Hauntings

1. Personal Encounters Shape Understanding of the Paranormal

I was fortunate in having my first paranormal experiences when I was very young, so when I began to sense the presence of spirits in my twenties and later, when I lived in a house that was haunted, I just accepted it as a fact of life and not as a fearful experience.

Early acceptance. The author's early exposure to paranormal experiences led to a natural acceptance of spirits, contrasting with the fear many people feel. Living in a haunted modern bungalow, he sensed the former owner's presence, particularly in his workshop, suggesting spirits might revisit familiar places. This personal history grounded his view of the paranormal as a part of life.

Beyond sight. Sensing spirits while writing on esoteric subjects suggests a connection between mindset or theme and their presence. These encounters weren't just feelings; they included physical touches, interpreted as approval or playful reproof, reinforcing a lack of fear. This aligns with the belief that "like attracts like" in psychic development.

Not just ghosts. These entities might be guides or angels, but their name is less important than their presence, which confirms a reality beyond the physical world. Personal out-of-body experiences further fueled the author's interest, framing ghosts not as terrifying figures but as fascinating anomalies to be explored.

2. Ghosts: Natural Phenomena, Not Supernatural

Ghosts are not a supernatural phenomenon but a purely natural one.

Earthbound energy. Ghosts are generally understood as either earthbound spirits or residual personal energy tied to significant locations or moments of death. Fear often arises from denying their existence rather than any inherent power they hold over the living. Parapsychologists like Jeff Danelek approach the subject objectively, arguing for spirits' existence based on consistent patterns in reported experiences.

Human psychology. Danelek's theory posits that ghosts are disembodied conscious energy of deceased humans, retaining their personalities and flaws. They may remain earthbound due to:

• Over-attachment to places or people
• Fear or uncertainty about moving on
• Denial of their death
• Jealousy or possessiveness

Personality types. These reasons correlate with recognizable personality types, suggesting that the state of being a ghost is a predicament stemming from unresolved human issues carried into the afterlife. This perspective frames ghostly phenomena through the lens of continued human psychology.

3. Why Spirits Linger: Unresolved Issues & Personality Types

I believe that when a person dies, they move on to the next realm with all the personality traits, quirks, prejudices, biases, and a lifetime of accumulated wisdom – and nonsense – fully intact.

Carrying traits. Death doesn't erase personality; individuals transition with their full set of traits, wisdom, and flaws. This explains why some become ghosts, trapped by their own attitudes like materialism, stubbornness, or anger. Being earthbound is seen as a consequence of these lingering human characteristics.

Categories of spirits. Jeff Danelek identifies various ghost types based on these traits:

• Unaware: Though unlikely, some may not realize they're dead.
• Denial: Refuse to accept their demise.
• Attached: Emotionally tied to places or things.
• Jealous: Possessive spirits clinging to people.
• Fearful: Afraid of judgment or the afterlife.
• Melancholy/Sad: Overwhelmed by tragedy (e.g., suicides).
• Mission: Stay to complete unfinished business.
• Goodbye/Comfort: Appear briefly to loved ones.
• Curious: Interested in the afterlife or manipulating energy.
• Mischievous: Childish, playful, or frightening.
• Angry: Seek vengeance.

Human nature persists. This categorization suggests that the reasons for haunting are as diverse as human personalities, highlighting that the state of being a ghost is deeply rooted in the individual's life and mindset.

4. Edinburgh: A City Steeped in Hauntings and Physical Phenomena

Every city in the world has its share of ghosts, but surely none is more deserving of its reputation as the capital of the uncanny than Edinburgh.

Historical depth. Edinburgh's ancient streets, dark alleyways, and history of crime, plague, and violence contribute to its reputation as a haunted city. Famous figures like Deacon Brodie and the victims of Burke and Hare are part of its macabre past, inspiring literary works and local legends. Sites like Roslin Chapel and Arthur's Seat also boast long-standing ghost stories.

