GHOST

GHOST
What are ghosts? ... Let's ask Encyclopedia Britannica ... Ghost: soul or specter of a dead person, usually believed to inhabit a netherworld and capable of returning in some form to the world of the living. According to descriptions or depictions provided by believers, a ghost may appear as a living being or as a nebulous likeness of the deceased and, occasionally, in other forms. Belief in ghosts is based on an ancient notion that a human spirit is separable from the body and may maintain its existence after the body's death. In many societies, funeral rituals are believed to prevent a ghost from haunting the living. Encyclopedia Britannica

Everybody wants to go to Heaven - but nobody wants to die
(Martyn) In societies that are scared to death of dying, ghosts can be treated badly. In societies that accept death as an integral part of living, ghosts can be treated well. Many Catholic cultures honor the dead on special days, and light candles for them. Many Asians assume that family ghosts can be helpful and friendly, and regularly offer prayers, incense and food to their ancestors . (This behavior might be called schizophrenia in our intellectual West ...)

The Living Dead or Undead
Many ghosts that we meet seem stuck between two time zones - between the zone of the living and the zone of the dead. Ghosts usually have the following qualities:

1. Ghosts are dead people
(David) If this seems obvious - slow down. Some people who are still living have fully dissociated their "selves" which may act as free agents. I remember a university professor - I knew him for years and I can't say I that ever met him. I met a very intellectual and logical "mind" - but I don't recall any sense of shared humanity. Ever. Where was his self? I thought that he haunted his classrooms - while still alive. (Martyn) A person may die unpleasantly. In my experience, pain wasn't much of an issue for ghosts - but suffering was. The suffering of being abandoned or deserted by family or friends, the suffering of living for an ideal which turned out to be hollow. The suffering of watching children and friends die. Many ghosts communicated that a painful end makes it easier to accept death; while dying in one's sleep or under the influence of psychoactive drugs can cause confusion during and after death.

2. Ghosts are disoriented
(David) Some of the most disoriented ghosts that I have interviewed were the ghosts of murderers and suicides. They may describe horrible fantasies - but not deathly realities. Often these ghosts communicated that murder or suicide seemed to be an easy way out of some problem. Usually, it wasn't.

(Martyn) Many ghosts seem to be confused. Many do not know that their bodies have died. They do not know what year it is, or what their body-name was. Some ghosts seem senile - they don't like where they are and they try to cling to somebody. Other ghosts are much like people with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which seems to makes sense. I'm sure that dying can be traumatic.

3. Ghosts do not know that time has passed
(David) A ghost may be unwilling to even consider that time has passed. It may cling to a fixed idea that in any moment he or she will wake up or be forgiven or that it will complete something important that it was doing at the time its body died. It's interesting to ask a ghost, "What year is this?" or "Who is ruling the country?". (Martyn) A ghost may be frozen in time. One year or a hundred years - there may be little or no difference. A ghost may say that it is waiting for someone to return, or waiting for something specific to happen - so that it can move on.

4. Ghosts may not know that their bodies have died
(David) Many ghosts seem to be stuck in time warps at the time of their death, and, if time stopped before the moment of death, then the ghost may believe that it is still alive. A ghost may also believe that it was abandoned or betrayed and be quite angry, sad or scared. (Martyn) A ghost might be shocked to find that it has no living body. A ghost may call you crazy, stupid or misinformed. "How can I be dead? Are you an idiot? I am here ...!" This confusion seems more likely if a person died in their sleep or demented or under the influence of psychotropic drugs. If a ghost has no memory of dying how can a ghost know that he or she has died?

5. Ghosts are entangled and cannot leave
(David) Ghosts are often vague as to their next step. Some are scared of taking it, and try to cling to the life or world that they once knew. Others seem to have no idea what to do to move on. Others are held by the living, who cling to the dead person and may offer a warm human body for the ghost to call home. (Martyn) A ghost may say that it wants to leave, but that it cannot. A ghost may communicate that it has to say something, or do something, or prevent something - before it can move on. Some ghosts communicate that they need forgiveness. We find that ghosts are often entangled with physical and mental diseases (particularly with miscarriages and spontaneous abortions).

6. Ghosts have little leverage
(David) Occasionally a ghost radiates energy that we call emotions - usually sorrow, anxiety, guilt or anger. Some highly motivated ghosts can move physical items or manifest strange noises, fluids, items etc - they may be called poltergeists. A few are called "energy vampires" and are accused of sucking energy from the living - but in my experience, most people freely give their life-energy to the dead, especially to their dead ancestors. (Martyn) A ghost may try to attract the attention of the living, but most of the time they just wait. Ghosts may be bonded to a location - to their places of death or to their graves, or may be bonded to their genealogy - to their ancestral homes or to their descendents' lives. I find that people are as likely to be haunted as places!

Are Ghosts Real?

Real Ghost Activity is on the Increase Both skeptics and ardent believers in the paranormal admit that supernatural and unexplainable activity²sightings of ghosts, spirits, and/or aliens²is on the rise. If there is no supernatural, what are these apparitions? Millions of eager viewers are gobbling up popular movies such as Ghost , Casper the Friendly Ghost, Beetlejuice, Ghost Rider, and Ghost Busters. Video fantasy and arcade games featuring ghosts, skeletons, and mummies and beings alive after death are the rage. TV shows such as ³The Night Stalker,´ ³Supernatural,´ ³The Ghost Whisperer´ are skyrocketing. Why do we have such a fascination with death and ghosts, while so many argue that ghosts are merely superstition? The most logical place to go to get the facts about supernatural things is the Bible, the one authority about things that cannot be seen or explained by natural earthly laws. And indeed, the Bible does indicate that paranormal activity and interest in the spirit world would increase at the very end of time. Even more alarmingly, the Bible warns that these spirits will lure multitudes into worldwide deception . "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles , which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Revelation 16:13-14 With this in mind, how vital it is that we understand what the Bible says about ghosts, spirits, and the afterlife! Not all Sleight of Hand People are often fearful of ³haunted´ buildings, believing that the spirits of the dead are active there. A quick perusal of the Internet will expose many web sites dedicated to ghost photos, videos, and stories. Of course, many of these are ridiculous hoaxes. However, some are more credible and cannot be easily explained away. The question is, what are they? The Bible teaches that the dead do not come back to haunt houses because they are resting in grave awaiting either of the two resurrections. Jesus said: " Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth ; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation ." John 5:28-29 "As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house , neither shall his place know him any more ." Job 7:9-10

"While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. " Psalm 146:2-3 "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing , neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun ." Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 Who is responsible for the strange phenomena that provoke fear in so many hearts? It is Satan, the Devil, who wants the world to believe that the dead are not really dead. "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die : For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. " Genesis 3:1-5 Skeptics are in Grave Danger Many people rationalize that supernatural spiritual manifestations are all merely fraudulent hoaxes. But these people are in great danger of being deceived when they are exposed to a supernatural happening that cannot be explained. While it is true that trickery has often been palmed off as genuine manifestations, there has also been marked exhibitions of supernatural power. The mysterious rappings with which modern spiritualism began, late in the 19th century, was not the result of human trickery or cunning, but was the direct work of evil angels, who thus introduced one of the most successful of soul-destroying delusions. Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a merely human imposture; when brought face to face with manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God. Please share this important truth about death with others by linking to this page. You can use the banner below by copying the code in the text box to your web page.

Ghosts: What Are They?

Do you believe in ghosts? The many thousands of reports from all over the world leave little doubt that haunting experiences are quite real. But what causes them and why?

You've seen them depicted in movies, read stories of their
unnerving activities and have seen television shows and documentaries sensationalizing them. You have probably seen rare photos of them and have likely heard of first-hand ghostly encounters from friends and relatives. I receive dozens of reports from readers every month. Perhaps you have even seen a ghost yourself. But what are ghosts? I'll give you the answer straight out: No one knows for certain. There are, however, many theories to explain the thousands upon thousands of documented experiences that people around the world have had since the beginning of recorded history. Ghosts and hauntings seem to be a relatively common part of the human experience. And there appear to be several types of ghosts or hauntings, and more than one theory may be needed to explain them all. Dead people The traditional view of ghosts is that they are the spirits of dead people that for some reason are "stuck" between this plane of existence and the next, often as a result of some tragedy or trauma. Many ghost hunters and psychics believe that such earthbound spirits don't know they are dead. Veteran ghost hunter Hans Holzer says, "A ghost is a human being who has passed out of the physical body, usually in a traumatic state and is not aware usually of his true condition. We are all spirits encased in a physical body. At the time of passing, our spirit body continues into the next dimension. A ghost, on the other hand, due to trauma, is stuck in our physical world and needs to be released to go on." Ghosts exist in a kind of limbo in which they haunt the scenes of their deaths or locations that were pleasant to them in life. Very often, these types of ghosts are able to interact with the living. They are, on some level, aware of the living and react to being seen on the occasions that they materialize. Some psychics claim to be able to communicate with them. And when they do, they often try to help these spirits to understand that they are dead and to move on to the next stage of their existence.

