Above: A "L2" " Humanoid" (see text below) photographed using the Random field technique

What we call "ghosts", as we can see in the other writings, may, in reality, be several different phenomena that at least superficially appear similar.

So far it has been speculated that a ghost may be an "earthbound soul" or "spirit" of a dead person, "left over emotional/life energy", a "recording in objects in the environment", a "time traveler", or an "entity" from a parallel world. So far as we know, at present, a ghost may be any or all of these things---or even something else we have never thought of.

At this stage of the game, we only have observations and photographs by which to classify ghosts. After examining thousands of such photographs, It appears that such images can be classified into a relatively few consistent types. These include "ORBS", "HUMANOIDS", "DEMONOIDS", "NECROFORMS", "ENTITIES","INANIMATES", "DENDRITES", "PILLOWS", "SHEETS","STREAKS","VORTEXES", and "SHIELDS".

These types also have characteristics such as "DIFFUSE", "SYMETRIC", "AMORPHOUS" "HARD (edged)"and "SOFT (edged)"

That there are different Types of ghost appearances suggests that they may be somewhat different phenomena. The term "Ghost", therefore is a "blanket terminology" that describes a GROUP of phenomena that usually consist of a form of energy that can both generate dim light and / or affect photographic sensors, cause temperature drops and produce electromagnetic effects and, MOST TYPICALLY, is alleged to be the "spirit" or "soul" of a dead person (or animal). The LAST assumption is just that. What a ghost actually IS we don't know yet.

By Classifying the Phenomenon as it appears, we thus can break it down into manageable categories. This permits us to accurately communicate types from researcher to researcher. This also permits one to concentrate one's study to specific types and, perhaps, collect data unique to each type. Just as Animals and plants had to be classified before any real definitive Biological conclusions could be formulated, so too must the ghost phenomenon be broken down into its discreet divisions.

At this time we can break ghosts down according to TYPE and CHARACTERISTICS, based upon photographic images and eyewitness testimony.

As more observations are made, we can then, perhaps, add more TYPES and perhaps even classifiable SUB-TYPES to the list.

THE TYPES OF GHOSTS

At this time, space does not allow photograph examples of each type to be included here. Where available, I will include a reference to each type in the Ghost web page (GW)---Which gallery number and the title. New references will be added, as they are located.

Remember, these TYPES are classified by "appearance" only and not necessarily by the different kinds of phenomena (spirits, time warps, etc) that are ALL called "ghosts"

ORBS "Hard edge" spherical forms that often appear on photographs. Orbs are the most common form of the Ghost Phenomena. They are translucent spheres ranging in size from an inch to basketball dimentions. Orbs are said to be the "natural" form of "ghosts". when photographed in motion, they exhibit "trails", often composed of overlapping orb like images--suggesting that the orbs "strobe" at a certian rate--which can be determined by counting the the overlapping images contained within a photo frame with a known exposure time. some Vortexes (see below) might actually be traols of moving orbs. Swarms of small orbs are often called "sparlkies" which can be seen in the flash cone by the unaided eye at times and are good indicators of other kinds of "ghost energy" about.

HUMANOIDS These are ghosts that look like humans. They may be hard or soft edged. They usually wear clothing of some sort

DEMONOIDS: These are beings generally built on the human model, having a head, two arms and legs, but are definitely not human. One unconfirmed subtype has a large head dominated by 2 huge round eyes, and a short, beak like nose. It has 3 fingered clawed hands and spindly, thin limbs. An example can be seen in GW gallery 1 titled "Warehouse ghosts"

NECROFORMS: These are the "horror movie" and "scary story" ghosts. They appear as "rotting corpses", "skeletons" or parts or appendages thereof. They appear to be quite rare. There are VERY few such reports and NO photographs have shown up yet. As humanoid ghosts, in theory, were once people and as observations suggest, humanoids appear as they did in life, then the concept of Necroforms is unlikely. They may be fictitious in nature or the result of poor observation. The witness, for example, might have thought that a humanoid head, with deeply shaded eye sockets MIGHT have been a SKULL.

ENTITIES: It stands to reason that, as in this universe, Animals and other creatures would exist in other parallel universes also. There is no reason to believe that such creatures of a parallel world would look anything like those of our own. Many photographs show forms that definitely appear "organic" in nature, but are totally unrecognizable as animals or their appendages as we know them. Many of these forms, on closer examination, show a definite BI-lateral axis of symmetry that further reinforces the "organic" impression. Thus in these cases the images may be of "entities", intelligent or otherwise from a parallel universe. Sub types of these may be discovered with more research. One would need to find at least two photos from different photographers that show the same creature.

