Directory of the Paranormal 1
Animal Ghost
Many paranormal investigators agree that animal ghosts do exist and believe that the spirits of animal survive death the process of death. Elliot O'Donnell, says in his book Animal Ghosts (1913) "The mere fact that there are manifestations of dead people proves some kind of life after death for human beings; and happily the same proof is available with regard for a future life for animals; indeed there are as many animal phantoms as human - perhaps more". Another school of thought believes that animals share a 'collective' soul. This suggests that five, maybe more animals at a time, share one soul.
Apparition
An apparition is said to be the ghost of someone seeing it recognises from life, or a ghost which appears in human shape, looking and appearing as if alive. The tradition of apparitions goes back to the earliest of times and documented accounts litter the pages of history from pre-Roman times to the present. All World cultures and societies maintain accounts of apparitions. Some apparitions appear only when some disaster is about to occur, whilst there are those reported to guard sacred places. Apparitions may not always be seen but may be heard or felt.
Banshee
The Banshee, or 'bean si' as this spirit should be correctly pronounced, is undoubtedly Ireland's most famous ghost form. Said to follow long standing Irish families, she is more likely to be seen by the third daughter and is more commonly said to follow a family whose surname begins "O". Said to appear prior to the death of a family member. The announcement is made by crying and wailing during the night hours. The sound described to like a cat wailing but much worse. Often described as being female and either as a horrible old hag or else a beautiful young woman dressed in a green dress. A third type is ageless as has black holes in place of eyes and nose. All three main types have long hair. In Scotland, a similar legendary spirit normally takes the form of a drummer boy or piper and likewise often foretells death or misfortune.
Boggart
The name Boggart is mainly used in Northern England and describes a particularly nasty type of ghost. Boggarts are said to have the habit of crawling into peoples bedrooms at night, pinching, slapping and biting the unfortunate victim. They are described as being fearsome to behold sharp, yellowing teeth.
Bogie
Another rather unpleasant spirit, fond of haunting children hence, " The bogie man will get you". In British folklore, bogies are black in appearance with ugly grinning faces. Short and hairy with a foul smell. They were once thought to the most powerful form of ghost, as they had once served the Devil. They often seem capable of wailing like banshees.
Birds
There are many instances recorded of birds returning as ghosts. Birds were once believed to messengers of the dead. When a bird tapped on a window - it was a ghostly spirit looking for another to join it. Some birds are believed to carry the souls of the dead into the afterlife.
Cats
Next to dogs, said to be the most common form of animal ghost. The ghost cat may have it's origin in ancient Egypt where the cat was worshipped. At Bubastis, thousands of mummified cats have been excavated. Historically, the Devil was believed to take the form of a cat. Likewise the many ghostly and often black cats haunting many houses in England are sometimes thought of as being vice elementals, i.e. spirits which have never inhabited any physical body and may have been generated by evil thoughts, or else attracted to a spot by some vicious crime or deed.
Clairaudiant
The ability to hear disembodied voices of the dead or other entities. Normally they will foretell of events yet to happen. Many mediums claim this ability to hear the voices of dead relatives and then pass on this information from what they call the 'spirit world'.
Clairsentient
The ability to be able to feel things in a divinitory sense. Many mediums who claims this ability that it is merely a refined basic human instinct.
Clairvoyant
The ability to see visions of events yet to happen, is happening or has happened. Many mediums combine this ability with one or other or the other 'Clairsenses'.
Crossroad Ghosts
Crossroads have long been associated with hauntings and although it is not exactly clear as to why, a number theories have been put forward by way of explanation. Some consider it is as a result of practise in older times for murderers, criminals and suicide victims to be buried at crossroads. This practise was said to confuse the spirit and prevent them returning and haunting the living. The cross formed by the roads being used as a form of Christian protection. Witches were also believed to hold ceremonies and to practise their black arts at crossroads.
Dogs
Ghostly dogs are reported from all across the British Isles and vary widely in size. In Lancashire they have a black dog called 'Striker', in Wales there is 'Gwyllgi'. Black dogs also frequent graveyards and desolate moorland and heath. Like the banshee, they may foretell death or misfortune within a family.
Doppelganger
The word is derived from German and usually is the expression for a ghost who is either still living or is their exact double. Those who have experience seeing their double are said to heading for misfortune, rarely may indicate good fortune. They are often experienced by friends or family of the person they are haunting but in a place where the living counterpart was nowhere near.
Drude
This is an ancient English expression for a nightmare ghost - normally that of a mature witch, well versed in the arts of black magic. They are able to inflict their ghost into the dreams and nightmares of their chosen victim.