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Join the Discussion "After my stepfather passed 11 months ago, my mother has had an alarm clock go off at the time of his death. Three times! It had never been set or used. She's had her thermostat set so high the air can't come on. Her TV turns on by itself and the volume goes up. She has problems with lights. Her bedroom fan changes speeds by itself. Her blinds are pulled down. The big problem is at the foot of her bed where husband died. He had a heart attack on the foot of their bed. Well, at night, something bounces on the foot of her bed. And now it moves up beside her..." Read the rest of the story and the responses

Related Resources ‡ The Malevolent Ghost ‡ The Haunted Painting ‡ The Haunted Railroad Crossing

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Residual Hauntings or Recordings Some ghosts appear to be mere recordings on the environment in which they once existed. A civil war soldier is seen on repeated occasions staring out a window at a house where he once stood guard. A dead child's laughter is heard echoing in a hallway where she often played. There are even cases of ghost cars and trains that can still be heard and sometimes seen, even though they are long gone. These types of ghosts do not interact with or seem to be aware of the living. Their appearance and actions are always the same. They are like spirit-level recordings - residual energies - that replay over and over again. "A traumatic moment in time leaves an indelible impression on the building or area," says Strange Nation in "What Is a Ghost?," "replaying itself for eternity. This could be anything from a 'glimpse of the past' - a recreation of some traumatic or emotion-laden event - to footsteps up and down a hallway." What causes these recordings to be made and how and why they are played back is a mystery. "How and why past events are recorded and replayed repetitiously is not understood," writes Lauren Forcella. "Whatever the actual mechanism, it apparently possesses longevity as the encore performances of a haunting can continue for decades or longer. Generally, the haunting is a fragment or portion of an actual event." Messengers These kinds of ghosts may be the most common. These spirits usually appear shortly after their deaths to people close to them. They are aware of their deaths and can interact with the living. They most often bring messages of comfort to their loved ones, to say that they are well and happy, and not to grieve for them. These ghosts appear briefly and usually only once. It is as if they intentionally return with their messages for the express purpose of helping the living cope with their loss. "This category commonly involves one-time visits to someone with whom the apparition has close emotional ties," says Lauren Forcella at Paranormal Investigations, who calls these ghosts "crisis apparitions." "Though the encounter usually seems to be a type of farewell, sometimes important and useful information is relayed to the 'viewer.' Though dying is the most common crisis, other life-threatening situations can also trigger apparitional visits." Poltergeists This type of haunting is the most feared by people because it has the greatest ability to affect our physical world. Poltergeists are blamed for unexplained noises, such as wallbanging, rapping, footsteps and even music. They take our possessions and hide them, only to return them later. They turn on faucets, slam doors, turn lights on and off, and flush toilets. They throw things across rooms. They have been known to pull on people's clothing or hair. The malevolent ones even slap and scratch the living. It is because of these sometimes "mean-spirited" manifestations that poltergeists are considered by some investigators to be demonic in nature.

Other investigators, however, believe that poltergeist activity is not caused by ghosts at all, but by certain living people under stress. "During a poltergeist experience," writes Lauren Forcella, "the agent, in an attempt to relieve emotional stress, unknowingly causes the physical disturbances using mental forces. The mental mechanism that allows the poltergeist agent to unconsciously cause these physical disturbances is called psychokinesis." Projections The skeptics' point of view - if they are willing to admit there is anything to haunting experiences at all - is that they are all in our minds, or are products of our own minds. Ghosts, they say, are psychological phenomena: we see them because we expect to or want to see them. A grieving widow sees her dead husband because she needs to; she needs the comfort of knowing that he is alright and happy in the next world. Her mind produces the experience to help itself cope with the stress of the loss. Since we know so little about the power and capacity of our own minds, it's possible that they can even produce physical manifestations, such as apparitions and noises - projections that even others may be able to see and hear. But they are not "real" in any sense, say the skeptics, just the conjurings of powerful imaginations. Are there such things as ghosts? The phenomena of ghosts and hauntings are very real experiences. It is their true cause and nature that is the ongoing mystery.

Ghosts...
Many people have seen ghosts over time, but science today has yet to answer the question, What are ghosts? Of course, it is well known that many believe ghosts to be the disembodied spirits of humans and animals that once walked the face of this Earth, while other ghosts seem to be some sort of unintelligible energy imprint that has remained imprisoned upon our environment. But, what exactly are ghosts? Could some ghosts possibly be the power of the human mind projecting forth apparitions of loved ones? Are ghosts, trapped in our earthly world, wandering spirits who are struggling in a temporary hell, being unable to move beyond the past? Or, are ghosts simply rare glimpses of the past that replay within the physical environment, being seen only

sparingly? So many ideas abound about ghosts, spirits and the afterlife. The reason humans struggle with identifying the nature of ghosts is due to a lack of conclusive evidence. No one has yet been able to capture scientific, definitive proof that ghosts do indeed exist, or put forth a provable explanation as to why ghosts exist. Until this occurs, ghosts will remain the stuff of legend and lore for many people. The problem with proving ghosts exist is that skeptics suggest human perception is faulty, that only scientific means will ever authenticate the existence of ghosts. Many ghostly phenomena can be explained, they say, such as noises, mists, orbs, changes in air pressure, the effects of infrasonic frequencies, suggestion, etc. Have those of us who believe in ghosts been fooled by our five senses? In some cases, that is a possibility when considering ghosts and their possible existence. Still, should we throw the baby out with the bath water when considering the idea that perhaps our spirit lives on? In other words, should we be closed-minded? One should think not; for to decide something doesn't exist, based upon a lack of scientific proof, is not any better than believing something does exist based upon little evidence. For each person the paranormal, in this case ghosts, must be answered on the individual level. The idea of ghosts, therefore, is a personal journey. Yet, the evidence for ghosts is indeed overwhelming. When one takes a step back

and decides to look throughout history for accounts of ghosts, it is easy to see that many have witnessed them. And, some of the stories of ghosts come from multiple witnesses who saw the same thing at the same time together. Could two minds be fooled into seeing the same thing at the same exact time? Not likely, it would seem, though some skeptics would argue it was possibly the power of suggestion at work. Ghosts and haunting are found throughout the world. Stories of ghosts abound, which suggests that it is impossible that everyone who has ever had an experience with ghosts has been duped by their own mind and senses. Interestingly, ghosts are no respecter of persons, for ghosts have been witnessed who are both famous and unknown. Celebrities of old and the modern-era have been reported haunting former haunts, with some being quite interactive with witnesses. Even odder are the sightings of inanimate ghost objects, such as planes, cars and buildings by several witnesses. Are these ghosts, too? What about the repeated sounds of voices, gunfire, cannons, trains and other noises from the past that are heard in haunted locations by a myriad of witnesses over time? What explanation can be found for them, if not residual energy being released? Is there an unknown trigger for each ghost sighting that causes it to appear to people? Many believe that such a thing as timeslips occur, where past events that happened in a particular place continue to occur, but in another dimension. This is definitely an idea that could explain some ghosts. Still, many questions

remain concerning ghosts and different types of haunting. There are other ghosts that cannot be explained away by theories of residual haunting, or time-slips. These ghosts are interactive with people, not only being seen, but heard, felt and communicative, being definitely different than some past event re-running over and over before spectators. Such ghosts are not chain-rattling spectres as Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol artfully imagined, but are intriguing stories of human experience revealing an array of interesting haunting phenomena. It has been the hope of sharing evidence we receive that perhaps a greater understanding of ghosts can be gleaned. Many a ghost seems to be interacting with humans in order to gain attention, aid or simply for personal enjoyment. Some ghosts are downright loving, while others are mean-spirited. But, isn't that what the sea of humanity is, a pool of different personalities? So, why should the personalities (and reasons for ghosts remaining behind with the living) be any different? Most ghosts appear to be hurting people who are trapped in the past, having not moved on in their life-journey. This journey continues, from what we have deduced, through heading toward the light after death. Ghosts sometimes seem to be aware of this light, but have not gone forward through it for a variety of reasons. Ghosts may remain behind unwittingly, due to being lost, while others seem to be looking for resolution. Maybe, a ghost needs acknowledged that he or she is alive, or there

could be a message that needs to be delivered from the ghost to another living soul. Other ghosts, we have found, remained behind to watch over loved ones or former residences, while some ghosts were afraid to move on due to fear of being punished by an angry god, family or enemies they had made in the past. Whatever the reason, such lost souls are truly in need of help, encouragement and enlightenment. The father of modern analytical psychology, Carl Jung, after all his work and studies of the human mind was forced to believe in ghosts and spirits when he wrote this: I once discussed the proof of identity for a long time with a friend of William James, Professor Hyslop in New York. He admitted that all things considered, all these metaphysic phenomena could be explained better by hypothesis of spirits than by qualities and peculiarities of the unconscious. And here, on the basis of my own experience, I am bound to concede he is right. In each individual case I must of necessity be skeptical, but in the long run I have to admit that the spirit hypothesis yields better results in practice than any other. It is not foolish to believe in the existence of ghosts. Though cultures vary, most hold beliefs in ghosts. The very idea of ghosts rests upon our hope, our trust in our own soul being immortal. In China, for example, the dead (ghosts and spirits) are understood as co-existing with the living. One's ancestors are honored. In South America, the Day of the Dead is a festival also honoring

those who have passed, but still co-exist with us ghosts, if you will. In the Far East, many believe that this life transcends into the next and there is never any loss. Therefore, the spirit or essence of a person lives on and on. There are many, many more examples of beliefs in ghosts and spirits found throughout many cultures and religions of the world (See Ghosts & Religion). To look at ghosts further, we should perhaps understand that each of us has an etheric body the spirit energy that animates and co-exists with the physical form. It is the real person, the eternal essence of the individual, being a part of one energy source. This spirit energy is what is seen when ghosts are visibly witnessed as apparitions. Out-of-body experiences and near-deathexperiences

both seem to confirm this idea. This spirit energy is comprised of sub-atomic matter, which is why it is currently undetectable by scientists. It has been believed for thousands of years that this spiritenergy body is connected with the physical body by way of what's been dubbed the silver cord. When this cord is severed, much like cutting an electrical appliance cord, the body's life source has been removed and it can no longer survive. Yet, the etheric body is still very much alive and well, just as ghosts would indicate. At this point, while reading this article, one might be wondering what the difference is between ghosts and spirits? Simply stated, we believe that a ghost is a spirit that has not yet gone to the light. The light is a cleansing process with a life-review, which from what we can deduce, acts as a

