What is a Residual Haunt?

A residual haunt is not caused by a spirit of soul; it is a recording from the past that somehow replays itself. While some residual haunts can be traumatic (if they are recorded during a traumatic event), they pose no harm at all. There is not thought, no logic, no recognition on the part of the apparition. It is not aware you are there nor is it aware of its surroundings. It is just a recording. The replayed energy can manifest itself as auditory, visual, olfactory or other sensory phenomenon.

Signs of a Residual Haunting - We claim that most famous hauntings are the actions or residual energy. How does one know if activity is residual or intelligent (spirit)? Residual hauntings have the following characteristics:

• The visual apparition performs the same tasks or actions each time or is seen at the same time each time


• The same noises are heard and at the same time of day


• If an apparition is present, it acts as if you are not there

 Type of Apparitions in a Residual Haunt - When most people hear the word apparition, they imagine the visual clues that a ghost is present. Visual is only one of several types of apparition that may be present. Below are the different types of apparitions that may be present as a result of a residual haunting:

• Auditory Apparition - This is the most common of all reported paranormal activity. The apparition is heard only. The most common sounds are footsteps, sounds of doors opening and closing, conversations, screams, crying, laughing, even the sound of cannons in areas where wars were fought.

• Visual Apparition - An apparition that is seen by someone through the naked eye. Visual apparitions are typically not complete; meaning some portion of the figure is missing.

• Olfactory Apparition - An apparition that is smelled, such as perfume or cologne, flowers, tobacco smoke. The odors are directly indicative of the person whose energy has been trapped and recorded.

• Tactile Apparitions - The most common report of tactile apparition is the presence of an unexplained cold spot. Another common tactile apparition is the unexplainable emotions that seem to be at a location. These strange emotions can be felt.

 The apparitions described above can also be present in cases on an intelligent haunting.  But in an intelligent haunting, the entity can react to you, has awareness, and has a sense of thought to it’s motions.

 Another Theory - Some believe that some hauntings that are labeled as residual could also be a spirit that is somehow unable to recognize, interact, or communicate with the living. They may be in such crisis that they are so confused that they created their own Hell and are unaware of anything or unable to communicate. We feel it is quite possible for a portion of residual haunts to fall into this category. 

 “The Stone Tape” Theory - This theory was proposed in the 1970’s as a possible explanation for residual haunts. It states that materials can absorb energy for living beings and events. The theory speculates that recordings are made during periods of high tension and trauma such as murder, war, rape, or other intense moments or someone’s life. This stored energy is released resulting in a playback of the events.

 Limestone, Magnetite, and Quartz – Prevalent in Residuals - It is thought that limestone, magnetite and quartz are prevalent features in residual hauntings. Either the structure itself contains any of these natural materials or the property is located on land that has these materials present.

Magnetite is theorized to be an excellent recorder since it is naturally highly magnetic. Again, magnetic energy can fuel paranormal events, so the replaying of events seems logical. Quartz is considered excellent to transmit past events as quartz is used in radios, televisions and radar. As for the limestone, it is believed that the quartz present in limestone is the driver for activity.

 Place Memories - The concept of “place memories” is similar to residual hauntings and “stone tape” theories. It is believed that memories from an individual’s mind can attach itself to the environment. The energy can then be picked up by others causing a hallucination of that specific memory.

This Article Copyright Manchester Paranormal Investigations