Types Of Ghosts

What happens to us when we die? That is the age old question and though scientists and researcher alike have studied this, there is no way to prove, without dispute, that death is the end. Some believe that death is merely a transition into another realm, another theory is that our body is merely a temporary shelter for the energy we call a soul, and that the soul cannot be destroyed. Even the Bible says the soul will live forever, whether in Heaven or Hell. So what are ghosts? We don't know, that's what we're trying to discover. One thing we do know for certain is that something does seem to exist. Not only have members of Vancouver Paranormal experienced odd anomalies and events but stories abound from every generation, every country and every walk of life and it is up to us, the paranormal researchers, to learn all we can. Below is a list of the types of spirits and while there are probably many more, these are the most common.

Note: All of the information below is strictly speculation as no one can honestly say whether these types of phenomenon are actually of a paranormal nature or not. For the sake of brevity, we will classify these terms as though they are accepted as correct-remember though nothing is ever for certain.

Orbs: The orb is the most common form a spirit takes (or so we believe), perhaps it is easier for them to appear as such, but no one knows this for certain.. They can appear to have a solid mass or a swirling, geometric pattern in the center. They can be transparent or glowing balls of light floating in mid-air. Some have been photographed with 35mm cameras, but mostly their images are captured on digital photographs. It has been said that orbs are the spirit energy that remains of what used to be a human being, while others speculate orbs are the vehicle form for spirits to travel at a fast speed. When reported they seemed to have sentient intelligence and have apparently interacted with the living on many occasions and are sometimes visible to the naked eye (this seems to happen more in haunted area, cemeteries and to people with certain sensitivities). Many researchers have seen orbs when asking them for pose for pictures! If this indeed has happened it would be an amazing sight. Some believe the color of the orb reflects their mood and still others report that coloured orbs indicate active surroundings. Orbs are also one of the most disputed "paranormal" events and no two ghost groups can ever seem to come together with an opinion that agrees. The problem is that orbs resemble so many other non paranormal events such as dust, snow, rain and fog etc. The fact that prior to modern photography no orbs were ever photographed might support that orbs are more a manifestation of our technology.

Plasmoids: These are generally viewed as orbs with a tail, indicating they are moving at great speeds.

Streamers: These are fast moving orbs that look like streaming lines of light, or energy, that have been captured on film, but are not usually visible to the naked eye. They appear almost like a moving cigarette in the dark, but have a tread in the center. They are usually whitish but can come in many different colors.

Ghost Lights: Scientists have claimed this phenomenon is caused by swamp gas or some other type of phosphorescent material from the Earth's interior, but this has never been proven and seems even more far fetched to me than the idea of ghosts. The earths mantle is very thick! Stories abound of men who have tried to follow these lights, only to be lured into the darkness, and sometimes death. Legend has it that this light of a soul of a person who has been refused by both heaven and hell and is doomed to wander through eternity here on earth.

Apparitions: Apparitions are considered to be the image of the person that has died. For the most part apparitions are in the category of earth-bound spirits who, for whatever reason, have not passed on. Violent, unexpected deaths, guilt or simply fear of moving into the light may be key factors as to why they choose to remain here. While not always complete, (sometimes missing limbs or mass) this is the way a ghost looked when they were alive. They are reported to be intelligent and apparently can interact with us by speaking. They apparently can create odors, make sounds and move things and this is to gain your attention. As humans, we are famous for being afraid of new things. This entity is simply a human spirit who will retain the same personality they had in life. Some are nice, some are mean, but rarely are they evil, and certainly nothing like the evil entities that are born on the Hollywood screen. They are can be anywhere and if they are real then they most likely are. They can cause hot and cold spots, feelings of being watched, sounds and smells as well as disruptions with any electrical appliances; radios, TV�s, computers, washers and dryers, etc. You may even feel them touch you lightly, or hear moving furniture from another room. They will try to get your attention, and in so doing, could frighten you, but I do not believe that is their intention. Maybe they are trying to pass on a message or warning, or simply want you to know they are there. In any case acknowledge them, talk to them as you would a friend and they will be satisfied. If they frighten you, in most cases if you simply tell them they are doing so, they will stop. Always remember, they are just like us and will usually respect you as long as you respect them. Photographing an apparition is extremely rare, the dream of all investigators, and we treasure this prize!

Spirits: These are reportedly souls that have died, passed over and come back to visit. They are almost impossible to differentiate from a ghost as they manifest themselves in the same way. The only way known to tell the difference is for them to tell you, according to psychics who have the ability to see and speak with them.

Residual: This phenomenon is thought to be like watching a movie about an historic event. This type of ghost cannot interact with you and is not aware of your presence. You could experience smells, sounds and possibly see the ghost as it replays a moment of his or her life. This event is imprinted on the area and is played back under the right conditions. While this can certainly be a frightening experience for the viewer, just remember you are not in danger.

Ectoplasm: This is a type of mist, or fog, that appears to have movement in its depths. It can be a light shade of gray, like cigarette smoke or exhaled breath in the winter, but can come in several colors including bright "frothy white". It floats through the air and can stay stationary or move extremely fast. We have captured what looked like "clumps of hair moving jerkily-stopping and then darting ahead". We have also recorded mists rushing past at extremely rapid rate. It has been said that a spirit will usually take this form before appearing as an apparition.

Vortex: These appear as a funnel shape with a tire tread design in the center and sides. These areas seemed to be predominantly touched with a black or dark gray tinge. Most often they have been accused of being camera straps and like the orb are the probably the second most disputed image taken. They are usually white in color, but some have been photographed with a light blue center and shades of pink and red also reported. They can also be labeled as being "funnel" or "spinal" and "twin". Vortex usually seem to be anchored to a wall or ceiling. A lot of paranormal researchers claim that the vortex does it's absolute best to avoid contact with people but we have pictures posted here that clearly show vortex traveling through people. Many believe it to be a former resident or the spirit of a deceased relative, yet others think it is a speeding orb that can turn corners or stop on a dime. ***We at Vancouver Paranormal also entertain the idea of vortex as a rod or some kind of as yet unknown natural occurrence.

Shadow Ghosts: This is a sneaky type that appears as a long, thin shadow in the strangest places, although many claim to have seen them in the shape of a man. Shadow entities also seem to look like natural shadows making them extremely difficult to spot. One method of finding them is to take control photographs for comparison. The shadow seems to "bleed" into a picture and unlike a regular shadow left by something with a light source behind it (smooth shadow), the edges seemed to run or blend into the surroundings and the shadow elements are not as consistent in shading as a normal shadow. They are extremely evasive, making them hard to photograph. When noticed, they will blend into nearby shadows, or disappear through a wall. You may have seen them from the corner of your eye as they dart about, but dismissed it as imagination. Some people believe these spirits are actually demons, but so far there is no evidence to prove this theory.

Poltergeist: Meaning Noisy Ghost, this entity lives up to it's name. Some claim this is not related to the paranormal but is caused by a living person, usually a teenage girl who is under a great deal of stress or approaching her menstrual cycles/pre pubescent. Many believe poltergeists are non-human entities that are vicious, malevolent and are indeed paranormal. People involved with poltergeist activity are often the victims of: scratching, biting and slapping, as reported in the Bell Witch case. They are also capable of starting fires, throwing things, making items (usually coins or rocks), appear in thin air, just before hurling them across the room at their intended victim.

Again...none of this is certain and certainly has not been proven to anyone's satisfaction. We have just used and explained the terms because they are the main words used by most paranormal researchers.