The Origin of Halloween
Halloween’s roots can be traced back to Celtic culture in Ireland. According to their “Druid” religion, November 1st was New Years’ on their calendar. The celebration would begin on October 31st ,and last into the following day. The spirits of all who died in the prior year, would rise up and roam the earth on this night.
This is an evil night when spirits roamed the streets and villages. Lord Samhain, the lord of Darkness, would arrive in search of the spirits to take them to the underworld.
Halloween as it is currently celebrated with costumes, trick or treat, and superstitions, takes from this Druid Holiday.

All Hallows Eve
Halloween was commonly referred to as “All Hollows” Eve. It originated from the pagan holiday honoring the dead. The Roman Catholic Church created All Saints Day (also called Hallomas) on November 1st to honor Saints and All Souls Day on November 2and to honor and pray for the souls of the dead. These holidays were created by the church, in part to downplay the pagan holidays. Needless to say, it did not succeed. Halloween as we know it today, has grown from the ancient Druid Holiday. Along the way both fun, frights, and Satanic twists have been added to the mix.

A Really Big Show
Halloween is second only to Christmas in spending. Consumers spend over $2.5 Billion during Halloween. That’s a whole lot of candy, costumes, decorations, and party goods. Like Christmas, Halloween is steeped in traditions. While Christmas can be a stressful period, Halloween is all about fun. People really get into the Halloween tradition and “spirit”. Some religions are against celebrating Halloween, citing it’s roots in ancient Druid religion. While this is true, Today’s Halloween celebrations are all about fun, with a generous amount of imagination.

Samhain the Lord of Darkness
The Druid religion of Celtic tribes worshipped Samhain, the Lord of Darkness. The Druid New Year began on November 1st, as the hours of nighttime were growing significantly over the hours of sunlight. Hence, Lord Samhain reigned over the long winter months as the influence of the Sun god receded. More on Samhain.

Pumpkin’s Roots
Pumpkins have inhabited the planet for thousands of years. They originated in Central America. They were used then (and now) as a food crop. Over the course of centuries, pumpkins spread their vines across all of North and South America. When Europeans arrived in the New World, they found pumpkins plentiful and used in cooking by Native Americans. They took seeds back to Europe where they quickly became popular. Pumpkin recipes

Did you Know? There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with orange? Hard to believe for such an important color? The same is true for the colors purple and silver. But, who cares about silver and purple…they are not pumpkin colors! Growing big pumpkins is a big time hobby. And, serious at that. Top prize money for the biggest giant pumpkin is as much as $25,000 dollars at fall festivals. The current world record for giant pumpkins is 1446 pounds. Now that’s a lot of pumpkin pies! See the current world record pumpkin. Carving pumpkins is a traditional and fun part of Halloween. You can carve simple designs or intricate patterns. More on Carving

 

The First Jack O’Lantern
The Irish carved Turnips and put coals or small candles inside. They were placed outside their homes on All Hallow’s Eve to ward off evil spirits. They were also known to use potatoes and Rutabagas. When Irish Immigrants came to America, they quickly discovered that Jack O’Lanterns were much easier to carve out and began using them. This truly neat tradition quickly spread to the general population in America and elsewhere. Others believe that the first Jack O’Lanterns came from the Story of Stingy Jack.

Dia De Los Muertos
In English, this holiday translates to “The Day of the Dead”. It is an important Mexican holiday. Where Americans shy away from the topic of death, Mexicans embrace it. On this day, they celebrate it in a big way. Asian cultures are also known to honor the dead in October. More on Dio De Los Muertos

Halloween Trick or Treating
It is believed that the Irish began the tradition of Trick or Treating. In preparation for All Hallow’s Eve, Irish townsfolk would visit neighbors and ask for contributions of food for a feast in the town. There are also some references that the Boy Scouts played a role in the creation of Trick or Treating. This seems a bit odd, as Boy Scouts is well known for volunteering and giving, yet Trick or Treating is all about “receiving”.

 

For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Agatha-Palooza is almost here and we’re hoping you can make it.
It’s going to be the best Halloween bash you’ll ever attend, Ever!

Agatha, the most famous of the apparitions, worked as a housekeeper from 1925 until 1937. She had the misfortune of falling in love with Karsten, whose spirit has been seen and heard in the tavern.

