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| CRAWFORD COUNTY ILLINOIS GHOST HUNTERS SOCIETY |
| Ghost Hunting Definitions and Terminology
ORB - These are believed to be spirits of the dead that appear as circular shaped anomalies on film and video. Some people believe the balls of light are pure energy that leaves the body after we die. They can be different colors ranging from grey, white, pink and blue to almost transparent. The most common colors of orbs are grey and white. Orbs are thought to be the most basic form a ghost may take on. They have density and mass so therefore they cast shadows. It is very rare but they can sometimes be seen with the naked eye. Night vision equipment works well for seeing orbs in motion. Orbs are fast moving balls of light but they seem to hover or float on some occasions. Not all orb shaped anomalies captured on film are spirit orbs. You must know how to tell the difference between naturally occurring anomalies and paranormal anomalies. ECTO MIST - A vapor like mist captured on film and video. This is another form a ghost or spirit may take on. We believe that ecto mists are a ghost or spirit in their stationary form and this is when they are closest to forming a full body apparition. Many faces and forms have been seen in pictures that have captured an ecto mist. We have also seen evidence against the idea that this is their stationary form because we have seen them move or follow us through cemeteries. They too can range in color from white, grey, green, blue, and even pink or red. SUPER CHARGED ORBS - Very bright orbs that emit light. These orbs are usually moving faster than the shutter speed of the camera and leave trails behind when photographed. They sometimes look like comets moving through the air. We have also seen light rays emit from these orbs. They seem to draw energy from power sources in the nearby area and sometimes cause batteries to go dead in equipment. PORTALS - A dimensional doorway from the spirit world to ours. It is believed that spirits use these to go from one place to another. When portals are captured on film a circular pattern of orbs usually distorting the picture is seen. If you take pictures in dusty environments you will get similar pictures because of dust particles creating false paranormal anomalies. Portals captured on film can also look as if you are looking down the center of a tornado or vortex if they are captured from a certain angle. They sometimes show up on film as beams of light coming right out of a tombstone or even the ground. VORTEX – A white funnel like anomaly sometimes captured on film. There are many theories about what a vortex actually is. One is a portal or doorway, another is that they are orbs in motion and some believe that they are all caused by camera straps getting in from of the lens of the camera when a picture is being taken. I have seen many pictures of vortices captured with cameras that have had the strap completely removed so it is hard to explain what it is when this occurs. APPARITION - Any disembodied spirit that appears visibly or on film. FULL BODY APPARITION - A ghost or spirit that takes on the form of a person and the whole body can be seen. This can be captured on film or seen with the naked eye on rare occasions. COLLECTIVE APPARITION – An unusual type of spirit sighting in which more than one person sees the same phenomenon or ghost. CRISIS APPARITION - A crisis apparition is seen sometimes when a loved one or friend passes away. At the time of their death they might appear to you and give you a message before vanishing. Some people have have reported seeing a loved as long as 24 to 48 hours after they passed away. They may also come to you or appear in your dreams after they die. The crisis apparition is the most reported type of ghost or spirit sighting. RECIPRICAL APPARITION – This is when you see a ghost or spirit and it sees you also and you respond to each other’s presence. The ghost or spirit will acknowledge that it has been seen by you. PARANORMAL – Something that is beyond the range of normal human experience or scientific explanation. SUPERNATURAL – Something that exists or occurs through some means other than any known force in nature. As opposed to paranormal, the term “supernatural” often is used to describe divine intervention. |
| (c) Copyright 2009 by Jason Snider. All Rights Reserved. |