time of reconciling with the past. Fear is always connected to the past and blocks the way to our future. By removing the past fears, the spirit of a person is able to move on in the life-journey and leave the old, earthly life behind. This is not to say that a spirit of a person cannot visit loved ones here on Earth, but suggests that a brand new perspective is gained of seeing not only the past, but the present and the future, as well. This is quite a healing change of mind. The future of our understanding of ghosts will undoubtedly be advanced and supported by what is to come in the modern-era. Quantum physics is already putting forth theories that will coincide and explain not only ghosts, but the existence of what has long been difficult to perceive: the invisible, realm of Spirit.
We are going to seek to define theories surrounding ghosts by first explaining the various phenomena that often are labeled as being "ghosts," but are not true ghosts by our definition. For example, many believe that non-reactive apparitions of people that seem to do the same things over and over are some form of energy-imprint on the environment. This type of ghost manifestation is known as a non-intelligent haunting or a

residual haunting, and is called such due to the lack of interaction between the ghost and the living. This type of ghost is not dissimilar to a video playing over and over, ever seeming to repeat itself. Could these types of ghosts have been produced by strong thoughts created by people while living, and continuing to exist within the atmosphere in some form or fashion? This theory concerning ghosts remains unproven, and at Angels & Ghosts we have another possible theory as to what causes such non-responsive

entities. We ponder if it is also possible that this type of ghost is just trapped in time, unable to communicate or interact with the living due to severe emotional trauma - a self-created mental prison, if you will. Both ghost theories regarding non-reactive ghosts will have to be worked on in the future to see which has merit. Another type of ghost is called a poltergiest , which many believe to be the

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projected psychokinetic energy of a living person that creates movement of objects and various noises. Though the word "poltergeist" is German for "noisy ghost," this type of phenomenon is not attributed to ghosts by those who have studied such accounts. It seems true poltergeist haunting activity is typically centered around a female adolescent in the home who is unwittingly producing the disturbance. The disturbance typically ceases over time, as the adolescent ages. Spirits are the souls of people and animals. We believe we are finding that the spirits of people whose physical bodies have passed and gone unto the light often return to visit the living. Some may call these spirits from the light names such as angels, spirit guides, messengers, light beings and even ghosts, but to call them ghosts would be a misidentification. Sometimes these spirits are seen visiting people during different times in their lives, or even make themselves known through thoughts, dreams and other ways of communication. During the death of a person, often spirits will be detected speaking with the person who is about to pass (see Messenger of Death story). Spirits come to ease the transition from this world to the next, and of course are human spirits who are loving and benevolant. Yet, these spirits are not ghosts, though closely associated and maybe this is why theories of ghosts at times seem blurred. Now, for the Angels & Ghosts theory regarding ghosts. All people are spirits, even those of us who are living in our fleshy bodies, and we interact as spirits within Spirit. Another name for an invisible energy that some theories call neutrinos (or even dark matter), Spirit seems to encompass all, and seems to be the life-giving force that animates everything. Everything exists within this energy, whether physical or invisible. From that perspective, the spirits of people still exist after the passing of the physical body. The question is really, "What happens to the person's spirit, who they really are, after death?" Our studies have shown that many do in fact experience loved ones in spirit who visit them while on their deathbed. Upon death, the person does not cease to exist but interacts with these loved ones who help accompany them through the "tunnel of light" experience, so prominent in near death experiences. Typically after heading into the light, the person will eventually experience a life-review, as their entire lifetime will pass before their eyes, so to speak. Our theory is that this life-review is a cleansing process, sort of a reflection and granting of a higher perspective upon the past physical life that was lived. It is a healthy, emotional experience needed to remove fears and mis-thinkings created by living in this often difficult, but temporal world. Unfortunately, some people during the dying process do not wish to go to the light, but elect to remain effectively attached to the physical realm for a variety of reasons. The reasons for staying with the living are many, but ultimately fear is why a person does not transition from this world to the next to continue the life journey. Fear of eternal punishment, fear of condemnation from loved ones who are awaiting them in spirit, fear of loved ones left behind needing them, fear of possessions left behind not being taken care, revenge, emotional turmoil, among many other possible reasons are why people choose to attach and identify with the earthly environment. These earthbound spirits are truly what ghosts are: lost, hurting people who are in need of help, for their mind has caused them to remain chained to the past in a state of fear and loneliness. Having not experienced the light and life-review, these spirits are darkened by the thoughts that hold them captive. Their thinking has left them in hell, if you will, having effectively ensnared the mind into believing a lie; for the past is illusion, and only the present exists. This is the fearful carousel that ghosts have chosen as their way of existence, and for

these lost people, finding a way to get off and move beyond may seem hopelessly impossible. The earth realm seemed logical to some ghosts; a wise choice, for the person who wanted to just hide in the shadows and hopefully not be seen or heard. For other ghosts, their fear cast them in this darkness; a lack of understanding in what went wrong. All forms of fear can be found within ghosts, some more than others: guilt, condemnation, hate, pride, prejudice, anger, doubt, worry and the like. Now can you understand the difference between a ghost and spirit? A spirit is free, full of love, joy and peace. A ghost is a spirit, but in stark contrast, is full of fear which is darkness...emptiness. We truly need to understand the spirit world. Our theory regarding ghosts centers around the previously described condition the earthbound spirits find themselves in. For these reasons, we believe many a haunting occurs, as ghosts are suffering and in need of assistance in easing the emotional pain. We believe that we are finding most ghostly activity, such as noises, dreams, visible appearances, various disturbance, communications, touching, and even attacks (though rare), can all be explained by coming to understand the desperate minds of pained, disembodied spirits. They are simply people in need of spirit rescue. In conclusion, other theories regarding ghosts do exist, such as ghosts being simply the creation of the overactive mind, hallucinations, carbon monoxide poisoning, exposure to low frequencies, etc; but we are seeing too many pieces of the puzzle come together that cannot be explained away in total by the various, skeptical theories. At Angels & Ghosts we have decided to transcend beyond the age-old question, "Do ghosts exist?" by coming to understand that ghosts do indeed exist. Knowing this, now we work toward understanding why they exist and how we may help them, and in turn just maybe help ourselves.

Ghost Information: What are Ghosts?
Fundamental, traditional Christianity does not allow at all for the existence of ghosts, because of fear-based doctrines, which sadly divide mankind - one from another. Teaching both a place of the eternally damned called, "Hell," and a place of eternal bliss for the good called, "Heaven," the Christianity attempts to place all earthly departed souls in one of these two after-life worlds. Unfortunately, much of society has been influenced by this idea, simply because they were taught it is true. It is important to understand why we believe certain things, and in this case why society in general has such a misunderstanding concerning ghosts and spirits. So seemingly, Christianity & ghosts do not mix. Yet, Jesus' message was very different than what is being taught today as truth; religion today has messed up our understanding of the spirit realm. This has created much mis-information of ghosts and how they can exist, in light of what many have been taught as impossible. Many ask, "What are ghosts?" If we consider the message of Jesus contained in the manuscripts, rather than religious ideas created after him, we should see he taught the realm of spirit (or spiritual world) to co-exist with this physical world. All of us exist in the realm of spirit and that realm is the life-giving force of all - in all, and through all that is...and is everywhere. "We live, move and have our being in Him (Spirit)." Call that spirit God, if you like...the Divine energy: the sum of all the parts, perhaps? In that context, your soul, and for that matter all souls, would be participating in the unseen realm of the spirit (a different plane of existence) and the physical world we know, at the same time; while we seem

to only be able to identify with this physical realm. It is like being in a room with a two-way mirror. We think only those in the same room with us can see our actions, but are not aware of the audience we may have on the other side of the mirror. Hence, I am participating in both worlds, but only aware of the one in which I am able to see. In Hebrews it states, "We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses." This perhaps would explain how others on the other side would be able to see us and speak to us; yet we may not be aware of their presence, yet they are with us just the same, interacting with this realm at times. Maybe, they feed us some of the thoughts we think, and we think those same thoughts and call them our own. Therefore, from the Christian perspective, the existence of ghosts and the paranormal manifesting within this earthly realm should be quite possible. When we "cross over" to the other side at what we call "death," we leave our attachment from this physical realm by leaving the vehicle (the body with the sensories) that keeps us in the physical world. My theory for the existence of this physical world, is that it is used to individualize each person from the whole (spirit, or God). Think of, how a baby after birth, begins to notice itself and stares for long periods at its hands and fingers. Then the baby grows, and the mind and emotions mature, as well. Then perhaps the detachment from this physical world is necessary, as the purpose for it has been completed. The soul - spirit body separates from the physical body by the "silver cord being cut." The silver cord is thought to be the connection between The Spirit, our individual spirit, and the physical body which it keeps animated - for the spirit gives it life. The next step is being freed from mis-thinking created here on Earth (guilt, fear, condemnation) and the knowing of truth ("The truth shall set you free.") - learning who we are and the power we have been given to create and overcome (but do not yet fully understand...Jesus demonstrated this power for us, in the physical realm). We will examine different passages of the Bible to demonstrate that ghosts or "spirits" are both contained in the New and Old Testaments. I will also give some speculation as to how different paranormal phenomena possibly line up perfectly with different biblical terms and events. Why do I mention such religious things? I do so to help others overcome the fears that were placed within them by religion itself. What better way to remove it than to use the same information in a good way. As for me, my interest in ghosts and Halloween started when I was a kid. I guess what fascinated me with the supernatural was I wanted to believe that more existed than what I could see with my eyes. Later on as I became an adult, I no longer was allowed to have an interest in ghosts and the paranormal because I had become religious. Religious fear kept me from exploring these ideas I now have, because they are not within fundamental Christianity's core tenets which I shall label as "safe zones." The condemnation sent forth from fundamental Christians on one who explores an area spiritually that may be different from their beliefs, will usually produce a warning such as, "You better stay clear of that thinking, because that could be of the devil." And hence, the seed of fear has been planted once again into a free mind. I no longer fear exploring the paranormal because I now know that fear is man-made, not god-sent. God is Spirit; why not explore Spirit? I find it worth mentioning that I had an out-of-body experience a decade ago that proved to me that we are both a physical body and a spiritual body. As I hovered above my seemingly, lifeless body, it became apparent quite quickly that the spirit and physical realms co-exist. What are ghosts? Ghosts are people in spirit, no longer having bodies. They have remained earthbound for various reasons which can always be summed up as being fear. Ghosts are people who need freed to move on in their lifejourney. Enjoy the ghost information, and hopefully come to an understanding regarding ghosts, spirits and the realm of spirit.

