One of the most common questions I get is all about the types of hauntings. To be honest, I don’t really think about it that much because…ghost theory is shaky. I can’t prove any of these hauntings exist. Also, everyone has their own theories about ghosts, spirits, hauntings, demons, etc. There may be some consistent ideas across the board, but everyone will have their own thoughts on the details.
With that in mind, the hauntings I’m going to talk about are ones that I’ve either run into a lot on the field or something I read about in my research. This is seriously just my opinion, and I’m always open to ideas and feedback. And if you disagree, that’s okay too! I would love to hear your opinion as well.
Residual
This is a haunting that’s most misunderstood as a conscious ghost. I like to think of residual hauntings like a broken record player that replays a moment over and over again. In my opinion, residual hauntings are leftover energy from what was there before. Have you ever walked into a room after two people were fighting, and you can sense the tension? That’s kind of like what a residual haunting is. Residual hauntings are caused by an emotional imprint of a traumatic event in the area (like Gettysburg). It could also be something where someone has a set routine for so long that they’re energy just keeps flowing, like someone getting a midnight snack at 3 am for 50 years.
Intelligent/Interactive
This is the type of haunting where we interact with a spirit. I tend to use the word “intelligent” haunting over “interactive” haunting. In this situation, you’re able to interact with a spirit. They are aware that you’re there and they are responding to you. While they may or may not be aware of the current time period, they are responsive. These types of ghosts are able to answer questions, (maybe) interact with equipment, and tell you their story. This is the type of spirit that most paranormal investigators encounter in the field. It is the type of spirit you will most often see on television.
Spontaneous Apparitions
This one might be my favorite type of haunting because it comes from the living. That’s right. Spontaneous apparitions come from the living. This is sometimes associated with out-of-body experiences, astral projection, just to name a few. It usually involves a person leaving their body as a way to contact someone. From my research, spontaneous apparitions aren’t usually intentional, which means that this could happen due to extreme stress or extreme desire to contact someone.
Thoughtforms & Tulpas
Okay, maybe THIS is my favorite one. It’s a tie between spontaneous apparitions and thoughtforms/tulpas. What this means is that we create our own apparitions, so to speak. We create our own objects or beings through intense thought. There are theories that the hauntings we experience at more famous locations are thoughtforms because all these ghost hunters have created ghosts through their own collective thoughts. I’m actually on board with this theory since the same stories seem to circulate around. There have been experiments all over the world dedicated to testing out this idea, with the most famous one being the Phillip Experiment in 1972.
Crisis Apparitions
Crisis apparitions are truly fascinating. The person who appears as the apparition is usually going through some sort of stress or transition, like dying. When you see a loved one right when they die, it is a crisis apparition. For example, someone reports seeing their grandmother in their home at 4 pm. Then, they found out their grandmother passed at 4 pm. But crisis apparitions are also seen as the person is dying, in an accident, trapped somewhere, extremely ill, or badly injured…meaning they are still alive. I’ve only seen one crisis apparition in my life after my grandmother passed.
Guardian
Guardian hauntings are fascinating to me. This is when you have your spirit guides, relatives, ancestors, etc. visiting you not only often, but they are causing disturbances. This is merely my personal opinion based on experience. When you have a guardian spirit haunting you, it usually means that there is something in your life that you need to change as soon as possible. Or, something disturbing is happening around you. The only case we had that involved a guardian spirit was when the client’s daughter was being abused by a relative right under their nose. Afer the relative was removed and arrested, the haunting stopped.
Poltergeist
In case you’re wondering, the 1982 movie Poltergeist gets it all wrong. Most people don’t associate poltergeists with ghosts or spirits. Instead, poltergeists come from our own minds. This type of haunting usually happens around teenaged girls going through puberty or women going through menopause. It’s a combination of hormones and extreme stress that causes a psychokinetic phenomenon. Poltergeists have also occurred with teenaged boys as well. Basically, you have to have extreme emotional stress in the picture. This phenomenon can cause objects to move, electrical disturbances, phantom voices, and even apparitions. In case you’re wondering, yes, poltergeists are extremely difficult to diagnose.
Deathbed Visions
We hear about deathbed visions or deathbed phenomena most often from nurses, hospice care, etc. Basically, from those who care for the dying. It is believed that as someone gets closer to death, they are visited by deceased friends and loved ones. Some even report seeing angels or even Jesus Christ. The dying person may even rise from a comatose state to declare their long-passed spouse is in the room. Or, they see the dying person talking to someone who isn’t there.
Elementals
These hauntings are confusing. Can we really call them a haunting? Well, maybe. I guess? Elementals are inhuman spirits that have been around for….ever. When one hears elementals, they may think of faeries, elves, sprites, will-o-wisps, the list goes on. What is interesting is that during my investigation days in California, we ran into quite a few elementals. Many elementals are tied with Native American legends, which makes me believe they’ve been around since the dawn of time. During my investigations in heavily wooded areas, I’ve experienced what I believe were elemental experiences. Finally, we usually associate elementals with nature.
Shadow Person
Shadow people are a strange phenomenon that seems that everyone knows about. Mainly because they have seen them. Shadow people are humanoid figures seen as dark masses. You can’t see any features on them like eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc. They can be seen in your peripheral vision as well. While we usually don’t see features of clothing on shadow people, there is the fascinating case of “Hat Man.” People have reported seeing a shadow man wearing a hat. There are thousands, if not millions, of shadow people cases. While these apparitions are seen often, not a lot is known about them. Are they human? Could they be aliens trying to study us? Or, are they demonic? Well, we don’t know. They can also be seen as shapeless masses. Shadow people have also been seen moving through walls. My favorite shadow sighting is shadow cat sightings because animal spirits are adorable. You could even say there aren’t any hardcore rules when it comes to this phenomenon.
Demonic
Before I go into details, I need to shout this from the rooftops; demonic activity is rare. Like, super rare. Sadly, with mainstream television making it seem like demons are around every corner, people greatly misunderstand demonic activity. I’ve always found it interesting that folks who don’t believe in demons don’t encounter demonic activity. I truly believe that this type of haunting all depends on the mindset of the person. You could say that a demonic haunting may even fall under elemental spirits. They are not human, and they seem to possess incredible strength. When it comes to possession, we honestly can’t say only demons possess, or if possession is even real. Depending on your religious beliefs, your perception of demons will be different. I’ve seen Christians name Greek gods and goddesses as demons, while another religion may consider something else for demons.
Portal
This one is the least believable for me. Maybe it’s because I don’t really understand it? There are so many theories as to what opens a portal, how to close a portal, and all of that info is inconsistent. But I digress. A portal is basically an open door to some sort of spirit world where spirits are coming in and out as they please. You can imagine this is problematic for the person living with the portal haunting. When this happens, the urgency to close that portal is high. Many believe that portals are associated with sacred ground or places of religious worship. Either way, it’s interesting.
