Paranormal Index:
AngelDemon
Djinn
Ectoplasm
EVP
Exorcism
Ghost
Haunting - Intelligent or Traditional
Haunting - Residual
Haunting - Portals
Orbs
Ouija Boards
Poltergeist
Spirit
Angel
An angel is an inspired being found in many religions. Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition, in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, they typically act as messengers from God. Other roles in religious traditions include acting as warrior or guard; the concept of a "guardian angel" is popular in modern Western culture.
Angels are usually viewed as emanations of a supreme divine being, sent to do the tasks of that being. Traditions vary as to whether angels have free will or are merely extensions of the supreme being's will. While the appearance of angels also varies, many views of angels give them a human shape.
Back to IndexDemon
In religion, folklore, and mythology a demon (or daemon, dæmon, daimon) is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit, and in Christian terms it is generally understood as a fallen angel, formerly of God. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled.
Back to IndexDjinn
In Islamic mythology, the Djinn are fiery spirits. From the Arabic junna, meaning "angry or possessed". The Djinn are creatures who lived on earth before man; they were made up of 'smokeless fire' whereas men were made from earth.
Djinn are often disruptive, but can sometimes be of service to mankind. The Djinn shunned daylight and were responsible for disease and insanity. Unlike other devilish creatures, however, the Djinn are creatures of free will, even having a chance at redemption through Islam.
The three classes of Djinn are:
In Middle Eastern magical practice, Djinn are invoked much like the spirits of the Goetia in Western magic.
The word "genie" is a corruption of Djinn. Both 'Djinn' and 'Genius' probably share a common root. Djinn are said to avoid salt and steel, and to be afraid of the sound of singing.
Back to IndexEctoplasm, Ecto-mist and Vapors
Originally used to describe the substance that oozed from spirit mediums during a seance, it is now normally associated with and referred to as a mist or fog, and it usually displays a swirl effect within a vaporous cloud.
It normally appears several feet off the ground and can linger or travel quickly at will. It's usual colours are grey or white but has also been seen and photographed in several other colors. Ecto-mist has been caught on both video & all types of cameras.
There are several strange characteristics associated with ectoplasm. It is warm to the touch and has a wax like composition with weight and mass. It is sometimes a gelatinous rubbery substance that disappears suddenly when exposed to bright light.
Back to IndexEVP-Electronic Voice Phenomenon
EVP or Electronic Voice Phenomena is typically described as the ability to record spirit voices or sounds through the use of ordinary tape recording devices. EVP was first discovered by Dr. Konstantine Raudive and Professor Hans Bender.
Electronic voice phenomena are sections of static noise on the radio or electronic recording media that are interpreted by paranormal investigators as voices speaking words usually attributed to ghosts or spirits. Recording EVP has become a technique of those who attempt to contact the souls of dead loved ones or during ghost hunting activities. In addition to deceased spirits, various paranormal investigators say that EVP could be due to psychic echoes from the past, psychokinesis unconsciously produced by living people, and the thoughts of aliens.
The voices when they are being recorded are not heard to the experimenter at the time of the experiment and only discerned when the tape is played back. Sometimes spirit voices will be recorded in reverse, while other times they will answer questions or even call the experimenter by name.
Back to IndexExorcism
Exorcism is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed. The practice is quite ancient and part of the belief system of many religions.
The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a member of the clergy, or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills. The exorcist may use prayers and religious material, such as set formulas, gestures, symbols, icons, amulets, holy water etc. The exorcist often invokes God, Jesus and/or several different angels and archangels to intervene with the exorcism.
In general, possessed persons are not regarded as evil in themselves, nor wholly responsible for their actions. Therefore practitioners regard exorcism more as a cure than as a punishment. The mainstream rituals usually take this into account, making sure that there is no violence to the possessed, only that they be tied down if there is potential for violence.
Back to IndexGhost
A ghost is a disembodied spirit of a once living person that hasn't quite made the transition from this world to the next usually due to an untimely death such as murder, suicide or an accident. Frequently similar in appearance to that person, the ghost will usually be encountered in places which he or she frequented in life, or in association with the person's former belongings.
The word "ghost" may also refer to the spirit or soul of a deceased person, or any spirit or demon. Ghosts are often associated with hauntings, which is, according to the Parapsychological Association, "the more or less regular occurrence of paranormal phenomena associated with a particular locality (especially a building) and usually attributed to the activities of a discarnate entity; the phenomena may include apparitions, poltergeist disturbances, cold drafts, sounds of footsteps and voices, and various odors."
