The Atco Ghost Story Website and Blog

Poltergeists and Things That go Bump in the Night

Poltergeists are rare, but they do exist. For those that aren’t in the loop, a poltergeist is a spirit that moves through inanimate objects like cups, TVs, furniture, and windows.

Noises – like bumps, thuds, kerplunks – yes kerplunks is a dictionary word, knocks, scratching at the window, and banging at the door are all examples of poltergeist activity. Of course, these are natural phenomena when a human or natural cause is to blame. However, the wind, a person, the rain, or a cat or dog aren’t the cause in these occurrences. A poltergeist could be at fault.

In Ancient Egypt, bed-shaking and the raining down of stones were reported. However, a skeptic could conclude that mud slides or earthquakes were to blame. It’s no wonder that all cultures have reports of spirits interfering in our lives – even to this day.

Parapsychologists have put forth one explanation that suggests that poltergeists originate in a person, and the lingo for that person is an agent or focus. They suggest that the psycho-kinetic effects originate in the individual, and manifest as the result of psychological trauma in that person.

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