Let's say there are spirits, for argument's sake. We'll play the ghost's advocate for a moment and hypothesize about the different spiritual forms.
There seem to be two major types of hauntings generally: residual and intelligent. Within those umbrellas lie an assortment of theoretical entities as well.
Residual Entities
The running theory here is that a certain phenomenon, known as the Stone-Tape Theory, is at work to capture and portray a moment in time, rather than a spiritual visitor.
Basically, when a traumatic or extreme event happens, such as:
Gunshot/loud sounds
Extreme emotional upheaval
Death/suicide
Car accident
Any other significant moment,
The blast of energy from that moment is imprinted and 'recorded' in the environment (the earth, the stones, the wood, etc) like a tape.
The theory is that if some similar conditions are recreated, on purpose or by accident, this time loop recording may begin to play again. We may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this time/space crossover.
The clear defining features of this kind of haunting includes:
Lack of interaction (these are not current souls, only scenes)
No cognisance (spirits don't make eye contact, respond to prompts/questions, or interact with modern landscapes)
Same scene/sound repeats on loop or is witnessed by many (cannonball sounds every night at 6, for example)
The paranormal event is triggered by something
Essentially these 'human' entities are not souls themselves, only mirages for us to see. They do not see or hear us and have likely moved on or haunt somewhere else.
Common residual experiences include:
Gunshots/cannon
Perfume smells/scents
Laughter
Sobbing
Soldiers marching
Music/instruments
Party sounds.
Intelligent Entities
These are the hauntings that really intrigue us because they present the possibility for answers. These spirits are aware of their surroundings, including our presence and plane, and are theoretically able to communicate back and forth with us.
The persistence of the human spirit/consciousness is mysterious but several theories exist as to why a being may be 'stuck':
Unfinished business
Lack of justice in their death
Sudden death
Attachment to relatives
Holding onto emotions/grudges
Scared to move on.
These entities may also exist in some dimension where time and space are different from ours, much like residual haunts, but they seem to be able to access ours intermittently.
These hauntings all have some of the following traits in common (in contrast to residual hauntings):
Personal connection (eye contact, touch, effects on emotion/dreams/behavior)
Relevant answers to questions and equipment prompts
Interaction with current climates and objects.
The different ways/patterns in which they interact with us is where we've begun to identify different classes of entities.
Poltergeists
These guys are super controversial in the paranormal world. Many believe them to be independent entities, while many others believe they're physical manifestations of energy projected from a living person (telekinesis).
Certain patterns within these cases have created some of these odd theories. Poltergeists tend to present themselves in homes with teenage females, chaotic upheaval, and around puberty. Any home with a divorce, addiction, rebellion, anger, fighting, etc is more likely to have this kind of haunting than others.
Some believe that the hormonal and emotional intensity that comes with puberty and general domestic turmoil projects and combines to create a force with a mind of its own.
Poltergeists are very physical spirits, known for moving furniture around, making lots of noise, and being destructive (though generally harmless). The strength and ability to interact with our physical world is the key factor that sets it apart.
Demons
Taking an undenominational approach to this classification, demons can be simplified as the extreme compaction of negative/evil energy. Like poltergeists, they have the ability to do things mere human spirits often can't, such as attack living people and handle heavy objects.
Demons tend to be attracted to negativity, fear, and vulnerability and prey on people who are hurting. They may also be found in places where dark rituals took place or religious paraphernalia is present.
They can be identified by the following traits:
Things in threes (3 knocks, 3 scratches, etc to mock the holy trinity)
Residents waking at 3am nightly
Physical ailments
Physical markings (burns, scratches, welts)
Emotional shifts (suicidal thoughts, violent images, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, change in behavior, anger, etc)
Energy draining
Seeing dark apparitions
Large object manipulation.
Interdimensional Beings
This umbrella term covers beings ranging from aliens, to fairies, to wendigos, to angels, to shadow 'people', to any other nonhuman entities.
They would not have lived on earth in a physical state, and instead aren't from our world/dimension at all. Technically demons and poltergeists could also be classified this way more generally.
Whether you believe some, or all, are just urban legends is up to you.
In the wise words of Albert Einstein, "Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another". Perhaps our consciousness shifts to its noncorporeal state when we die, maybe not.
Follow us as we try to uncover the truth behind the theories.
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