Litchfield / Springfield Illinois Ghost Trackers Group / Litchfield Ghost Trackers

     There are many theories out there about what ghosts are. This my personal theory. The human body has electrical impulses going through the body constantly even when we are at rest. These impulses can be mesuered through EKGs, EMGs and EEGs. The impulses are electrical energy. Energy cannot be destroyed but can change form. At the time of death, all electrical functions stop in the brain, this energy is released into our environment along with the personality. What we are experiencing is this energy personality / conscientiousness attempting to interact with the living. They can do this any many ways such as physical manifestations (the most uncommon), knocking, talking / whispering and moving stationary objects. Of course, these aren't all of them but, some of the most common.

     This is normally the first question I get. Thanks to fiction writers, film makers and television, misconceptions and fears are fostered. Yes, ghosts can and have harmed the living. One example is "The Salle's House" in Atchison kansas where the man of the house was continually scratched or attacked by unseen hands. However, cases such as this is very, very, rare. I have been in the field for 37 years and at no point have I ever felt threatened. I have been pushed, hugged and had my hair pulled but nothing that gave me the impression that the entity was malicious in nature.

     Again, this does and has happened but, again, it is very rare. The cases I have investigated and case studies that I have read, it only usually happens when the ghost and the living person had some type of close relationship or a very close commonality. They don't seem to hook up with the living just because they take a fancy to them. Once again, thanks to fiction writers, film makers and television, these misconceptions and fears are fostered.

     Most researchers and investigators believe there are four types of hauntings.

The Intelligent Haunting.

The Residual haunting.

The Poltergiest (noisy ghost in German).

The Portal haunting.

     The Intelligent haunting is the type that seems to have a purpose and attempts to interact with the living in some manner. This type of haunting is the most rare and elusive to researchers and investigators. The Holy Grail so to speak. Through my tenure as a researcher and investigator, I can only honestly say that I have been lucky enough to see four.

     The Residual haunting is the most common to be wittnessed. These are not actually ghosts as we know them. people in the paranormal field belive that these are imprints on the environment from some type of emotional event that, under certain circumstances, relays itself like a movie. These hauntings do the same thing over and over again and in the same area. They have no conscientiousness what so ever and arent aware of their suroundings or the living. When approached, they disapear.

     The Poltergiest haunting or Noisy Ghost in the Germanic language, is as the term suggests a very active and more violent type of haunting, By saying violent, I don't mean out to deliberately hurt the living. Doors are slammed, items are moved, tossed or levitated. Items can disappear for short or extended periods of time. In some cases, it is hard to determine if it is a Poltergiest or an Intelligent haunting. You can usually tell by the intensity of the activity. It is suggested that this type of haunting is caused by a human agent (A Living Person) during a time of great stress. However, I have been on investigations, not many, that there was no possible human agent around that could be responsible for this type of activity.

     The Portal haunting is the most controversial in the paranormal field because they are the most few and far between and cannot be researched at any length. It is considered to be a doorway between to deminsions where different types of paranormal activity, human and nonhuman, can pass through. They have been described as a multitude of types of activity manisfesting and, some bizzare.

     No, just because someone dies at a location doesn't mean that it will be haunted. Ghosts, I believe, are here for a reason. Unfinished business as a rule or, a purpose. I also believe that it depends on what frame of mind the person was in when they died. It is believed that people of  a strong religious persuasion seldom return after death because of the reward promised to them for being a good Christian. But, this like anything in the paranormal field is not fact. Nothing is fact do to all of the variables of the unknown concerning the paranormal. It is all speculation, supposition and theory.

      No, they are two seperate things and have no relationship and very real. Demons are non-human and are out to do one thing, HARM you and make you miserable! Their manifestations are violent and out of the norm for paranormal activity. They are very intelligent, more intelligent than humans. They are very hard to combat and the ghost hunter and researchers should leave them alone and consult a demonologist or a member of the Clergy if they are thought  to be causing the problems.

     There are a number of theories for this. The one, to me, that makes the most sense is they are seen as they want to be seen. A good test for this is to close your eyes and imagine how you look. Some see themselves as a whole body. Some see themselves from the knees or waist up or, just their face. I believe this is the main reason ghosts have been described as half a body or, just the face or head. We see ourselves in clothing of our era or sometimes our favorite clothes. This is done, more or less, telepathically. Supposedly, their electromagnetic energy is affecting the neurons of our brains. For me, the telepathy part is open for discussion. I don't believe that ghosts and hauntings are as technical as some researchers / ghost hunters like to make them sound.

     No, they are only where they want to be and I believe they can travel from one place to another if they feel to do so.

     No, can you be in more than one place at a time? We are dealing with humans in a different form but, do what we humans do. When the same ghost is seen over and over in different places, I believe it's because they majority of them are residual hauntings. One clue is they are seen period. Intelligent hauntings / ghosts are seldom seen. Residual hauntings can cause the same claims as intelligent hauntings except, they don't interact with the living. In some cases they have been said to look directly at the living person. This is because they were looking in that direction when their energy was trapped in that environment to begin with. Even when they smile.

     It is believed that this happens for the same reason stated above as to why they wear clothes. It is something that was connected to them when they were living.

     The answer to this is up for grabs. There have been cases where this claimed to have happened. The metaphysical community is firm believers in it.  One case that stands out is the Watseka Wonder. It is a case where in 1878, a fourteen year old girl, ‘Laurancy  Vennum’ , in Watseka, Illinois allegedly became possessed by the spirit of “Mary Roff’ and was taken into care by the deceased girl’s family until the possessed girl returned to normal. It’s an interesting story to read and only then can you come to your own conclusion. An excellent account of this cae can be found in 'The Possessed', a book by Troy Taylor.

     The answer to this is highly theorized and contested. Many believe they go to another plane of  existence, a ghost’s place of rest and relaxation so to speak. Personally, I don’t buy this. If a ghost or spirit is active in a location because they desire to be there for various reasons that is important to them, then why would they want to leave? Some claim they have to, to reenergize. The popular theory is that they draw off of electro-magnetic energy in their location to manifest in the first place. I truly believe that they just back off until they feel the need to make contact with the living again.

     Yes you can but unfortunately for some, the ghost has a purpose for being there and nothing will remove them, nothing! In some cases clearings have been successful just to, occasionally, have the entity return later. Our group has access to an excellent team that we use to do this. This normally isn't a service of a research and investigation team but they are happy to provide their client with a source to relieve their problem. A reputable clearing group has a higher success rate than just any group and doesn’t charge a fee so, be cautious in retaining a group for this purpose.

     There are a number of societies available to point you to a reputable provider. These societies have representatives all around the country and, in some cases, foreign countries as well. I am a member of the AGS (American Ghost Society) a very excellent source. In some cases we need to recruit other teams to assist with an investigation but, if we are not familiar with them, even we ask for references. Once again, be cautious when choosing a team to come into your home! The AGS link is, CLICK HERE.