Whether or not ghosts exist is a topic that has been debated throughout history. Believers point towards a variety of instances that support why ghosts and spirits can exist and walk among us.

Non believers harbor that seeing is believing and since typically ghosts cannot be seen from a scientific point of view, then they do not exist. You might also not be seeing the truth. Presented here is a list of ten reasons as to why ghosts can exist with support for each one.
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Many aspects of our lives involve the belief in non tangible items, situations or things. An example is the belief in God. We are told that he exists and that his actions are seen in everyday miracles, yet we cannot touch him. Just because you cannot readily see ghosts does not mean they do not exist. A magician performs a trick and makes an object disappear. While we cannot see the object, it does not mean that it has failed to exist. It is still present, just out of our immediate view. Ghostly sightings have been documented all over the world. What would possess people from different races, religions, and cultures to share similar experiences? The sheer number of reports lends credence to the idea that ghosts exist. To say that ghosts do not exist is to say that no spirits exist, including holy angels of God. The spirits are sent to ease our pain and suffering, guide us when choices are difficult and try to keep us out of harm¶s way. In documented cases where a door is slammed or voices are heard, what other possible explanation could there be but one of a ghostly entity? Well it can illusions or psychological traumas. All cultures have some form of spirit or ghost reference in their teachings. The Bible, for some the first and last word to explain our presence, expresses the existence of ghosts throughout its pages as well as their purpose on earth.

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Utilizing thermometers and electromagnetic field meters, the hot and cold parts of an area can be measured as well as disturbances. At times the images are human in form though no one may be in that particular area. Some scientists argue these changes are brought on by spirit activity. We are born, live then die. What becomes of our soul? No longer bound by earthly bodies, our souls could be the ghost of what we once were in life. Ghosts exist in the heart and mines of the youngest and pure at heart, children. As we grow older we are taught that ghosts do not exist and our fear of them is juvenile. We age and accept this brainwashing of the idea. If they existed for all of us at one point, why can they not exist later? Ghosts exist if for nothing more than to give comfort to those left behind, or to haunt them. They are the cold breeze in an otherwise warm room, the whisper just out of ear shot, the brushing of a passerby when no one is present, and lastly they are the unexplained noises one hears but cannot name.

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But the most interesting of all, is for those who have dogs at their place. Dog owners know the different way their dogs bark. It is different for anger, for a playful mood and for FEAR and at

times for RESPECT. Is it a coincidence if your dogs always have those fearful bark just at around the same time everyday? And all of them together! Well maybe ghosts or spirit exist. Maybe not too! But reasons why they can exist are solid ones too. Ghosts might not be what our movies or photos show us, but they can be some sort of energy or anything that exist. By the way I got inspired to write this post after watching Legion. Trailer below. The movie is not really related to this article, but it makes me wonder if angels can exist, then why not ghosts! Visiting a haunted home and hoping to encounter a spirit? Although apparitions can appear anywhere, there are certain locations where ghosts are more readily seen. Here's a look at some of the most common places to have a ghostly encounter.

The Most Haunted Locations in a House
One of the most popular places to see a spirit is on a staircase. For anyone who frequently watches TV shows like Ghosts Hunters, reports of seeing apparitions walking down a set of stairs is pretty commonplace. Most of the time this is known as the residual haunting.

What is a Residual Haunting?
A residual haunting is the type of haunting when an apparition is observed doing the same thing over and over again. Think of it as watching a video clip on continuous loop. Research indicates that there is no intelligence behind this type of apparition. Rather than it being a ghost that is capable of interacting with people, this type of apparition is more like observing a memory that is imprinted.
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How to See a Real Ghost
Windows are another location where spirits are often observed. It almost appears as if the apparitions are keeping a watchful eye over the property. Windows aren't the only reflective surface that seem to attract spirits. People are often surprised when they look in the mirror and find a ghost looking back at them.

Haunted Mirror
Many times at a haunted site a person is startled when taking a peek in a mirror, only to have a ghostly face appear. Some people believe that mirrors can act as a portal to another realm. Many experiments have been done with the art of mirror scrying.

This is a technique that involves gazing into a mirror with the hope of having a paranormal experience. If interested in learning more about this, further information can be found in the article How to Learn a Mirror Scrying Meditation.

Read on
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Haunted California ± California Ghosts Haunted Houses and Supernatural Sites of the Old South Top Eight Haunted Adventures in Georgia

Ghostly Sightings
Another common place to see ghosts is in hallways. While some of these apparitions appear to have an intelligence about them, others seem to be residual hauntings like the stairwell mentioned earlier. The last most frequent place to encounter a spirit is on a chair. It's interesting to note that sometimes an actual indentation is left in a chair after a ghost has been seen sitting on it. Most people who visit haunted houses go with the hope of seeing the ghost. Even though spirits can appear anywhere, if visiting a haunted location, remember that spirit encounters are most likely to occur at one of the five locations listed above. To learn more about ghosts, readers may also enjoy What is Electronic Voice Phenomena? and What is Ectoplasm and is it Real?

Read more at Suite101: Common Locations for Sightings of Real Paranormal Ghosts http://www.suite101.com/content/common-locations-for-sightings-of-real-paranormal-ghostsa223345#ixzz1DzswBomQ

Are you scared of ghosts? Should you be afraid of a ghost? Halloween for the year 2010 is near so I have decided to write this topic as a self-help article related with getting rid of the fear on ghosts. I¶m talking about the cultural and traditional ghosts depicted as dark spirits who frighten and torture people literally. Well, here are ten reasons why you should not be afraid of a ghost. 1. Your fear will strengthen their power. Common sense tells that we should not generate any amount of fear with a ghost since our fear is the source of their strength and power. If you don¶t want a ghost to overcome you, then simply don¶t be afraid. 2. Ghost movies are fictional. Most movie producers are clever businessmen who are only after for profits. They will create horror movies portraying ghosts at their most violent and most exaggerated characteristics just to scare people who want to taste some extra frightening feelings. So don¶t expect horror films to represent what is true about ghosts.

3. They don¶t live in dark and lonely places. Are you thinking that ghosts live in cemeteries, haunted houses or other isolated and dark places? The truth is they reside in the hearts of people ± and maybe in your heart at this moment of time. They dwell on the wicked hearts of persons whom they can easily conquer. If your heart is full of hatred, pride, deceit, envy, lust and other evil things, then demonic spirits will find your heart a haven to live. So if a ghost (or even an army of diabolic ghosts) lives in your heart, you can always encounter them wherever you will go ± whether you go to a dark cemetery or go to a party. 4. They are not dead people. One of the biggest lie that has been around for ages is the belief that can you buy prescription drugs online without a prescription ghosts are the spirits of dead people (a family member or a friend who passed away). The truth is that evil ghosts wander on Earth to deceive and spread ignorance to the human race. They can easily copy the faces and images of the deceased persons to deceive anyone on Earth. Dead people are dead people, and they neither hear you nor think about you. They are resting in peace until the day of resurrection. People are actually scared of ghosts because they are scared of the dead or the state of ³death´. Remember that ghosts are lively beings, not dead people. 5. They are not after your physical injury. They are after your spiritual damages. This means that their task is not to break your neck or make you a bloodily injured person (as seen on fictional horror movies). They aim on deceiving your soul by making you believe that they are powerful. They inflict you with greed, lust, hatred, envy and deceit to contaminate your soul and eventually destroy your chance of eternal salvation. 6. Fear comes from the lack of knowledge. People are scared to death when they feel or hear about ghosts. They are afraid because of darkness and unawareness that clothe themselves. Bogus and exaggerated information fill out most of the people¶s mind that is why they are scared. If they will only know the truth (read all these 10 reasons) about ghosts, their fear will surely dwindle. Just think of a child who is afraid of the dark. Knowledge and understanding make us more mature. 7. They are afraid of the light. Diabolic ghosts live in spiritual darkness (deceit, lies and confusion). This is because they are afraid of spiritual light (truth, love, kindness, wisdom and godliness). If you walk in the light, then ghosts will not risk bothering you. 8. They are afraid of the Spirit of God. Ghosts and spiritual evils invade and reside in the wicked hearts of men. God¶s spirit also dwells in the hearts of righteous people. If your heart is filled with love, truth, self-control, kindness and you¶ve accepted God¶s on line pharmacies spirit to dwell in your heart, then evils will not attempt to step in your heart. 9. You should fear God instead. The devil and his army of darkness spread lies and deceit on Earth to keep us away from the truth and from the knowledge of God. They multiply this spiritual darkness and confusion by originating false information through their deceived victims. Wisdom overcomes our fear of the devil and his evil subordinates. Wisdom is the beginning of the fear of the Lord. So don¶t be a slave of lies and evil, instead be a servant of God.

