So many elements theoretically play a part in cases of hauntings, such as household negativity, history/trauma at the location, newly obtained items, or religious evocation. A key player, though, is the landscape and terrain itself.
If we consider the largely accepted theory that spirits are made out of some kind of electrical or magnetic charge/force/field, similar or identical to EMF, then we start to hypothesize that perhaps certain environmental properties may be more conduc(t)ive to them.
These properties may draw them to these locations, create spiritual forces from scratch, or "feed" the existing spirits to make them stronger/more obvious to us. That's up for interpretation.
We've compiled some elements that reportedly make hauntings more likely and more severe.
Minerals in the Earth
Terrains that are heavy in conductive minerals like copper, quartz, limestone, and granite (which is a composition of quartz and feldspar, with small amounts of amphiboles and mica) are properties that are supposedly more prone to hauntings. These minerals are popularized for their ability to absorb and release electromagnetic and "psychic energies", according to some parapsychologists.
Paranormal investigators globally report more of their cases occurring in mineral-rich areas, and in buildings made with these types of stones. How accurate/formal these pattern reports are is highly debatable and quite honestly, unsubstantiated. Do spirits hate salt because it's an insulator and not a conductor then? So many questions.
The theory suggests that spirits may be 'fed' by this extra EMF energy or that they are travelling through these conductive materials, taking the path of least resistance to certain high-saturation locations. It's all a bit of a stretch, but certainly possible.
To play the devil's advocate we wondered if these materials could produce enough extra EMF to create medical symptoms in the living that could create the illusion of a haunting (which we already know is generally possible). The answer is no. While they do contribute to surrounding EMF/radiation levels, it's very minute. Freshwater limestone and granite for example, do carry high levels of radioactivity, but still not enough to affect health or mental state at all.
Another mysteriously enticing aspect of limestone, which may potentially lend to its lore, is the increased likelihood of the presence of running water beneath bedrock consisting of limestone. And you know what they say about ghosts and running water…
Running Water
The mythology is aplenty; ghosts can't cross it, ghosts are fueled by it, the list goes on. So what's the down low on the flow?
Well, for one thing, water contains minerals. So you've got triple-whammy haunting potential if you've got (conductive)mineral-rich water, flowing energetically through a slab of limestone.
The running part is important in paranormal theory because of the energy it produces with its force and movement. We know that running water has kinetic energy that can create electricity, as we see with watermills/turbines. This process however, requires a few points of conversion and it wouldn't make sense for moving water to automatically charge an electrical being such as a spirit. So we're a bit lost on that one.
Water is also more conductive than air, presenting the possibility that it is simply conductive of the spirit in the same way minerals are.
Not being able to cross may come from mythologies involving blessed/holy rivers, cleansing/healing aspects of water, or water aggravating electricity. This one is also up for interpretation.
Ley Lines
Ley Lines are defined as lines of energy that seem to connect sacred and spiritual landmarks all across the globe in straight lines. The reality though, is that they likely don't exist. In no way are they measurable or verifiable.
Likely they're a case of our brains confirming what we want to be true amongst unregulated chaos. What constitutes a holy site? One could connect any subjectively holy location to any other in a straight line. The patterns found are subjective by nature.
Apophenia is a common phenomenon in which our brain makes profound connections where there aren't any. Similarly, we can create any shape of constellation we want by connecting any clump of stars, since there are so many. In the same way, we could draw lines between any important site, since the criteria is left to us.
So are ghosts found more along ley lines? There's no way to tell, because ley lines are completely theoretical and individualistic (and so are ghosts), causing those factors to be prone to confirmation bias.
Some claim to locate these magnetic lines using dowsing rods, however dowsing rods are also proven to be ineffective at measuring anything. There are zero studies that prove any consistency of use for these "tools".
Cemeteries
While this one makes more sense at first glance than the other features, it seems strange to us that spirits would persistently hang around their gravesite. It's more likely they'd be found around loved ones or at the site of their death.
It is reported that properties built atop or beside burial grounds seem to have more paranormal activity. For that, we offer the theory that it may pertain to disturbed graves, insufficient sentimentality (mass graves without names), or confirmation bias of the living. Sometimes spooky looking places make us feel more freaked out.
Crossroads
In spiritual lore, crossroads represent a spot between the worlds where the veil is thin, like a portal. That's apparently because of merging ley lines. The center is said to be where communication can take place between the living and the dead. The spirits may even try to strike up a bargain for your soul. Variations of this myth are found in many cultures.
Is there any validity to it? We have no idea. There have been no studies to confirm that more paranormal events do indeed take place at crossroads. More car accidents though? Absolutely.
So while these features may carry a lot of symbolic and philosophical weight, most don't necessarily hold up all the way through a logical analysis. Could they support hauntings more than the average climate? Sure. Could spirits not even exist in the first place? Certainly. At the end of the day, superstition or not, it's pretty fascinating stuff.
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