If we take folklore seriously, most ghosts have either:
a story to tell,
a wrong to correct, or
unfinished business.
When ghost hunters investigate a haunted site, most ghosts seem to fit that profile.
In almost every case:
– The ghost wants something specific to happen before crossing over. Or, the ghost is afraid to cross over for other reasons.
– In some cases, the ghost refuses to believe that he or she is dead. Ask them what year it is, and you’ll usually get the year the person died.
– Or, what you’re witnessing may be an energy imprint, not a ghost (or spirit) lingering at the site.
A few tales — such as the “green lady” stories of Scotland — offer other explanations.
Green ladies remain in homes that they love. They are benevolent spirits who protect the building and its inhabitants. Each “green lady” ghost isn’t trapped in the house. She could leave whenever she wanted to, and she’s happy to stay there.
Green lady ghosts are like relatives’ spirits. They visit us to check on our safety and happiness.
I’m not sure that I’d call that a ghost. The spirit isn’t trapped in our plane of existence.
By contrast, a banshee may also be a relative of the family it guards.
Is the banshee trapped here?
Is it actually a ghost, or — as much folklore suggests — part of the faerie realm?
It’s difficult to establish boundaries and precise definitions.
In addition, we’ve seen evidence that some ghosts aren’t “dead people.” They seem to be alive and well… but in another dimension or parallel reality.
Until we’re sure that ghosts exist, and what they really are, we can’t be sure why they haunt houses… or any other location.
But, with a little work, we can find out if the site is actually haunted.
Discover whether that house is really haunted…
“Haunted or Not?” is the guide you need, whether you’re a tenant, homeowner, or ghost hunter.
This comprehensive manual takes you step-by-step through the process of ruling out natural (if unusual) causes behind many strange and ghost-like occurrences in any house.
With clear, practical advice, you’ll learn how to identify and debunk common sources of “hauntings,” from faulty wiring to hidden drafts.
But what if there’s no ordinary explanation? This guide also offers techniques to minimize and manage apparent ghostly activity, ensuring that your home is a peaceful place to live.
Don’t let fear take over! Empower yourself with the tools to uncover the truth. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, “Haunted or Not?” gives you the knowledge to face whatever goes bump in the night.
Next, here are more more details about what might be a ghost.
(Warning: This may be more than you ever wanted to know, unless you’re a pro or planning to become one.)
While ghost hunting, I’ve seen weird things like unexplained lights, shadows, and figures just out of the corner of my eye.
Here’s the basic rule: If they can’t be explained by something normal, we consider them paranormal.
Anything that’s seen or sensed that can’t be explained, except in paranormal terms, can be called an anomaly.
In ghost hunting, that means one (or both) of two things:
We can’t explain it. We see three gravestones, but a fourth one shows up in a photograph. Or, we can hear a certain investigator’s voice on our EVP recording, but she wasn’t there during the investigation.
Even if we could explain it, it’s still very weird and doesn’t make sense. It’s “statistically unlikely” in the context of where it happened or was recorded. This is the kind of evidence that skeptics pounce on. Sure, that orb could be humidity, but why did it show up in just two of about 15 photos, each taken within two minutes of each other… and by two different cameras?
So, when we’re at a location that’s supposed to be haunted, we’re researching paranormal activity and we’re documenting anomalies.
Those aren’t necessarily ghosts, or even evidence of ghosts.
However, when it’s something best described as a ghost, we call it a ghost. It’s as good a label as any, for now, and — when we say “a ghost” — others recognized the kinds of phenomena we’re talking about. Whether the person believes it represents the spirit of someone dead… that’s another matter.
As ghost hunters, we’re collecting evidence, trying to figure out what’s going on in haunted places. Often, ghosts are the most logical explanation, so that’s the word I’ll use in this article and at this website.
There are at least three kinds of ghosts you can see: Ghosts that emit light, ghosts that are shadows, and ghosts that are apparitions. (There may be a fourth category, ghosts that absorb light, but we’re not sure yet.)
Ghosts that emit light
The most frequently photographed ghosts are those that emit light. We see orbs (translucent circles or spheres) in our photos. Those orbs usually have fairly crisp edges; they’re not reflections from headlights or lens flares.
