Is it a sound, a scent or a sight? Is it a movement in the corner of your eye that is not there when you turn your head? Or is it all of these? How do we define the intangible shadows of history that we come into contact with everyday, sometimes without even knowing? What would seem to be a simple and straight forward question has been found to be, in fact, nearly indescribable.

             In order to understand what paranormal activity is we must first define what “paranormal” means. The word “para” (παρά) itself was once a prefix in the Greek language meaning “similar to” or “near to” however, in Latin “para” means “outside of,” “against” or “beyond.” In today’s English it is generally used as a prefix in conjunction with other words such as paramedic, paralegal and, of course, paranormal. The word “normal” simply denotes an “average,” “standard” or “usual condition or characteristic.” When the prefix and the word are put together we find that we have a totally different meaning for the two, that being “paranormal.” Now, we must look within our own mind to determine the interpretation of the word. Do we agree with the original Greek where it would mean “near to what is normal” where the events, although not fully comprehended or understood, still fall within the natural laws of the universe or do we interpret the word as the more sinister Latin meaning of “outside of, beyond or against what is normal” where the events seem to subvert the natural laws as we know them?

            Now that we have defined, at least in a basic sense, what the word paranormal means we must now be able to determine what paranormal activity is. To do this we will have to employ our sense of logical deduction (common sense). Although this seems as if it would be the first logical step to determine what is paranormal and what is not I must sadly say that many forgo this step and call everything that they see in a photo an anomaly. A serious investigator would, by process of elimination, rule out all potential causes that are obvious, logical and within reason until there is no other method to explain the phenomenon that has been witnessed. How do we do this? We must first be able to determine what paranormal activity is not.

• Strange noises, especially in a new building or home (or at least a home that’s new to you) could be the house settling, plumbing or even vermin such as mice and squirrels.

• Opening and closing doors could be caused by drafts, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation Air Conditioning) pressurization of the building or structure, latches not closing properly, faulty hinges, door frames being out of square or warped door slabs.

• Apport phenomena could be simple carelessness or forgetfulness. Also, if there are children or other people in the home or structure they should be questioned as well as this is generally the primary culprit in “apport” phenomenon.

• Shadows could be just that - shadows caused, perhaps, by a passing car's headlights.

            As real as some of these things might seem, they really could be just products of the imagination induced by psychological tricks of environmental suggestion, however, if you feel you have ruled out all rational explanations for the phenomena that are taking place and they are still occurring more or less on a regular basis, it is in your best interest to document them. Keep a journal of the phenomena as they happen. For example:

6 February 2004, 11:43 p.m. – I was sitting on the couch watching TV when the bathroom light switched on by itself.

17 February, 2004, 9:37 p.m. – I was in the downstairs hall getting some items out of the closet when the light switched itself off. I went and turned back on again so that I could finish getting the things I wanted.

10 March 2004, 10:14 p.m. – I was in the kitchen and heard footsteps crossing the upstairs hallway. No one else was in the house. I went upstairs to investigate and could find no cause.

12 March 2004, 10:23 a.m. – I was in the kitchen washing dishes when my car keys slid off of the table by themselves. They were not close to the edge of the table and I checked the table to see if it was unstable or wobbly. No apparent cause was found.

                A journal such as this could help with any formal investigation of the phenomena. Write down experiences as they happen or as soon as possible thereafter so that the integrity of the occurrence is kept in tact. If unexplained noises are part of the occurrences it is best to attempt to record them with a portable tape recorder or digital recorder. If there are physical phenomena of any kind that occur they should be photographed or videotaped if possible. You can not over document occurrences write down as many details and notes as possible so that a pattern, if any, can be established and the type and frequency of the occurrences can be properly assessed. If reasonable, logical or rational causes can not be determined as the cause of the phenomenon then we may now assess the activity as a potential paranormal occurrence.

            Remember, not all haunting occurrences are alike, each case may exhibit a variety of phenomena that is different from the last, some having a single feature that defines the events where others have occurrences  that range from strange sounds to full-blown spectral apparitions.

                The list of events below is by no means all inclusive but it does give the reader an idea of what to look for in the event of a true haunting.

• Apports, that is, objects disappearing and reappearing some time and later in a place where they may not normally be found. It's as if the object was borrowed by someone for a short time, then returned. Sometimes they are not returned for days or even weeks, but when they are, it's in an obvious place that usually could not have been missed by even a casual search.

• Unexplained sounds such as footsteps, knocks, banging, rapping, cries, whispers, conversations, muffled voices, moans, music, scratching sounds, sounds of something being dropped and other audible occurrences that would normally tend to be made by a sentient human presence.

• Doors, cabinets, cupboards, drawers or closets that open and close of their own accord. Most often, these phenomena are not seen directly, but the experient either hears the distinct sounds of the doors opening and closing –or- the experient will return to the room to find a door open or closed when they are certain that it was left in the opposite position. Additionally a lock or latch may leave itself in the opposite position it was placed in  and on occasion furniture seems to have been moved around as well.

• Electronics tend to malfunction such as lights, radios, televisions, and all manner of electronic devices turning on and off of their own accord and / or behaving in other unexpected ways.

• Unexplained shadows or movement you see in the corner of your eye. Many times the “shadows” have vaguely human forms, while other times they are far less distinguishable. 

• Animals behaving abnormally. Dogs may bark at something that is unseen, they may cower without apparent reason or they may refuse to enter a room they normally would. Cats may seem to be watching something cross a room, hiss at an unseen enemy, or run from something that you may not see. The animals may seem skittish or abnormally aggressive in certain areas also.

• Feelings of being watched or possibly followed. Note: This is not an uncommon feeling and can be attributed to many things - but - it could have a paranormal source if the feeling consistently occurs in a particular part of the house, at a particular time, or if the feelings are accompanied by fear or dread.

• Cold spots are a “classic” symptom of a haunting, but any instance of a noticeable variance in temperature without a discernable cause could be considered to be evidence of paranormal activity. However, it should be noted to check for obvious sources of false cold spots such as air conditioning vents and such.

• Unexplained smells such as perfume or cologne, especially one that you do not have in your house, cigar, cigarette or pipe smoke, or other smells such as these that you would not normally encounter. The phenomenon may come and go without any apparent cause and may accompany other phenomena, such as shadows, voices or psychokinetic phenomena. Foul odors can happen in the same way.

• Miscellaneous physical evidence such as unexplained writing on paper or walls, handprints, footprints of floors, imprints on linens, and so forth.

• Occurrences of mild psychokinetic phenomena such as small objects moving about on their own accord, doors or windows unlocking and / or opening while someone is there to witness it, chairs or other small pieces of furniture shifting.

• Strong instances of psychokinetic phenomenon such as large moving or levitating objects, dinner plates flying out of the cupboard, pictures flying off walls, doors slamming shut with great force, heavy furniture sliding across the floor. These types of events are much more rare than most.

• Feelings of being touched or other physical contact.  Some people feel something brush past them, something touching their hair or the feeling of a hand on their shoulder. Some feel a gentle push or nudge, sometimes a tug on the shirt or the occasional pulling of the blankets off of the bed at night. Also someone sitting on the bed, in a chair or standing nearby is common in this type of situation.

• Physical assault such as scratches slaps and hard shoves. Note: This kind of personal assault is extremely rare but it is obviously disturbing.

• Apparitions or other physical manifestation of a spirit or entity.