Residual energy hauntings can be just as “real” as active hauntings.  Since at least 80% of hauntings seem to be residual energy, it’s important to recognize them.

In our Hollow Hill Glossary, we’ve used this definition:

Residual energy – Many ghost hunters believe that emotionally charged events leave an imprint or energy residue on the physical objects nearby.

What distinguishes residual energy from an active haunting is that the energy/impressions repeat consistently, as if on a loop. The energy levels may increase or decrease, but the content remains the same with each manifestation.

By contrast, in what we term an active haunting, the ghost may respond to environmental stimuli and direct contact.

Residual energy hauntings usually appear the same, over and over again.

There may be an energy spike at a particular time of day or on the anniversary of the event.  (Those events can be happy — such as a birthday party or wedding — or tragic, such as the anniversary of a murder or a battle.)

In some cases, the haunting may draw energy from the investigators, slightly increasing the phenomena.

However, in most cases, the only changes occur relative to the time or date of the original, imprinting event.

If there’s EVP, the recordings will sound the same from one visit to the next.  In photos, the manifestations will usually appear the same, as well.  That is, the orbs will look alike and appear in the same locations.

The predictability of the phenomena distinguish sites with residual energy.  They never interact with the people who visit them.

Active hauntings — that is, hauntings involving the spirits of people who’ve died — are more rare.

The spirits may visit at regular times of day or on specific dates.  However, instead of acting in the same way each time, they will respond to changes in the environment.  They may interact with ghost researchers.

In some cases, it can be tricky to tell the difference.  In the movie, High Spirits, Liam Neeson portrays the ghost of Martin Brogan.

At first, he seems to be a residual energy haunting.  He repeats the same dialogue.  His physical movements repeat as well, as he murders his wife again and again.

Then, Brogan is interrupted by an American tourist, and it’s clear that Brogan is an actual ghost.

The easiest way to tell the difference between a haunting with a sentient spirit and a residual energy haunting is to interact with it.

Try psychic contact.  Talk out loud to the apparent ghost.  Ask it questions.  Make comments. Stand next to it or block its path.  In extreme cases, you can shout at it.

Your goal is to see if its behavior changes, and if it responds in any way to you and your team.

The ghost may reply.  It may act angry.  It may seem shy or frightened, and vanish.  It may move objects, rap on walls or tables, slam doors, or roll a ball across the floor on command.

The point is: The ghost’s behavior changes with the people around it.

That’s what distinguishes it from residual energy.

Both active and residual energy hauntings are interesting to research.  Both can produce a wide range of phenomena.  Both are equally ‘real’.

However, to achieve two-way communication with a spirit, you must be sure that an actual spirit is there.

You’re looking for variations.  If the pattern simply repeats, no matter how ‘real’ it may seem, you’re probably witnessing a residual energy haunting.

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