Georgia Ghost Hunters

Ghosts fall into several categories depending on the manner in which they manifest. The most recognizable ghosts are phantoms, spirits that appear as fairly normal humans. They are often identified as ghosts by a strange glow, unusual voice or special powers, such as the ability to walk through walls. And because they are completely visible, they are often recognized by their loved ones.

Another prominent ghost type is the mischievous invisible spirit known as the poltergeist. Rarely are these ever seen, but extremely common, poltergeists interact with humans by throwing objects, slamming doors, and stealing small items. Many poltergeists become evil and loathsome over time, escalating in violence until they begin smashing windows, setting fires and assaulting their living neighbors.
More »

Ghosts are often depicted of a human size and shape (although some accounts also mention animal ghosts), but typically described as “silvery,” “shadowy,” “semitransparent,” “misty,” or “fog-like.” Parapsychologists refer to the “substance” of which ghosts and other spirits are made of as “ectoplasm.” Ghosts do not have a physical body like human beings, but only a subtle astral body. Sometimes they do not manifest themselves visually but in terms of other phenomena, such as the movements of an object, spontaneous throwing of a light switch, noises, etc., which supposedly have no natural explanation.

In the West, those who believe in ghosts sometimes hold them to be souls that could not find rest after death, and so linger on Earth. The inability to find rest is often explained by unfinished business, such as a victim seeking justice or revenge after death. Criminals sometimes supposedly linger to avoid Purgatory or Hell. It is sometimes held that ghosts reside in Limbo, a place, according to nonorthodox Catholic doctrine, between Heaven and Hell where the souls of unbaptized infants go. It is worth noting that while mainstream Protestants and Evangelical Christians believe in the existence of principalities, they do not believe in ghosts (as spiritual manifestations of the dead) and would generally attribute more violent ghosts, such as poltergeists, to the actions of demons.
More »

Poltergeist (German for rumbling ghost) is widely believed to be a spirit or ghost that interacts with others by moving and influencing inanimate objects. Stories featuring poltergeists typically focus heavily on raps, thumps, knocks, footsteps, and bed-shaking, all without a discernable point of origin or physical reason for occurance. Many accounts of poltergeist activity detail objects being thrown about the room, furniture being moved, and even people being levitated. A few poltergeists have even been known to speak (The Bell Witch, 1817; Gef the Talking Mongoose, 1931). Most classic poltergeist stories originate in England, though the word itself is German.

Poltergeist phenomena is a focus of study within parapsychology (a discipline which does not have wide acceptance within the mainstream scientific community). Parapsychologists define poltergeist activity as a type of uncontrolled psychokinesis. Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis (RSPK) is a phrase suggested by parapsychologist William G. Roll to denote poltergeist phenomena.
More »

There are certain causes of mortal death that inevitably result in a spectral manifestation of some sort. Below is a list of the tragic fates known to generate ghosts, ordered from least significant to most significant. Note that any of the deaths listed below can be the result of either murder or suicide - both of which are likely to force a ghost to rise, regardless of means by which the murder or suicide was accomplished.

10. Poisoning - which includes, but not limited to, the intentional consumption of a lethal substance, the accidential ingestion of a caustic substance (such as a cleaning solvent) a drug overdose, an allergic reaction to medicine, ad other cases in which a natural or manufactured chemical disagrees violently with the subjects physiology. Most poisonings are incredibly painful affairs, causiing internal hemorrhaging, massive swelling of the extremities, hysteria, blindness, organ failure. Many believe that overdosing on sleeping pills will deliver them into death peacefully, only to be rudely awakened when there stomach ruptures.
More »