A ghost is the soul; the nonmaterial embodiment of a dead person or animal, which becomes visible to the living. It exists in limbo between the physical and spiritual realms. Ghosts vary in appearance: some appear to be real people or animals while others appear filmy, fuzzy, nearly transparent or mostly white (1).
What Causes Ghosts to Haunt People and Places?
Ghosts make themselves visible in people and places to which they had a strong connection, when they were alive (2). Ghosts or ghost like images of people which appear at the scene of a crime or tragedy are usually thought forms projected by a deceased perpetrator or victim perpetually recalling the incident, on the anniversary of the event the thought form may be strong enough to visibly manifest (3). The Greeks believed when a ghost was in a form which prevented meaningful communication, then it would be necessary to use necromancy in order to call it up in a form which enabled you to communicate with it, find out why it was upset and what could be done to lay the ghost to rest (4).
- Guiley, R.E.1991. Harper’s Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience.
- Rich, J. 2001. The Everything Ghost Book.
- Powell, A.E. 1972. The Astral Body. London.
- Ogden, D. 2001. Greek and Roman Necromancy.