A ghost is the manifestation of the spirit of a deceased person, or other living being. A ghost can haunt a person, object or place and can appear in many different ways.
It is typically in reference to a visual manifestation, though it can be extended to those that affect the other senses.
It is typically in reference to a visual manifestation, though it can be extended to those that affect the other senses.
Ghostly Manifestations
A stereotypical ghost. A ghost in paranormal terms is a manifestation of part of a deceased persons personality, their spirit. They can manifest in different ways, but generally the term ‘ghost’ refers to a visual manifestation either as light, a vague form, a shadowy presence, or something that looks quite solid. Although it generally refers to visual, it may also be applied to manifestations that are picked up by the other senses – sound, hearing, touch, smell and taste – and also at times just a feeling.
It is actually quite a hard thing to completely and correctly define, as with the explosion of paranormal popularity, the word 'ghost' has been applied in a non-strict way to its definition.
Another aspect that gets quite tricky is the difference between a ghost and a spirit. There is a difference, but it is quite subtle. In paranormal terms, the differences are that a ghost is the earth bound aspect of a disembodied spirit. A ghost is an aspect of a deceased persons being, that has either chosen or has been forced to not be allowed to move on.
A spirit is not bound to our realm, and can freely move beyond our plain. Not everyone agrees with that distinction, and that is more than, ok as the paranormal field is very open to interpretation.
Regardless, the terms are interchanged quite frequently, and not many people will call you wrong for doing so.
It is actually quite a hard thing to completely and correctly define, as with the explosion of paranormal popularity, the word 'ghost' has been applied in a non-strict way to its definition.
Another aspect that gets quite tricky is the difference between a ghost and a spirit. There is a difference, but it is quite subtle. In paranormal terms, the differences are that a ghost is the earth bound aspect of a disembodied spirit. A ghost is an aspect of a deceased persons being, that has either chosen or has been forced to not be allowed to move on.
A spirit is not bound to our realm, and can freely move beyond our plain. Not everyone agrees with that distinction, and that is more than, ok as the paranormal field is very open to interpretation.
Regardless, the terms are interchanged quite frequently, and not many people will call you wrong for doing so.
Ghosts are almost universally feared. Many people have had experiences with ghosts, generally haunting a location, but there are times when ghosts have formed attachments to a person or an object. There are more people out there that believe in the existence of ghosts than those who have had firsthand experience.
Just about every culture has stories pertaining ghosts and hauntings in one form or another, and although they can go by different names, generally they are all manifestations of deceased people.
Ghosts can be classified into quite a number of categories, depending on how they manifest and the activity they create. These will be looked at another time, but for now I would love to see how you define 'ghosts'. This page has many people from different nationalities, cultures and belief structures, so I am more than interested in having a read of what you believe a ghost to be, and the way your cultures portray them.
Just about every culture has stories pertaining ghosts and hauntings in one form or another, and although they can go by different names, generally they are all manifestations of deceased people.
Ghosts can be classified into quite a number of categories, depending on how they manifest and the activity they create. These will be looked at another time, but for now I would love to see how you define 'ghosts'. This page has many people from different nationalities, cultures and belief structures, so I am more than interested in having a read of what you believe a ghost to be, and the way your cultures portray them.
Ashley Hall 2013
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