Things have been slow lately so I thought I'd post about something I have wondered for a while.

If ghosts are real and truly the spirits of deceased people (or animals), what are some hypotheses about why one can be so clear and strong and another faint or just an "orb" or flicker? Why can it vary for apparently the same ghost?

What do you suppose might be factors for times they can be seen real clear, and times they seem dormant?

Just thought some guesses and ideas might be fun to talk about.

NS

Maybe, and this is just a guess, part of the problem is inherent to the observer. Perhaps people need to reach a state of mental excitation to perceive ghosts manifesting themselves in their 'real' self; other times when we are preoccupied with stuff and paying less attention to things around us, we perceive them as orbs or something less likely. Psychics deem they can actually see a spirit/ghost whenever they try to make contact; others however may not quite report similar incidents whenever they cross paths with paranormal entities. I wonder if it also comes down to an individual's capacity, and not only his/her perception, to take in things.

This is just how I feel about the subject. I'm certainly no expert.

I sometimes wonder if ghosts have their own intelligence. Do they? What if they do? Do they only meddle into our affairs(whenever it is they do choose to meddle) when we unknowingly meddle into theirs?

You raise some good points. Especially this last one, for me. Most of the people I know who have problem ghosts or similar do have a history of meddling or exploring, depending on your point of view. It isn't so common for someone who never considered them at all to suddenly have an issue with a major haunting, for example. Generally speaking, if they have one turn up (and possibly begin their curiosity) it is near the death of a loved one and *maybe* that loved one trying to say it's ok, goodbye...

I dunno.

Thanks for your thoughts, Alathia.

NS

Hi Nile ...
This gets back to the old argument of lets break them up into to the two catagories of is it a residual haunting? or is this an intellegent entity (or sentient spirit) so to speak...from there we preceed to the predictable religious rhetoric that is appropriate in some but not all cases.... from there we evaluate any (if any) evidence that may be presented and generally end up the a stalemate as to its' authenticity....now do these orbs or impressions get fainter as time goes by or the enviorments change?...not sure... are there external factors that that illuminate these spectors at times more brightly that others?....not sure....does our consiousness survive death in some capacity and is communication with these transfigured thought forms possible?.... maybe.....B

halfhandshuffle:I Smashing Pumpkins-Am One
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kc__oUqoPu8

I don't see any reason for argument, and religious rhetoric is outside the scope of my question. I'm not interested in arguing or convincing anyone of anything. Just IF ghosts are real, then what could account for the disparities we seemingly find between them?

As for residual versus active (to some degree), that is pretty clearcut to me. I see residuals as being things which do not seem to react or interact with living observers. A ghostly haze walking down a hallway on the anniversary of it's death, that sort of story.

Non-residuals are ones which can interact or react the way i understand it. If there are clearer definitions, I'd appreciate knowing them. This is just what I gather from what I hear and read.

My wondering is along the line of why do residuals apparently go away eventually even if nothing changes about the location? Do they lose energy? Does whatever impressed it there in the first place eventually fade away?

For active hauntings of some sort, how can it be that one family has a rough time, moves, another one moves in has no signs at all, for example (assuming for this discussion that the haunting is valid and witnessed). Alathia is on a good track I think, that it may come back to the observer in some way. That may be a worthwhile idea to pursue, for example.

Do ghosts need energy? If so, how do they get it?



Yeah, yeah, if you're trying to investigate a site or claim. I'm asking about the theory people have *if* they think ghosts are possible/real. I'm curious about the nature of ghost-ness and what people think about it.

Now, why some stay and some seemingly vanish upon death and never turn up gets into religion and alot of other things, and I have wondered that too, but for this thread, I am wondering things like why sometimes a haunting can be very overt, and another team go in and find almost nothing. How can a room be empty and then one manifests measureably. Is it related somehow to their energy? I was reading where one of those ghost hunter groups went in and danced and yelled and shouted to "energize" the place and then went back out to monitor it some more. Obviously they think spirits need physical energy of some kind to ramp up.... despite what they did sounding d.... er, darn stupid to me.

I have read other claims that for them to manifest the air gets cold because they suck energy and heat from it to manifest. Personally, I am not convinced this is always the case. I'd like to know what others think could be at play here in a ghost showing itself, be it in throwing things around or just misting by briefly. If it mists by now, why does it not always mist about, for example? Does energy fluctuate, ability change? Why does Granny just be seen once in a hall, and Granpa pull covers off (IOW have the ability to effect changes on material items?). They don't seem somewhat equal like living people do, so why is one more strong than another if we take the not totally debunked as faked tales and reports into account?

That is what I am wondering, and what it might infer about the state of being a ghost.

thanks,
NS

It could be to do with the amount of energy the spirit has. They are probably the same as physical people, some of us have lots of energy, some of us less so, some have hardly any at all. I dare say, the spirit world is similar.

If it is the same spirit, their energy probably fluctuates just like ours does.

My best guess would be a mix of what Alathia and Lotus Flower suggest - sometimes one of the explanations, sometimes the other, and at other times, both at the same time.
I will not add more, since they explained it very well - Thanks, you saved me a lot of writhing there

I think it is because ghosts must have energy to materialize. Which is why some come in clearer. Is a tv and laptop on? They come threw easier. Are you in the middle of the woods with only a camera? It doesn't come threw as good. For ghosts must take energy from things to materialize and sometimes they even take it from humans which is why someone could be faint, feeling bad etc when a ghost is around.

that depends on the skill level of the medium and it depends on the skill level of the entity.......it also depends on if it is a seance with multiple sitters and just how many sittings are conducted ....my understanding IS that it may take a couple of weeks worth of nightly sittings for the "energies" to build up enough to produce a materialization.....the energy can be taken from the sitters or from inanimate sources in the room ....so I have read.....B






halfhandshuffle:Lacuna Coil - Swamped
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly9E30Hc5pg

Great topic Nile! and great answers! I pretty much agree with what everyone has said.

