The many faces of a haunting

Hauntings, ghosts, spirits. When darkness falls, deep down in our psyche many of us feel a sense of discomfort. No matter where we are in the world or in our life, in my gut, in my intuition, we have all experienced a fear of the dark as well as the unknown. We, as humans, as a society, fear what we do not understand. That is perfectly normal. I hope to share enough with our readers to help put you at ease when you hear things that go bump in the night. Spirits are not always to be feared. Yes, many people believe there are entities out there that are negative. These entities can mimic the voice of a loved one that has passed on or even take on their appearance simply to gain your trust. This is so that you may interact with them. One piece of advice I always give is this: Never interact with any spirit. Because you do not know what or who you are really dealing with. If or when you allow a spirit into your home, place of business, etc., you open a door for chaos, and it may be harder to get rid of. That is when a haunting can take a turn for the worse. There are also many good spirits looking over us that want to help and protect us. Have you ever stumbled upon an abandoned house or building and suddenly had an eerie feeling? If so, maybe there was a reason for it. You may just be sensitive enough to pick up on what some believe is the energy left behind after we die. That odd prickly feeling might have been a sensation from a spirit trying to get your attention. And, as I often say, some people view these experiences as a gift rather than something to fear. We are all born into this world with a purpose and sometimes that purpose is to sense the dead, see them and hear them and yes, even help them move on to the next life, toward the light of heaven. Types of Hauntings Intelligent Haunting: These spirits are described as being aware of both the living and their own passing. They mean no harm and are not to be feared. They want their presence known and may have unfinished business they need help with. Residual Haunting: This is a form of a recording, meaning that the spirit is stuck on a loop, reliving events that may have led up to their death. The experience repeats itself day after day. They are unaware of you or their new surroundings. They will not interact with you simply because they are unaware of you being there. Poltergeist: This is a German word for "noisy ghost." These entities make their presence known loud and clear. They will move objects, big or small. They will make loud noises, slam doors, turn lights on and off and can turn water faucets on and off. With these entities, I highly recommend speaking to a Catholic priest to have the home or dwelling blessed or even have an exorcism done. (Yes, exorcisms are real and are performed more often than many people realize.) Shadow People: Dark, shadowy figures often seen in a person's peripheral vision, out of the corner of the eye. They are often described as dark, quick-moving shadowy figures. However, these entities rarely interact with people. Their presence may cause a negative sensation, a feeling of foreboding, like something may happen. Ominous or dreadful. Normally these entities also mean no harm. They are simply shuffling through their own events prior to their death and are lost souls. Lastly, let's quickly discuss orbs. Orbs: These are usually the most common sightings and are often captured in photographs. Small, medium or at times large glowing balls of light, either bright white or bluish, floating in thin air. They often disappear just as fast as they appear. They move swiftly from one side of a room to the other faster than you can blink. This is also often the first sign of a spirit using energy to try and manifest itself into a full-bodied apparition. Again, do not fear these entities. Many paranormal researchers believe these spirits may be attempting to communicate or seek help. However, as I said before, always proceed with caution.