By Rick Hinton
Paranormal jargon will not only put you in the know, but also help you to appear paranormal savvy when discussing the topic with friends and family, if that discussion ever comes about. As we inch toward the end of October, and Halloween, lets go over a few key terms:
Ghost/SpiritMany feel these are one and the same, however, on my journey I now feel differently. I believe aghost is a playback a blast from the past of someone, or something, that once existed. Thinkof it as a film: you can view it, but there is no interaction because, frankly, its a movie. Its an imprint that has somehow been absorbed in a house or environment, and then for reasons unknownplayed back for your viewing pleasure. One example is the continued sightings of Union andConfederate soldiers on the Gettysburg battlefield. Theyre ghost. Spirits, however, are of a moreintelligent nature not a playback and sightings reported in the majority of hauntings. They are inreal time. They keep their once human personality aspect after passing (mischievous, foul, etc.) andgenerally are the ones who take great joy in messing with you. They become a member of the familywhether you like it or not; unless you give them their walking papers.
Residual Haunting/Intelligent HauntingThis directly relates to the aforementioned ghosts and spirits. A residual haunting is a continuousfilm loop of the past containing images of a life once lived. This would involve a ghost. They usually go through the same motions over and over. Sit back and grab the popcorn. On the other hand,an intelligent haunting involves spirits that interact and make their presence known in more waysthan one. They are most often upset about something you have done. Time is of no matter to them,and whether its your family, or two families after yours, theyre usually there for the long haul. Andyes its not unusual to have both ghosts and spirits in one location.
Paranormal/ParapsychologyThe term Paranormal means just above or outside the normal order of things. This could also applyto shopping at Walmart during the late hours on a Saturday night. Parapsychology is a branch ofscience (a loose science anyway) delving into a dissection of psychic phenomena trying to arriveat absolutes. Ok. They had to come up with some term to call it.
Medium/Trance MediumMany investigative groups use a medium. They are people professing the gift of the ability to communicate with spirits on various levels. They feel things and are also called sensitives. They can detect bad mojo in a location and work to get a read on the past. My wife, Laura is one of these. A trancemedium is on the next level, acting as a transmitter for the voices of disembodied spirits. They alsofeel any pain dealt with in their past life. My wife, Laura has no desire to venture into this realm.
OrbsInteresting circles of colored lights that appear in photographs. They are often caused by bugs,moisture or dust, so dont get too excited about them. Now, if you see them with your own eyes,that may be quite something else.
Ouija BoardTalk about some bad mojo! Dont mess with it; its not just a childs game. You wont like the potential outcome.
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Explaining the difference between ghosts and spirits, and other paranormal jargon - Southside Times