International Paranormal Investigators

Ghost vs. Paranormal Energy vs. Spirit (briefly)
by C. Ratliff

Lately, there has been some debate between those who hunt “ghosts”, those who seek paranormal energies, and those that are finding spirits.  So really what’s the actual differences between the three.   Well, I was posed with that exact question not long ago and decided to do my best to answer this.

“Ghosts” – by the most broad definition – is simply residual, not interactive, sensory imposing (visual, auditory, dermal, etc.), experiences/events posed in a manner of a memoratic state enacted upon by stimuli.  That being stated: any photo, audio or video recording, or transmission of audio or video can be considered as ghosts.  They are residual and not interactive and the stimuli to manifest such experiences are known to us: such as television broadcasts, radio transmissions, cameras (photo and video), recorders (audio and video), etc.  Now, to take that definition and apply it in a paranormal sense, the difference is simple.  Paranormal “ghosts” are caused by stimuli that are not man made or are understood through human experience or science currently.  This does not mean that they are the spirits of the undead necessarily, but that they are simply caused by unknown forces.

Spiritual energies – again in the broadest sense – is simply any energy that is given off by a living entity which through some means of stimuli (known or unknown) may or can influence the surrounding area. This has been speculated many times as the cause for poltergeists, hypnotism, mind control, astral projection, ESP, etc.  Living bodies have many different energetic forces that are given off: heat, brain waves, EMF, sound, etc.  In a paranormal sense, these energies are subjected study to see how these energies may influence and be projected upon the area and people in that area AND what effects these possible energies have during long term exposure.

Spirit – specifically by definition – is the consciousness, divine inspiring or animated being/influence, characterized by a given attitude, disposition, action, or principle that pervades experience, thought, feeling, or sensibility as it pertains to a corporeal individual or incorporeal entity.  Simply, the attitude and presence of conscious entity (dead or alive).  Now in the paranormal sense, spirits are the essence of a person who has since passed on from this life into the next.  Many groups who deal with “spirit” research may also involve themselves into supernatural research, as the supernatural revolves a lot around the cause of events being attributed to spirits.

So not all ghosts are paranormal, not all energies are supernatural, and spirits are not considered ghosts in some cases.  Likewise, not all ghost hunters chase ghosts, those who seek paranormal energies don’t always seek just energy, and those who research spirits may find themselves coming upon ghosts and energies.  I hope these differences help in identifying some of the misconceptions about the terminology used by groups today.