SCI-RAT
Research Grp.
An Approach To Ghosts & Ghost Studies
Residual Ghosts
Residual Ghosts or Residual Images, as they are also known, are a recurrent type of visual manifestation of a deceased human or animal. This theory is also know as the 'Tape Recorder' theory where what is seen is very much like a recorded image of a formerly living creature imprinted in the atmosphere of a certain location. In these events the residual image is usually seen performing a task in a ritual fashion, either unaware or unconcerned that they are being viewed. In most cases there is little, if any interaction between the two participants.
'The Brown Lady' - Classic depictions of a Residual Image
Conception:
A residual image is conceived in repeated actions and high emotion. Persons who routinely exhibit stress and anxiety of almost any type, and do this in a certain location are prime candidates for becoming a residual image. The compulsory nature of the actions themselves will dictate the nature of the residual haunting.
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Composition:
We have no definitive answer on what residual ghosts are composed of. What we are able to do is offer up some educated theories based on known science.
Charged Ion Particles
Inductive Fields & Resonance
Electromagnetic Fields
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Conditions:It is a rare set of circumstances and a combination of conditions that allow a residual haunting to manifest. Using literature and science as a basis we can start to form a general outline of what type of conditions make it prime for a residual manifestation.
Location - Geology and natural rock formations play a crucial role in the initial formation of a residual image.
Building Composition - Construction and building materials, such as bricks and stone contribute to the ability of an image to imprint itself. For example Flagstone is one of the single most common building materials used today is a sedimentary rock and has a mixed variety of aspects that make it up.
*Siliceous - Quartz, and containing at least 25% and as much as a third of the feldspar mineral group, the matrix may be of quartz , calcitic or ferruginous cementing minerals with other accessory minerals.
Atmospheric Conditions - Weather may play a role in the initial formation and replaying of residual images.
Observers -Participant Receptivity is the final condition that must be met. While I do not believe that one human is more receptive than another one fact is simple. To examine ghosts we must initiate the exam. Ghosts may indeed lend themselves to being experienced but the duty remains to a human observer/participant to attempt to record and analyze these matters. That mindset may be the deciding factor on whether or not you obtain the proof you are after by dictating when and how it is obtained. This may seem convoluted but its an elementary concept. To figure out what ghosts are someone must attempt to examine them, to do this you must open your mind to things that are outside of the realm of what science considers normal.
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Manifestations:It is a rare set of circumstances and a combination of conditions that allow a residual haunting to manifest. Using literature and science as a basis we can start to form a general outline of what type of conditions make it prime for a residual manifestation.
When you approach a residual haunting it is possible to use a number of methods to capture images and data or analyze the location in a variety of ways. When we use a meter or any type of detector it is common to refer to the data as 'readings'. This is not to be confused with a reading givin by a psychic medium.
Apparitions - This is the most common type of residual ghost image. The ghost appears to be that of a fully formed human but may seem to glow or have a white/silver cast to them. The apparition is usually found to be translucent or transparent upon closer or longer inspections. Often the apparition will be seen going through a series of events oblivious to the observer.
Shades - Very commonly residual images are experienced as dark and vaporous or shadow-like masses that seem to appear and vanish into the air. These types of manifestations often appear to be humanoid shaped and rarely have distinct observable features. These manifestations are seemingly confined to certain areas and do not interact and are therefore most likely residual energy of lesser magnitude than apparitions.
*While the tendency would be to ascibe different human motives and emotions to the two main types of residual images, it is far more likely that the two forms are variants on the same initial anomoly. The two forms may have different levels of residual energy trapped locally that power and fuel them. Meaning that one manifestation may be dervied mainly from static electricity and silicates in the sheet rock while the other could be a more ferrous based reaction. We may have a range from which these occurances can manifest that could account for differences in the visual appearance of the two forms.
Scents - Smells are another characteristic residual manifestation of a ghost. The reported smells of perfumes, cigars, food, fire, are all reported as being present as a type of residual ghost.
*It may be that in fact there are numerous other possible reasons why this is occuring. For one thing smells have a way of pervading many types of materials and disturbance of that material tends to release the scent. For example, a woman may use the same characteristic perfume for years, it is therefore not unreasonable to assume that at some point she may have spilled the scent onto the floor. Depending on the type of floor it is, it could in theory seep down through a rug or carpet and evade cleaning. Then make its way to a wooden floor where over time it penetrates the varnish and soaks into the wood itself. Years later when the carpet is removed the smell will undoubtedly be released. Then in the future any disturbance of that area will cuase small amounts of the smell to be released. The same is true with cigar smoke and walls, as well as the scent of particular cooking herbs and spices.
Psychic Impressions - Observers may experience intense flashes of memory or emotion when in certain areas. This is commonly attributed to the impressions left in an area by a former living person.
I advise a serious look at the architecture and discern if the area lends itself to an enclosed or ominous feel. With todays modern building codes and standards it is very common for people to get a strange feeling from a home or building simply becuase the design of the place is completely foreign to them. Low ceilings, captured bedrooms, narrow stairs and windows all have a disconserting effect on people who are not accustomed to that style and those types of perameters. The overall lighting and a lack of natural light may give a room a forboding feeling, this is usually cured by adding sufficient light and using it during daylight hours.
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Identify the Participants:To identify the participants of a residual haunting one must look at all parties involved. This approach suggest that prior to any research into the location, that you visit the location and gather stories as well as preliminary readings.
To identify the primary participant or source in this event you first must corroborate the visual image with that of a deceased human or at least be able to place people of a certain era within a certain proximity. Meaning, if you see a recurring image of a child playing in the backyard wearing the trappings of the late 1800's you must be able to say that a child could have been playing there in that era. If you are unable to place certain people with a certain time and framework of occupancy or proximity you are unable to validate the primary source. If you can easily identify the residual image as someone who lived or frequented the area, you have validated the primary participant.
Secondary participants are anyone else who has viewed the residual image. I suggest gathering a list of the people, compile a graph that ioncludes: name, ages, genders, level of education, times, locations, and durations of sightings.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Varieties of Residual Ghosts:
Within the heading of Residual Ghosts we can find a numebr of specific types of ghosts who while exhibiting the overt characteristics of a normal residual ghost, have unique attributes that may allow them to be further broken down into their own varieties.
Resident Ghosts - This is the proto type of the modern residual ghost. You are considered to have a resident ghost when numerous unconnected people report or describe the same visual anomoly over a period of time. A typical resident ghost will been seen by numerous persons performing the same ritual pattern as described by most observers. For this approach we consider any ghost a resident ghost that has appeared for two or more generations.
Anniversary Ghosts - This is a type of ghost reported on key dates and in an annual pattern.
Battle Field Ghosts - These types of ghosts are reported to appear on battle fields reinacting key scenes from the day of the battle .
Ghosts of Warding - This type of ghost is said to appear in certain locations prior to disasters of any type. A perceived sense of warding is usually noted by persons who experience these types of ghosts.
Crisis Ghost - Similiar to Ghosts of Warding these ghosts seem to appear shortly before crisis of some type arises.
Premonitory - Similiar to Ghosts of Warding these ghosts seem to depict events that have not yet taken place or warn of impending disaster.
Dopplegangers - An interesting comparison can be made also to what I call a living residual image or a doppleganger. This situation occures where a living person or an associate sees the image of a person when the real person is in another location. A common instance is seeing a person going through their daily routine of getting on a bus and going to work, when the person is really at home in bed sick.
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