Haunting Classifications

In order to better study the nature of a suspected haunting, many paranormal investigators select a classification based on the reported phenomena and observation. This is not to provide an explanation, but to classify it in the realm of current paranormal ideology. These classifications follow associated theories.
 

Residual Haunting
A residual haunting exhibits the same activity in the same recurring patterns. It is as if energy left from the past was imprinted on the surrounding area, similar to a video or audio recording. Whatever energy is left is neither aware of your presence, nor can it interact with you. This is the most commonly reported phenomena. In most cases people may here screaming or crying due to the violence factor that may have caused this traumatic event to happen. People may also hear the sounds of footsteps walking on the stairs or through hallways.

Typically the repeated event is whatever the person who left the energy behind did often or an significant event that they remember happening to them. It is almost like it the energy has become part of the dwelling that they once occupied on an every day basis. These haunting styles always seem to happen in the same place every time.

There is usually very little you can do on this style of a haunting except make the family who is having these problems understand what is going on and explain to them that they are in no danger due to the energy not being controlled by the person who left it behind.

There is no actual entity present in this style of haunting, and the energy that was left behind is just like a video playing the same scene over and over again. Even though it is not aware that people are there, it can still be a scary and emotional situation to the people who have to deal with it happening in their home.

It may happen every night or every week or even every year. It is the most frequent haunting investigators will come across in their cases. An investigator will tell you there is nothing they can do about this style haunting and they are correct. People need to either except what happens and learn to deal with it, or move on.

Crisis Apparition
A crisis apparition is of the recently dead or dying. It generally manifests only once, as it is dying or 12-48 hours after death, to someone it was close to while alive. It is generally there to say goodbye. Apparitions of the living have also been reported when that person or animal was in a serious state of crisis. This type of manifestation has also been reported after the person/animal was dead for over 48 hours and again in times of crisis. A weak example would be the urban legend of the dog and the babysitter. The dog alerts the babysitter and brings her to the baby's side. The babysitter then sees that the house is quickly and quietly becoming engulfed in flames and runs out of the house with the baby. When the parents arrive to see the firemen, the babysitter tells them the dog is still inside. The parents inform the babysitter that they have no dog and the babysitter describes the dog that had alerted her. The parents then make it known that they had a dog matching the description, but that it died some time ago.

Apparition of the Dead (also referred to as an Intelligent haunting)
This is what we most commonly think of when we hear the words ghost or haunt, though the word apparition is misleading. We generally refer to this type of haunting as an "intelligent haunting." The entity has been deceased for more than 48 hours and can linger nearby a person or place, most likely a bond that was formed in life. This type of entity is aware of your presence and can attempt to communicate or interact with you.

Poltergeist
Poltergeist is from a German word meaning noisy spirits. Reports of poltergeists date back to Ancient Roman times. Poltergeist activity is mischievous, occasionally malicious and is generally associated with the spontaneous telekinetic activity of an adolescent-aged girl, but has also appeared with other living beings experiencing similar life changes or other trauma. We also use the term "collective poltergeist" to refer to an area which houses a lot of raw, residual energy with no known cause as it exhibits the same type of activity.

Parasitic Entity
A parasitic entity is either an entity of its own or a negative energy store. It is malicious in nature and must feed off of negative emotions and turmoil, such as: stress, anger, drug addiction, emotional problems, fear, etc. The more energy that it consumes, the stronger it becomes. The activity presented is similar to poltergeist activity and the two are often associated and/or confused with each other.

Inhuman Entity (also referred to as a Demonic haunting)
This type of entity is what is sometimes referred to as a demon. It is malicious and negative by nature and is apparently actively seeking to harm. It is often accompanied with a warm or hot spot as opposed to a cold spot and/or a foul smell.  These creatures are very strong, unlike human spirits, and they don't mind showing it. There have been cases where people have been thrown through the air and even attacked. Apparently, their main goal is to break down a person's free will in order to make way for possession. This can take days, months or years, but time is of no concern to them.  If you feel like you have an inhuman spirit in your home I would recommend getting help from a well known paranormal group, as well as a member of the clergy,  as quickly as possible.

Time is of the essence when dealing with these creatures.

Written by Charles Crow, Director of Operations for the Northeast Arkansas Paranormal Society