Hidden lore: spirits

Ghosts:

A ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. For one reason or another, they cannot rest easily in their graves. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to realistic, life-like visions. The deliberate attempt to contact the spirit of a deceased person is known as necromancy
Ghosts are generally described as solitary essences that haunt particular locations, objects, or people they were associated with in life, though stories of phantom armies, ghost trains, phantom ships, and even ghost animals have also been recounted.

A ghost greatly resembles its corporeal form in life, but in some cases the spiritual form is somewhat altered.

Types of spirits:

1. Guardian Angels - "Everyone has at least one." They are usually some kind of relation to you that died before you were born. Most of the time you won't know who they are - or rather, were. They watch over us our entire lives and help us out through the rough and dangerous times. They're the little voice telling you not to take your usual route the day something bad happens in that area.

2. Lost Souls - These are spirits who know they're dead but don't know where to go. They can also fear moving on and are afraid to leave what's known to them. They linger around until the day comes when they're ready to leave.

3. Are We Dead Yet? - These spirits walk around, going about their lives not knowing that they've passed on. They wonder why people ignore them and why nobody comes to visit anymore. This happens more often with old people who've spent their later years by themselves. The spirits may think that the new inhabitants are the spirits, when it is the other way around.

4. Unfinished business - There can be a number of reasons why certain beings stick around after death. Other reasons can be as simple as waiting to see their child graduate. Once the work is finished, the deceased usually moves on in peace.

5. Self-Appointed Guardian Angels - These are loved ones who stick around after death to watch over someone. It can be a deceased husband watching over his elderly wife during the last of her days. It can be a young mother who died before her time watching over her children as they grow up.

6. Messengers - These are usually in the form of a loved one. It can be a warning of certain danger or future events. It can also be a spirit coming to ease the pain from a grieving loved one.

7. Still Living - These people can be dreaming or having an out-of-body experience (obe). In the case of dreams, the person doesn't usually know they're walking around in the form of a ghost. With intentional obe's, the projector knows what's going on but their intentions are generally harmless.

8. Poltergeists (noisy spirit) who cause mischief - Were either horrible persons in life and tormented others or were victims of such malevolent actions themselves.