Agatha’s history is a sad one. In 1921, young Agatha was raped by a drunk neighbor near her father’s farm. She had a child as a result of the sexual assault which her parents raised. They needed more money, so Agatha went to work. It is said she fell in love with William Karsten Sr., who didn’t love her back. She was given a room on the third floor, 310. Some claim that she hung herself in 1937, but the truth is that she left the Hotel Karsten to take care of her ailing father. She then stayed and lived out her years on the family farm.

If you want to keep up with her latest activities, please join her profile on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001462811538

It is not surprising that Agatha is the most active entity.

• Apportions, such as old-fashioned gray hair pins are found by staff.
• Her apparition has been seen and heard sweeping the halls endlessly.
• While cleaning a mirror, a staff member saw a woman in a 1930′s maid uniform standing behind him, with her hair up in the customary bun of the time.
• Room 310 – An unexplainable cold spot is felt in her old room, 310, and in the southwest corner where the maids quarters were located. One guest became cold while sitting in the bed in room 310, and was treated to a misty form floating through the room, into the wall. An example of Agatha getting some chuckles at the expense of the living!
• She can be helpful. One Christmas, an employee was standing on a stool to get down the boxes from a third floor storage closet. She would take each box down to the first floor lobby. After taking two of the three boxes down from the shelf, and transporting them down, she returned to get the third box, which she had left high on the shelf. Imagine her surprise when she found the box had moved itself down to the floor of the closet!
• She also dislikes men in general, and hates workmen and drinking. Imagine how annoyed she was when workmen came to work on the Hotel! During the 1984 renovations, workmen were treated to the full treatment: Tools were moved and turned off without any help from the living. Open doors closed by themselves, lights had a mind of their own and they experienced annoying cold spots.
• Agatha likes to tease the staff by knocking over the sugar bowls and salt shakers, and likes to turn the heat on the burners up!

 

So in order to celebrate her presence here we’re having all kinds of great things at the Inn.

Ralph playing wine expert:

Bringing an interesting Autumn selection of wines
Wine Tasting 6pm-8pm
Wine tasting is complimentary
purchase per bottle, glass or case.

http://www.facebook.com/ralph.witte.3?fref=ts

A Belly Dancer who is also a dance instructor that will be entertaining us with her poetry in motion as well as giving dancing lessons after her performance.

We’ll have a small bluegrass group performing some music that will make your shoes feel more rustic.

DJ hosting a dance party where you’ll be able to show your moves on the dance floor.

Guest bartenders from Chicago
Including John McKezitt
Experienced dungeon master running the naughty bar in the dungeon, Nurse Jimmy

Actual bar in Agatha’s rooms

Oh, and Agatha will be present and visible to our guests.She’ll be chatting with all of you chatty Kathy’s until she has to go back to being invisible.

Outdoor lounge on the porch will be perfect for our cool weather friends to enjoy a moment or hours in the Lake Michigan breeze.

Professional piano player in the Bar through out the night for your listening pleasure.

Live Music All night long!

Ghost hunts with Pulaski Casper Chasers (PCC)
Paranormal Ghost Hunters

The great Carnac will be there! Giving fortune telling sessions. You thought he went to the other side already. Turns out he’s just been underground.

http://www.kewauneeinn.com/events-activities/activities-adventures/paranormal-mysteries/

Here are five reasons why you should visit the Kewaunee Inn

5. The Kewaunee Inn is a portal to some very rich history. Since 1912 the Kewaunee Inn (originally the Karsten Hotel) has been a staple in the Kewaunee area. For anyone who loves American history this is a place to visit.

4. The Kewaunee Inn is a romantic getaway. With it’s close proximity to the beach on Lake Michigan, it’s classic Bistro and antiquated atmosphere it holds a place for hopeless romantics of all ages.

3. If you’re into ghost hunting you may be interested to know that some people have seen the apparitions of ghosts named Agatha Struck, William Karsten Sr., and of Billy Karsten III. We invite you to come and see for yourself. Are they real or just in the imaginations of those who want to see?

https://www.kewauneeinn.com/events-activities/activities-adventures/paranormal-mysteries/

2. It’s a great place to hold your wedding reception if you want to dance the night away near Lake Michigan. Think of how romantic it would be to walk the beach on your wedding evening or having wedding pictures taken in the sand. With the Hamachek Hall and Maximum Capacity of 550 you can have a large wedding you’ll remember for years. We also host smaller weddings as well.

