An apparition is defined as the supernatural manifestation of the soul of a deceased person or animal, typically referred to as a ghost. Apparitions are visual experiences. Throughout history human beings have seen ghosts. Despite research efforts there is still little known about exactly why apparitions exist. They are the most compelling part of the supernatural field. The one thing that we can say about apparitions is that no two are ever exactly alike. They appear to be as complex and diverse as each living person. Every apparition will have it’s own cause, origin, and meaning. It is up to us the investigators, to analyze each case and develop solid conclusions. Apparition categories have been created. You will find that most will fit into at least one of these categories or share characteristics with a couple of categories.
Atmospheric Apparitions: This type of ghost sighting is not actually believed to be a real ghost, but instead a visual imprint that got left behind in the environment from a past event. These events typically include, but are not limited to violent and tragic events. What most witnesses report seeing is the continuous replaying of past events exactly as they happened. The ghostly scenes can be played and replayed with both picture and sound. A particularly strange aspect of atmospheric apparitions is that the visual picture tends to fade down over time. As the years pass the ghosts are reported to become more and more transparent until there is no picture left at all. Over time, even the sound can fade away.
The most popular theory for atmospheric apparitions is represented in the field of quantum physics. While there are hard scientific explanations for these occurrences, there still needs to be conditions for the phenomenon to occur. Ideally, the area must be indoors or where weather conditions cannot interfere. These apparitions can only be seen from a particular angle and at a proper distance (i.e. the proper circumstances). This means that ten people may be in the same room and only a few will be able to observe the apparition.
Historical Apparitions: These apparitions are one step up from atmospheric apparitions. They typically haunt older homes and appear in solid forms acting natural. They are always dressed in period clothing and do not speak, communicate or acknowledge the presence of the living. They are seen in more than one location of the residence.
Recurring Apparitions: These are ghosts that appear in regular cycles over a period of time, usually once annually. This type of ghost sighting is one of the most popular. The date of manifestation usually occurs on an anniversary date or a day of importance to the deceased. These apparitions can include both people and animals. Reports of recurring ghosts include individuals who have committed suicide, murder victims, and entire phantom armies marching across battlefields.
Modern Apparitions: Modern ghosts are the spirits of present day ghosts. Not all ghosts are from ancient haunted places or two hundred–year old dead people. These ghosts are relatively new, looking and sounding like modern people. They still have all the same characteristics as the older haunts, (strange noises, odd odors, cold spots, etc.) Of course as decades of time pass the haunting will become more traditional and the apparitions will appear dated. The times and styles of this world will continue to change but the apparitions will not.
Crisis and deathbed Apparitions: These apparitions appear to loved ones or close friends just before or soon after death. They are very common ghost sightings that almost never occur more than four days after a death. Crisis apparitions are most popular during times of war. There are hundreds of cases where the apparitions of dying or dead men a thousand miles away are reported to have been seen at home. The crisis ghost appears one last time to fulfill a promise, say a final goodbye, or express eternal love to help ease the sadness of death for the living left behind.
Family Apparitions: These spirits attach themselves to a particular family, thus the name, family apparitions. They will haunt several members of the family through the generations until the family line comes to an end. These ghosts include the spirits of deceased family members and animals. The appearance of these ghosts usually signals that someone within the family is going to die. Usually there are no prior health problems until the phantom manifests, then family members suddenly fall ill and die or become the victims of some other untimely death. These apparitions are considered to be dark omens and are the hardest ghosts to get rid of. All charms, spells, and even exorcism fail to change this. This may be because these apparitions are not actually causing the deaths, just foretelling them in an eerie manner. The only escape known for this haunting is to end the family line.