Residual Haunting's

A residual haunt is believed to be activity of recurring or traumatic actions from
past events that leave an imprint on the environment.

This type is probably the most common type of haunting. Because its
characteristics are similar to the intelligent haunting, people often mistake it for an intelligent haunting. Like intelligent haunts, some examples of activity are phantom footsteps, sounds, images, and scents. One major difference between this haunting and the intelligent haunting, is that this type of haunting is not considered to be that
of a ghost, and there is no interaction with the living.

It is believed that this activity is the dissipation of stored energy from the site. The theory is the energy is stored or absorbed by the site due to repetitive or traumatic events of the energy expended while performing such actions. Similar to a tape player, the energy is stored in the magnetic field of the environment. Over time the energy builds up and is discharged showing a replay of the event, and then the cycle starts again. Some suggest that atmospheric conditions such as storms may initiate the playback. There is also a quantum physics theory that relates the energy as light particles that are dormant until they are stimulated by an outside variable under the proper conditions. (Brandon, The Ghost Hunters Bible) Researchers have observed that the energy tends to diminish over periods of time until eventually it is either exhausted, or the level is so low that it is not experienced again.

.....See CaSPIR's research on Aquifers, water and residual haunting's for an alternative take on the 'stone tape' theory.

© County Society for Paranormal Investigation and Research - 2008

 

Last Updated 27/07/2008