Poltergeists Are Not Spirits
These Paranormal Phenomena Can Strike with Tremendous Force
Scientists have acknowledged the existence of poltergeists, and the available evidence supports the theory that living people are the cause.
Poltergeist is a German word that means "noisy ghost." Documented cases of these strange phenomena go back for hundreds of years, and those who have been unfortunate enough to witness a poltergeist would say the experience is far from pleasant. This article takes a closer look at these disturbances and how they manifest themselves.
What are Poltergeists?
Poltergeists for many years were thought to be entities which exhibited cruel and destructive behaviour. In virtually all cases, families who live in homes infested with these unwelcome "guests" claim household objects fly through the air on their own, sometimes with great force. Doors will open and close, lights will turn on and off and furniture will rearrange itself. In rare cases things have turned ugly, and some people ended up with bruises, cuts and scratches. Many paranormal investigators have agreed on one fact about poltergeists: they are not spirits of deceased people. The cause of these disturbances is more likely the result of somebody in the house experiencing psychological stress. Usually the person can't deal with the pressure in a normal way, so the subconscious mind takes over and the individual's anger and despair are projected in a psychokinetic fashion. The "agent" as they are usually referred to, is not aware they are causing the problem. There are exceptions of course, such as the Bell Witch Haunting in the early 19th century.
How to Deal with Poltergeists
First of all you must be sure the poltergeist activity in your home is real. It's important not to act too hastily in this kind of situation. If it turns out that the cause is a younger member of the family, and in most instances this is the case, then calling an exorcist or a priest would be inadvisable. In fact, they can inadvertently make the problem worse by claiming poltergeist activity is the work of the devil. A young child would most likely be more frightened by the thought of an evil spirit wandering around the house, and the intensity of the disturbances would increase as a result. Instead, get in touch with a licensed therapist who can determine the root of the problem.
Real Poltergeist Cases
If you're still not convinced about whether poltergeist activity is real or imagined, take a closer look at these incidents which have been well documented.
- The poltergeist at Thornton Heath. In the United Kingdom a family was awakened in the middle of the night by a radio that suddenly turned itself on. This was the beginning of a nightmare which lasted for four years. By Christmas of 1972 life in the house had taken a turn for the worse. Objects were flying through the air and loud knockings and footsteps were heard all over the place.
- The Enfield poltergeist. This case also took place in the UK in the summer of 1977. A woman living with her children in a northern suburb of London reported all kinds of bizarre activities including shuffling noises, loud knocking sounds on walls and a chest of drawers which moved all by itself.
