Apparitions
Apparitions are considered to be the image of the person that has died. For the most part apparitions are in the category of earth-bound spirits who, for whatever reason, have not passed on. Violent, unexpected deaths, guilt or simply fear of moving into the light may be key factors as to why they choose to remain here. While not always complete, (sometimes missing limbs or mass) this is the way a ghost looked when they were alive. They are reported to be intelligent and apparently can interact with us by speaking. They apparently can create odors, make sounds and move things and this is to gain your attention. As humans, we are famous for being afraid of new things. This entity is simply a human spirit who will retain the same personality they had in life. Some are nice, some are mean, but rarely are they evil, and certainly nothing like the evil entities that are born on the Hollywood screen. They are can be anywhere and if they are real then they most likely are. They can cause hot and cold spots, feelings of being watched, sounds and smells as well as disruptions with any electrical appliances; radios, TV�s, computers, washers and dryers, etc. Apparitions are ghosts who appear solid, partial, visible or slightly invisible. Most of the time, they are somewhat transparent and appear as they did when they were living. An apparition is aware of the living and can interact either friendly or unfriendly. They are thought to have unfinished business in this world. A ghost you see or in some way sense near you. These ghosts have been reported as solid, transparent, an odd fog, a face in the fog, or even a sound, a feeling, or a smell. You may even feel them touch you lightly, or hear moving furniture from another room. They will try to get your attention, and in so doing, could frighten you, but I do not believe that is their intention. Maybe they are trying to pass on a message or warning, or simply want you to know they are there. In any case acknowledge them, talk to them as you would a friend and they will be satisfied. If they frighten you, in most cases if you simply tell them they are doing so, they will stop. Always remember, they are just like us and will usually respect you as long as you respect them. Photographing an apparition is extremely rare, the dream of all investigators, and we treasure this prize!
Doppleganger
An apparition usually revealing itself to a member of ones family. it looks like another member of the family in every possible way.A ghost that looks, walks, talks, and appears to a family member of the person it looks like at the exact moment the person it looks like dies. People have even claimed to have seen their own doppleganger. Doppleganger means double goer in German. Reported as being solid, or transparent.
Orbs
The orb is the most common form a spirit takes (or so we believe), perhaps it is easier for them to appear as such, but no one knows this for certain.. They can appear to have a solid mass or a swirling, geometric pattern in the center. They can be transparent or glowing balls of light floating in mid-air. Some have been photographed with 35mm cameras, but mostly their images are captured on digital photographs. It has been said that orbs are the spirit energy that remains of what used to be a human being, while others speculate orbs are the vehicle form for spirits to travel at a fast speed. When reported they seemed to have sentient intelligence and have apparently interacted with the living on many occasions and are sometimes visible to the naked eye (this seems to happen more in haunted area, cemeteries and to people with certain sensitivities). Many researchers have seen orbs when asking them for pose for pictures! If this indeed has happened it would be an amazing sight. Some believe the color of the orb reflects their mood and still others report that colored orbs indicate active surroundings. Orbs are also one of the most disputed "paranormal" events and no two ghost groups can ever seem to come together with an opinion that agrees. The problem is that orbs resemble so many other non paranormal events such as dust, snow, rain and fog etc. The fact that prior to modern photography no orbs were ever photographed might support that orbs are more a manifestation of our technology. They are said to be ghosts who choose to channel their energy in the form of an orb of bright light, some of these can be different colors. Transparent orbs usually have logical explanations for their appearances.
Plasmoids
These are generally viewed as orbs with a tail, indicating they are moving at great speeds.
Streamers
These are fast moving orbs that look like streaming lines of light, or energy, that have been captured on film, but are not usually visible to the naked eye. They appear almost like a moving cigarette in the dark, but have a tread in the center. They are usually whitish but can come in many different colors.
Ghost Lights
Scientists have claimed this phenomenon is caused by swamp gas or some other type of phosphorescent material from the Earth's interior, but this has never been proven and seems even more far fetched to me than the idea of ghosts. The earths mantle is very thick! Stories abound of men who have tried to follow these lights, only to be lured into the darkness, and sometimes death. Legend has it that this light of a soul of a person who has been refused by both heaven and hell and is doomed to wander through eternity here on earth.