10. You are also a ghost. We are actually ghosts. You are composed of a flesh and a spirit. If you are afraid of the ghost, it indicates weakness in your spirit. Perhaps you are more material than spiritual, and think more about you physical life rather than your eternal existence. Remember that you are also a ghost. So if you have a strong and enlightened spiritual life, why should you afraid of the wicked ghosts?
GHOSTS Ghost lore has a long and colorful history. The word ghost has been in use since the late sixteenth century. It derives from a more ancient term, gast, in the language that evolved into modern German.

For some time, ghost has usually signified the disembodied spirit of a deceased person. Earlier meanings still cling to this word, however. Gast originally referred to a terrifying rage. A person who experiences shock and terror can still be described as aghast (frightened by an angry ghost). Two sharply contrasting beliefs about ghosts have long coexisted, sometimes in the same society. The good ghost appears to be related to the higher spirit of a deceased person; the dangerous ghost, though, might be the shadowy doppelganger or a higher soul that has turned evil.

GHOST CLIPART INDEX WHAT MAKES A GHOST? MYTHICAL CHARACTERS

The two opposing ghostly prototypes are the angry ghost, dangerous because it is angry about being dead, having been killed in an unacceptable way, having been treated badly by family and community, or just plain inveterate nastiness; or the emotionally neutral ghost, the spiritual essence of the deceased that lingers or returns in order to warn, comfort, inspire, and protect the living, making its rounds amiably and harmlessly. Types of Ghosts:
ANGRY GHOST: In Japanese tradition, if the soul of the dead is not purified, it can return to the land of the living in the guise of a ghost. ANGRY GHOSTS An element of Japanese superstition that reemerges continuously is the notion that the final thought or emotion of a dying person determines his or her

eternal fate. While this seems in some ways tied to Buddhist principles of Karma, in Japanese tales it most often involves Shinto notions of lingering ghosts whose last breath in anguish results in terrorized haunting.

The Japanese believe that they are surrounded by spirits all the time. According to the Japanese Shinto faith, after death a human being becomes a spirit, sometimes a deity. It is believed that eight million deities inhabit the heavens and the earth the mountains, the forests, the seas, and the very air that is breathed. Traditions tell us that these deities have two souls: one gentle (nigi-mi-tama), and the other violent (ara-mi-tama).

GHOST CLIPART INDEX GHOST HOME

The Japanese believe that after death all spirits are angry and impure. Traditionally, rituals are performed for seven years to purify and pacify the soul. In this way the person becomes a spirit. According to belief, a spirit wanders between the land of the living and the world of shadows. For this reason, prayers are offered to insure passage to the Land of the Dead. If the soul of the dead is not purified, it can return to the land of the living in the guise of a ghost. Also, if a dead person is not delivered, through prayer, from personal emotions such as jealousy, envy or anger, the spirit can return in a ghostly guise. The ghost haunts the place where it lived and persecutes those responsible for his or her bitter fate. The ghost will remain until released from its suffering through the good intents of a living person who prays that the soul of the dead may ascend.

APPARITION: The phenomenon where the ghost takes on a physical form that can be seen. These often appear to be transparent, faint (or washed out in appearance) or disfigured. Their appearance is normally for very short period of time. Apparitions of animals, humans, and even inanimate objects have been seen.

An apparition is spiritualistic manifestation of a person or object in which a form not actually present is seen with such intensity that belief in its reality is created. An apparition can be in the form of an orb, a misty appearance, or even can be a full-bodied image of the spirit. While the full-bodied apparition is rare, it is more common to see a portion of the spirit. An apparition could also be seen as a white or black shadowy type of image. Apparitions can also present themselves in

different colors. The ancient and widespread belief in apparitions and ghosts (specters of dead persons) is based on the idea that the spirit of a man, or of any object, is endowed with energy and motion of its own that lives on after we die.

GHOST CLIPART INDEX GHOST HOME The message given by the entity is usually brief as if the power it brings it is limited. Those seeing apparitions of the dying or dead often report feeling chilliness. Apparitions may appear quite solid and yet objects may be seen beyond them. They also may be accompanied by bright light. Apparitions, especially particular shapes attached to certain legends or superstitions, are often considered as premonitions or warnings. They may appear in any form and may manifest themselves to any or all the senses. The most evil apparitions are said to be those of persons who have died violent or unnatural deaths, those with guilty secrets, and those who were improperly buried. However, not all apparitions are believed to be dangerous; many, especially those associated with a particular religion, are thought to be signs of divine intervention. Summoning apparitions by means of incantations, crystal gazing, polished stones, hypnotic suggestion, and various other ways is one of the oldest practices of divination.

BHUTA (GAYAL): The Hindu Bh ta is a type of evil spirit. It is especially the evil ghost of a man who has died due to execution, accident, or suicide.

The Hindu Bh ta is a type of evil spirit. It is especially the evil ghost of a man who has died due to execution, accident, or suicide. People protect themselves by lying on the ground, because the bh t s never rest on earth. In the Bhagvad Gita, Krishna the Avatar declares that the humans who worship bh t s become bh t s themselves; this is part of a larger discourse wherein the Avatar tells Prince Arjuna that the worshipper and the worshipped ultimately become one. The word "Bh t" is still used in Hindi to categorize a ghost. The term Bh ta is sometimes applied in a way that includes all of the Hindu vampiric demiWORLD RELIGIONS gods, demons, and undead. But its special CLIPART meaning is the revenant of a man who died under such circumstances as accident, execution as a criminal or suicide, unmarried or without an heir. WORLD RELIGIONS HOME In some regions of India, a Hindu who dies under HINDUISM HOME such circumstances is buried instead of being cremated and given a proper funeral . HINDU SPIRIT WORLD The Bh ta often satisfies its appetite by eating HINDU DEMONS the intestines and excrement it finds in other corpses. But it also attacks humans, causing them to become sick, and death often results, concentrating upon his relatives and the sons of his neighbors. The methods to get rid of this pest include exhuming the body and giving it a proper funeral in which it is cremated. Another way is to place cups around the grave containing a mixture of milk and water from the Ganges River as an offering to appease it. Burning lamps might also be placed around the grave. To protect male children from the gayal, a necklace of coins was sometimes placed around their necks. WORLD RELIGIONS COMPARED

CRISIS APPARITION: This is a visual phenomenon that usually happens spontaneously. This type of apparition are more likely to manifest in moments of crisis.

CRISIS APPARITIONS These are visions of persons, who at the time of their appearance are undergoing some form of crisis. For example a

severe illness, an injury or even death. The appearance of this type of apparition seems to be motivated by the particular anxiety on the part of the entity. The viewer often feels the apparition appears to them to deliver the message.

Many people have reported that they have seen a lifelike apparition of a friend or relative at about the time that that person was dying or involved in an accident, although the person experiencing the apparition had had no normal way of knowing about this event at the time. Similarly, other people have reported having had a vivid dream, hearing a loved one's voice, or feeling an unusual physical sensation or emotion at a time coinciding with an unexpected death or other event. The perception of a crisis apparition is not restricted to the early hours of the morning or to those who are in some private place. It can occur at the most unexpected moments and even in public places.

GHOST CLIPART INDEX GHOST HOME

These kinds of experiences were intensively studied by scientists during the late 19th century, and hundreds of cases were reported. Unfortunately, in recent decades most parapsychologists have shown little interest in studying such phenomena, and not many contemporary experiences of this kind have been reported.

DEVINE APPARITION (MARIAN APPARITION): Supernatural apparitions of divine forces have been known in every religion since ancient times. Marian Apparitions are the most frequent of all miraculous phenomena within the Catholic Church.

DOPPELGANGER: A ghostly double or counterpart of a living person. Some consider them to be like the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the alter-ego. DOPPELGANGERS Meaning "double walker" a doppelganger is a shadow-self that accompanies every human or a ghostly counterpart of each person. Only the owner of a doppelganger can see it, otherwise it is invisible to human eyes.

Dogs and cats have been known to see doppelgangers. Providing sympathetic company, a doppelganger almost always stands behind a person, and they cast no reflection in a mirror. They are prepared to listen and give advice to humans, either implanting ideas in their heads, or a sort of osmosis. It is said to be bad luck if it is seen, and rarely a doppelganger will make itself visible to friends or family, often

causing great confusion. Doppelgangers can be mischievous and malicious.

EARTHBOUND SPIRIT: They are here for a reason; they may have guilt over leaving a love one behind or an important message that needs to be told. Some do not realize they are dead.

ECTOPLASM: Ghost smoke! Ectoplasm seems to be as a result of localized electro-magnetic disturbance, which is in turn caused by the presence of a paranormal entity.

FAMILIAR GHOST: Includes relatives, lovers, children or friends who have passed over and may still visit from time to time.

FAMILIAR SPIRIT: A spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard. In the Bible the representation of a demon.

GHOST: Ghost is created in part by way of spirit, and spirit by way of breath.

GHOST HOUND: Some phantom hounds were headless, while others had one head (or even multiple heads). It was common for some to have one large eye or glowing red eyes. A few of the apparitions were even said to have wings and walk on their hind legs.

GHOST SHIP: Many ships disappear in the dark waters, but many of them do show up again... as phantom ships.

HOLY SPIRIT (HOLY GHOST): The Holy Ghost is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity in Christian religions. We first meet the Holy Spirit in the second verse of the Bible, hovering there, speaking the world into existence.

HUNGRY GHOST: In the Chinese tradition, a class of beings ever discontent and anguished because of being unable to satisfy their greed.

INTER-DIMENSIONAL BEINGS: Probably one of the most common interdimensional experience is the grayish human-like silhouette normally most visible in a quiet, dim lit area and most often seen through peripheral vision.

MANIFEST THOUGHT FORM: The Manifest Thought Form's most common appearance is that of a dark misty shroud that prevails within an area, followed closely by an extremely dark, ugly floating mass or a pitch black grotesque figure or shape.