I always thought it had something to do with how strong the person was in life.
A strong ghost coming from a strong personality, a weak ghost from a weak personality, etc. etc.
But, since I've been reading other people's experiences and opinions over the last couple of years, I've broadened my way of looking at it quite a bit.
I certainly, have no way of knowing for sure how it works, so I'm open to any ideas.

I think what has interested me most lately has been, the battery draining phenomena experienced by some while in the prescense of a ghost, but not all.
I wonder if that means that some ghost can get energy from a battery and some can't, or that some need it and some don't, or that none of them need it and they just do it to aggravate or play.
Sorry, if that didn't make sense I haven't had much sleep.

I agree! my grandfather was a very stern man, he was into politics, he served in the navy, and he was an alcoholic! well, he died of liver failure. and after he died, he made his presense very known!! he would change all tv's in the house at once, and other obvious signs he was there, but one night my mom and i walked into the kitchen, and there he was! my mom had a bar area in there, and he was sitting there next to a bottle of scotch (his favorite) just staring at it. he did not even look at us or anything. he just looked like he was trying to figure out "how the hell am i going to make this drink"? then he was gone. it made me think if there is something in life we, had to have or was a everyday thing for us. does that continue on when we pass on?

ahhh.... then why aren't more garages haunted? Why is it always some quiet or abandoned place that turns up ghost stories the most?

Could it be they generally don't *want* to be bothered and "energized"?

Could hauntings occurr because energies have reached a sort of breaking point/they're forced to wake up?

Could some persistent hauntings be simple malice because they're really pissed with being bothered too much for too long by someone who has no business with them?

Or does energizing do something else, like thin the veil between the living and dead actually?

NS

A spiritualist told me once that yes, addictions stay on and are a degree of torment for the soul who has them. It can keep them tied here, she said. I don't know myself if this is true or not, but it makes me think I really need to quit smoking LOL. True or not, that wouldn't be a bad thing to do, methinks

NS

I hope all of those questions weren't directed at me. 'Cause I don't know the answer to any of them.

Each one is plausible. Maybe there is a different explanation for the energy in each individual haunting.

Ghost are spirit's that have become lost for whatever reason, when a person dies they do not always know they are dead and they refuse to leave a place that either meant alot to them, Or was a place they died unexpectedly,....what makes some stronger then other is the same as when they where alive.....

Just vocalizing the things I wonder about on this topic. I'm not too keen on just oohing over a scary video or pictures or debunking. I hate horror flicks as a rule. I don't ghost hunt, though I do like going out to remote homesites and metal detecting and sometimes you do run into someone curious to see who is dropping by to "visit"...

But, I can tell you right now, if I passed on, found out there was a waiting line to process out of here, and was kicking back in my old house here, feet up, drinking my chocolate temptations liqueur and some dweeb broke in with tape recorder and digital cams hoping to see if I was haunting my own home, I'd be unpleasant. I'd probably wander outside and make sure his car broke down miles away and miles short of the nearest town as well, just for spite.

If he wanted to know me so bad he could have emailed me anytime over the years prior, I figure. One of my loved ones? Hey, whole nuther story .

NS

That's classic!! sounds like something i would do!

Oh Good! I thought maybe it was a quiz and I was ill prepared.



That was great! I liked the special touch with the car!

It is my opinion that when we pass over, the body dies but the soul does not. I believe the soul lingers a bit to watch over loved ones, and really has no energy to manifest itself making them an "orb." I also feel that people who have died violently or before their time, they either refuse to accept death or dont know they are dead. So with that said, they may come right back, maybe haunt, cause chaos or just make appearances. I do believe in divine intervention, such as the case of Laci and Conner Peterson. What were the chances, their poor bodies would wash ashore so close to where Scott dumped them like they were garbage? Very slim in my opinion, and justice was served, so with that said I do hope they haunt him for the rest of his pathetic life. I also believe in residual energy and that can last a very long time. I was told it's like someone sits in church or school every day, every month and every year in the same seat. When they pass over, they are still seen because their residual energy is there. I am not sure if they resolve issues after death or that is what causes the chaos. Lastly, for those who are sensitive they are the ones who can see, hear, smell spirits of all kinds. I think the entire concept is a mystery of course, but very interesting and can be very dramatic for those left behind. JN-

Well, after reading here, I'd know the last thing to do is to show up on film or tape if I wanted them to stay away. People don't scare away nicely anymore, but they do hate to walk and sweat in the bayou heat *smirks*

NS

Whouuu – that sure is some fierce ladies we got here – I don’t think I will ever go on a ghosthunt after you have past on – and driving – do I dare?
Hey – you are alive aren’t you – I would hate never to drive again.

Good questions Ns.. I've wondered about the same thing, as I'm sure most of us have..
it could have something to do with the energy (emotions) that the spirit absorbed & took with it as it passed, or maybe it has something to do with the sensitivity of the person experiencing the spirit- Or possibly it's a little of both..