P-Files #PF.GM-01: Ghosts Ghosts are the most commonly reported form of paranormal manifestations. The general view of ghosts is that they represent the spirits of the dead people. The definition ghost is a very loose one. Ghosts and similar phenomena my be categorized into different groupings. Some of these groupings include `Bi-Locations', `Crisis Apparitions', `Doubles', `Phantom Hitchhikers', `Poltergeists', `Spectral Armies' and etc.

There are different theories about ghosts. The first theory defines ghost as a manifestation of persistent personal energy being exercised after death which is in some way connected with the person previously known on earth. The energy is believed to be left "floating around" without purpose.

Another theory defines ghost as surviving emotional memories of people. This emotional memories could be the element behind that formed a personify spirit of the dead person.

A third theory suggests that a ghost may be a projection from a sighter which then becomes recorded in the landscape and is later "played back" when it could be perceived as a ghost. In this situation the recording is not "laid down" by the person now being perceived as a ghost, but rather by someone acting as a "camera" who sees the individual and "embeds" the image in the environment. The theory could be extended to auditory `hauntings'; perhaps the "camera" in that circumstance was not watching the scene, but hearing it and embedding an audio-recording.

The fourth theory suggests a person in stress or danger might "produce" an entity to help him or her out of the situation. This is a need-based hallucination projecting the image to give comfort, company and perhaps even encouragement.

Last but not least, the fifth theory suggests a ghost could also be considered as a projection by the agent of oneself to a place where he or she feels needed. Such a ghost could be a telepathic message perceived visually.

The `recordings-type' is an example of unresponsive ghost. Images appear to be only recordings of past traces of earlier occurrence being replayed. There is no interaction with the surroundings, or with the sighters.

The `interactive-type' is a responsive ghost which interact with the environment and often with the sighter. When ghosts act in this way they suggest presence and awareness, perhaps even purpose.

There is evidence that some people are more prone to seeing ghosts than others. Perhaps they have a need. The ghost might represent a lifeline to safety after death - probably proof that people shall continue in some way.

Info Source: The Encyclopedia Of The World's Greatest Unsolved Mysteries (Book) Back to P-Files Database