What is an Apparition?
Apparition is defined as "a ghostly appearing figure" and/or "the appearance of a ghostlike figure". (1) Some simply define apparitions as "paranormal appearences suggesting the presence of someone distant or dead". TAPS defines apparitions as "the projection or manifestation of a quasi-physical entity".(2) Paranormal investigators sometimes use the term differently due to personal variations, but most folks interested in the paranormal have a personal definition themselves. Here at ParanormalUnknow, we like to refer to an apparition with the use of both definitions.
What could cause an Apparition?
Though the term is fairly general, there are several explanations and terms assigned to various experiences and situations associated with the appearance or perception of an apparition. Some people readily attribute apparitions to disillusion, Astral Projection, and other causes readily dismissing the possibility of paranormal entities or earthbound spirits. Others think quite differently. Many people have talked to us throughout our investigations, along with other avenues, and it is surprising to see how few people know about the classifying of apparitions. There is no guarantee as to who or what an apparition is or it's cause, but here we would like to give you some information on the kinds of apparitions we at ParanormalUnknown have encountered, either in the field or through extensive research.
Kinds of Apparitions?
- Full-Bodied Apparitions -
This is a basic term used to define apparitions that are of the full or almost full figure of a human or other entity and can be either transparent or solid. Any apparition can fall under this category if it fits the previously stated perimeters.
- Crisis Apparition -
Roughly put, these are apparitions viewed in a time of great distress or crisis in a familiar person's life, such as a family member or close friend. Typically, the ghosts appear only once to a special loved one who may be many miles away at the time of the accident. This phenomenon can also manifest in the person hearing a voice of a friend or loved one with some message or warning while the person who is heard speaking is no where near and totally unaware that this has occurred. Most of these crisis apparitions occur at a moment of great crisis or death when a person is in some form of danger or pain. (4)
(Click "Crisis Apparition" for more information)
- Collective Apparitions -
These apparitions are manifestations of the living or the dead that are viewed by multiple witnesses in multiple locations at the same moment in time. It has been estimated that at least one third of apparitions sightings are experienced by collective witnesses.
- Reciprocal Apparitions -
These apparitions are manifestations of both the agent and the witness appearing to the other simultaneously. These cases are rare but have similar aspects of crisis apparitions. One theory in regards to reciprocal apparitions is that there is a strong desire in the agent and percipient to see one another unconsciously causing an out-of-body experience. (5)
- Verdical Apparitions -
These are apparitions that can be corroborated by facts. For instance: Lady A., a famous night club singer, was murdered in the hall of her Victorian mansion with a candlestick in 1930. The story was printed in all the local newspapers at that time. Since then, she appears in the hall dressed as she was on that fateful night at the exact time of her murder. She can be positively identified by photographs taken in 1930 as well as by her one of a kind voice that can be heard seconds before she appears. These cases are considered to be the best to study as there has been prior documentation to back up the claims of witnesses. In many cases these apparitions are unaware or are oblivious to any witnesses. They appear to be replaying a specific moment in time as if it were a video recording of the event or incident. These cases are classified as Residual Haunts. (5)
- Apparitions of the dead -
These apparitions are the manifestations of the recently deceased. Usually, their purpose is to complete unfinished business, convey information, comfort loved ones or, in some cases, announce themselves as a spirit guide. (5) These are, for obvious reasons, one of the most popularly reported apparitions, along with Religious Apparitions.
- Deathbed Apparitions -
Not to be confused with apparitions of the dead. These are the things seen by people who are entering or are already in the process of dying, but have also been reported by people who claim to have had a Near Death Experience (NDE).
- Shadow People -
AKA Shadow Men, Night Shades, or simply Shadows. There are numerous reports and no real explanation behind the shadows Phenomena. Shadow People are generally observed extremely briefly, most often out of the corner of the eye(s).
(Click "Shadow People" for more information.)
- Religious Apparitions -
Since the celebration of religion, apparitions of the their particularly glorified deities have been reported and well documented. Apparitions of religious deities have always been quite popular, especially those concerning the sight of Jesus Christ or the Holy Mother Mary.
If you feel that your apparition or other paranormal experience is worth looking further into, be sure to check out the "Hauntings 101" and "Earthbound Spirits" blogs for more helpful information and tips.
Sources:
1. Princeton Dictionary
2. TAPS Glossary
3. The Mystic Cauldron
4. Ghost Central
5. GHS Glossary
Personal knowledge from various research and investigation.
