If you are a paranormal investigator, you have probably already figured out that every haunting you encounter can be very different from the last. Each case you are called on will offer you new and different challenges and obstacles to overcome. In this segment I would like to cover the main types of hauntings and what you can expect from these different scenarios.
1. The residual Haunting: This is a common occurance in haunted locations. This is a haunting which contains no actual spirit or entity, it is merely the replay of highly charged energy from the location's past. If you can imagine it this way it's like a spiritual tape player just re-living the moment of highest energy. A traumatic occurance is said to sometimes be stored in the actual fabric of a building or in the materials of the Earth itself. Wood, Brick, Limestone, Sandstone, quartz (is a BIG ONE), water...all these elements are said to be able to store the energy. What triggers the replay? No one really knows. Maybe it happens on the anniversary of the event or on regular intervals related to the anniversary? Maybe your energy being present when you are in the location fuels it, and gives it the energy it needs to replay. Residual hauntings are the most common and benign type of haunting you will encounter.
2. The Intelligent Haunting: This is the exact opposite of the residual haunting. This is a haunting involving an entity (a ghost or spirit etc...) and this entity is completely aware of your presence. In these cases you can get intelligent responses to questions and activity that can be very un-predictable. Why do the spirits remain? No one knows. And, there is always the possibility of dimensional interaction rather than a ghostly haunting. These are the questions all paranormal researchers are trying to answer. Intelligent Hauntings are the most rare and intriguing types of hauntings. They can range from a deceased spirit watching over living relative, or a demonic entity that intends to harm or possess a human.
3. Poltergeist Activity: The "noisy spirit", these can become quite nasty and aggressive by nature and can cause some problems to investigators. Items being thrown or moved violently are common sign posts of a poltergeist haunting. Most poltergeist cases seem to be intelligent in nature and can interact when questioned. Some recent theories associate poltergeists with psychokinetic energy, most notably from pre-teen females. A lot of the most famous cases in history have happened in homes where young girls lived and the activity seemed to stop once the girls reached puberty. But, some cases happen in locations that haven't had children living in them for many years so it's really tough to say. Noisy spirit or psychokinetic energy? In your investigations you might help us answer this question.
4. Inhuman Hauntings: This type of haunting refers to entities of unknown origin. Many people want to label them as "demonic" but I like to reserve that word for the more severe cases and I rarely use it at all. These hauntings generally tend to be nasty and seem to intend to harm or posess humans. They are much more powerful than ghosts. Although these cases are extremely rare, one can never be to careful and should never take these cases too lightly. If you suspect an inhuman haunting you should call in the help of people who are qualified to deal with these situations because someone untrained in them can actually do more harm than good. You never want to make a situation worse and risk the well being of your team or the occupants of the home you are investigating. Use your better judgement in these situations, don't try to be a hero. Demonic Hauntings are dangerous and there is no sure fire way to get rid of a Demon if it is determined to stalk you.They are not bound by time or geography.They are methodical and persistent and seem to enjoy tormenting human beings. Again, if you encounter something of this nature please contact someone who knows how to deal with this type of haunting and ask for their help. If you do not know what you are doing, do not handle a case like this on your own.