1. It’s a very relaxed place to kick up your feet and enjoy a quiet night away. Everyone wants to get some R&R once in a while and with all of our rooms half price until Oct. 31st what a batter place and time to get away!?

https://www.kewauneeinn.com/

First, Where it all started: Ireland
In Ireland, which is considered to be where Halloween, the day is still celebrated much like it is in the United States. In rural areas, bonfires are lit as they were centuries ago, and all over the country, children get dressed up in costumes and spend the evening “trick-or-treating” in their neighborhoods. After trick-or-treating, most people attend parties with neighbors and friends. At the parties, many games are played, including “snap-apple,” a game in which an apple on a string is tied to a doorframe or tree and players attempt to bite the hanging apple. In addition to bobbing for apples, parents often arrange treasure hunts, with candy or pastries as the “treasure.” The Irish also play a card game where cards are laid face down on a table with candy or coins underneath them. When a child chooses a card, he receives whatever prize is found below it.

A traditional food eaten on Halloween is barnbrack, a kind of fruitcake that can be bought in stores or baked at home. A muslin-wrapped treat is baked inside the cake that, it is said, can foretell the eater’s future. If a ring is found, it means that the person will soon be wed; a piece of straw means that a prosperous year is on its way. Children are also known to play tricks on their neighbors, such as “knock-a-dolly,” a prank in which children knock on the doors of their neighbors, but run away before the door is opened.

Austria
In Austria, some people will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before retiring on Halloween night. It was once believed that these would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night that Austrians considered to be magical.

Belgium
The Belgians believe that it is unlucky for a black cat to cross one’s path and also unlucky if it should enter a home or travel on a ship. The custom in Belgium on Halloween night is to light candles in memory of dead relatives.

Canada
Modern Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Jack O’Lanterns are carved and the festivities include parties, trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes with pumpkins and corn stalks.

China
In China, the Halloween festival is known as Teng Chieh. Food and water are placed in front of photographs of family members who have departed while bonfires and lanterns are lit in order to light the paths of the spirits as they travel the earth on Halloween night. Worshippers in Buddhist temples fashion “boats of the law” from paper, some of which are very large, which are then burned in the evening hours. The purpose of this custom is twofold: as a remembrance of the dead and in order to free the spirits of the “pretas” in order that they might ascend to heaven. “Pretas” are the spirits of those who died as a result of an accident or drowning and whose bodies were consequently never buried. The presence of “pretas” among the living is thought by the Chinese to be dangerous. Under the guidance of Buddhist temples, societies are formed to carry out ceremonies for the “pretas,” which includes the lighting of lanterns. Monks are invited to recite sacred verses and offerings of fruit are presented.

Czechoslovakia
In Czechoslovakia, chairs are placed by the fireside on Halloween night. There is one chair for each living family member and one for each family member’s spirit.

England
While the Irish and Scots preferred turnips, English children made “punkies” out of large beets (which they call beetroots), upon which they carved a design of their choice. Then, they would carry their “punkies” through the streets while singing the “Punkie Night Song” as they knocked on doors and asked for money. Halloween became Guy Fawkes Night and moved a few days later – see the History of Halloween, but recently it has been celebrated on October 31, in addition to Guy Fawkes Night. In some rural areas, turnip lanterns were placed on gateposts to protect homes from the spirits who roamed on Halloween night. Another custom was to toss objects such as stones, vegetables and nuts into a bonfire to frighten away the spirits. These symbolic sacrifices were also used as fortune-telling tools. If a pebble thrown into the flames at night was no longer visible in the morning, then it was believed that the person who tossed the pebble would not survive another year. If nuts tossed into the fire by young lovers then exploded, it signified a quarrelsome marriage. For the most part however, the English ceased celebrating Halloween with the spread of Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation. Since followers of the new religion did not believe in Saints, they saw no reason to celebrate the Eve of All Saints’ Day. However, in recent years, the American “trick or treating” custom, together with the donning of costumes for going door-to-door, has become a relatively popular pastime among English children at Halloween, although many of the adults (particularly the older generations) have little idea as to why they are being asked for sweets and are usually ill-prepared to accommodate their small and hopeful callers.

Britain – Guy Fawkes day
On the evening of November 5, bonfires are lit throughout England. Effigies are burned and fireworks are set off. Although it falls around the same time and has some similar traditions, this celebration has little to do with Halloween or the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The English, for the most part, stopped celebrating Halloween as Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation began to spread. It was on Halloween in 1517 that Martin Luther began to try to reform the Catholic Church. It ended in the formation of the Protestant Church, which didn’t believe in saints. So they had no reason to celebrate the eve of All Saints’ Day. However, a new autumn ritual did emerge. Guy Fawkes Day festivities were designed to commemorate the execution of a notorious English traitor, Guy Fawkes.