Underground city. The labyrinth of tunnels and vaults beneath the Royal Mile, originally living quarters for the poor and later storehouses, is a major hotspot. Conditions were dire, leading to many deaths from hunger, disease, and cave-ins, whose spirits are said to linger. Mary King's Close, sealed during the plague, is particularly notorious, with tales of trapped victims and modern sightings like 'Annie'.

Physical evidence. Beyond sightings, locations like the South Bridge Vaults and Greyfriars Graveyard report disturbing physical interactions. Visitors describe:

• Unexplained cold spots and smells
• Feelings of being watched or pushed
• Physical marks like scratches, bruises, and torn hair
• Electronic malfunctions (cameras, phones)
• Overwhelming emotions (sadness, fear)

These accounts, particularly those involving physical harm or multiple witnesses, challenge simple environmental or psychological explanations, making Edinburgh's hauntings particularly compelling.

5. Ghosts Interact: From Helpful Guides to Malevolent Forces

But in reality it seems that a restless spirit can do little more than appear looking melancholic and hope that it will prick the conscience of the guilty party into making a full confession, or persuade a kindly soul to restore its reputation.

Beyond vengeance. While vengeful ghosts are common in fiction, real-life accounts suggest spirits can also be helpful or protective. The Greenbrier ghost case involved a spirit testifying against her murderer husband, leading to his conviction based on her spectral testimony and physical evidence found upon exhumation. This is a rare instance of a ghost directly influencing legal outcomes.

Protective spirits. Some accounts describe ghosts intervening to prevent harm. A phantom pilot is said to have guided a plane through a storm, while the spirit of a chief engineer reportedly prevented a boiler explosion on a ship. The Pamir ghost ship is said to have mysteriously aided distressed vessels, suggesting spirits can retain a connection to their former lives or duties and act to protect others.

Range of interactions. Ghostly interactions vary widely:

• Appearing to say goodbye or offer comfort
• Warning of danger
• Guiding the living
• Causing physical disturbances (poltergeists)
• Attaching to people out of jealousy or possessiveness
• Seeking recognition or justice

These diverse interactions suggest that the nature of a spirit's presence is tied to their personality and circumstances in life and death, ranging from passive observation to active intervention.

6. Communicating with the Departed: Mediums and Modern Tech

Some of the best evidence of the soul’s survival after death has been obtained from mediums, acutely sensitive or psychic individuals who claim to be able to contact the dead.

Bridging realms. Mediums are individuals believed to be sensitive enough to communicate with discarnate spirits, offering comfort and closure to the bereaved. While historically marred by fraud, modern mediums, often featured in media, aim to provide credible evidence of survival after death. Their abilities are often reported to manifest from a young age.

Evidential mediumship. Cases like Carlos Mirabelli's séances, where physical manifestations were reportedly witnessed and even photographed by scientists, and Brenda Richardson receiving specific, verifiable information about a hidden asset from her deceased husband through a medium, suggest that communication can yield concrete details unknown to the living. These instances go beyond general messages.

Psychic insights. Individuals like James Van Praagh describe seeing spirits daily, sometimes struggling to distinguish them from the living. His experiences, including visions of deceased children seeking justice and receiving specific clues about their deaths through psychometry (gaining information from objects), highlight how psychic abilities can potentially aid in real-world investigations, even cold cases.

7. Haunted Objects & Tech: Possessed Possessions in the Digital Age

Are the attics and basements of the US and Europe being emptied of genuine possessed possessions?

Objects as vessels. The idea that spirits can attach to or inhabit objects is a recurring theme, extending beyond traditional haunted houses to personal possessions. Online marketplaces like eBay have become platforms for selling allegedly haunted items, from dolls and paintings to more unusual objects like a "ghost in a bottle." Sellers often provide detailed, unsettling backstories.

Unsettling artifacts. Examples include:

• A painting ("Stricken Life") linked to a murder-suicide, with claims of strange noises and electrical disturbances following its purchase.
• Another painting ("The Hands That Resist Him") reportedly caused distress and strange occurrences for viewers and owners, with the artist suggesting it resonates with people's inner selves.
• A "Dibbuk box," said to contain an evil spirit from Jewish mythology, linked to a string of bad luck, illness, and disturbing phenomena for its owners.

