What is a poltergeist?

By Donna L. Marsh, APS Founder

Objects move by themselves, lights turn on and off, and you hear sudden, strange noises, such as knocking. You suspect that your home may be haunted - that you may have a poltergeist.

But despite what's been reported down through the years and what's been portrayed by Hollywood, a poltergeist, which means "noisy ghost" or "knocking spirit" in German, isn't really a ghost at all. In fact, a poltergeist is actually a form of psychokinesis.

Psychokinesis is the power to move physical objects without using physical means but rather by energy generated in the brain. While this energy remains unexplained, it has been documented and is currently the subject of many scientific studies.

The most common producer of psychokinetic energy is an adolescent female, most probably due to the physical and hormonal changes occurring at this stage of development. However, anyone undergoing great physical and/or psychological stress is unknowingly capable of producing great amounts of this little understood energy.

If you feel that you are experiencing poltergeist activity and would like to discuss it with someone, please contact the APS. We may be able to suggest counselors to help you and your family deal with this unique situation.

If you would like to discuss this issue, please join us in our Yahoo group. All legitimate discussion is welcome.

 

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