| Most people don't believe in ghosts, but they are | | | | mean a ghost. An easy way to look at it is all ghosts |
| among us. At least that's what people have thought | | | | are apparitions but not all apparitions are ghosts. |
| since the beginning of time. Long before written word | | | | Here is a list of other words that are used to describe |
| ghosts stories have been passed along. Members of | | | | a ghost or apparition: |
| societies believing in spirits claimed to have seen the | | | | - Essence |
| spirits of their dead ancestors. Many ancient seers | | | | - Manifestion |
| would call upon spirits or the dead to foretell the future. | | | | - Nightshade |
| It wasn't until the first century A.D. that these ghostly | | | | - Phantasm |
| tales & legends were written done. | | | | - Phantom |
| Two thousand years later, people still believe in ghosts. | | | | - Presence |
| Too many people are reporting seeing spectres and | | | | - Shade |
| ghostly phenomena for us to ignore the possibility that | | | | - Shadow |
| something must be out there! But, what is everyone | | | | - Soul |
| hearing, seeing, or experiencing? | | | | - Spectre or specter |
| Before I go any further, I want to clarify a few things, | | | | - Spirit |
| make sure we are all on the same page. Not | | | | - Spook |
| everyone means the same thing when they say the | | | | - Vision |
| word ghost. There are many simple yet misunderstood | | | | - Wraith |
| words that are specific to the study of ghostly | | | | Then of course there are poltergeists which, is a |
| phenomena. | | | | completely different thing. (I will discuss them in a later |
| The majority of people use the word "ghost" to mean | | | | post.) |
| any phantom object. What they really mean is a spirit | | | | There are many different kinds of apparitions . Did you |
| of a being that has passed on. In my posts when I | | | | know that some keep to a schedule? There are some |
| refer to a "ghosts" I am referring to the latter. I bet | | | | that are only seen once. An example of this would be |
| some of you are wondering what the difference is? | | | | the case of a luminous ghost of a boy that appeared |
| Most reports of ghostly phenomena throughout the | | | | in Corby Castle in Cumberland, England, one night only, |
| centuries, have been of things that were never human. | | | | September 8, 1824. Some appear at a certain date or |
| People have reported seeing spectral animals or | | | | time. Yet others will appear on the anniversary of a |
| phantom trains. These objects were never human, and | | | | certain date. Phantom hitchhikers are know to appear |
| the obviously never had a soul or spirit. | | | | on the anniversary of their death. Then of course their |
| Paranormals researchers use the word "apparition" to | | | | are the ones that take up residence at a place that |
| describe a visual appearance of a disembodied entity. | | | | they were someone connected to when they were |
| This describes all types of phantoms, whether they | | | | alive. These ghosts are seen more frequently. |
| are human or not. An example of a apparition would | | | | The person who sees the apparition is called the |
| be seeing an angel beside your bed, you wouldn't call it | | | | percipient and the apparition is called the agent. Agent |
| a ghost, right? I know most of you would never make | | | | is used especially when you refer to an apparition that |
| this distinction when talking to your friends on the | | | | intentionally makes itself disable. It wants to be seen, |
| street but, investigators feel that's its best to stick with | | | | usually because it has a message to give. |
| the word apparition unless of course you actually | | | | |