Originally posted by toechopper
From the research I have done, I have found that there are what is considered to be 3 stages of possession:
1. Infestation. This is where things take place in a specific location, usually the sorts of happenings that are associated with a poltergiest.
2. Obsession. The same happenings occur, but now out of the home, and are associated with a specific person.
3. The actual possession of a person.
From accounts I have read about supposed hauntings, the first on the list seems to be the most frequent, with the second occurring every once in a
while, and I have only come across one or two stories in which actual possession was seriously considered. There is also the fact that needs to be
taken into consideration that the first two stages would provide evidence for a poltergiest, which, in recent years, has been shown to be a person who
is under a great deal of stress (evident in the fact that it takes place most often around young teenagers) manifesting latent telikinetic powers
without knowing that they are doing so. Obviously, that would explain why there is activity in a specific location and around a specific person.
In the middle ages, possession seemed to be a more common occurrance, but oftentimes what was considered possession back then would by today's
standards be considered misdiagnosed disorders such as schizophrenia or ms. There are also many cultures still in existance today that believe in
possession.
I suppose that while anything is possible, actual demonic possession is very rare, and all other possible explanations for a given incident should be
taken into consideration before talking about exorcisms.
That's me. I'm about 14 right now and from the point I started sixth grade to the point I ended seventh grade, I was stressed out from a new work
load, new school, and bullies I kept encountering. I was even suspicious of myself having clinical depression around that time.
Anyways, I just wanted to add to your post with:
Poltergeists and Hauntings
Ways that Hauntings and Poltergeists Differ
HAUNTING: This particular event occurs with ghosts of human beings appearing frequently in certain areas and times.
POLTERGEIST: This may not be a ghost at all. There are theories that poltergeists are massive amounts of PK energy that is controlled unknowingly by a
living person. In certain cases poltergeist activity has been linked to demons or evil spirits.
HAUNTING: The ghosts in this activity appear in areas that the deceased were familiar with in life.
POLTERGEIST: This can be triggered by a living person's trauma any where and any time.
HAUNTING: This is continous over periods of time. They occur in the same general location everytime.
POLTERGEIST: This builds up over periods of time to a climax and then restart over. This energy can travel anywhere anytime following anyone.
HAUNTING: This activity is not violent by nature.
POLTERGEIST: When this energy gets nearer to the climax of its cycle, poltergeists can become dangerous. Poltergeists can inflict mental and physical
terror in extreme cases.
Five Levels of Poltergeist Activity
LEVEL 1:The Sense Attack
Level 1 is referred to as a Sense Attack. This is because at the beginning of this phenomenon the poltergeist attacks the basic human senses.
Witnesses may hear strange noises in the middle of the night, they may walk into a room and feel a cold spot move over their body. They may see the
lights flicker, shadows move. They may smell weird and strange smells.
Characteristics: Strange noises(knocking, rappings, etc.) - Unusual activity by animals (family pets running from room terrified) - May have the
feeling of being watched - May experience cold or hot spots
LEVEL 2: Communication
When this second phase begins the noises, smells become more direct. The enerygy is turned up a few notches, but the poltergeist is still in early
energy phase. The noises will change from sounds you can not define, to noises such as laughing or whispers. Instead of feeling cold spots, cold air
will rush through room as if a wind is blowing. Marks will start to appear on walls. ceilings. Objects in the home (furniture, knick knacks) will
start to move. Objects will start to be thrown through out the house.
Characteristics: Moving shadows - Breezes in areas closed off - Laughs, giggles, moans or shrieking - Stronger than your average static electricity -
Weird marks on the floors and ceilings - Objects that have moved or have been thrown
LEVEL 3: Electrical Control
At this stage is when it starts to get terrifying for most witnesses. The main emotion in the home where this is occurring begins to be Fear. In the
first two stages you could explain it away as your mind playing tricks on you, but no in this one. The activity becomes more real. The poltergeist
starts to feed off this fear to gather enough energy to move to the next stage.
Characteristics: There will be hands that are not seen grabbing and/or touching people - Writing will start to appear on walls - Windows and doors
will start to open and close by themselves - You start to hear voices - Start to see full apparitions/dark figures - You start to have direct
conversation with the apparitions - The phone starts to ring - Objects start to fall out of nowhere - Furniture begins to move - Appliances begin
turning on/off
LEVEL 4: The Trickster Stage
This is the stage where the poltergeist starts to gather momentum. At this stage objects begin to be hurled across the room and objects disappear.
Furniture begins to violently shake and shudder. There are flames that spontaneously burst out. People start to be violently pushed. Obscenities and
orders for the living to leave the house are heard. Some people consider this to be a ghost playing jokes, but in reality it is a poltergeist
gathering information about the people and what they consider to be frightening. All this information will be used by the poltergeist to create an
environment of absolute terror for the living. It will then use this terror to feed on and build its own energy.
Characteristics: The living feeling dizzy or nauseated - Windows, mirrors, ceramic objects begin to shatter with no one around them - There will be
levitation - There will be physical attacks - Fires will suddenly start for no reason - There will be apparitions appeariing as frightening entities -
People will be violently shoved or shaken - there will be visions or illusions - Disembodied voices will be heard shouting out orders or obscenities -
Objects flying or moving - Objects disappearing and reappearing.
LEVEL 5: The Danger Stage
This is the level that the poltergeist has reached it highest energy and should be considered extremely dangerous. This activity could end in days,
hours. Then again it could last for months, years. After it stops the poltergeist is just dormant and will start over at stage one. This stage will
include but not limited to: biting, scratching, punching, and sexual assaults may occur. This is when dangerous household objects such as knives start
to fly across the room aiming to stick itself into a living person in the room. Fires can and will start in rooms when everyone is asleep.
Characteristics: Hair pulling, biting, slapping - Objects will become animated - Possible Human Possession - Household electrical systems are used to
cause harm - fires - there will be blood on walls, ceilings - vicious attacks - persons being held down - sexual assaults - threateniing writings -
threatening voices.