In the photo below, the orb is very faint, and over the EMF meter on the right. In a series of photos, the orb seemed to float between the meters, back and forth. When it was near one of the EMF meters, that meter would signal. Then, the orb would float back to the other meter, leaving both meters dark in the interim.
At the time, we described it as spiritual ping pong.
This photo was not altered with Photoshop or any software, so the orb is very faint. My photo is among many taken that night, at Tenney Gate House (Methuen, MA), showing the orb floating back and forth, triggering the EMF meters.
Two EMF meters, spiking alternately, and the orb that floated between them.
Using Photoshop with a typical orb, the characteristic colors are revealed. This next photo could have been taken anywhere, but I was at Fort George in Ontario, Canada. Though skeptics will look at this kind of photo and explain it as dust, pollen, or moisture, this orb was photographed by about four of us, each standing about 10 – 30 feet apart, pointing our cameras in the same direction. Mapping its location relative to landmarks we were seeing from different angles, it was easy to show that we were all photographing the same orb.
Typical orb. Perfectly circular. Looks three dimensional.
Some photos show a streak of light, often described as a vortex. Unfortunately, a large number of vortices (plural of vortex) look identical to camera straps. So, we’re not sure how many of those photos show something paranormal. It’s too easy to explain them as a forgotten camera strap that fell in front of the camera.
However, if you have a photo with an image like this and you’re sure no camera strap or similar object was near the lens of the camera, you might have an anomaly we call a vortex.
This is a camera strap.
Sometimes, we see light-emitting shapes or figures in real life, not just in photos. Weirdly, those anomalies rarely show up in photographs.
They could be circular shapes or spheres. They might be rods of light. Or, in very rare cases, they assume the form of a figure, like an apparition.
These kinds of ghostly figures are best seen and photographed after dark. Though I’ve taken photos of daytime orbs, with no flash or possibility of lens flare, the vast majority of light-related anomalies are photographed at night.
That’s one reason for a lights-out investigation at haunted sites.
Ghosts that are shadows
Ghostly shadows — sometimes “shadow figures” — are among the most disturbing ghostly phenomena we encounter. We don’t know what they are, but they can seem a lot more covert and sinister than the ghosts we usually study.
The photo below, taken at a private residence near Laconia, New Hampshire, shows an eerie shadow figure we saw in a fully-lit basement. It’s one of many troubling photos from that investigation. In real life, the figure looked like a tall man. There was nothing to explain that shadow. I could see the cause of almost every other shadow, but not that one.
The figure in the photo, above, is unusual because shadow figures usually seem to hide among other shadows.
We’re not sure what these figures represent. Sometimes, they appear individually. At other times, they seem to travel in groups or packs.
In general, I don’t recommend lingering at any location where you see shadow figures. We’re not sure that they’re as benign as what we usually call “ghosts.”
Ghosts that Absorb Light
At the present time, we’re not sure if shadow figures or “ghost shadows” are actually casting a shadow, if they are simply dark figures, or if they’re absorbing light like a black hole.
If they’re absorbing light (and perhaps energy), that’s another very good reason to be cautious if you ever see a shadow figure.
We don’t know what these are, and if they’re a separate kind of entity.
Ghosts that are apparitions
Apparitions are ghosts that look like they did in life. Sometimes they’re more-or-less translucent. Others look like living people, but they may appear to be in historical costumes.
It seems that there are very few photos of apparitions. Here’s a classic, the Brown Lady, photographed in 1936 by Captain Hubert C. Provand.
I have three of theories about why we don’t see more credible photos of apparitions:
Most apparition photos aren’t credible, and look like double exposures or as if they’ve been created in Adobe Photoshop.
Often, the anomalies we see in real life don’t show up in our photos, and vice versa.
Many apparitions seem so lifelike, we don’t realize they’re ghosts until they fade or abruptly disappear… and then it’s too late to get a photo.
Those are the three kinds of ghosts you can see… maybe: Ghosts that emit light, ghosts that are shadows, and ghosts that seem to have physical form and look a lot like they’re living people.
A fourth category, ghosts that absorb light so they’re not just shadows but something like black holes, is a troubling concept that has yet to be explored.
