involving moving objects, loud noises, and sometimes violent acts, are thought to be linked to a person or a location.

The thing about poltergeists:

• Physical Manifestations

Poltergeists are known for causing things to be moved around, knocking to be heard, objects to fly through the air, and even sounds, like growling . Some accounts mention more violent acts like pinching, biting, or tripping people.

• Focus on a Person or Location

Unlike traditional hauntings where a spirit is tied to a specific location, poltergeist activity can be linked to a person, even if they move to a new place.

• Emotional Connection

There's a belief that poltergeist activity is often linked to emotional turmoil, especially in adolescents or pregnant women, though it can also occur in seemingly stable individuals.

• Examples

The famous Enfield poltergeist, involving the Hodgson family in London, is a well-known case where the activity centered around the teenage girls. Other examples include cases where furniture moves, objects are thrown, or strange smells are detected.

SOURCES &
RECOMMENDED READING:

Theosophy
& the Theosophical Society
by Annie Besant

@ Amazon

Theosophy, an Introduction

by Rudolf Steiner

@ Amazon

Hauntings & Poltergeists

by James Houran & Rense Lange

@ Amazon

Thought Forms
by Annie Besant & CW Leadbeater

@ Amazon

The Ghost Studies

by Brandon Massullo

@ Amazon