ORB: Orbs have always held a special place in mythology including the sun, planets and moon. In modern times, earthbound orbs are captured on camera.

PHANTASM: Something apparently seen but having no physical reality, an imaginative mental image. PHANTOM: Some say it is any kind of figment of the imagination, something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality such as an illusion. POLTERGEIST (NOISY GHOST): Notorious for audible noises such as footsteps, dropping dishes from a shelf, or even hurling objects across a room. They are usually the chief perpetrators in haunted house reports.

RESIDUAL HAUNTING: Residual Haunting are often considered a photo in time or leftover energy from the past. some type of horrific landmark in time playing itself over and over in a certain location, ( i.e. battlegrounds). SHADE: A Shade is a soul after its separation from the body, also known as a disembodied spirit.

SHADOW PEOPLE: Some believe that Shadow People are beings or entities that are at a different vibrational level than we are. SPECTER (SPECTRE): A specter is a (usually terrifying) phantom, apparition, or ghost, or an unreal appearance. It is common in some folklore and mythology. SPIRIT: The spirit was part of a person while he was alive. Therefore, The Lord be with you and with thy spirit .

SPOOK: A spirit returning to haunt a place. Their main goal is to get you good and scared.

UNDEAD: They are restless spirits, souls caught in the void between life and death.

WISP (WILL O' THE WISP): The Will o' the wisp can be found in numerous folk tales around the British Isles, and is often a malicious character in the stories.

WRAITH: The exact likeness of a living person seen usually just before death as an apparition.

Ghost History Whether we choose to believe or not in ghosts and spirits, there is no denying that we only have to look through history to find a wide range of spooky encounters. In the 1st century AD, a ghost was reported to haunt a house in Athens belonging to Pliny the Younger. According to Pliny the ghost would rattle chains and take the form of an old man with a beard.

FACT FILE Anne Boleyn¶s ghost holds the record for most sightings. Since her execution in 1536, she¶s been spotted 30,000 times in 120 locations.

The first poltergeist was recorded in 856AD at a farmhouse on the banks of the River Rhine in Germany. The spirit tormented the family by throwing stones, banging on walls and making fires. Even when several priests armed with holy relics came to visit, it sent them packing with a hale of stones. Sightings of spectral armies after key English Civil War battles were reported in contemporary sources, similar accounts also came from Gettysburg, The Somme and Gallipoli. The last two hundred years has seen a huge increase of interest in science but also in the spirit world. It seems that no matter how much we progress, we have a natural interest in ghosts.

DIVINE APPARITIONS Visions, revelations and apparitions are supernatural manifestations due to the direct intervention of a power superior to man in which God makes himself, his will, or other information known to mankind. The recipient of a revelation is commonly referred to as a visionary, a seer or a prophet if the divine message reveals future events. Supernatural apparitions of divine forces have been known in every religion since ancient times. And it s by far the most frequent of all miraculous phenomena within the Catholic Church. Apparitions usually occur while the recipient is in a state of ecstasy or a trance-like condition. They are either induced spontaneously or brought on by intense prayer, meditation or fasting. Ecstasy is characterized by expanded mental and spiritual awareness while the activity of the senses is usually suspended.

WORLD RELIGIONS COMPARED WORLD RELIGIONS CLIPART WORLD RELIGIONS HOME CHRISTIAN HOME

Three types of apparitions The Catholic Church, following St. Augustine, outlines three types of apparitions or visions: intellectual, imaginative and corporeal.
Intellectual vision

The intellectual vision is perception without the presence of a visual object. As St. Theresa has said, "It is like feeling someone near one in a dark place." The object of an intellectual vision can be anything, but most often is a higher theological concept such as the Holy Trinity, the essence of the soul, the nature of heaven, and the like. Imaginative vision The imaginative vision is somewhat more 'concrete' than the intellectual. Although it also lacks a visual object, the human imagination is touched to create a visual representation. Often the visionary is aware that it is a purely reproduced or composite image, which exists only in the imagination. This kind of vision occurs most frequently during sleep. Corporeal vision

The difference between an imaginative and a corporeal vision is that the imaginative, while having a visual component, is not seen by the eyes and leaves no physical evidence of its effects. The corporeal vision, on the other hand, is registered by the human eye and at times leaves physical effects. The corporeal vision can either be a figure really present or a power superior to man, which directly modifies the visual organ and produces in the composite a sensation equivalent to that which an external object would. The presence of an external figure may be seen in two ways. Sometimes the very substance of the being or the person will be presented; sometimes it will be merely an appearance consisting in a certain arrangement of luminous rays. Other Types of Phenomena Locution Sometimes the apparition is only heard, usually as an inner voice. This phenomenon is called locution. Other phenomena Phenomena such as weeping images of Jesus or the Virgin Mary and people showing the marks of stigmata may obviously also be considered as divine apparitions. These are therefore often investigated and judged by the Vatican congregation, which deals with private revelations.

Ghost Facts
Most paranormal investigators know that there are two main types of hauntings: residual, and intelligent. There is a third type of haunting, generally referred to as a daemonic haunting. It is my humble opinion that a haunting of this type will absolutely fall under the intelligent haunting category. So we will speak of the two main types here.

A residual haunting shows you a scene or some type of image that does NOT appear to recognize you, see you, or interact with you. Examples of this would be a ghost walking into a wall and disappearing without noticing you, seeing a ghost performing what looks like regular things, as if they are not aware of their death. They would appear to be living a normal life, oblivious to you. At times, these spirits could even walk seemingly right through you and not notice. If this happens, you could

experience coldness or heat, lightheaded feelings, a moment of forgetting, tingling all over the body, dread, thrill, or any combination of these sensations. It is this type of haunting that is tough at times on an investigator. We always want to see if we can help a wandering spirit, and when we can't seem to get through to them, it leaves us feeling a bit helpless. We recently did an investigation at a Famous Bed and Breakfast, and heard conversation by several ghosts in a room where they seemed not to have any recognition of us at all. Could this have been a residual conversation? Very likely. However, later in the evening, a voice

from that conversation did speak the name of one of the investigators. So it is possible to have both types of hauntings at the same time.
An intelligent haunting means that a ghost, or disembodied voice, would try to communicate with you directly. They would speak to you, or stop and seem to look directly at you, or even touch you. In some cases, they would respond to your questions, and actually do what you ask them to do. At times, these encounters can be as real to you as if you were with someone in real life. In this type of haunting, ghosts will absolutely try to get you to notice them if they feel the need. Most ghosts have something to say, and want to speak to those willing to listen. Random voices to us mean that we haven't taken the time to investigate properly. If ghosts speak at all, they are serious about communicating, and we must give them the proper time to do that. (We are very passionate about spirit communication, and most of our ghost voices are specifically in response to us). Ghosts can manipulate energy in every conceivable way. They can manifest themselves as orbs, mists, fogs, in thick swirling ectoplasm, or as shadow figures in any shape or size. (Orbs are the most common form of spirit energy, as it takes less energy for this than to form a larger mass of form.) They can move objects, throw things, grab you, push you, and even cause harm if provoked. Ghosts can show you lights in the darkness, where no possible light source was. They can fly by you with

incredible speed, and leave you with nothing but the breeze of their passing. I have been in an abandoned infirmary kitchen where there had been no one for years, and smelled bacon and eggs, as if they were being cooked while I was standing there. Remember also, that the ghost population includes any type of animal, as some have said they still have their family pet with them, even after the physical death.

Ghosts can absolutely be attached to objects that were in their possession at the time of their death, and can go with those objects to different locations if they want to. We call this object attachment. For this reason, you will see that there are many antique stores that have paranormal activity. We have investigated shops where we got extraordinary findings. Having said that, realize that an item you purchase from one of these shops

has the possibility, although extremely rare, of spirit possession.
Is it possible to live peacefully in a place with active spirits there? Yes. In most cases, families can learn to understand that a spirit is not there to harm, but just may be wanting to have company. Think in terms of you never wanting to leave the beautiful home where you live. Ghosts are the same at times, they are so attached to the home they lived in, that they might not want to ever leave either. Can a ghost really harm me, or my family? Absolutely. Our team always deals with ghosts, or spirits, with honor and respect. We feel if we do that, we in turn will get respect. We have met very few ghosts through the years that have truly wanted to harm someone. Most of them just want to communicate. Will a ghost remember you? If the haunting is intelligent in nature, yes, a ghost should remember you. If you actually communicate with a ghost, keep in mind that they do not have a schedule anymore. They have no reason to sleep, so are up all hours, and they will recall, or remember, EVERYTHING that has happened to them from their physical death. Will a ghost do what is asked of it? That is entirely up to the ghost. Some have said that their haunting was their mother, or grandmother, come back to see them. Would you not expect your own family to do what you ask of them?

Is a ghost the same in death as in life? Yes. A person does not change through the physical death. If they were nice in life, they will still be relatively nice. If they were mean, or terrible in nature, they will still be that way in their afterlife. Can there be a happy haunting? This depends completely on the living. In some of our cases, we have seen a family be completely at peace with their encounter. I have been in some bed and breakfast inns, where the owners are absolutely tickled to be haunted. This is just a situation where every case is different. Ghosts can and WILL grow tired of you at times. I have had thirty and forty minute conversations with spirits and then all of a sudden they just leave, without regard to you. Remember they will never feel obligated to have to answer to you. When speaking or dealing with a ghost, they will always want the upper hand, and you will have to be very resolute to have any sort of control of the situation. At times, they will say goodbye, or even ask you to stay, but this is rare. And if you have this type of encounter, you should feel good about being a person that a lost spirit wants to try to communicate with. In our experiences, the longer you get the spirit to speak, the easier it has been for us to have control of the situation. When you stop to listen to your children speak, do they not feel better that you acknowledge them? A ghost may get recognized once a month, or a year if they are in an abandoned building. Their need to communicate may be the one need they have above all else. Remember in this field of ours, we are reaching out to lost souls. No one, including myself, knows why they are still here,

but I know they shouldn't be. And some of these spirits don't even know where they are, or that they are dead. To certain types of investigators, ghosts can project their feelings and emotions on them. I have an empathic ability, which means I can feel the pain that some ghosts felt at the moment of their death, or the last moments of their life. The most incredible pain I have felt from a ghost was when I went near a hanging tree from the old days, and as I approached it, felt like I was literally being hanged. The choking sensation was so intense I nearly blacked out, and had what appeared to be rope marks on my neck. I did not feel this was a daemonic oppression, but simply the last moments of a person that had been hanged on the tree. There was no dark or sinking feeling, no oppressive smell, no feelings of dread, just intense pain from someone's last moments of life. And when I could breathe again, I went back to the tree, and got no further sensation, nor any further readings. The third type of haunting is a daemonic haunting, and is extremely rare to encounter. In our experience, over 35 years of investigating have only led us to a handful of these hauntings. A daemonic haunting is a spirit form that has NEVER been human. They are from a different plane of existence, and will always have an agenda. They will not just hang out in an earthly place, they are there for some purpose. Remember that biblically, angels and daemons battle around us at all times. See Carl Johnson's writings on this type of haunting HERE. Carl is one of the foremost demonologists in our field, and he works with the TAPS organization.

I don't know anyone that can tell me why ghosts are here. No one can explain to me why we hear children screaming and crying at a memorial where a school fire killed more than 80 people in the early 1900's. No one can explain to me how we hear a woman singing at the place of a murdered teenage boy.
No one seems to have definite answers about why ghosts are still here with us. In over 35 years, I certainly can't explain it, and every time I do an investigation, it seems that I learn something new. But one thing is an absolute, there are more ghosts, or spirits, out there than we can possibly know. And they do want to communicate. Remember when you stop to smell the roses along the way, every now and then just take a moment to listen. You might be in a position to help a lost spirit find their way....

How To Tell If You Have A Ghost Back to Ghost Information
Is it a ghost? Do I have a ghost? How can I tell if I have a ghost?
Ever think to yourself, Is my place haunted? Do I have a ghost? Sure, it is important to know what a ghost and a haunting is, especially when one begins to wonder, How do I know if I have a ghost or not? First begin by ruling out all explainable phenomena. Is it truly paranormal, in other words, extra ordinary? Can the strange activity be explained, if one takes a closer look at the evidence? As human beings, our minds have a tendency to work over time, and thus create situations that are very believable, and seemingly paranormal, at times. Look for natural causes of any strange events, and be a little skeptical. This will keep one level-headed and calm while trying to conclude whether a place is haunted or not. A rational, but open mind is the best tool in determining if the source of a possible haunting is indeed ghostly.

What are ghosts and spirits?
The two words ghosts and spirits have been used interchangeably for hundreds of years. Ghost is from the Anglo-Saxon gast, while spirit is from the Latin spiritus. As language developed, the word ghost came to being used in describing the appearing of a recognizable person appearing after their death; while a spirit came to be understood as the manifestation of an unknown person. Ghost hunters on the other hand, will look at ghosts and spirits differently. In the ghost hunting community, ghosts would be disembodied people who are stuck in this physical world, typically due to trauma or unfinished business here on earth. They have not moved on into the light after the death of their physical body, and are still attached to people, things or events that occurred in the past. The key word with this is past, as the past seems to hold them here, instead of looking to the future which would cause them to move beyond their prior physical life. For whatever reason, they cannot let go of the earthly realm, and either need direction or are looking for assistance in delivering a message or fixing a situation. This ghostly activity is

known as an intelligent haunting. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that some ghosts are nonintelligent, meaning they are only residual energy of a prior event and not interactive. A ghostly action, such as walking down a hall will occur over and over, whether someone is present or not. This type of ghost manifestation also known as an unintelligent haunting will not interact with the physical world. In contrast, a spirit, to most ghost hunters, represents someone who has moved beyond death, into the light, having had their life review and now understands they are spirit. Issues of their former physical existence have been worked through or are being worked through, and peace, love and joy are being experienced. Often, all of us are watched over by spirits on the other side, who want to comfort us, guide us and observe our lives. These spirits typically are loved ones, family, and friends some are known as spirit guides and angels.

How to tell if you have a ghost.
The following are some descriptions of ghostly activity, and thus are common phenomena found in

hauntings. It is important to not be afraid and understand that a ghost is a person who is most likely wanting to be recognized for assistance. The following phenomena are not all-inclusive: 1) Cold spots. The manifestation of a ghost requires energy, and thus the area could be cold from the ghost using the energy of a specific location. 2) Electrical disturbances, such as flickering lights and radios turning off and on. 3) Movement of physical objects, such as doors. 4) Items missing or moved. 5) Water turning off and on. 6) Goosebumps, chills, the feeling that you are being watched, or touched. 7) Sounds, such as foot steps, music, voices, whispers, rapping, banging, something being dropped, etc. 8) Balls or orbs of light that appear and float around. 9) Shadows moving about a room or in the corner of one s eye. 10) Odd behavior from a pet. Animals are very in tune with spirits around them. 11) Unexplained or known fragrances of the deceased. 12) Levitating objects. 13) Mists, or vapors that appear.

What does a ghost look like?
Ghosts can and do manifest physically in various forms. It is not understood why the forms vary, but perhaps it is due to the condition of the soul of the entity. Ghosts appear as: 1) Orbs - These balls of light can float or move at rapid speed. Some believe these to be the first or most basic manifestation of a ghost perhaps the soul of a person. 2) Mists, Vapors, Ectoplasm - This form appears as smoke or fog, and is believed to be the manifestation of spirit. 3) Shadow People - Known as dark shadows or black ectoplasm, these ghosts will often be seen moving about. It is possible that the darkness represents a condition of the soul not yet understood, such as immaturity, lack of understanding or knowledge. 4) Apparition - This is the full-bodied, non-vaporous appearance of a disembodied person s spirit, and is very rare. Typically described as see-through. Ghosts can manifest anywhere. They may appear more at night,

because they most likely cannot manifest around a lot of people. It is surmised that the energy it takes to manifest in the physical realm, may be depleted when a ghost is around a crowd of people. Although ghosts may appear during day or night, the night could provide a time when less people are active, and may afford a time when all types of ghosts could appear more readily. Others believe that intelligent ghosts only manifest around people, either through use of their energy, or to communicate with this world. A ghost is a subtle energy in most cases, but can vary in intensity.

What to do with a ghost.
If one has a ghost, then the obvious question is, What do I do with the ghost? Maybe a better question should be, How can I help a ghost? Finding common ground and comfort in the fact that a ghost is only a disembodied human being, seek to speak with the ghost. Most ghosts are lost, and looking for simple direction. Follow your instincts and try and understand if there is any left over, unfinished business that may help the ghost move on. Ask the ghost person openly, how can

I help? Be not afraid to tell the ghost that you know they are there, that you recognize this and that they should understand that their physical body has died. Let them know this. Tell the ghost, that there is nothing to fear, and that they should move towards and into the light, where peace, love, joy, friends and loved ones await. Often times, a ghost doesn t understand that they have passed on. Sometimes a simple conversation will free the troubled soul, and bring peace to the situation. Ghosts often will take simple instruction, such as, Stop banging the pans at night. Many times the ghost just wants someone to know that they are there, but if a ghost is troublesome, remember you are in control. If a ghost will not head to the light, then demand the troubled spirit leave. This is your place, and you don t have to accept visitors. Some ghosts are just looking to be recognized, until someone hears their story. Other ghosts are in dire need to deliver a message to a loved one. It is not uncommon for relatives of the deceased to receive a phone call from the other side of the grave, with a parting, I love you. The voice is typically immediately recognized by the loved one, and the message is usually short but clear.

When phone records are checked, in most cases there is simply no record of the call at all. These are known as, phantom phone calls. Ghosts, though disembodied, are not without means. An intelligent ghost will get your attention if need be, whether through sounds, sight, smell or even touch.
Here on this page wehope to answer many questions that you may have concerning ghosts. Many of these come from E-mails we've gotten over the years while working with other groups or with PIRA. If you can't find an answer here, send us an e-mail and ask away! We'll answer you via email and if you don't mind, we'll post it up here. Hey everybody, thanks for the great questions so far! We hope we answered them all for you. Keep'em coming! We'll do my best to answer everyone. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes we do. All of us were skeptical at first, but we've all experienced enough to believe that there is something out there. How did you get interested in ghosts? We all have our different reasons for why we do this, they can be found in our profiles. Click Here. How can I tell if I really have a ghost? Well, that may sound like an easy question, but its not. Noises, cold spots and seeing shadows can be easily attributed to natural causes. That cold spot could be from an overhead vent or an open window. Shadows can fly all over if a hanging lamp gets blown in a breeze. Voices can carry through one open window to another open window, making you think that you're hearing an EVP. You really have to rule out the natural before considering the supernatural. But there are times when you KNOW you're sharing space with a ghost. The best way to make sure is to have a professional group conduct an investigation. You should be able to find one in your local area. You can check our links page. Be prepared to have at least two visits. Ghosts don't always perform on cue and may keep quiet until they "warm" up to the investigators. Why do ghosts exist? There are many theories on why ghosts exist. Ranging from lost spirits to cris-crossing dimensions. For a look at some of the theories we've developed, take a look at our Theories page. Can a ghost physically hurt me? Although it is possible and I've heard stories of such abuse, we have never come across a