I have heard a Banshee, and it’s not something I’d want to hear again. Others’ first-person descriptions of the Banshee’s wail — described as keening, from the Irish word caoine — are equally chilling.
In many modern-day reports, the Banshee cries through someone living. It’s similar to something in science fiction and horror movies: The person (usually female) opens her mouth and a terrible cry emerges.
It sounds nothing like the person’s actual voice. It’s more like the worst combination of fingernails on a blackboard, mixed with someone dragging a bow across a squeaking violin string.
That’s worth repeating: It sounds nothing like the person’s actual voice.
If you think, “Oh, he (or she) must be faking it,” you’re probably not hearing a Banshee. The sound isn’t even close to human.
Death and the Banshee
Banshees protect families with Irish ancestry. Generally, they’re not seen or heard when they’re quietly successful with their protection efforts.
The only time you’re likely to hear or see a Banshee is if she’s anguished because she can’t prevent a tragedy in “her” family.
Banshees, ghosts, clones and quantum theories
Almost every family with Irish ancestry has their own Banshee.
That’s the theory, anyway. (I explained more about that in my 1999 article, linked above.)
However, those who see a Banshee and know their family history… they always describe her as a known ancestor, usually from before the 1700s.
That’s where this becomes odd: It appears that every household with Irish ancestry has a Banshee… but within one family line, they’re all the same ancestor.
That leaves just a few possibilities. These are among the most likely:
It’s one spirit but she’s protecting thousands of households.
The spirits are different (and may or may not be spirits of ancestors), but they choose a common ancestral image that the family may recognize.
It’s one spirit and she’s cloned herself as a spiritual protector.
From her own time, she’s able to visit multiple times & places (parallel realities) and — as a time traveller — try to change future outcomes.
Something’s paranormal is occurring, but the Banshee stories influence how the encounter is perceived and told to others.
Ghost hunting for Banshees?
Banshees are ghosts only in the sense that — according to many reports — each one looks like someone who was once alive… a real person.
So, they could be called ghosts.
However, this isn’t a spirit that you can help to “cross over.”
If you hear or see a Banshee
Banshees don’t cause death or tragedy. They’re simply able to see the likelihood of tragedy, and they’re already mourning.
This is important: Even if you see or hear a Banshee, the tragedy can still be avoided.
As any good psychic will tell you: The future isn’t set in stone.
The Banshee can’t prevent whatever-it-is, but you (or someone else) might be able to.
At the very least, immediately leave the site where you encounter the Banshee.
Tragedy is imminent.
If the Banshee remains behind, it’s not your tragedy and you can avoid being part of it.
On the other hand, hearing or seeing multiple Banshees at once usually indicates a tragedy involving someone with a high profile… a politician or a church leader.
You’re less likely to prevent that from occurring.
Either way, if you’re looking for a Banshee, you’re looking for trouble.
At best, it’s a waste of time to launch a paranormal investigation to encounter a Banshee.
At worst, you could be putting yourself in harm’s way. An encounter with a Banshee usually means that something very bad is likely to happen.
Though some have speculated that a Banshee is related to the faerie called “the little woman of the hearth” or to the Green Lady traditions, the Banshee is more likely to be a distinct kind of entity… and not appropriate for ghost hunting.
Ghosts and Banshees in Ireland
Duckett’s Grove Castle is one of many Irish locations with legends of ghosts and at least one banshee. The location is picturesque… and a little eerie.
The castle’s history includes money, power struggles and tragedy, and a family curse. That’s a perfect formula for paranormal activity of many kinds.
If you encounter a banshee, she may be asking for your help… but she might also be warning you of danger.
Be alert, in either case. The decisions you make could be important.
If I were there, I’d leave immediately. Tragedy could be imminent, and – by staying – you could become collateral damage.
And, after all, you were warned. That’s what the banshee does.
Photo: Steve Ford Elliott, Mountshannon, Co Clare, Ireland / Eire
Poltergeists cause unexplained noises, and move objects with unseen hands.
At many hauntings, those mischievous (and sometimes angry) spirits throw things… sometimes vigorously.
On TV, one of the most famous examples was in the Ghost Adventures episode filmed at the Goldfield Hotel.