Without Saints, there would be no All Hallow’s eve, no Halloween and no partying, so in Britain, when a a conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament and King James I in 1605 was foiled (for the whole story, click here!), this became a convenient means to solve two issues at once. The celebrations that people were accustomed to just moved to November 5 and became Guy Fawkes Day. Guy Fawkes was not-too-bright accomplice who became the fall ‘guy”  (his name is also where we get the word “guy” from) in a Catholic plot to blow up the English Parliament, which at that time was Protestant. So, although technically, the celebration was to commemorate the failure of the plot, nonetheless, it was Halloween. Bonfires were lit across the country. People made lanterns from carved out turnips and children went begging for “a penny for the guy” (and they were to use the pennies to buy more wood for the bonfire upon which Guy Fawkes was to be burned alive. gruesome, huh?  I knew you’d like that..

 

 

France -  la fête d’Halloween
Unlike most nations of the world, Halloween is not celebrated by the French in order to honor the dead and departed ancestors. It is regarded as an “American” holiday in France and was virtually unknown in the country until around 1996. A combination of the French love of parties, fete’s and costume events, and some simple crass commercialism has led to the rapid rise of the holiday in France.

The French had been hearing about Halloween from foreign residents and tourists and in their English classes for years before the holiday ever showed its (masked) face in France. In 1982, the American Dream bar/restaurant in Paris began celebrating Halloween. At first it had to explain the holiday to each customer, but since about 1995, French customers have tended to be more and more familiar with Halloween.

The Mask Museum in Saint-Hilaire-Saint Florent was opened by Cesar group in 1992, and the owners started working to expand Halloween in France the following year.

In 1996, the village of Saint Germain-en-Laye held a Halloween party on 24 October in the middle of the day, to give locals an idea of what it was all about.

Meanwhile, companies like France Télécom, McDonald’s, Disney, and Coca Cola began using pumpkins and other Halloween images and ideas in publicity campaigns. This simultaneously increased French people’s knowledge about Halloween and made it seem like another imposition of American culture.

 

How is Halloween celebrated in France?
Halloween in France is usually celebrated by costumed people of all ages going to parties at friends’ homes, restaurants, bars, or clubs. The costumes themselves tend to be traditionally “scary” – mummies, ghosts, goblins, witches, and vampires – rather than the cute costumes like princesses, superheroes, and the cartoon character of the day which are popular in the US. Trick-or-treating is extremely rare; when it does exist, it is not from house-to-house, but from store-to-store.

Stores, malls, restaurants, offices, and homes decorate their windows; pastry and candy shops make up special desserts and candies; and many different kinds of companies use Halloween in their ads. Supermarkets sell pumpkins for jack-o’-lanterns and candy companies are now marketing candy in the traditional Halloween format: one big bag filled with lots of little packages, which may encourage trick-or-treating.

Traditionally, pumpkins are not a popular food in France, so the high demand for jack-o’-lanterns during Halloween has been a boon for pumpkin growers. There is even a pumpkin patch at a farm outside of Paris where people can pick their own.

Halloween in France is rather controversial, due to the perception of corporate and cultural influence, as well as the fact that it is not a typical French holiday and some people still don’t understand what is being celebrated. Because Halloween is seen as an American celebration, some French people refuse to enjoy it, having decided to include it in their anti-American boycott. It’s too early to tell whether Halloween will develop into a long-term tradition; once the novelty wears off, it may turn out to be just a fad.

 

Germany
In Germany, the people put away their knives on Halloween night. The reason for this is because they do not want to risk harm to (or from) the returning spirits.

Hong Kong
The Halloween celebration in Hong Kong is known as “Yue Lan” (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts) and is a time when it is believed that spirits roam the world for twenty-four hours. Some people burn pictures of fruit or money at this time, believing these images would reach the spirit world and bring comfort to the ghosts.

