types of hauntings

residual

this haunting is an event that was so impactful that it literally left a trauma in time. it is doomed to repeat in the same location again and again for eternity, or until the imprint wears away over time. these ghosts will not interact with you as they are trapped in their own world.

poltergeist

they can get violent! these hauntings are impossible to miss. they may seem demonic at first, but is not *quite* as serious. these hauntings may manifest in destructive acts such as throwing objects, furniture moving, or slamming doors. they are typically centered around one individual, often a young teen, who is vulnerable, unstable, and/or susceptible to the haunting.

earthbound/interactive

these ghosts wander freely in our present layer of time—they often do not know they are ghosts. they may interact with living humans and are stuck on earth because of a lack of closure/unfinished business before their death. help them find peace if you can.

shadow people

these are humanoid figures of all black that most commonly appear in flashes, or in the corner of your eye. this is the most frequently reported—i don’t think i know anyone who’s never seen one, or several. this haunting is popular over the internet in sleep paralysis forums.

hereditary

this is a gift from a loved one you may or may not have met. they will appear to you in any number of ways, but i find the most common is brief inexplicable smells, in dreams, and hearing or feeling them around you. although, on a rare occurrence they will call you on the phone, most likely soon after their death. this is a haunting many people wish for. cherish it.

architectural

this haunting is attached to a building. it is often portrayed in media as the haunted house, and in modern writing the house itself becomes the character, becomes the haunting. often this is the haunting of a childhood home, even if by a spirit who isn’t deceased. when you go somewhere you haven’t been for years and years, a place where something happened, you may experience the ghosts of who you were reliving that memory in time, in a kind of residual haunting. i hope it’s cathartic for you.

personal

this haunting spawns from a personal memory or experience, possibly traumatic. it is perceptible only to you unless it gets too strong, wherein it may begin to impact others. in this situation, stay calm, sever the ties that bind you to this haunting once and for all, and begin the healing process.