Ghosts and Poltergeists and Demons, OH MY!

by Saffron Caudle

Halloween embodies all things spooky, mystifying, and haunting. As one of my favorite holidays, I would like to go over some of the scariest supernatural phenomenon. Whether fact or fiction, life is more exciting when you can embrace the unknown (and, let’s face it, this stuff is downright fascinating)! In this article I will be explaining the differences between ghosts, poltergeists, and demons. You never know when you might get haunted (just remember don't go into the basement when you hear those ghost-chains rattling!). So let’s get acquainted with which entities could be harmless and which ones are definitely not.

Ghosts: The old classic when it comes to supernatural entities; ghosts are known to simply be the spirits of people who have passed away and make themselves seen by the living. They tend to only manifest visually, but some have been reported to bring audible messages from beyond, change the temperature of a room, or bring a certain odor with their presence. Ghosts are almost exclusively dead humans who passed into the afterlife with unresolved issues or suffered a violent death; so, generally, ghosts are troubled souls. However, that doesn't exactly make them dangerous or malevolent (although they can be if they were a particularly evil person in life). They tend to stick to the location where these hard-to-move-past events took place, but have been known to attach their spirit to objects and even humans in the past. This can explain "haunted houses," where a spirit remains regardless of who is moving into or out of the space. Many people who claim to have had ghostly encounters say they've had the sensation that they're being watched, and also heard strange noises or voices in their homes.

Poltergeists: The word itself translates to "noisy ghost," which refers to its apparent ability to make noise, throw around objects, and otherwise disrupt our physical environment. They're said to be able to bite, pinch, and attack or harass their human victims, as well as move, throw, and even break objects. Many experts believe they have nothing to do with ghosts or spirits at all. The best way to describe a poltergeist is active kinetic energy that causes physical disturbances. This makes sense, as ghosts are generally unable to break through to the physical realm in the extreme ways that make poltergeists unique. Another key difference is that poltergeists aren't typically visible the way ghosts are; although they have no trouble making their presence known. Poltergeists are extremely angry and violent non-corporeal entities who have the power to lash out and physically interact with our environment. So while seeing a ghost is certainly scary beyond belief, being in a space with a poltergeist, invisible or not, is straight-up dangerous.

Unlike ghosts, poltergeists are said to feed directly off of the emotional state of a particular person, rather than being linked with a place. They are psychic disturbances that surround an unhappy person. Some experts explain it as a mass form of energy that a living person is controlling unknowingly and for this reason, poltergeists are known to follow energy or a person, rather than occupying a particular space like a ghost does.

Demons: are defined as "an evil spirit or devil, especially one thought to possess a person or act as a tormentor in hell. They're widely considered to be insidious and malevolent in nature, and have been referenced in countless types of folklore, religions, and cultures throughout history. In religious terms, they're often considered to be fallen angels, or other "lower gods" who wield some sort of supernatural power. A demon isn't out for any resolution of an issue but rather pure malicious evil, as it feeds off the emotional energy of fear and anger. While the danger and potential for physical destruction associated with demons can be compared to that of a poltergeist, it's considered much more severe in demonic cases, and demons have the power to make themselves very much seen in the human realm. Demons can manifest themselves to us, taking on physical form in order to try to coax us to commit evil. They're said to be highly persuasive and prey upon vulnerable, emotionally-troubled people who may be desperate for help, not able to think clearly, or are weak in other ways.

And while demons won't necessarily haunt you the way a ghost will, they can do worse: demonic possession. A demonic possession occurs when, through continued cooperation with a demon, a person essentially "invites the demon in." This is where a demon's snake-like power of persuasion comes in handy. Let's all hope we maintain our wills-of-steel and that there are no exorcisms necessary in any of our futures. Glad to know the option exists, though... I mean, just in case, right?

One of the ultimate mysteries mankind face is the question of whether some other world or dimension exists beyond the natural world—a domain of the supernatural. Some are typically seen as personal (deities, devils, angels, ghosts or spirits), while others are impersonal (karma, fate, destiny, luck). Supernatural attribution occurs when a person interprets an event (a situation, action, or thought) as being caused by a supernatural entity.

With the creatures of myth and lore out and about this Halloween, it can be interesting to look at the history of the various weapons and beliefs that people thought could dispel creatures such as vampires and demons. Here are the top five things to have in your arsenal this Halloween to protect against the things that go bump in the night.

Salt: There’s an old belief that throwing salt over your left shoulder would protect you from bad luck. This comes from the belief that the devil is always standing behind you and throwing salt distracts him from interfering in your life. Salt also has traditionally been a protective agent. A line of salt across all points of entry should prevent against ghosts or demons entering your home. Remember to cover ALL points of entry; don’t forget windowsills and fireplaces.

Silver: Everyone has heard the myth about a silver bullet being the only thing that can stop a werewolf in its tracks, but the myth and lore of silver being used against creatures of the night extends beyond werewolves. Because of the lunar association that silver has in European folklore, it’s believed to be protective against monsters such as vampires, werewolves and shapeshifters. Along with salt, it’s believed to be pure, which is probably why it has become a symbol of protection.

Iron: This is another metal that is thought to be very important for humanity in protection against the dark and supernatural. The folklore and mythology behind its importance is varied worldwide. Horseshoes are probably the most well-known charms that originated as iron protection or providers of good luck. It is believed in many European cultures that horseshoes are good luck and that if they were made of iron, it would also ward off bad spirits and prevent the visit of unwanted otherworldly guests to their homes.

Religious Relics: Most notable, the Christian ideas of holy water and the use of the crucifix have been objects that have become synonymous with protection against various creatures and things at Halloween. Holy water is water that has been blessed with a special prayer, usually by a member of the clergy or a religious figure. It has been used historically against demons in exorcisms.

Halloween is a special night preceding All Hallows Day (November 1st) and has been considered, for centuries, as one of the most magical nights of the year. A night of power, when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest. So please protect yourself and your loved ones, you never know what could be lurking around the corner…