Japan
Japan does not celebrate a western-style Halloween. While most people here know a little about Halloween in the United States, with the costumes, parties, and trick-or-treating; very few know exactly when or how it’s celebrated. The Japanese celebrate the “Obon Festival” (also known as “Matsuri” or “Urabon” and pronounced, “oh bone.) which is similar to Halloween festivities in that it is dedicated to the spirits of ancestors. Special foods are prepared and bright red lanterns are hung everywhere. Candles are lit and placed into lanterns which are then set afloat on rivers and seas. During the “Obon Festival,” a fire is lit every night in order to show the ancestors where their families might be found. “Obon” is one of the two main occasions during the Japanese year when the dead are believed to return to their birthplaces. Traditionally, in rural areas where gravesites are in the neighborhood, the pathway from the graves to the home is swept clean, and a general house-cleaning is also done. Then, on the 13th, an altar is set up with various food offerings, and “welcoming fires” are set in front of the house and along the path to guide and welcome the spirits. People may even hire a priest to come and chant prayers. On the evening of the 15th “send-off fires” are lit, and the spirits return to their graves. People who spend o-bon away from their ancestral homes or live in the city usually just make a little token fire on their veranda or patio. Memorial stones are cleaned and community dances performed. The “Obon Festival” takes place during July or August. region, festivals, food booths, and bon dances can be found in the evening, with lots and lots of people enjoying themselves. Even those who don’t observe the religious rite outlined above participate in the festivals. You used to see many people wearing a yukata, a lightweight cotton kimono, but these days you usually only see a few girls wearing them.

Korea
In Korea, the festival similar to Halloween is known as “Chusok.” It is at this time that families thank their ancestors for the fruits of their labor. The family pays respect to these ancestors by visiting their tombs and making offerings of rice and fruits. The “Chusok” festival takes place in the month of August.

Mexico, Latin America And Spain
Among New World Spanish-speaking nations, particularly Mexico and Aztec-influenced Latin America, Halloween is known as “El Dia de los Muertos.” the days of the dead, a three-day celebration that begins on the evening of October 31 and culminates on November 2.  This is an ancient festivity that has been transformed throughout the years. It was originally intended in prehistoric Mexico to celebrate children and the dead. Mexican families remember their dead and the continuity of life.  It is a joyous and happy holiday…a time to remember friends and family who have died. Officially commemorated on November 2 (All Souls’ Day), the three-day celebration actually begins on the evening of October 31. Designed to honor the dead who are believed to return to their homes on Halloween, many families construct an altar in their home and decorate it with candy, flowers, photographs, fresh water and samples of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks. Frequently, a basin and towel are left out in order that the spirit can wash prior to indulging in the feast. Candles are incense are burned to help the departed find his or her way home. On November 2, relatives gather at the gravesite to picnic and reminisce. Relatives also tidy the gravesites of deceased family members, including snipping weeds, making repairs and painting. The grave is then adorned with flowers, wreaths or paper streamers. They bring picnics and sit around the grave sites sharing stories of the departed and feasting on foods such as spicy meat dishes, batter bread and lots of sweets; some shaped like skulls. The abundance of food, drink and good company creates a festive atmosphere along with recognizing the cycle of life by the interaction of the living with the dead. Some of these gatherings may even include tequila and a mariachi band although American Halloween customs are gradually taking over this celebration. In Mexico during the Autumn, countless numbers of Monarch butterflies return to the shelter of Mexico’s oyamel fir trees. It was the belief of the Aztecs that these butterflies bore the spirits of dead ancestors.

In the villages, parades are held. People dress as skeletons and dance in the streets. Often, a live person is placed inside a coffin which is then paraded through the streets while vendors toss fruit, flowers and candies into the casket. Home feast are held and loaves of bread, “Bread of the Dead” are given. Inside the loaves are sugar skeletons or other items of death motif. This gift is more prized if the skull or skeleton is embossed with ones own name. The families also attend candle lit ceremonies in church and offer prayers. The whole celebration is about life from beginning to end.

Sweden
In Sweden, Halloween is known as “Alla Helgons Dag” and is celebrated from October 31 until November 6. As with many other holidays, “Alla Helgons Dag” has an eve which is either celebrated or becomes a shortened working day. The Friday prior to All Saint’s Day is a short day for universities while school-age children are given a day of vacation.

 

http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/halloweenglobal.php

Just about everyone who has heard of the Kewaunee Inn has heard a thing or two about ghost sightings in the building. Over time people have asked whether or not ghosts are real; do people really haunt buildings and if so, why? Well Bruce Linn, an expert on hauntings share’s with us what he knows about hauntings.

 

First lets define what a haunting is.

