The Three, Basic Types of Hauntings


(The following text was composed for the two classes presented by Carl L. Johnson and Keith E. Johnson during the Paranormal Conference held at Penn. State University on October 25th & 26th, 2003, which they attended representing, and accompanied by fellow members of, 'The Atlantic Paranormal Society.')


Para-normal: As defined for our purposes, repeatedly witnessed and documented phenomena which is apart from the natural order of cause and effect, action and reaction, as is presently understood or speculated upon by standardized, scientific observation of the properties of physical matter and energy.

Paranormal research and investigation has revealed there to be three, basic categories of hauntings, or non-corporeal infestations. The first of these we may descriptively refer to as an "intellegent" or a "human" type of haunting. In these manifestations, the entity or entities encountered seem to possess human personalities and emotions, albeit in a limited scope. They may at times appear visually in human forms, and are responsive to changes in external conditions such as the activities of the occupants of a household, the presence of investigators, or the rearranging of furnishings in a setting, all of which suggest their formerly having existed as living, cognitive beings. These are what we call, presently lacking more applicable, scientific termonology, spirits or ghosts. Invariably they seem to be attached to particular sites, vicinities or dwelling places, usually though not exclusively houses. Disembodied voices from these spirit beings are sometimes registered on audio recording devices: spool or cassette tape recorders or digital recorders. This is known as 'Electronic Voice Phenomenon' and is abbreviated to 'E.V.P.' We sometimes find unexplained distortions imprinted on photographic film exposed at the site of a suspected haunting, which were initially not perceived by the photographer. The most frequent of these photographic anomalies is the appearance of "orbs"/"globules." These are spherical forms that are seen either singularly or in multiple images. They can be picked up by both still photographs and by videotape, the latter displaying them in motion. They're generally translucent and whitish, although they can appear in faint hues of red, orange, blue and green. Naturally, a responsible investigator must consider all possible explanations prior to ruling any irregularities to be genuine, paranormal phenomena.

The second category is referred to as a "residual" type of haunting. In such a case, a scene from the past (recent or remote; it could proceed from any previous time frame) seems to be replayed and is witnessed by a living person or persons. Apparently this is an actual form of time-displacement from a former scenario which transpired at that site, and the entites contained within it rarely display any awareness of their present day observers. However, there have been instances reported when these spectres from the past DO seem to briefly notice those who perceive a glimpse of their separated reality, as was the case with an abandoned, 19th century school house on Hornbine Road in the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. {'Ghost File #45' from, 'The New Engalnd Ghost Files' by Charles Turek Robinson.} Claimed "residual" apparitions have also included the historical personages of Ann Bolyne and Katherine Howard, both Queens of Tudor England by the (mis-) fortune of having been wed to King Henry the Eighth and duly beheaded upon his orders, reported to have been sighted numerous times in the famous Tower of London where they'd been imprisoned pending their executions, Marie Antoinette, Queen of late 18th century France (also beheaded) who one hundred years ago was seen sketching on the lawn of her former Paris estate and later recognized from her portrait mounted within, plus fleeting moments from an American Civil War battle, beheld while illuminated by lightening flashes in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania! Consider, have there ever been displaced scenes from our future, observed by fully awake subjects? We could speculate that at least some unexplained aerial phenomena - 'U.F.O.'s - may constitute examples of this. It may even be that this is the operative principle involved in what is termed clairvoyance and precognition.

The third category unquestionably is the most debated, as well as the most dreaded. This falls into the realm of a "demonic" or an "inhuman" type of haunting. It is perhaps of other-dimensional origin, and is often possessed (no pun intended) of a quite hostile nature. Anyone who has up close and personally encountered a demonic entity in action never wants the experience repeated; no one I've spoken to, anyway! It often evinces a form of intelligence (initially similar to a "human" type of haunting) in that it may insidiously seem to anticipate the approaches of the person(s) it menaces, including any paranormal investigators who are endeavoring to rid a home of its presence. Endemic to this most unwelcome infestation is a pronounced psychological instability, distress or unresolved conflict on the part of a resident or residents of the household subjected to the demonic assault. Additionally, experience has supported the observation that someone originally had to have invited in the demon, perhaps inadvertantly, either through scrying implements such as a Ouija Board, conducting seances, indisciplined psychic experimentation, performing magic ceremonies or by habitually conversing with unseen presences (imaginary friends?). It should be mentioned here that while some of these devices may at first appear to be utterly harmless and regarded as tools to aid in tapping into one's subconsciousness, the results can be likened to leaving open one's back door in a country setting. Now, you may only have some little squirrels and chipmonks wander into your kitchen, but odds are that eventually you'll find yourself facing down a bear, maybe a small cub, IF YOU'RE LUCKY. And keep in mind, where there's one "bear," others are lurking somewhere closeby!

A sub-category of the "inhuman" type of haunting, reported at least since the dark ages of recorded history, which really isn't a spirit or a demon in the true sense and seems more mischievous in nature than outright malevolent, is the manifestation of a Poltergeist: German for "rattling ghost." As far as has been determined, there is almost always an adolescent girl or boy at the center of this kind of paranormal disturbance. Perhaps the young person is unwittingly generating a flow of chaotic, psychic energies during a phase of their formative period. Whatever the cause, Poltergeist activity commences suddenly and inexplicably. The episodes are brief, often involving the floating or flinging of kitchen utensils, thunderous poundings reverberating in walls and ceilings, heavy furniture moved about or tossed by an unseen force, and (though rarely in these cases) even disembodied voices. These occurances then rapidly subside. The Poltergeist phenomena can persist, recurring at unpredictable intervals, for several months - which is the usual duration - or sometimes two or three years, then these symptoms vanish for good just as mysteriously as they began...to the immeasurable relief of those inflicted with its presence! The Poltergeist has even been known to follow a family to a new residence, so relocating hasn't always solved the problem (as it most often does with the other types of hauntings). Perhaps the Poltergeist collective phenomenon differs sufficiently in its "modus operandi" to merit a distinct classification; would you agree?

Suggested Topics For Discussion:
1) Can these types of hauntings we've described over-lap in some instances?

2) How does an experienced paranormal investigator recommend confronting and dealing with each type of haunting?

3) How can a parnormal investigator prevent a spirit entity from somehow attaching itself, and possibly following him or her home? Have you ever heard of this happening?

4) Could a "human" type of haunting, if produced by particularly tragic circumstances and apparently involving strong feelings of resentment, eventually degenerate into a classic "demonic" infestation?

5) Does a "demon" come from Hell/Hades and serve a literal Devil?

6) Do you believe a spirit or soul is fully immortal and indestructable, existing forever, perhaps removed from our earthly experience of linear time?

7) Are there any differences between "paranormal" and "parapsychological" studies?

8) Can someone who is overtly skeptical of paranormal phenomena experience such?

NOTE: The preceeding text is the property of 'The Atlantic Paranormal Society' founded by Jason Hawes, and copies are available for private research only. To request a copy and for further information on paranormal research and investigation, please contact either Mr. Hawes, co-founder Grant Wilson or the author, Carl L. Johnson, through 'T.A.P.S.' Thank you for your interest.

- Carl