As autumn deepens and the nights grow longer, the veil between the worlds becomes thin. This time of year, ghosts, poltergeists, spirits, and specters are sure to be close by. Because hauntings come in many shapes and sizes, it’s important for any witch to understand the difference between benign and malevolent spirits. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refresh your knowledge, read on for your beginner’s guide to hauntings.
Classic Ghosts
Your classic ghost is relatively harmless. These act more like energetic echoes, meaning that they have no real consciousness and therefore can do no harm. A smoke cleanse can help the spiritual energy move, but if you’re not the kind to kill spiders in your house, consider offering the same courtesy to these harmless spirits.
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Residuals
Some ghosts don’t interact with the living at all. Instead, they seem locked in a time loop, doomed to forever repeat events from their life or death. In fact, many ghost stories describe spirits who run down the same hallway or cry out the same name over and over again. These spirits don’t act with intention. Rather, they behave like energetic imprints, spiritual echoes of a life once lived. Because these ghosts aren’t conscious, you don’t need to fear them. Interestingly, if you run a business with a residual ghost, it might even boost your visibility. People love a good ghost story, especially if it’s harmless.
Wraith
This is the exact image of a person who has passed but, unlike many of the other spirits on this list, a wraith is the exact visage of someone who has just passed. Many people from all over the world have stories about seeing a friend or loved one suddenly appear right around the time of their unexpected death. These ghosts are usually harmless, simply the spirit of your loved one getting one last look at you before moving on.
Lady in White
While the classic lady in white ghost may be the most popular, some places have tales of a lady in green, blue, red, etc. In Western folklore she is often spotted on the side of the road. Seemingly in distress, she will ask for a ride home but before you can take her there she vanishes out of thin air. The lady in white is stuck between the world of the living and the dead.
Animal Spirits
Sometimes the spirits of our animal friends may stick around. In part, this may be due to the fact that not all animals realize the dying process has happened, like residual ghosts they stick around as if still alive. It is also believed that some animals stay around to make sure that you are doing ok, wanting to be there to soothe you for as long as you need before crossing the rainbow bridge.
Ancestor Spirits
These are the benevolent spirits of your ancestral line. These spirits have your best interest at heart and tend to stick around because they want to help. To build your connection with a certain ancestor, build an altar for them. Place a picture of them alongside something they previously owned, then add things they liked such as flowers or food and beverages. The offering of fresh food and drink will cultivate a deep connection, so be cautious of where you set up the altar because grandma might start waking you up at 2am on accident if her altar is in your bedroom.
Something More Than Your Average Ghost
Now, this cast of scary spooks are more than your run of the mill ghost and should be handled with extreme caution.
Poltergeists
Often lumped into the ghost category, poltergeists are actually a whole different beast. This is an entity which attaches itself to a human in deep emotional strife, usually teenagers. Unlike your classic ghost, poltergeists are much stronger, thereby affecting the physical world by throwing objects, opening cupboards and doors, etc. They will usually dissipate on their own.
Shadow People
Have you ever thought you saw a shadow move? If that sounds familiar, you may have encountered a shadow person. These entities often appear when a more sinister spirit tries to manifest. Usually, they take the form of shadows because they lack the strength to appear more fully. For that reason, they depend on fear to gain power. Fortunately, you can stop them. Stand your ground and firmly tell them to leave — just like you would with a misbehaving child. In many cases, that alone makes them disappear.
Possessed Objects
Sometimes things can get haunted, the most famous example is the doll Annabelle. However, anything from mirrors to jewelry and clothes can have a spiritual entity attached to it. Truly possessed objects are rare and dangerous. If you believe you may have found one, you should contact a powerful medium or a member of the clergy for assistance in cutting cords with the object.
Demonic Entities
There are some spirits in this world who feed on fear and gain a lot of power from making you feel scared. The object for these demonic entities is to bring terror, chaos and ruin to any who come in contact with them. The more you believe in them, the more fear they can create, the stronger their connection to the physical plane becomes. Most spirits cannot harm you, but a demonic entity can gather enough strength from your fear to move furniture and even humans. Once again, a powerful medium who has experience with an entity such as this, or a member of the clergy are best suited for helping you with this kind of problem.
Ghosts from around the world
Different cultures often necessitate different kinds of ghosts. Here is a very short list of interesting ones from three different countries/regions of the world.
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Ghouls
Ghouls are an Arabic ghost-like entity. They are said to hang out around ruins in the desert at night. It is believed by most that ghouls are a more evil or demonic form of the jinn. If you see one, be sure to kill it in one single blow, failure to do so means it will take 999 more hits to be rid of this evil
Yurei
To begin with, the yurei are Japanese ghosts deeply rooted in folklore. Chances are, you’ve seen them in popular horror films like The Ring and The Grudge. Visually, yurei are often portrayed as women with unnaturally pale skin and long, wet-looking black hair. Unlike Western ghosts, they carry a specific emotional weight tied to their death. Most importantly, the best way to banish a yurei is by helping it resolve its unfinished business. Otherwise, it may continue to haunt the living.
Zaar
Zaar are a type of ghost from the Somali Peninsula that possess humans and often cause mental illness, especially in women. Unlike Western beliefs, people in this region view the possession as lifelong. Instead of trying to cast the spirit out, they perform adorcism, a practice that aims to appease the ghost and build a positive relationship with it. Through ritual and music, the community welcomes the spirit rather than banishes it.
The post Ghosts, Poltergeists, Wraiths and Residuals: A Witch’s Guide to Hauntings appeared first on askAstrology.