A haunting is the act of a person or thing that haunts; visitation.

Now that definition is a bit vague so to further refine our definition lets look at the definition of the term Haunt.

Haunt: To inhabit, visit, or appear to in the form of a ghost or other supernatural being.

Now we could clearly see that in the definitions listed above a “Haunting” is a ghost or supernatural being that visits, appears or inhabits a location. These of course are the paranormal definitions of a haunting and a haunt, as we all know a song can haunt you as well as a thought or even an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend so remember that this definition is only for the paranormal field.

With the definition of a haunting fresh in our minds lets take a look at some of the theoretical causes of an alleged haunting. There are many “causes” to hauntings believed by many investigators worldwide. While these theories seem to have basis and plausibility the truth is that it is simply unknown what truly causes a haunting. It is important to remember that the following few statements are theories only.

One theory is, and is the most widely believed, that the “ghost” has unfinished business with this world and that it has anchored the spirit to this semi conscious life. This theory while commendable in its assumptions cannot be proved. This is why it is still considered theory. Though this is probably the more accurate of the theories.

Theory Two:

The spirit of a dearly departed will return to earth as a guardian spirit sent by God. A truly comforting theory to say the least but it doesn’t answer the fact that these spirits sometimes will play pranks or interact with you or even cry for help themselves.

The third and final theory that will be covered today is:

These are demons and angels that pose as our loved ones to corrupt us or inspire us. Interesting to say the least but yet not completely perfect. Perhaps all three may combine into an ultimate answer or maybe it is just left to the unknown. The answer to What causes a Haunting may never be truly answered.

What we do know is that natural causes explain over eighty percent of all claims.

• Old Paint
• Mold
• High EMF
• Mind Altering Narcotics
• Gas Leaks
• Mental Illness
• Matrixing

These are all natural causes that could explain our sudden claims of ghosts. Though this list is not exhaustive and again this is theoretically some natural causes. However these things listed above have been clinically proved to be harmful to your health.

Lets look at the different classifications of hauntings now. There are several different types of classifications of hauntings. These classifications help identify the extent of the activity and even could determine the validity of a claim.

 

It is important to remember that these are the guidelines that paranormal investigators use while interviewing clients to determine the type of activity that could be anticipated during an investigation. These classifications are the most commonly used by paranormal investigators and are but one way of thinking about hauntings. However these classifications are proving to be pretty definitive when corresponding to collected evidence.

Intelligent Haunting:

An intelligent haunting is a haunting in which the afflicting spirit can and will interact and often communicate with the client and or investigators. This type of haunting occurs sometimes, this is not the most common form of haunting but will be encountered more than most other forms

Signs of an intelligent haunting:

• Responsive and interactive activity
• Objects being moved or influenced
• Random acts of paranormal activity

Residual Haunting:

This type of haunting is by far the most common form of haunting. However the definition of a residual haunting is noticeably different than an intelligent class haunting.

In this classification there isn’t any form of interaction at all. It is believed to be a series of past events played over and over in an endless loop. These events can have a set day and time known as an ” Anniversary Imprint”. They may be just as random as the previous form but cant respond or interact. It is believed that the spirit might also have no idea that it is dead and a ghost.

Signs of a Residual Haunting:

• Activity only noticed on certain days or times
• Spirit is unable to communicate or unresponsive/unable to interact

Now to look at the less common classifications of hauntings. These forms though may occur and may be encountered it is important to realize that less than one percent of all actual hauntings consist of the next two classes. These are the classifications that Hollywood likes to prey upon and distort and make popular. The next two classifications we will look at are:

• Poltergeist
• Non-Human

Poltergeist:

German for noisy ghost; an entity or energy that displays sensational interaction with the physical environment, and manifests only when a specific individual or individuals are present

Or a ghost that manifests itself by noises, trappings or creating disorder. This particular haunting can be “life disrupting”. This means that it will cause such a disturbance that normal everyday life will become impossible. It is necessary to remember that this form of haunting is extremely rare.

Stated before this haunting will more than often be associated with a specific individual and in most cases this individual is a CHILD!

Lets look at some theoretical causes of a poltergeist

Theoretical Cause

A poltergeist is initiated by pent-up stress on a subconscious level, often explained as uncontrolled psycho kinetic activity or ‘Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis’ (RSPK). This RSPK can theoretically be channeled and focused by high deposits of Lime stone and quartz. This theory supports all skeptics everywhere, it suggests that pent up stress on your mind may cause delirium resulting in hallucinations that are precieved as a less than welcome Ghost.

This is probably the more accurate theory and is a valid psychoanalysis of a alleged poltergeist haunting.

NOTE: Jumping to this conclusion prematurely can bring question to ones professionalism.

A Second Theory:

A spirit of a human or doppelganger that is exhibiting malicious and violent tendencies. This spirit is often believed to be a person who once lived at the location that is unhappy with the current inhabitants or died at the location in a horrible and or violent way. Interestingly enough this theory has some basis to it. Though it can possibly be plausible this theory in itself is flawed. A spirit that has had a violent death more often than not will cry out for help rather than lash out in a violent way.

With this said it can be concluded that a violent or malicious “Poltergeist” could be classified as our next designation “Non-Human”.

Characteristics of a Poltergeist:

• Movement and hurling around of inanimate, often extremely heavy, objects.
• The opening and closing of doors and windows by no visible means.
• Unexplained noises such as voices, moans, screams, explosions, crashes, raps, thumps, scratches and knocks on floors, doors and walls, heavy footsteps, bed-shaking.
• The breaking of household objects such as crockery.
• The destruction of garments, the throwing of stones, rocks and dirt, bad smells, mysterious fires.
• the appearance of pools of water on floors, the malfunctioning of electrical equipment, telephone ringing, the unexplained appearance of objects (‘apports’), apparitions and even physical assault.

The next and final classification of haunting we will look at is “Non-Human”. This classification is normally known as Demonic… For purposes of fairness and length this term has combined all Non-Human spirits together.

 

Angels, Demons and Deities are covered briefly in this section. It is noted that this section is concurrent to peoples personal religious beliefs, it should also be noted that as a paranormal investigator one should be impartial and open minded to the clients beliefs even if they don’t reflect their own. This section will be briefly touched on as there is really no way that any of the following could be proved scientifically.

Non-Human classification can be broken down into three separate categories

• Angels
• Demons
• Deities

Angels are probably not a class we would consider a haunting and are definitely the most welcome of the spiritual visitors. Think of your guardian angel if you believe in such a being.

Deities or gods are again not a class we would consider a haunting and again are probably welcome spirits. Ancient Greeks were often visited by what they believed were their “Gods”, such as the many infidelities of Zeus.

These classes however do need characteristics to be mentioned as the next class can impersonate these classes to obtain what they desire.

Demons are the final classification of haunting that we may encounter in the “Non-Human” category. Even if you do not believe in some form of religion most people believe in some form of evil creatures that plague our world. Though these creatures are extremely rare we may encounter demonic hauntings. These hauntings are never easy to deal with. These are malicious and violent and pose just as much danger to the client as they do us.

Characteristics of Demonic hauntings:

• Violent and harmful spiritual attacks.
• Spirits doppelganging as other human spirits to gain the trust of the living.
• Sudden changes in the attitude of the residents and or children.
• Markings and scratches on the body of residents.

It is important to note that these hauntings may require the help of religious leaders and other trained demonologists. Do not provoke or invoke demons and certainly never invite.

Finally lets look at some ways you may be able determine the classification of a haunting for yourself or for your own investigations, as these articles are to foremost educate others in the paranormal field as well as help those who need clarification to better understand what they may be experiencing

Here are some of the methods used by paranormal investigation groups worldwide:

• Ask the client questions

Based on the client’s answers we could determine the characteristics and classify the alleged haunting.

• Use personal experiences at the location (If Any)

Personal experiences can allude to the type of haunting we are dealing with and help determine “hot spots” to investigate.

• Use the evidence collected at a location.

Some hauntings aren’t clear or can be multiple types at once and could be confusing in this case we use the collected evidence to determine the type and or classification.

• Research the characteristics/ claims prior to the investigation.

This runs hand in hand with asking the client questions.

All of these methods are common to Paranormal Investigators and again are not the “only” method of determination. As you become more experienced your own instincts will determine the proper method for you to use.

Only time and patience will decide your niche within this field. Understanding takes a while and while you may be experiencing these phenomena it is important to realize that though many of what was mentioned in this article is widely believed and used by the pros, these are still only theories and as such are not one hundred percent conclusive.

Only further research may shed a little more light on the unknown world of the paranormal.

 

Bruce Linn
[Founder of Paranormal Investigations of Staten Island]

http://www.paranormal-investigations-of-staten-island.20fr.com