Back to IndexHaunting - Intelligent or Traditional
This type of haunting is what most people think of when they hear the word ghost. Unfortunately these types of hauntings are very rare, an intelligent or traditional ghost interacts with people. The most common belief is that the ghost is connected to the site or people in some way.
Some reasons the ghost may be tied to the site or people:
These ghosts are generally associated with physical activity like slamming, opening, closing, unlocking doors and windows, voices, and sounds. A strong presence, a scent, or touch may be experienced. People rarely see a manifestation of the ghost in the form of an apparition or mist.
Back to IndexHaunting - Residual
A residual haunt is believed to be activity of reoccurring or traumatic actions from past events that leave an imprint on the environment, such as battles and wars.
This type is probably the most common type of haunting. Because its' characteristics are similar to the intelligent haunting, people often mistake it for an intelligent/traditional haunting. Like intelligent haunts, some examples of activity are phantom footsteps, sounds, images, and scents. One major difference between this haunting and the intelligent/traditional haunting, is that this type of haunting is not considered to be that of a ghost, and there is no interaction with the living.
It is believed that this activity is the dissipation of stored energy from the site. The theory is the energy is stored or absorbed by the site due to repetitive or traumatic events of the energy expended while performing such actions. Similar to a tape player, the energy is stored in the magnetic field of the environment. Over time the energy builds up and is discharged showing a replay of the event, and then the cycle starts again.
Some suggest that atmospheric conditions such as storms may initiate the playback. There is also a quantum physics theory that relates the energy as light particles that are dormant until they are stimulated by an outside variable under the proper conditions. Researchers have observed that the energy tends to diminish over periods of time until eventually it is either exhausted, or the level is so low that it is not experienced again.
Back to IndexHauntings - Portal
Portal hauntings are considered controversial as there is little known and the idea is mostly theory or speculation. Portals are thought to be doorways to another world or dimension in which entities travel through. It's speculated that portals are not limited to one location, region or limited to sacred ground.
Typically places that experience a wide array of different types of anomalous activity such as glowing balls of light, odd creatures, strange shapes, or unexplained mists or fog, are suspected to have a portal in which these energies are traveling back and forth. Back to Index
Orbs
Orbs are round often semi-transparent balls of light that are frequently photographed. Many believe these orbs to be the spirits of the dead, however most orbs are captured using digital cameras and are nothing more than digital flaws caused by lack of pixilation due to very low-light situations. There is absolutely no valid evidence that they are ghosts or the dearly departed. Over 95% of current orb pictures taken and displayed on the Internet were extracted from digital cameras.
Back to IndexOuija Boards
Ouija boards came into existence as a parlor game in the mid-1800's, when spiritism and channeling were at the height of fashion. The word "Ouija" is a blend of the French and German words for "yes." Adolphus Theodore Wagner first patented Ouija boards, sometimes referred to as "talking boards," in London, England on January 23, 1854.
In the patent, Wagner called his invention a "psychograph" and its purpose was to read the minds of people with "nervous energy." By 1861, Frenchman, Allan Kardac, was describing the Ouija board as instruments with which to open communications with the spirit world. In seven short years, the Ouija board had evolved from a mind-reader to portal of communication with the dead.
Back to IndexPoltergeist
A poltergeist is a malevolent, mischievous spirit or form of energy which manifests with particular characteristics. Included in the most common types of poltergeist activities are throwing of stones, dirt, and other small objects; moving or throwing of objects, including large pieces of furniture; loud noises and shrieks; and vile smells.
The term "poltergeist" comes from the German poltern, "to knock," and geist, "spirit", literally translated to mean "Noisy Spirit".
It seems that poltergeists have adapted to the development of technology. They are known to have caused interference in telephones and electronic equipment, and turning lights and appliances on and off. Some poltergeists are said to pinch, bite, hit, and sexually attack the living.
Generally poltergeist activity starts and stops abruptly. The duration of it may extend over several hours to several months, however, some cases have been reported to last over several years.
The activity almost always occurs at night and when someone is present. Typically this is the "agent," an individual who seems to serve as a focus or magnet for the activity. In most cases the agent is a factor, both those that seem paranormal or that may be caused by human PK. The agent is usually female and under the age of twenty.
Back to IndexSpirit
The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material. The definition from the bible is "There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." Job xxxii.
Specifically a spirit is described as a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body, which can take the form of any supernatural being, whether good or bad, an apparition, a specter, a ghost and also sometimes a sprite, fairy or elf.
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