case that involved any form of physical abuse from a spirit. So we can't verify if such incidents actually occur. Some of us have been brushed up against, poked, had hair ruffled and even been pushed over- but none of these incidents were threatening or violent in any way. Will having an investigation make the activity worse? Paranormal activity can increase or decrease at any given time. In all the investigations we have been involved with, not one has reported any change in the amount of activity after we have packed up and left. In our investigations, we make it known that we are there only to learn, not to threaten or to "get rid" of the ghosts. Do ghosts appear only during the night? Nope. Spirits are all around us, all of the time. They can be seen and heard anytime during the day or night. We have one picture on my site that was taken outside in the afternoon, which shows an orb. There have been many sightings during the day as well as the evening. How can a brand new house be haunted? Just because a house is newly constructed doesn't mean its not going to be haunted. There might have been a building that had previously stood on the same site that had a resident ghost or perhaps the land itself may hold a tragic tale of a lost soul who died on the spot where a new house now stands. What's the difference between ghosts and demons? We am not into demonology, but I have looked into it a little. Basically, a demon is a dark spirit that is hostile to humans. These dark spirits were never humans to begin with. Some believe they are fallen angels, while others believe they are the souls of the wicked dead. Ghosts, however, are the spirits of those humans that have lived on earth for a time. Ghosts do not hurt us and they do not hate us. Most likely, ghosts are lost and confused, or perhaps they have something to do before they can move on. How can I get rid of a ghost? Although we believe in co-existence with spirits, we understand that some people are not able to handle the stress of living with an unseen guest. There are several ways to go about "getting rid" of a ghost. One way is to have a priest or another member of a religious order to bless the house, or to perform an exorcist, depending on the activity in the house. Another way would be to have a person or group come in and perform a cleansing. This is when they "clean" the house of spirits, essentially sending them on their way. We have never witnessed this myself, so we can't verify if it actually works. The best way , in our opinion, is to simply ask the spirit to leave. Remember that this spirit or spirits were once human like you and I. They may be confused about where they are and what has happened to them. Explain to them that this is your home now and it time that they move on. Some spirits may need your help before moving on. They may need to pass on some information to a family member and they need you to relay the messege. After helping the spirit, it will be able to move on. Can a ghost follow me home? This is a tough one. Usually ghosts are restricted to places they have frequented during life or where they died. Just by going to a haunted house is not going to cause you to start hearing

footsteps in your own house. They won't jump into the back seat of your car and ride home with you, but some ghosts have attached themselves to objects, like furniture. People who get attached to certain items during thier life are hard-pressed to let them go after death. These items, maybe bought from a "haunted house", may very well be the reason the house was haunted! Also, taking objects from a haunted site may very well come with an extra bonus...that of a ghost. Where is the best place to find a ghost? Just about anywhere. Cemeteries, battlefields, Inns, taverns, diners, old homes and new homes. You never know when you might run into a spirit. What is the difference between a poltergeist and a ghost? The name poltergeist is from the german words- poltern, to make noise and geist- ghost. This is an entity that manifests through rapping on walls, making strange noises and/or hurling objects. However, many ghosts hunters agree that poltergeist activity isn't the work of any ghosts at all. It is believed to be Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis- This theory states that psychokinetic energy may unconsciously leave the body of an emotionally charged person, usually an adolescent, an randomly do its damage. Simply put, its means that when some people get mad, usually kids going through puberty, they can do the mind-over-matter thing- they just don't realize that they're doing it. How long does it take to determine whether or not a site is haunted? Often we can determine if a site is actually haunted about a month after an initial investigation. This leaves us time to review every piece of evidence to be sure its genuine. We need to rule out all possible natural causes before accepting a supernatural cause. Most investigators have full time jobs, therefore it could take a while before we all have a chance to review the information. Can ghosts haunt several different places, or are they stuck in one spot? There are a few stories out there about the same ghost haunting several locations. Abraham Lincoln is a good one. I don't see why a ghost couldn't be at several places. Think of it this waywhen we are alive, we have many places we like to go each day. We also have places we like to go at different times of the year. Why would it be hard to accept that we still might like to go to the same places after we die? Most ghosts do seem to be stuck in one place, usually where they died or spent most of their time. Some seem like they're stuck in one particular room Why can children see ghosts better then adults? Children are still open to the world. They have not been forced to accept certain "truths" about the real world adults live in. For more on this you can see our theory about Spirits and Children. Can I talk to a ghost? Will it talk back to me? Sure you can talk to a ghost. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that ghosts were once living people like you and me. Talk to them, ask them a question. You may be surprised by what you may get....a response. No, you won't get one all the time. Heck, you may never get a response, but its worth a try. You may want to have some type of audio recorder with you. We

have found that most of the time, you can't hear them with your normal hearing. When you play back the tape, you just may find a surprise! Why can some people sense a presence, but another person can't? Some people are more open-minded and will more easily accept their natural instincts. I stand by my belief that if you get the feeling you're not alone, then you're not. I think its part of our basic animal instincts warning us of another presence. Trust your feelings. Your body does not lie to you, so listen to it. If I have a ghost, what should I do? That depends on you. If you don't want to live with it you can move out or follow one of the steps under "How can I get rid of a ghost?". If you want an investigation conducted, then you need to get in touch with a ghost hunting group in your area. You can find several groups on my Links page or if you're in the Philadelphia and surrounding area, you can contact us here at PIRA. What is an EVP? EVP stands for Electronic Voice Phenomenon. Its just a fancy name for capturing ghostly voices on audio recorders. It works like this- when you're at a location believed to haunted, turn your audio recorder on and you can do one of two things; 1- You can place it somewhere by itself and just let it run or 2- you can keep it with you while you ask questions. When you play back the recording later on, sometimes you'll hear extra voices or answers to your questions. Its kinda freaky when you hear it for yourself. When you're trying to record EVPs, do you actually hear the ghosts speak? Not all the time. In our experience, there have only been a handful of times when we've actually heard a voice. Most of the time we have to wait until we play back the recordings to find out if we got anything. When recording EVPs, do I need special equipment? Nope. A regular old tape recorder will do. Although I suggest you use an external microphone with it. The internal microphones tends to pick up a lot of noise from the gears inside the tape recorder itself, which leads to a lot of static. I use a digital recorder from Panasonic. It has 60 minutes of recording time and is the size of a credit card, which makes it easy to carry around. It also stores each recording as a file for easy and instant access. What do you think of digital cameras for ghost hunting? At first I was skeptical about them. But after a lot of research I went out and purchased my own, and I love it. The money you save from film, developing and the development of bad pictures is just the beginning. With a LCD screen, pictures are ready to view instantly. You can see whether you captured an orb or not. I've been able to track an orb as it made it's way across a room. The loss of negatives and developing is actually a plus. There is nothing that someone else can tamper with. No water stains on the negative or chemical drops on the prints. The pictures are not handled by by strangers of any kind. There have been many arguments over pixel problems and having no negatives to back up photos. These will always be the arguments of skeptics. There was a pixel problem with one

particular brand at the beginning of their run, but they've since fixed it and are going strong. It's said that it's so much easier to fake a digital photo, so any digital pictures of ghosts can't be accepted. This is bull! Plain and simple. You can find websites out here showing you how to fake photos using regular film. We even have one listed on our links page. A 35 mm photo can be scanned into a computer, thus becoming a digital picture, that can now be manipulated just like pictures from a digital camera. The bottom line is ANY photo can be faked. You just have to be honest and careful with ghost hunting pictures. What are EMFs? EMF stands for ElectroMagnetic Fields. Power lines, electrical wiring, televisions, microwave ovens, and appliances all produce electric and magnetic fields. EMFs are invisible lines of force that surround any electrical device. The earth itself has its own electromagnetic field. The earth produces EMFs, mainly in the form of DC (also called static fields). Electric fields are produced by thunderstorm activity in the atmosphere. Near the ground, the DC electric field is less than the much stronger fields that occur directly beneath electrical storms. Magnetic fields are thought to be produced by electric currents flowing deep within the earth¶s molten core. It is believed by many ghost hunters that spirits posses the ability to manipulate these fields, though no one is sure whether they do it purposely or if it is a natural reaction of their energy. By using an EMF detection device, one can measure the strength of the fields in specific areas. When using these devices, be sure to rule out any power source, like those mentioned above, before considering a paranormal origin. For a real indepth article about this, visit the Articles section. Why do you use night-vision? Well, for starters, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to see at night! But there are even better reasons why you can use night-vision while ghost hunting. Using infra-red light, which we can't see with normal eyesight, and light-amplifying technology, these devices let us "see" in the dark. If an orb or other such anomoly enters within the range of the infra-red light, it's reflection can be seen through the night-vision. This is the reasoning behind a theory that spirits' energy is visible within the infra-red spectrum. We've had some good results using night-vision scopes and video cameras. They can be set up in a corner of a dark room and left alone to record in total darkness. Have you ever used a Ouija board? Yes I have. When I was in high school I tried it with a bunch of friends, just because I was curious. Nothing happened and I lost interest. From some research and "hear-say" I've learned that ouija boards can be a potential danger to an inexperienced person. The ouija board shares the same common element as everything considered paranormal...and that is no one really knows what it is capable of. People use these boards to "invite" spirits to talk to them. Actually, you don't know excatly who or what is talking to you, or what their purpose is. The members of PIRA don't use them and we don't encourage anyone to, but this is just our opinion. Have you ever worked with psychics? Not really. Although we do have a member who appears more sensitive then the rest of us, we do not rely on her psychic ability to guide us in our investigation. We take it with all of the evidence and come to our own conclusions. I don't work with professed psychics because they are dealing with the same problem we are with ghosts...there is no 100% proof that it exists.

Scientists and the government have tested and studied the psychic phenomenon and still can't prove it 100%. So, therefore, we can't work with something or someone that we can not trust. .