| Ghostly
encounters
There are many theories surrounding the causes of the haunt phenomena.
The world of haunt research is one of speculation, and will remain
so until definite answers are found. But through the years of haunt
research, some tentative explanations have surfaced.
To understand a haunt, it is important to understand the different
categories into which this phenomenon falls.
Poltergeist
This literally means, “knocking ghost”. Common to this
type of haunt is the unexplained movement of objects and unplained
sounds. While rarely seen, this type of presence makes itself known
by physically interacting with objects in its domain. The object
may be small (a key) or large (furniture).
People are sometimes
touched, and often describe their experience to be a tap on the
shoulder, removal of bed covers, a slight tug of the hair, etc.
In some cases, there is a forceful strike, or an apparent desire
to harm. A poltergeist is thought to be a mischievous spirit, a
spirit motivated by a desire to draw attention to itself, or in
the worst case scenario, to torment the living. Sceptics argue that
this is a normal occurrence and attribute it to the unintentional
movement of objects with the mind. There is a theory that certain
hormonal changes cause neurochemical changes in the brain, which
in turn activates an uncharted area of the brain capable of producing
kinesis.
Residual
apparitions
This is what people usually refer to when they claim to have “seen
a ghost”. Residual apparitions never interact within a “real
time” environment, and seem totally unaware of their current
circumstances. The residual apparition is like a photograph, or
repeating snippet of film, recorded from some point in the past.
The residual apparition is totally independent and unaffected by
what takes place around it. The most common line of thought is that
these souls are trapped, tied to the earth for some reason. For
example, there is a home in New England in which a female apparition
is often spotted looking out of a bedroom window toward the ocean.
The story is that she is the wife of a fisherman who was lost in
a storm. This kind of emotional tie is used to explain the individual’s
inability to “cross over” to the next level.
Another explanation
is that buildings themselves somehow hold in these images and emotions,
a sort of recording of events, which took place within its walls.
In this way, the “ghost” is not actually there, it is
a residue which has been imprinted on the environment. The scientific
view is that these images are some form of hallucination, brought
on for various reasons such as a structure’s proximity to
power lines, which in turn leads to neural events such as “temporal
lobe microsiezures”. The explanations are inadequate. For
example, temporal lobe seizures, or changes in neurotra-nsmission,
may explain why an “individual” might see a ghost, but
it doesn’t explain how several people see and describe the
same entity at the same time, or how several people would report
the same apparition, though the sightings might have taken place
years apart.
Active
apparitions
This is an apparition that seems to be aware of its surroundings,
and does at some level interact within that environment, including
the people within. Some believe that the apparition “imprints”
itself on the psyche of an intended person. In this way the intended
target experiences the apparition, yet those around him/her may
not. It is believed that this phenomenon represents a discarnate
soul. A person who has passed away and whom, for one reason or another,
has been trapped within, or has chosen to return to the world of
the living. Some believe that these “lost souls” have
returned to satisfy unresolved issues, while others assume that
these people simply don’t realize that they are gone.
Demonic
possession
According to this religious paradigm, only people, not places, may
be possessed. This phenomenon has nothing to do with discarnate
souls, but deals with demons. Prior to declaring a person possessed
one must have all forms of mental illness ruled out. However, no
known psychological illness, or combination of illnesses, can explain
a true possession event. A few of the criteria for actual demonic
possession are:
* The person
will speak in a tongue that he/she should not know. For example,
a person begins to speak fluid Latin, without having ever been
exposed to that language.
* The person
seems to know information that he/she should not know. For example,
the person accurately states an event which will occur hours or
days prior to that event takes place (precognition).
* Other forms
of mental telepathy might be present. Additionally, telekinetic
events will centre around this individual. This person will demonstrate
uncommon or “superhuman” strength, etc.
Perhaps what
we are seeing is a type of “diathesis stress” model.
In psychology, diathesis stress refers to an individual’s
predisposition toward certain mental disease. It could be that certain
people, and places are more susceptible to experiencing haunt phenomena
than others.
The fact that
we cannot always scientifically replicate these events may simply
be due to a general lack of understanding of the event itself. As
sure as it seems that science has offered plausible explanations,
some component of the phenomena renders the explanations as implausible.
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