| GHOST DEFINITIONS APPARITION The supernatural appearance of a deceased person or animal or of a living person or animal too distant to be within the range of the normal perception of the observer. Some apparitions appear real and corporeal, with definable form and features. Other apparitions are fuzzy, luminous, transparent, wispy and ill-defined; some are little more than streaks, blobs or patches of light. Apparitions appear and disappear suddenly and sometimes just fade away. They can move both through and around walls and objects. Some are accompanied by sounds, smells or sensations of cold. DEMON Various entities that have never lived, which allegedly have the ability to intervene in the affairs of humankind. Demons are evil and are the minions of Satan. Their sole purpose is to tempt and torment people and lead them into sin. They can take on any form. EXORCISM The expulsion of ghosts, spirits, demons or other entities believed to be possessing or disturbing a human being or a place that humans frequent. Exorcisms of spirits, demons, ghosts, poltergeists and -unwanted or negative spirits or energies are commonplace throughout the world. Who the exorcist is depends upon context and culture, but includes such persons as priests, rabbis, lamas, shamans, witch doctors, medicine men, witches and psychics. Exorcists usually rely on prayer, stern language, electric shock, beating and starvation, fumigations with strong odors, and foul tasting substances given to victims. In Christianity, there are no formal exorcism rituals for exorcising ghosts from places. Such a rite might consist of a priest sprinkling holy water and burning incense and exhorting the ghost to depart. GHOST An alleged earthbound spirit of the dead. Parapsychologists generally use the term 11 apparition." Ghosts may be visible, but generally, a ghost makes its presence known through mysterious noises, smells, cold breezes and movements of objects. In more than a century of scientific inquiry in the West, there are no definitive answers about ghosts and their natures; yet, virtually all cultures have believed at one time or another in the ability of the ghosts of the dead to return to the world of the living. When they return, earthbound ghosts may have either benevolent or malevolent intent or unfinished business. HAUNTING The repeated manifestation of strange and inexplicable sensory phenomena-smells, sounds, tactile sensations and hallucinations-said to be caused by ghosts or spirits attached to a certain locale. There is no general pattern to a haunting. Some phenomena manifest periodically or continually over a short period of time-a matter of days-or a long duration, going on for centuries. Little is known about why or how hauntings occur. It is popularly assumed that most hauntings involve apparitions, or ghosts, of the dead. In fact, apparitions are associated with a minority of reported cases. Most hauntings involve noises, such as mysterious footsteps, rustlings, whisperings, animal sounds and howlings, thumps, tappings and rappings; smells, especially of flowers, perfume, burned wood or rotting flesh or matter; tactile sensations, such as a cold prickling of the skin, cold breezes and feelings of being touched by an invisible hand. Some hauntings feature poltergeist activities such as rearranged furniture, stopped clocks, smashed glassware and mirrors, and the paranormal movement of objects. Hauntings sometimes can be brought to an end through exorcisms conducted either by clergy or by mediums who reportedly can communicate with the ghost or spirit believed to be responsible for the haunting. Such measures do not always succeed. POLTERGEIST A mischievous and sometimes malevolent spirit or energy which is characterized by noises, moving objects and general physical disturbances. Poltergeist hauntings involve violent physical disturbances, such as flying and levitating objects, banging doors, assaults on humans, and rapping and thumping noises. Poltergeist activity usually starts and stops suddenly. It may last from a few hours to years, but rarely lasts longer than a few months. Activity rarely takes place when no one is at home, and usually occurs when a particular individual is present. POSSESSION The idea that a person's mind and soul can be possessed by a departed spirit, whether of god, demon or man. It is regarded as the complete takeover by an entity from within. The Catholic Church considers four signs proof of demonic possession: clairvoyance, abnormal physical strength, blasphemy and levitation. SÉANCES A sitting organized for the purpose of receiving spirit communications or paranormal manifestations via the services of a medium. A circular arrangement of chairs around a table seems to work best, with no more than eight sitters. Séances are most often held in the home of either the medium or one of the sitters, but they can take place anywhere two or more people gather for such purpose. Mediums consider music and conversation to be vital to the success of the séance. Most sittings open with hymns and prayers. Not every séance is successful, and sitters should not expect particular results. |
GHOST TYPES Name: LARES Type: Spirit Origin: Ancient Romans Description: Good spirits of the dead believed to be protectors. Name: LEMURES Type: Ghosts Origin: Ancient Rome Description: Sometimes evil, believed to be ghosts of those dying without a family. Protection: Propitiated by the annual Lemuria festival. Name: LIEKKO Type: Ignis fatuus light Origin: Finnish folklore Description: Believed to be the soul of a child who was buried in the forest, presiding over plants, roots & trees. Name: MANES Type: Spirit Origin: Ancient Rome Description: Generally good spirits of the dead. Protection: Placited with offerings called religiousne. Name: MARIAN APPARITIONS Type: Manifestations Origin: Universal Description: Visions or supernatural manifestations of the Blessed Virgin Mary accompanied by paranormal phenomena. According to the Catholic church, religious apparitions are not ghosts but mystical phenomena permitted by God. Name: PHANTOM MONKS Type: Ghosts Origin: Abbey ruins, churches, former monastery vicarages, present churches & cathedrals and birth houses. Description: Often heard chanting & singing, some wishing to remain in beloved surroundings, others having suffered a violent death due to their faith during times of religious prosecution. Name: PHANTOM VEHICLES Description: Ghostly vehicles usually traveling at high speed that suddenly appear on the road, some driverless. Name: PHANTOM NUNS Type: Ghosts Origin: Present & past religious buildings & institutions. Description: Alledgidly belonging to women of the church that met with violent death during religious persecution or are being punished for their trasgressions. Fact: Many cases documented in England. Name: POLTERGEIST Type: Spirit Origin: Universal Description: Mischievious & often malevalent spirit or energy that is characterised by the moving of objects, noise & general physical disturbances. Name: PHANTOM TRAVELERS Type: Ghost Origin: Universal in folklore & legend. Description: Ghosts of humans & animals that haunt travel routes, stations & vehicles usually associated with tragedies of travels. Name: PSYCHOPOMP Type: Supernatural being or animal Origin: Universal in myth & lore. Description: One who conducts the soul in safety to the afterworld. Name: PUCA Type: Spirit Origin: Irish folklore Description: Shapeshifting, helpful & mischeivious Other Names: Pooka, puck. Name: RADIANT BOYS Type: Ghosts Origin: Possibly with the Kindermorderinn of Germanic folklore. Description: Glowing ghosts of boys murdered by their mothers, whose appearance portains to ill luck & violent death. Name: RAKSHASA Type: Demon Origin: Indian folklore Description: Dimwitted nocturnal creatures with distgusting habits appearing as black figures with yellow or flaming hair, wearing a wreath of entrails. Protection: Banish by saying "Uncle". |
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