Though I can’t clearly see enough to claim it’s a genuine event, Zak Baganscontinues to refer to it as one of the scariest moments in the show’s history.
If he had reason to suspect it was a hoax, I doubt that he’d keep revisiting this topic. He’d probably hope people forgot it.
So, I take this seriously. (Note: Often, Zak – or the show’s producers – and I have very different views about ghost hunting and safety issues.)
Goldfield, Nevada, Goldfield Inn evidence of paranormal. Brick flying across room from unknown force captured in 2008 by Zak B. and Nick G. during their firs…
In folklore and parapsychology, a Poltergeist (German for ‘noisy ghost’ or ‘noisy spirit’) is a type of ghost or other supernatural entity which is responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed. They are purportedly capable of pinching, biting, hitting, and tripping people. Most accounts of poltergeists describe the movement or levitation of objects such as furniture and cutlery, or noises such as knocking on doors.
Professional opinions
Among paranormal researchers, opinions vary widely. Some insist that a ghost – and only a ghost – causes the activity.
Others believe a living person triggers it, and is sometimes the target of particularly vicious physical attacks.
And some dismiss poltergeists entirely. They point to hoaxes, and vibrations from sources such as a passing train or heavy truck.
No simple, single answer that applies to all cases.
In my opinion, people who casually shrug off all poltergeists have never witnessed much poltergeist activity.
I’ve seen enough to believe it’s real, and sometimes very dangerous.
When poltergeist activity is infrequent or not especially dangerous, a bowl of salt seems to reduce or eliminate the problem. Place the salt where most of the activity occurs.
Of course, if the activity puts anyone at risk – especially physically – it’s important to get professional help quickly. I refer people to spiritual advisors such as priests and ministers.
However, avoid leaping to idea that the activity is demonic. That’s very rarely the case.
Meanwhile, some scientists are aggressively studying psychokinesis (PK), which may explain some poltergeist activity. So, we may have better answers, soon.
This book reads like a children’s series of “ghost stories.” But, it’s actually filled with unique and fascinating information about ghosts and poltergeists.
He was the first researcher I heard mention an eerie connection between poltergeist activity and water, especially unexplained water residues.
Often overlooked by researchers, this book is among my favorite resources for unusual insights about the spirit world. I keep a copy by my desk. Though the stories and descriptions seem light, Wilson includes some unique and useful insights.
Also, I agree with Wilson when he says, “…the evidence is that we do continue to exist. And I don’t think that there’s any possible doubt about it.”
Winchester Mansion (aka Winchester Mystery House) – Wikipedia entry
One of the world’s strangest and most haunted houses. Often, its poltergeist activity is accompanied by small, unexplained pools of water. Those pools occur in rooms with no windows and no adjoining plumbing.
Cases: The Drummer of Tedworth, Enfield Poltergeist
(I will write more about these events, later, and include previously unreported facts. They may shed new light on these famous poltergeist stories.)
This movie — difficult to find as a DVD, since the movie studio discontinued it — is one of the most notorious stories of poltergeist activity.
It also claims it’s based on a true story. Frankly, I’m not convinced, and I don’t recommend it. The content in this film is very disturbing, and sexually explicit. And, oh yes, not very realistic.
Produced in the early 1980s, the movie is dated. Those who’ve watched it consistently describe it as sick, and too realistic for entertainment.
That may be why the movie was discontinued. Or, the atmosphere it created around viewers may have attracted annoying – or even worrisome – entities.
Books:Harry Potter books, by J. K. Rowling
The poltergeist, Peeves, appears during every school year. However, when he is visible, he generally looks solid. (That’s not common among poltergeists. Few appear in visible form.)
Other Hogwarts spirits, such as Nearly Headless Nick, usually look translucent and slightly glistening or pearlescent. They’re more likely to be ghosts, not poltergeists.
Note: Peeves wasn’t in the Harry Potter movies, but he is in a video on YouTube:
In general, I regard poltergeists as mischievous spirits, sometimes given energy by emotional people (especially young teens) in the general vicinity.
Ignored, their activity may seem to get worse, briefly, and then stop or occur infrequently. So — in the long run — it’s best to give them minimal attention, before taking more aggressive steps to deal with the situation.
Many ghost hunters – including me – have theories about residual energy hauntings.
