Shadow People

Have you ever sworn you saw someone out of the corner of your eye? Were you sitting alone in your house, maybe late at night, watching TV, relaxing when your heart suddenly leaps because you believe there is an intruder? And have you looked to see who this person is, only for the shadowy shape that was in your peripheral vision disappear? If so, you are not alone. Many people all over the world have reported the experience of seeing what has been termed shadow people.

There are many theories bouncing around about shadow people. Some say the beings are ghosts, while others say they are more sinister like demons. Still others claim they are beings from another dimension - which strangely could square with the whole ghost theory in interesting ways. No to be left out, aliens have been named as the cause as well. Perhaps aliens have some technology that "cloaks" their bodies, making them appear shadowy and causing them to fade in and out. There have even been those who have claimed the shadow people are actually time travelers from a distant future, come back to observe our time. Why they would be interested in anyone watching Letterman late at night is anyone's guess, but it is one of the theories. Perhaps the most interesting theory is that the shadow people are ourselves, but in the out-of-body state some claim we go into while sleeping. This theory has some similarities to remote viewing - a claimed ability of some psychics.

Witnesses of shadow people have reported seeing only fleeting images of the figures at first. They are most often described as male in size and build - even though much of the features of the beings are not visible. Many who have reported a persistence to the appearances of shadow people have said the sightings have moved from their peripheral vision to full-frontal views. The result is shocking to witnesses, especially since many write off earlier sightings as a figment of their imagination. Of those who have seen shadow people head-on, they have reported their makeup not being that of normal shadows, but rather being so black they seem to almost suck the surrounding light out.

While there are those who think shadow people are spiritual guardians, many more have reported feeling a deep dread at the appearance of the beings. Whatever their purpose, as the study of paranormal phenomena continues on in this day and age, many researches are turning their attention to shadow people to uncover what they are and why they exist.

For more on shadow people, see About.com's article on shadow people or the Official Shadowpeople Page