the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, during the Age of Reason, belief in psychic powers and the paranormal waned, but it was reborn again with the help of the Spiritualist movement. The foundations of spiritualism were laid by Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772), who allegedly went into trances and communicated with the dead. However, it was the Fox sisters, Kate (1841–1892) and Margaretta (1838–1893), who really brought psychic phenomena to the forefront. The sisters claimed they were able to manifest spirit communication through the rappings of a peddler who had been murdered and found in the Fox home. The public were fascinated as the sisters gave public demonstrations of this psychic manifestation throughout the United States.
Even though the sisters later confessed to fraud, the Spiritualist movement was by then well underway both in the United States and in Europe. Spirit rapping gave way to séances, table-tilting, trance writing and spirit communication through a medium. Many of these techniques are still practised today by Spiritualist churches.
The phenomena produced by mediums like the Fox sisters during the height of spiritualism in the latter part of the nineteenth century quickly attracted the attention of eminent scientists and intellectuals, and the scientific investigation of alleged psychic powers, ghosts, apparitions, poltergeists and paranormal phenomena began in earnest. In 1882 the Society for Psychical Research was formed in London, and in 1885 the American Society for Psychical Research was founded in Boston. Clubs, organizations and societies dedicated to the paranormal sprung up all over the world, and as the twentieth century drew to a close the world of ghosts and haunting had successfully filtered into mainstream culture. It looks set to stay there.
Today we have televised séances and ghost hunts, celebrity mediums and psychics and bookshops, websites and university courses devoted to the paranormal. Over the years the investigation of ghosts and psychic phenomena has become increasingly sophisticated and precise. It isn’t about superstition and eye-witness accounts any more, but about laboratory experiments, data, theories, statistical evaluation and high technology. The hotly debated question at the beginning of the twenty-first century is do ghosts exist?
Fact or fiction?
No one knows for certain if ghosts, spirits and other psychic experiences are real. There are, however, many theories to explain the thousands upon thousands of documented experiences and ghost sightings that people around the world have had since the beginning of recorded history. Some believe psychic phenomena are real, whether or not science, fraud, misinterpretation, hallucination or natural phenomena can explain them. Others argue that if something is unexplainable by science, it cannot be real. These two sides – believers and sceptics – engage in heated debates over whether reports of paranormal experiences are misinterpretations, coincidences, the product of hallucinations or something more substantial.
Meanwhile, researchers into paranormal phenomena continue to seek explanations. It seems that the three hardest words for human beings to utter are ‘I don’t know’. We demand an accounting for every claim or experience, even if that experience seems unexplainable. Consequently, scientists, parapsychologists and psychologists have come up with a variety of theories for why paranormal phenomena exist, if they exist.
The debate between believer and sceptic is fascinating but each theory presented only fuels more arguments. While sceptics, scientists, parapsychologists, researchers, ghost hunters and psychics debate the case for and/or against ghosts and related psychic phenomenon all we can do is decide on which side of the fence we wish to sit; and if we can’t decide we just have to sit on the fence instead. Perhaps some of the entries in this encyclopedia will convince you; perhaps they won’t. For the majority, though, the decision isn’t going to be based on evidence or data or what the scientists say but on individual experience and belief.
Do you believe in ghosts or don’t you?
Those who believe in ghosts suspect that most, if not all people have the psychic ability to see or communicate with spirits and ghosts to varying degrees. The ability is often likened to that of musical talent. Some people are naturally gifted with the ability to play and compose music, and practice makes them virtuosos. Others must learn and work and practise to be able to play an instrument even adequately or in the simplest way. But nearly everyone can learn to play to some degree. The same may hold true for psychic abilities.
This encyclopedia is an intriguing reference tool but it has another use. If you’re interested it can also be used to help develop your own psychic potential. The information boxes and advice sections within certain entries contain practical advice and exercises designed to help you access and make use of your psychic potential. Using them will make your psychic development interesting, easy and safe.
The mystery surrounds you
There are things that occur in the world – and which have occurred since the beginning of recorded time – for which there are no lasting explanations, and clearly alleged sightings of ghosts, accounts of hauntings and related psychic phenomena fall into this category of unexplained mysteries. Sceptics may argue their case, and theories may come and go, but all the while the psychic phenomena that these arguments and theories are supposed to debunk or explain carry on as mysteriously as ever.
Mysteries have always happened and will continue to happen. Belief in ghosts has always been widespread all over the world and these beliefs have always had a very real influence on people’s lives. Whether you believe in ghosts, would like to believe in them but aren’t sure, or think it’s a lot of fascinating but ultimately unscientific nonsense, there is one thing that has to be accepted: we live in a mysterious world.
The universe is a puzzle, our consciousness is an enigma and even our existence in the world is an unexplained mystery. Mysteries are things we live with every day and simply have to accept, regardless of how irrational and incomprehensible they are.
If you are willing to accept that mysteries surround you, if you are willing to open your mind and your eyes to new possibilities, a whole new world of ghosts, hauntings and psychic awareness is out there waiting for you to discover it.
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
(Albert Einstein)
ACHERI
In Native American folklore Acheri is thought to be the ghost of a little girl who died of disease. Legend has it that Acheri is a frail and pale looking female spirit who lives on mountaintops and hills. At night she travels into the valleys to spread infection, disease and pain, usually to children, by casting her invisible shadow over innocent sleeping victims.
It is thought that the colour red affords protection against this entity and amulets of red thread worn as necklaces will protect children from the disease Acheri brings. Similarly, in European folklore, red charms are used to protect against harm from evil spirits.
ADELPHI THEATRE, GHOST OF
The Adelphi Theatre in London is thought to be haunted by the ghost of a celebrated Victorian actor called William Terriss. Terriss was a stylish and popular actor highly regarded in his day and seldom seen without his trademark pale gloves.
On the night of 16 December 1897, during a run of Secret Service, a thriller staring Terriss and leading
