EduBlog #001: Residual vs. Intelligent Hauntings

Welcome to the first in our EduBlog series! The aim of this series is to briefly cover some basic topics in paranormal investigation, to inform those who may have never been exposed to these concepts, and to provide definitions for some terms that may be used throughout our investigations and various media (or social) outlets.

Today’s topic covers two ways we classify paranormal phenomena: Residual Hauntings and Intelligent Hauntings.

Residual Hauntings are typically defined by the fact that they do not change or interact in any way during investigation. It is easiest to think of this type of haunting as a scene in a movie playing on repeat; A moment in time, that for one reason or another, repeats itself at our current point in time.

As an anecdotal example, our team once captured a full-sentence EVP during an investigation at the Farrar School, stating “It sure is hot in here.” This was not an answer to a question or as a result of anything that we did, it was simply an auditory phenomenon that occurred on its own.

One explanation for this type of phenomena is that an energy produced from events that happen in a specific location remain in that location, and in some way those energies can lead events from the past to be projected onto our reality.

Intelligent Hauntings are defined by their ability to react and respond to what is currently happening in our reality. This means that they are sentient, and can recognize and acknowledge your presence. In most cases they want to make themselves known, and this makes them more likely to interact with investigators and anyone who is in their space.

Like residual hauntings, intelligent hauntings are believed to be the result of released energy as a result of an event that occurred in a specific location - however, in the case of intelligent hauntings, these energies have changing properties, and can be modified in meaningful ways and produce evidence including sounds, voices, light anomalies, and bodily sensations. These interactions can range from innocent to malicious, but regardless of the circumstance, intelligent hauntings demand respect.

Intelligent spirits can get frustrated or angry, they can be playful or flirty. They behave like people, and for this reason, we emphasize the need to treat them as people. In locations that have never been investigated, they are often shy and scared - you’d be scared too if someone came into your home with a bunch of strange equipment! Our team uses manners when conversing with entities in the same way we would a living person - we say hello, we introduce ourselves, we pose questions in a kind way, and thank the spirits when we get responses - and at the end of a session, we say goodbye. We like to maintain this conduct as a sign of respect, and to convey a sense of comfort.

As with most things paranormal, there is no concrete explanation as to what hauntings are or where they come from. In the same way, there are many different proposed reasons for why these phenomena exist. Ghostorical Investigations encourages everyone to read, research, and form their own opinion. The basic information we provide only scratches the surface of these topics, and the anecdotes we share are just select examples we have from years of investigation.

If you have any questions about the paranormal, feel free to contact us and we would be happy to answer!