INANIMATES: The "Ghostly forms" of objects that never were "alive", such as "ghost automobiles", "ghost trains" and buildings. These are probably objects observed via "time warp" effects. At leastsome of the other "animate" ghosts could also be due to time effects rather than actual "souls" as such. Perhaps they all may be due to this effect , we simply do not know yet.

DENDRITES: These are "branching" "tree like" forms. They may or may not show symmetry. One subtype is "organic" in appearance, not unlike a tree or bush and another subtype is "energetic" in appearance, not unlike an electric spark or lightning.

PILLOWS: These are multiple blob like forms, roughly spherical in shape and conjoined in a common mass

SHEETS: These appear as the name implies, like partially "balled up" or partially folded sheets of fabric. In some cases they are almost flat and hang like curtains.--could be related to Aurora -like phenomena

STREAKS: These are thread like forms or "moving light" type streaks that appear on photographic images. May be formed by rapidly moving bright objects.

VORTEXES: Described and photographed by Dave Oester and contributors to his "GhostWeb" page. These are "white tornado" looking forms that might actually be "wormholes" leading from one world to the next. It seems that ghost like forms have been seen "traveling" inside of them. See GW gallery 1 "funeral day ghost".

SHIELD: A bright, "shield like" form also photographed and described by Dave Oester on his Ghost Web page

CHARACTERISTICS

DIFFUSE: A bright spot with no discernable edges

HARD: Edges of forms are fairly will defined, VERY HARD--sharp "real" edges

SOFT: Forms have "fuzzy" edges

SYMETRIC: Form has an axis of symmetry--e.g. Corresponding parts are found on left and right sides of object. Symmetry is implied in the cases of Humanoids and Demonoids

ORGANIC: Has a "biological" appearance or is suggestive of an unknown creature or organism. Organic is implied in the cases of Humanoids, Demonoids, Entities and Dendrites.

AMORPHOUS: Random, cloudlike, No describable shape.

Thus an image may be described, for example, as "A hard symmetrical Dendrite", "A soft Orb" or " A soft symmetrical organic form"

( II.) THE RAY SCALE OF MANEFESTATION

Ghosts make their presence known in a variety of ways. The primary concern appears to be the amount of ENERGY the ghost has to work with. The presence of a ghost with a relatively HIGH amount of energy available to it can be quite obvious . Whereas a "low energy" ghost can produce only very subtle and often quite subjective indications of its existence.

The effects generated range from a simple "feeling" in the observers mind to a real, solid entity capable of full interaction with our world. The later, obviously requires the most energy, as a full alteration of its matter attributes has taken place. The former, on the other hand, requires the lesser amount of energy as only the mind of the observer is affected by a "telepathic" impression. As there is reason to believe that the medium of telepathy is common to all parallel universes, very little energy is needed in this case.

A lot of the time, however, the ghost will manifest in other ways. It can generate smells, "cold spots", magnetic disturbances, move physical objects or actually "appear" to observers, in the more typical "wispy" ghost like form. In order to help classify such indications of ghostly presences, I have developed a "Scale of Manifestation", based upon the supposed "energy" of a given ghost .

MANEFESTATION LEVEL 1: (L1)

Primary Determinant: Very subtle "suggestive" indications of a possible "ghost" presence.

This includes: A simple "feeling" on the part of the observer that a ghost may be present, the seeing of "movement and "things" "out of the corner of one's eye",. the hearing of "voices" by a single observer and "cold feeling" areas not regesterable on thermometers.

L1 manifestations may be of some interest if the possibility of self deception or autosuggestion on the part of the observer can be ruled out, but unless other effects are observed they are usually not worth the effort to study.

MANEFESTATION LEVEL 2: (L2)

Primary Determinant: Detection of phenomenon by instruments

Consist of manifestations detectable with temperature and or Electro-magnetic sensors. L2 ghosts are invisible., but sometimes may leave images when photographed. Most EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) happens at this level The L2 is the most common verifiable manifestation

MANEFESTATION LEVEL 3 (L3)

Primary Determinant: Directly observable imagery and /or sounds of an "objective nature"

Includes VISUAL and /or AUDIO (recognizable words) phenomena having been witnessed by more than one observer, although not necessarily at the same time. The images and sounds are sensed directly by the observer without the aid of cameras or tape machines as in level 2 manifestations.

MANEFESTATION LEVEL 4 (L4)

Primary Determinant: Physical effects

Includes The movement of objects, whether directly observed or being discovered in new positions when no other factors could be involved.

MANEFESTATION LEVEL 5 (L5)

Primary Determinant: Well formed, "interactive" "apparition".

Will range from a slightly transparent to absolutely solid entity. Quite rare, but they do exist. In some cases, the "ghost " aspect is not apparent until they suddenly "vanish".

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