Apparition is defined as "a ghostly appearing figure" and/or "the appearance of a ghostlike figure". (1) Some simply define apparitions as "paranormal appearences suggesting the presence of someone distant or dead". TAPS defines apparitions as "the projection or manifestation of a quasi-physical entity".(2) Paranormal investigators sometimes use the term differently due to personal variations, but most folks interested in the paranormal have a personal definition themselves. Here at ParanormalUnknow, we like to refer to an apparition with the use of both definitions.
What could cause an Apparition?
Though the term is fairly general, there are several explanations and terms assigned to various experiences and situations associated with the appearance or perception of an apparition. Some people readily attribute apparitions to disillusion, Astral Projection, and other causes readily dismissing the possibility of paranormal entities or earthbound spirits. Others think quite differently. Many people have talked to us throughout our investigations, along with other avenues, and it is surprising to see how few people know about the classifying of apparitions. There is no guarantee as to who or what an apparition is or it's cause, but here we would like to give you some information on the kinds of apparitions we at ParanormalUnknown have encountered, either in the field or through extensive research.
Kinds of Apparitions?
- Full-Bodied Apparitions -
This is a basic term used to define apparitions that are of the full or almost full figure of a human or other entity and can be either transparent or solid. Any apparition can fall under this category if it fits the previously stated perimeters.
- Crisis Apparition -
Roughly put, these are apparitions viewed in a time of great distress or crisis in a familiar person's life, such as a family member or close friend. Typically, the ghosts appear only once to a special loved one who may be many miles away at the time of the accident. This phenomenon can also manifest in the person hearing a voice of a friend or loved one with some message or warning while the person who is heard speaking is no where near and totally unaware that this has occurred. Most of these crisis apparitions occur at a moment of great crisis or death when a person is in some form of danger or pain. (4)
(Click "Crisis Apparition" for more information)
- Collective Apparitions -
These apparitions are manifestations of the living or the dead that are viewed by multiple witnesses in multiple locations at the same moment in time. It has been estimated that at least one third of apparitions sightings are experienced by collective witnesses.
- Reciprocal Apparitions -
These apparitions are manifestations of both the agent and the witness appearing to the other simultaneously. These cases are rare but have similar aspects of crisis apparitions. One theory in regards to reciprocal apparitions is that there is a strong desire in the agent and percipient to see one another unconsciously causing an out-of-body experience. (5)
- Verdical Apparitions -
These are apparitions that can be corroborated by facts. For instance: Lady A., a famous night club singer, was murdered in the hall of her Victorian mansion with a candlestick in 1930. The story was printed in all the local newspapers at that time. Since then, she appears in the hall dressed as she was on that fateful night at the exact time of her murder. She can be positively identified by photographs taken in 1930 as well as by her one of a kind voice that can be heard seconds before she appears. These cases are considered to be the best to study as there has been prior documentation to back up the claims of witnesses. In many cases these apparitions are unaware or are oblivious to any witnesses. They appear to be replaying a specific moment in time as if it were a video recording of the event or incident. These cases are classified as Residual Haunts. (5)
- Apparitions of the dead -
These apparitions are the manifestations of the recently deceased. Usually, their purpose is to complete unfinished business, convey information, comfort loved ones or, in some cases, announce themselves as a spirit guide. (5) These are, for obvious reasons, one of the most popularly reported apparitions, along with Religious Apparitions.
- Deathbed Apparitions -
Not to be confused with apparitions of the dead. These are the things seen by people who are entering or are already in the process of dying, but have also been reported by people who claim to have had a Near Death Experience (NDE).
- Shadow People -
AKA Shadow Men, Night Shades, or simply Shadows. There are numerous reports and no real explanation behind the shadows Phenomena. Shadow People are generally observed extremely briefly, most often out of the corner of the eye(s).
(Click "Shadow People" for more information.)
- Religious Apparitions -
Since the celebration of religion, apparitions of the their particularly glorified deities have been reported and well documented. Apparitions of religious deities have always been quite popular, especially those concerning the sight of Jesus Christ or the Holy Mother Mary.
If you feel that your apparition or other paranormal experience is worth looking further into, be sure to check out the "Hauntings 101" and "Earthbound Spirits" blogs for more helpful information and tips.
Sources:
1. Princeton Dictionary
2. TAPS Glossary
3. The Mystic Cauldron
4. Ghost Central
5. GHS Glossary
Personal knowledge from various research and investigation.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment