|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The mantra of The X-Files is ''The truth is out there." But what about when the mysteries start closer to home? Is there any truth to the seemingly silly stories of ghosts and goblins haunting nearby locales? Indeed, these tales extend far back in time, beyond mere children's tales to some of the most basic beliefs in many cultures. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ghosts certainly are not a new phenomenon. But trying to prove they exist is. Certain experts in the field have tried to categorize the various experiences people have reported in an attempt to understand what really is out there. The most commonly described categories include apparitions, hauntings, and poltergeists (which we'll discuss in the next section). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What most people think of as a ghost is called an apparition by those in the know. This spirit form can appear physically. It looks more like an image projected on a movie screen than a substantial body. (Remember: Spirits are a form of energy.) In addition to showing itself physically, an apparition usually communicates in some way with its observer. It may acknowledge your presence by looking at you or even speaking to you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apparitions are considered harmless by experts of the paranormal. The idea is that an apparition remains attached to the physical realm because of the psychological problems its human antecedent had. A person who died through trauma or who had a strong attachment to a certain place is more likely to come back as a ghost or apparition. He or she may need encouragement to help move on to another realm. As the famous ghostbuster Loyd Auerbach says, "The ghost can't hurt you. However, the ghost experience itself can hurt you psychologically, depending on the way you react to it." (If you have a ghost living in your home, you might need expert help to remove it.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
True apparitions are considered very rare. Slightly more common are "hauntings" (which is a noun). These repeated perceptions are thought to be imprints from past events, which do not involve spirits. The idea is that the vibrational frequency of a certain event was so intense that it left a strong imprint behind. This imprinted image appears like a film clip: It repeats the same brief image each time it appears, which is always in the same place. |
|
|
|
|
|