Spirits
These are reportedly souls that have died, passed over and come back to visit. They are almost impossible to differentiate from a ghost as they manifest themselves in the same way. The only way known to tell the difference is for them to tell you, according to psychics who have the ability to see and speak with them.
Residual
This phenomenon is thought to be like watching a movie about an historic event. This type of ghost cannot interact with you and is not aware of your presence. You could experience smells, sounds and possibly see the ghost as it replays a moment of his or her life. This event is imprinted on the area and is played back under the right conditions. While this can certainly be a frightening experience for the viewer, just remember you are not in danger.
Ectoplasm
This is a type of mist, or fog, that appears to have movement in its depths. It can be a light shade of gray, like cigarette smoke or exhaled breath in the winter, but can come in several colors including bright "frothy white". It floats through the air and can stay stationary or move extremely fast. We have captured what looked like "clumps of hair moving jerkily-stopping and then darting ahead". We have also recorded mists rushing past at extremely rapid rate. It has been said that a spirit will usually take this form before appearing as an apparition.
Vortex
These appear as a funnel shape with a tire tread design in the center and sides. These areas seemed to be predominantly touched with a black or dark gray tinge. Most often they have been accused of being camera straps and like the orb are the probably the second most disputed image taken. They are usually white in color, but some have been photographed with a light blue center and shades of pink and red also reported. They can also be labeled as being "funnel" or "spinal" and "twin". Vortex usually seem to be anchored to a wall or ceiling. A lot of paranormal researchers claim that the vortex does it's absolute best to avoid contact with people but we have pictures posted here that clearly show vortex traveling through people. Many believe it to be a former resident or the spirit of a deceased relative, yet others think it is a speeding orb that can turn corners or stop on a dime. ***We at Vancouver Paranormal also entertain the idea of vortex as a rod or some kind of as yet unknown natural occurrence.
Shadow Ghosts
This is a sneaky type that appears as a long, thin shadow in the strangest places, although many claim to have seen them in the shape of a man. Shadow entities also seem to look like natural shadows making them extremely difficult to spot. One method of finding them is to take control photographs for comparison. The shadow seems to "bleed" into a picture and unlike a regular shadow left by something with a light source behind it (smooth shadow), the edges seemed to run or blend into the surroundings and the shadow elements are not as consistent in shading as a normal shadow. They are extremely evasive, making them hard to photograph. When noticed, they will blend into nearby shadows, or disappear through a wall. You may have seen them from the corner of your eye as they dart about, but dismissed it as imagination. Shadow ghosts appear as a shadow of sorts. They look a bit like ecto-mist but are dark grey to black in color. In photographs, it's easy to confuse them with natural shadows, so be careful with your analysis. They are usually extremely sneaky and evasive. When they are spotted it's usually out of the corner of your eye or as they are darting through a wall. They can also be spotted as a reflection in shinny objects and mirrors. As for photography, They are one of the rarest ghost types to be captured on film. Birds and cats are especially sensitive to them. Some people believe these spirits are actually demons, but so far there is no evidence to prove this theory.
Poltergeist
Meaning Noisy Ghost, this entity lives up to it's name. Many believe poltergeists are non-human entities that are vicious, malevolent and are indeed paranormal. People involved with poltergeist activity are often the victims of: scratching, biting and slapping, as reported in the Bell Witch case. They are also capable of starting fires, throwing things, making items (usually coins or rocks), appear in thin air, just before hurling them across the room at their intended victim. A disruptive ghost, whose activities are often violent. A poltergeist might move objects or create dangerous situations for those in a household.A noisy spirit that is more of a "psychic explosion" from a teenage boy or girl. Poltergeists infest people rather. Poltergeist means noisy ghost in German. These ghosts are reported as being "invisible".
Again...none of this is certain and certainly has not been proven to anyone's satisfaction. We have just used and explained the terms because they are the main words used by most paranormal researchers.