Ectoplasm
This strange substance is said to be extruded from the sweat glands and body orifices of certain mediums whilst in a trance. The word 'ectoplasm' or 'teleplasm' as it is increasingly referred to is derived from the Greek 'Ektos' and 'Plasma' - exterior substance. Described as being like pale or white silk strands or a jelly like material, it is able to from human like shapes. Some investigators have over the years claimed to have examined ectoplasm and stated it be biological in origin, but that it's present biology is unknown to man.
Elementals
These strange ghosts are said to be spirits which have never existed in physical form, unlike 'normal' ghosts and spirits which have at one time lived in a physical form either human or animal. Occultists declare them as being ancient spirits which predate mankind and fall into four categories comprising; Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Elementals are often associated with woodland, mountains or uninhabited valleys.
Exorcism
An exorcism is an act of religious ceremony used to expel a spirit, either from a human host or a building. The ceremony is normally performed by a specially trained clergyman who will often say prayers and repeat loud exhortations. The ceremony also involves burning candles or incense and the sprinkling of holy water. This is a modern version of the old Christian rite or excommunication known as the ritual of Bell, Book and Candle. Modern mediums also claim to be able to perform a similar act, normally without the trappings of religion, by physically contacting the spirit and convincing it to move on to another plane of spiritual existence.
Extras
This widely used term describes faces or sometimes whole images of people who appear mysteriously on photographs. Often the pictures show a white wispy substance out from which the face is normally starting to appear. In the early days of photography, many so called 'Spirit photographs' were produced, claiming to show the faces of the dead. Subsequently, many if not all proved to be fraudulent. In recent years the white wispy form itself has appeared more and more often without the attendant face. These are often described as vortex pictures as a faint helix form is often to be discerned within the white cloud. Some researchers have declared them to be pictures of spirit energies.
Fairies
Fairies or Faeries are said to be small, often invisible creatures. They can provide great help or great hindrance to people. The colour green is sacred to them and they inhabit trees, hills and valleys. They are frequently also associated with ancient burial mounds or stone circles, similar in many respects to elementals.
Fireball or Lightball
Frequently reported in haunted locations. The fireball or lightball is said to move in a slow and smooth manner. They are also frequently reported near to stretches of water. They are believed by some to be the souls of the departed returning to Earth in order to guide the souls of the newly departed to the next world.
Galley Beggar
This is an old English ghost, often reported in the North of England and mentioned as far back as 1584, in Reginald Scot's The Discovery of Witchcraft. This fearsome ghost is described as being almost without flesh and bearing it's head under it's arm and emitting a deathly scream. The name is derived from the word 'Gallery', meaning to terrify. This ghost is likely to be encountered on country roads and deserted lanes.
Ghoul
From the common name for a ghost in Arabic. Nowadays commonly used throughout the World to define a nasty or viscous looking ghost. The ghoul is believed to gain sustenance from eating the flesh of corpses - hence ghoul is often used to describe ghost that haunt graveyards.
Graveyard Ghosts
According to folklore, the first person to be buried in a churchyard was believed to return as a ghost to guard the site against the Devil. This ghost was supposed to have special abilities. Because the task was so great, a black dog or more rarely a cat was buried before any human so it would become the guardian of the dead. Ghouls are also associated with graveyard hauntings.
Gremlin
These have only appeared in recent times and the word is believed to have originated during WW2 when pilots often reported strange goblin like creatures in the aircraft with them. Gremlins were immortalised by Steven Speilberg in his highly entertaining film of the same name and today hardly a piece of machinery can go wrong without somebody blaming 'A gremlin in the works'.
Grey Ladies
Said to originate in Tudor times when the dissolution of the monasteries resulted in a great number of monks and nuns being made homeless. Nuns at that time were frequently habited in grey. Many other investigators subscribe to the theory that grey ladies are similar to white ladies, whilst others claim the colour is related to the surrounding substance, wood, plaster, stone which may contribute to the ghosts appearance.
Halloween
Originating long before the advent of Christianity, The Feast of the Dead is perhaps a better name for the night. It was a time of great celebration for our ancient ancestors who would light great bonfires to try and summon and placate the dead. The Christian churches tried to mask the true meaning of the celebration by declaring it to be 'All Hallows Eve' the night before All Saints day. Modern witches still celebrate the night of 31st October by the holding of feasts and performance of rituals.
Haunted Chairs
There are many reported instances throughout England of owners who have a particular fondness for or may have died in an armchair. Returning as a ghost and being seen in that particular chair. The ghost of Lord Combermere was reportedly photographed in his favourite chair, whilst his body was being interred nearby. Chairs also feature in many legends, chairs that cause death or misfortune to the sitter and chairs that result in the pregnancy of the female sitter.
