Types of Hauntings Poltergeist Phenomena
Hauntings - Types of Hauntings
The word Poltergesit is a German word loosley meaning "Noisy Ghost". The poltergeist phenomena dates back to the 17th century when one of the first accounts was printed in a pamphlet by Richard Chamberlin. Poltergeist expereinces have been reported on a continuous basis ever since.
Poltergeist phenomena has traditionally been credited to mischievous spirits, ghosts or demons. More recently, research into the phenomena by the Rhine Research Center has provided us with another explaination, one that I tend to believe in. Their research has concluded that the Poltergeist phenomena is associated with psychokinesis, which is the ability to move things by power of the mind alone. This kinetic type of energy remains somewhat unexplained for the most part, but even some mainstream scientists are starting to explore the idea that it does exist and is related to Poltergeist activity.
What we believe happens during a poltergeist haunting is that there is an agent, a person in which the activity centers around. In many cases this agent is a child or young adult. Even more interesting is that in almost all documented cases the agent was going through a particuliarly stressful time in their life or may have gone through a recent tragic event. The agent may be tryng to eleviate the stress or the stress can simply be unresolved or repressed, but ineffictively dealing with or ignoring the emotional issues causes poltergeist activity through a form of psychokinesis called Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis, or RSPK. The agent isn't aware that they are causing the poltergeist phenomena and has no idea when or how it will occur. Many times they themselves can actually be the victim, especially when their stress is coupled with self-targeted anger. Other cases have determined that more than one person can be involved, thus pooling RSPK energy and increasing the intensity and frequency of the activity. Research has also show that people with Epilepsy or people with a history of seizures are sometimes associated with Poltergeist activity.
Considering the new research at hand, we do not consider Poltergeists to be spirits, but instead lean towards the theory that poltergeists are mass forms of energy that a living person is unknowingly controlling, as stated in the paragraph above. Poltergeist hauntings may be the most misunderstood, most terrifying, and rarest type of haunting, and some believe that poltergeist hauntings are not even a haunting at all. In some very rare cases, extreme poltergeists activity has even been linked to demons. A key question of researchers that comes into play with poltergeist cases is whether the psychokinesis is causing the activity, or if it is actually occurring from an unseen troubled spirit or ghost... or perhaps a combination of both. Determining the difference is sometimes difficult.
In a typical poltergeist case there is most likely a variety of phenomena taking place. There may be knocking and tapping noises, sounds with no visible cause, disturbance of stationary objects like household items and furniture, doors slamming, lights turning on and off, fires breaking out and much more. Chairs have been known to move around by themselves and walls can shake from loud, unexplained banging. Water drips from a ceiling or liquid may ooze from the walls. Things like hairbrushes and jewelry disappear, only to reappear at a later time right where they should have been in the first place.
Usually, after a subtle and somewhat calm start, the poltergeist activity will become more intense, sometimes manifesting itself through voices and even the appearance of full apparitions. Furniture may slide across the room and beds may shake. Most of the time the effects of a poltergeist are more playful or mischievous than harmful, but sometimes the activity has been known to be downright nasty. Reports of scratches, bites, harmful objects being put in one's way such as glass shards on a pillow or tacks under a bed sheet have been noted, as well as possession. But, in these extreme cases, we really feel that it most likely started with a poltergeist but then spawned into a demonic haunting, thus leading to the determination of some paranormal researchers that a poltergeist is nothing more than a demon. In its initial phase, we don't feel that's an accurate conclusion.
Note: One of those conclusions came from a very well respected paranormal researcher, Ed Warren. Ed believed that Poltergeist's were demons in disguise. While we have much respect for Ed and the contributions he made to the field of paranormal research, we, however, completely disagree with his assertation of poltergeist's being demons in disguise.
Poltergeist hauntings are sometimes difficult to get rid of, especially since the negative energy can center around one person. If the person removes the stress and negativity in their life, the haunting will typically go away. But in some cases, this will not work. Your best best it to seek the help of an experienced paranormal group, researcher, Parapsychologist or Psychologist, and in extreme cases, a Demonologist or local clergy if you feel the activity may be escalating. Since we feel that it is possible for a poltergeist haunting to transition into a possible inhuman haunting by opening a doorway and being succeptable to negative influences, it is very important to end it as soon as possible. You want to do whatever it takes to prevent it from ecalating.
Since poltergeist cases have psychological stress and emotional dynamics at their core, investigations involve detailed observation of the human interaction present in such cases. All family members or co-workers are interviewed separately and en masse in order to assess the nature of the disturbances and the emotional interplay. Many personal questions are asked, and in some cases, medical information may be requested. Patterns in the disturbances are noted and participants may be asked to re-enact scenes when the disturbances occurred. Because the investigation may alter the emotional dynamics, leading to difficulty in finding the agent, on some case the investigator(s) may request an extended stay on the premises in hopes that the dynamics return to their usual state. Throughout the study, "normal" disturbances are separated from those that may be "paranormal." Often the participants believe the disturbances to be the result of a ghost or outside entity. Because stressful emotional dynamics are at the core of such cases, this "ghost" is used as a scapegoat for the occurrences and even for the events or issues that are causing the stress in the first place. In addition, people are often more sensitive to anything out of the ordinary in the environment during such situations.
Well, the good news is that the poltergeist activity will typically only last for a few weeks and will usually leave as quick as it arrived. You can try to recognize stress that may be in your life, especially those that may be underlying or repressed. If you are unable to deal with it on your own, we suggest seeking the help of a Psychologist or Therapist. And remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with receiving emotional help. Millions of people do it everyday and there's certainly no shame. Always keep in mind that stress can cause all sorts of physical, phychological and emotional problems, which is why it's called a killer. Get rid of the stress and the poltergeist will usually move on as well.