That is, eerie, repeating energy at haunted sites, and what they mean.
First, let’s start with the two most common types of hauntings.
Two kinds of hauntings
The first are active or ‘intelligent’ hauntings, involving the presence of a sentient spirit or ghost.
The rest are usually residual energy imprint hauntings, often called “residual energy hauntings” or just “imprints.” Most result from an emotional incident, and usually a violent event.
Perhaps, just like an iron remains hot long after it’s turned off, strong energy seems to be stored in physical surroundings, at least for a while.
When someone witnesses this kind of haunting and is startled by it, that energy may refuel the setting so that the manifestations and/or impressions continue.
(This may also explain haunted objects. Maybe they’re just storing residual, emotional energy.)
How experts explain residual energy hauntings
Ghost hunters may disagree about the frequency and importance of residual energy hauntings.
We may use different terms for it. But, we usually agree about what it is:
In Ghosts, Spirits and Hauntings, author Patricia Telesco uses the term ‘memory imprint‘ and describes it as, ‘An energy remnant that leaves a mark on a room or region.’
Although it’s dismiss it as unlikely, in The Field Guide to Ghosts and Other Apparitions, authors Evans and Huyghe call it a ‘memory trace‘ and relate it to a psychic ‘tape recording of a voice’ that some witnesses can perceive.
Cassandra Eason, in Ghost Encounters, refers to imprints in terms of a ‘worn-out reel of film constantly replaying in an empty cinema’ and dismisses them as hauntings.
In his study, How to Hunt Ghosts : A Practical Guide, Joshua P. Warren says, ‘Regardless of exactly how time functions, paranormal imprints show us that, for whatever reason, events can be recorded in an environment.’ (Important note: Joshua is not related to Ed & Lorraine Warren, often associated with the Amityville House hauntings.)
And, in The Ghost Hunter’s Guidebook, Troy Taylor talks about residual hauntings saying, ‘This type of phenomena is much more common than people think’. I agree with him.
Here are some of my thoughts
But really, we’re all guessing
I’ve encountered many ghosts and hauntings, in a variety of settings, from cemeteries to apartment buildings.
It appears that at least 50% of all reported hauntings — and perhaps more — are the product of residual energy.
However, that’s just a guess. It may only reflect the kinds of haunted sites I’ve visited. I tend to favor ancient sites, and hauntings from the 19th century.
In some cases, if the residual energy is bothering those currently living in (or regularly visiting) the site, you can try some residual energy solutions.
Hauntings can involve both residual energy and actual ghosts
It can be difficult to tell which is which.
In my experience, residual energy hauntings don’t change very much.
An extreme is Gilson Road Cemetery in Nashua, NH. I’ve encountered the exact same energy, day after day, starting at about noon. That’s why I’ve used it to teach ghost hunting; the ghostly energy is predictable!
Generally, residual energy hauntings provide the ‘good scare‘ that many ghost hunters enjoy.
By contrast, an active haunting — caused by an actual ghost, spirit, or apparition — can surprise you.
Many ghosts will react to the people who are in ‘their’ area. Each visit to a site with a ghost will be a little different. It’s often not fun, and it can be more intense than people expect.
Residual energy hauntings provide a window to the past.
When you’re psychically ‘seeing’ something that seems like a movie, it may be an imprint of the event on the environment.
Or it might be something else.
As ghost hunters, we’re still trying to figure out what’s behind our experiences at haunted places.
For now, those are my best guesses about residual energy hauntings.
If you have more insights, please share them in comments below!
A radical, delightfully geeky theory:
When you feel as if you’re “seeing” (or experiencing) an entire event from the past, it may actually be a window through time.
In other words, it might relate to a parallel universe or be a weird ripple in time.
(If those concepts intrigue you, I recommend following the evolution of string theory, M theory, and related quantum and physics studies. One of the best introductions is a PBS television show called ‘The Elegant Universe‘ and the Science Channel’s ‘Parallel Universe‘ program.)
The Green Lady is a unique spirit. She’s more often described as a faerie rather than a ghost.
I’m not sure that’s the best description. She’s certainly not someone lightly categorized with all brownies or Gruagachs.
