The Different Types of Hauntings and Ghost Sightings

When you hear of a haunted place, you probably think the location is home to spooky apparitions. However, there is more than one type of haunting.

Poltergeists are one type of haunting. The word poltergeist means "noisy ghost" in German; many think of a poltergeist as a noisy, unseen ghost that likes to move objects around. Most people think that a poltergeist haunting is caused by psychokinesis - using the power of the mind to move things. .

Disagreement over poltergeist activity occurs when people attempt to determine the cause of psychokinesis. Some believe a ghostly being is using this power, while others believe a human, particularly an adolescent girl, is using psychokinesis. If a person is the center of this type of haunting, they often do not realize it and the strange activity only occurs when they are present.

Some theorize that portal hauntings are another type of haunting. Portals are a link or doorway between our physical world and the spiritual world. If a portal exists in a particular area and spirits can go through it into our world, that location may be haunted. However, some debate that portals do not exist. Others content that they may exist but we don't know exactly what they are.

Another type of haunting is known as residual. Residual hauntings may be the most common type. If an activity, especially a traumatic action, occurred in one place it may have left an imprint. The imprint is stored in the environment and the event may replay numerous times. Witnessing this type of haunting is like watching a recording rather than a live performance. With a residual haunting, no actual interaction with a ghost takes place.

The last type of haunting is known as traditional or intelligent. These hauntings are what most people associate with ghosts, but they are actually rare occurrences. These are the hauntings in which a ghost is present and interacts directly with people.

Traditional or intelligent hauntings result from a ghost being tied to a person or location. It isn't always clear why this tie exists, but it may be due to the ghost's death being the result of trauma (like a car accident or murder). The ghost may want an injustice committed against them in life set right, or a strong emotional connection between the ghost and the haunted individual keeps the ghost earthbound. It is also speculated that the ghost hangs around because they have unfinished business or do not realize they have died.

Sources:
http://www.angelsghosts.com
http://www.kyghosts.com