46% of all Americans believe in the supernatural. But whether you are a believer or a non-believer, you can’t deny that the spiritual world is a fascinating subject for many.
The supernatural world of spirits is so exciting to some of us that it’s formed a central part of stories passed down by generations. There’s plenty to learn and lots of myths to explore. But to start you off, here are three things everyone should know about spirits.
1. Spirits Aren’t the Same as Ghosts
When people think of spirits, an image of a ghostly figure often springs to mind. That’s how many movies feature spirits too. But a spirit and a ghost are two entirely different things.
Ghosts are capable of thought and often haunt the place where they died. And that desire to “haunt” often comes about because of unfinished business in the living world.
As mystery stories so commonly depict, that purpose might be to figure out why an untimely death!
Spirits, on the other hand, are the part of us – the soul – that leaves our bodies when we die. That’s what people mean when they refer to themselves as spiritual. We all have a spirit, but not all of us will become ghosts.
2. Some People Have a Rare Gift of Communicating With Spirits
Some people, known as mediums, can communicate with spirits. It’s not a learned skill: more a rare talent that some people have from birth.
Mediums have different methods for connecting with (or “channeling”) spirits. The most well-known methods include an ouija board or a seance. Some mediums, or psychics, also enter a trance-like state to talk to spirits.
Some mediums might communicate with the spirit and relay the conversation to others in the room. Other mediums will become possessed by the spirit and speak like that soul.
Some historical eyewitness accounts from things like seances claim to see moving objects in the room or flickering lights. A few even claim to see unusual phenomena like levitation! Mediums sometimes use props to help them channel spirits – click here for some examples.
3. Spirits Can’t Harm You
Fear of the unknown drives some people to feel scared of spirits. Horror movies based on a story of a vengeful spirit serve to reinforce this belief that spirits are in some way dangerous.
But spirits are souls; they are part of us. They are separate from bodies and the physical world. They can’t harm you (and mean no harm).
You may have come across stories of aggressive supernatural beings before. Perhaps these strange beings throw things, cause damage, or harm people. But these aren’t spirits; they are what’s known as poltergeists.
Poltergeists are a specific type of hostile ghost. Usually, items are thrown around a room, and sometimes, victims have even reported physical harm.
Learning About the World of Spirits
There’s a wonderful world of myth, legend, and supernatural characters to explore when learning about spirits. Continue discovering this amazing mystery and let it shape your unique view of life and what lies beyond. If you enjoyed this article, our entertainment section has many other weird and unusual facts to uncover – head there now!