Faceless ghosts are believed to be unaware of their own identity. They borrow the looks of living people, melding their otherwise featureless expressions into the likeness of others.
They differ from dopplegangers in that they borrow the looks of many people, whoever they can get close to.
They differ from dopplegangers in that they borrow the looks of many people, whoever they can get close to.
Missing Identity
Rendition of a nearly faceless ghost. Faceless ghosts or "gesichtslosgeist" (literally faceless + ghost) are entities/spirits who have no identity. As a figure they do not know who they are, all actual memory of who they were is completely erased - a form of spiritual amnesia.
It has been put forward that a ghost who has lost all form of recollection on who they were when they were living is potentially suffering some form of punishment. It would be bad enough to be forced to remain wandering but to also have no hope of redeeming oneself due to not knowing who you are and what you have done would be much worse.
Some people who research the occult have discussed the possibility that becoming 'faceless' is what may await someone who succeeds in selling their soul, the 'buyer' only wanting the certain essence that makes a spirit what it is, its memory, personality, ego etc, leaving behind a kind of husk, the leftovers, that which is common in all our generic spiritual makeup.
Finally it is thought that they are the result of someone who was unable to get past a shocking life event or tragedy, and at death somehow they forced all memory and recollection from themselves.
It has been put forward that a ghost who has lost all form of recollection on who they were when they were living is potentially suffering some form of punishment. It would be bad enough to be forced to remain wandering but to also have no hope of redeeming oneself due to not knowing who you are and what you have done would be much worse.
Some people who research the occult have discussed the possibility that becoming 'faceless' is what may await someone who succeeds in selling their soul, the 'buyer' only wanting the certain essence that makes a spirit what it is, its memory, personality, ego etc, leaving behind a kind of husk, the leftovers, that which is common in all our generic spiritual makeup.
Finally it is thought that they are the result of someone who was unable to get past a shocking life event or tragedy, and at death somehow they forced all memory and recollection from themselves.
Features But No Personality
Faceless ghosts will take on the features of another. This type of ghost is not often talked about, there is very little information about the subject online, and there are not a lot of books that detail the subject, not ones I can find anyway. Those who are said to have experienced a faceless ghosts presence tell of curious stories indeed.
Much like a doppelganger, you become aware of a faceless ghost when you can make out part of your own visage on the entity itself. It is not an exact copy, but is close enough that you can recognise it along with others who know you well. None of your personality is taken on board, neither are any of your other physical characteristics, it copies your face only.
This sets a faceless ghost apart from a doppelganger – a doppelganger creates an exact replica, though it may not behave exactly as you would, they are capable of fooling those who know you. A Faceless ghost would only fool someone at a quick glance; any form of lengthy visual contact will allow you to tell it is a copy.
When they do appear it is said they can appear just about as solid as you and me, or any stage of manifestation leading to that state.
Much like a doppelganger, you become aware of a faceless ghost when you can make out part of your own visage on the entity itself. It is not an exact copy, but is close enough that you can recognise it along with others who know you well. None of your personality is taken on board, neither are any of your other physical characteristics, it copies your face only.
This sets a faceless ghost apart from a doppelganger – a doppelganger creates an exact replica, though it may not behave exactly as you would, they are capable of fooling those who know you. A Faceless ghost would only fool someone at a quick glance; any form of lengthy visual contact will allow you to tell it is a copy.
When they do appear it is said they can appear just about as solid as you and me, or any stage of manifestation leading to that state.
A Spirit Blank
Another faceless ghost illustration. Another aspect of a faceless ghost is that someone with the ability to communicate or read the spirit will draw a complete blank – no information is able to be obtained – no name, no age, no gender – nothing. This complete and total blankness is said to be quite 'cold' to those that have felt it, a near total void yet they know something is there.
A faceless ghost has no positive or negative intentions, it’s essentially emotionless – once again a complete blank. That’s other than the knowledge that it needs an identity. It is believed that this single yearning on its part is what causes it to take on anothers image. However, that is all it can do.
This does not mean they cannot interact with you. Like someone suffering amnesia of identity, much of a faceless ghost’s abilities are intact. They just literally do not know who they are.
As such they do not feel a certain need to be bound to a location and can freely wander at will.
Do you believe you have ever encounterd a faceless ghost?
A faceless ghost has no positive or negative intentions, it’s essentially emotionless – once again a complete blank. That’s other than the knowledge that it needs an identity. It is believed that this single yearning on its part is what causes it to take on anothers image. However, that is all it can do.
This does not mean they cannot interact with you. Like someone suffering amnesia of identity, much of a faceless ghost’s abilities are intact. They just literally do not know who they are.
As such they do not feel a certain need to be bound to a location and can freely wander at will.
Do you believe you have ever encounterd a faceless ghost?
Ashley Hall 2013
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