Hauntings: Residual and Intelligent

Many of us are paranormal junkies, at least I admit I am. With shows like Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State, how could you not be? In both of these shows both teams go to different locations to determine if they are haunted. In both of these shows, more so on Ghost Hunters, they talk about the two types of haunting. Those hauntings are residual and intelligent.

Residual Haunting

When someone is experiencing a haunting and the apparition is doing the same thing each time, then it's said to be residual. Also, noises that are the same and are heard over and over are also said to be residual. Many of these types of haunting occur because of building materials such as slate, old stones from castles, and iron nails. These items are said to trap the actions of some type of trauma or emotional distress that occurred years ago. The slate, stones, and iron nails act like a film that can be played back. Apparitions are then seen doing the same repetitive actions each time they are witnessed as they were when they were alive. The same noises are heard over and over again and nothing changes. This type of haunting is not dangerous, meaning that these apparitions' don't even know you are around. Unlike, the other type of haunting that is intelligent.

Intelligent Haunting

Many believe that this is the most common form of haunting but it doesn't occur as often as one would think. When this type of haunting occurs it is believed that the spirit remains because of a connection to the place or possible person. Traumatic events like murder or sudden death can keep a spirit earth bound. Also, a spirit may feel that it has unfinished business and cannot pass on. During an intelligent haunting doors may open and shut on their own. Faucets will turn on by themselves. Walking can be heard, but most important these spirits have been to known to communicate. They communicate by way of EVP's which stands for Electronic Voice Phenomenon. A question is asked of the spirit and the spirit may respond on tape or some sort of voice recorder and answer the question. They may respond back to questions by way of tapping noises. Since communication is made between the living and the spirit world and the spirits can answer this is an intelligent haunting.

Most of the time when an intelligent haunting occurs its nothing bad, maybe a little nerve racking at first. Other spirits can become more aggressive and are called negative spirits. These spirits can throw objects or make a person feel threatened and scared. Sometimes, in rare cases, they have harmed the living.