Every woman who appears as a ‘Green Lady‘ wears a rich green gown that usually reaches the ground.
In other words, her skin isn’t green; her dress is.
Other than that, it’s difficult to generalize about the appearance of a Green Lady.
DARK TALES OF THE GREEN LADY
In darker legends, the Green Lady is a demon and the gown covers her hairy, goat-like body. In other stories, she is cursed with hooves for feet, and the gown hides them.
In my opinion, those descriptions are about the Green Women, who may be dark, demon-like faeries.
The goat’s body tradition relates to another category of Highland spirits: the Glaistig. In fact, the Green Lady can be called a Ghlaistig uaine, ‘the Green Glaistig.’
Glaistigs are spirits who were once women of title, or at least the mistress of a house.
Each of them has been put under an enchantment. They dislike dogs, prefer to be alone, protect houses, and favor fools and people ‘of weak intellect.’
Of course, that’s another area in which the traditions blur between ghosts, spirits, and faeries.
The Green Glaistigs are rarely seen, but there are stories of the Glaistigs of Ardnacaillich (home of the Macquarries), Donolly Castle, Mernaigh, Dunstaffnage, and many other locations.
In most cases, she is simply called the Green Lady.
FAMOUS GREEN LADY GHOSTS
One of the most famous is the Green Lady of Skipness Castle, by Loch Fyne. She has protected her home and the family in it for centuries. Several times, she created a supernatural confusion among enemies who’d planned to attack the castle. After they left Skipness, their wits returned, but as they marched back towards the Castle, they became confused again.
One Green Lady appears today at Crathes Castle, about 15 miles southwest of Aberdeen City in Scotland. This Green Lady is usually called a “ghost,” and she appears by the fireplace to pick up a ghostly infant. Then they vanish together.
Centuries ago when the castle was renovated, her bones, and those of the baby, were found buried beneath this spot in the castle.
Like the Green Man of the forest, she hides herself as ivy around this castle. However, if you watch very closely, she will reveal her presence by moving slightly. Once she knows she has been seen, she will emerge as the gracious and lovely woman that she is, extend a hand in welcome if she likes you, and then she vanishes.
MORE GREEN LADY LOCATIONS
There are no formal reports of a Green Lady outside of the British Isles, but there are some similar tales. We suspect that the Green Lady is a category of ghosts, similar to the Banshees (Bean Sidhe) of Ireland.
For example, there is Ocean-Born Mary, an 18th-century spirit who haunts Henniker, New Hampshire. She wears a green gown, and she had Scottish ancestry. (Trivia: She even named one of her sons William Wallace.)
Likewise, 18th-century ghost Judith Thompson Tyng has been seen in a green gown, in the houses she haunts around Nashua, NH. (See my related articles, including The Haunting of John Alford Tyng.)
However, the Green Lady is most frequently found at castles and homes in Scotland. In fact, ghost hunters can plan vacations to encounter at least one Green Lady.
Additional castles that report Green Lady ghosts include Castle of Park, Banff and Fernie Castle, Fife.
Scotland also boasts castles and homes with other “lady” ghosts, including Grey Ladies and White Ladies.
If you’re planning a trip to Scotland and want to increase your chances of seeing a Green Lady or other spectre, see the list at Travel Scotland’s Haunted Hotels.
One haunted hotel in Scotland, Tulloch Castle Hotel, even has a painting of the Green Lady who protects it.Thanks to Adam W. for suggesting the subject of The Green Lady for this article. (The hotel’s link – TullochCastle.co.uk – seems not to be working in March 2017. For now, the best source of information may be travel websites, or Wikipedia.)
“Haunted or Not?” is the guide you need, whether you’re a tenant, homeowner, or ghost hunter.
Banshees… should ghost hunters look for them? And if you do, could you even find one?
Poltergeists cause unexplained noises, and move objects with unseen hands.
In my opinion, people who casually shrug off all poltergeists have never witnessed much poltergeist activity.
An extreme is 
One of the most famous is the Green Lady of Skipness Castle, by Loch Fyne. She has protected her home and the family in it for centuries. Several times, she created a supernatural confusion among enemies who’d planned to attack the castle. After they left Skipness, their wits returned, but as they marched back towards the Castle, they became confused again.