Modern hauntings. The concept extends to modern technology, with claims of computers being inhabited by evil spirits causing malfunctions and accessing disturbing content. Phantom phone calls, where people receive calls from the deceased or experience strange pre-cognitive calls, suggest spirits might utilize contemporary communication methods, blurring the lines between the paranormal and everyday life.

8. Poltergeists: Noisy Spirits or Psychic Energy?

The word poltergeist derives from the German name for a ‘noisy ghost’, but there is compelling evidence to suggest that in many cases the ‘victims’ are unconsciously practising a form of psychokinesis...

Psychokinetic theory. One prominent theory attributes poltergeist activity to psychokinesis (PK), the unconscious discharge of mental energy by living individuals, often adolescents experiencing stress or emotional turmoil. The Rosenheim case, where electrical disturbances and object movements were linked to a young woman's presence and ceased when she left, is a classic example supporting this view.

Entity hypothesis. However, some cases involve phenomena seemingly incompatible with PK alone, suggesting the presence of an external entity. The Pontefract poltergeist, characterized by violent banging, object movement, physical assaults (leaving marks), and the manifestation of a hooded figure, occurred around a teenage girl but involved effects beyond simple PK, leading investigators to consider it a genuine haunting by an independent entity.

Beyond PK. The pyromaniac poltergeist case in Chicago, involving spontaneous fires and sulphurous fog even after power was cut, presents phenomena difficult to explain solely by adolescent PK. The intensity and nature of the fires, along with witness accounts of strange mists, suggest a force beyond unconscious human energy, highlighting the complexity and varied nature of poltergeist phenomena.

9. Investigation: Seeking Rational Explanations First

OPI staff investigate the problems reported, first looking for any and all normal explanations before assuming a paranormal one, then they offer recommendations and service with respect to dealing with the phenomena or experiences.

Scientific approach. Organizations like the Office of Paranormal Investigations (OPI), led by Loyd Auerbach, emphasize a scientific methodology, prioritizing normal explanations before considering paranormal ones. Investigators examine environmental factors, psychological influences, and potential hoaxes, using knowledge from fields like magic and mentalism to understand misperception.

Beyond debunking. While debunking is part of the process, the goal is also to provide credible, ethical help to those experiencing perceived paranormal problems. Investigations involve interviewing witnesses, gathering data (environmental readings, photos, audio), and, in some cases, working with psychics who are willing to have their perceptions tested and integrated into the broader investigation.

Case studies. Investigations like that of the USS Hornet, where multiple witnesses reported seeing apparitions of sailors who died after the ship was decommissioned, or cases involving psychics like Annette Martin who reportedly communicate with entities and help identify the source of disturbances (PK or spirit), contribute to understanding the nuances of different phenomena and how they manifest.

10. The Challenge of Proof: Skepticism Meets Unexplained Phenomena

While it is effectively impossible to prove the existence of psychic phenomena in these situations given the current state of science and technology, OPI investigators have been successful in assisting people to understand such experiences and, when appropriate, in eliminating the phenomena.

Empirical gap. Despite numerous accounts and investigations, definitive, repeatable empirical evidence for ghosts and other paranormal phenomena remains elusive, challenging scientific acceptance. Researchers like Dr. Richard Wiseman attribute many reported disturbances to environmental factors, while proponents argue that current science lacks the tools to measure or quantify non-physical realities.

Compelling accounts. However, some experiences defy easy explanation:

• Physical marks (scratches, bruises) appearing on individuals during alleged hauntings.
• Multiple witnesses reporting the same apparition or physical event simultaneously.
• Verifiable information provided through mediums that was previously unknown.
• Phenomena occurring under controlled conditions or captured on film/audio in ways difficult to fake.

Balancing views. The media often sensationalizes the paranormal, prioritizing entertainment over rigorous investigation, further complicating public understanding. Ultimately, the decision of whether to believe often rests on personal experience, the credibility of witness testimony, and the willingness to consider possibilities that lie beyond current scientific explanation, acknowledging that "there are more things in heaven and earth than we might care to know about."

Last updated: June 12, 2025