Glendower. – I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur. – Why, so can I; or so can any man: But will they come when you do call for them ? (1 Henry IV, 3.1)
There is no secret that the Christian church has put all the spirits that reside beyond the veil fit into two categories: evil and holy. But what if there is more of a sliding scale? What if there are more? Well, there are. So here is a pretty comprehensive list collected for you.
Ghost: A human who has died who has not passed on to the veil. They have a tendency to be in a trance and difficult to talk to the living. They need to pass on to the other side of the veil, and with help of a medium who is also a spiritual guide, they can do this.
Spirit: Well, this is used in several ways. 1) A human who has died and has passed through the veil. 2) The all encompassing word for everything spiritual that touches us.
Shadowperson: You’re only scared because you don’t know what they are or why they are there. There are a couple of theories. One is that they are of another dimension or time that has overlapped (quantum woolly masters, anyone?). Either way, you may be a shadowperson to them as well! Another is that it’s a non-corporal critter that is just curious. They don’t want to harm you, and any feelings of that you’ve just put on yourself. It’s literally in your head.
Djinn: A non-corporal critter that is created neither good nor evil. They are their own species and generally create relationships with people, items, or places, for which they aim to please. This urge to please their attachment then nudges them towards ethical or unethical (whatever that means).
Fetch: A non-corporal entity made from the energy of a human (yep) and is tethered to a body made out of natural materials.
Servitor: A non-corporal entity made from the energy of a human(again, yes) and is not tethered to anyone or anything. These are usually made out of the rage or trauma of a person and then create havoc. They can be created with great focus, but need a lot of energy to create. These are mistaken for as demons. They are actually a version of psychic attack that take an energetic form and purpose. They can cause physical harm.
Toyol: Un-dead infant spirit of South East Asia. They lives inside items and are attached to those items by a shaman who has taken the infant spirit from the veil and placed it in an object instead. They steal things but are very much like a cranky child and hard to keep happy.
Psychopomp (Collectors): Escort creatures (spirits) that recently died. They are wispy and generally hide in shadows. They are black and hooded and have no face. Because of pop-culture and horror movies, we are taught to be afraid of them. They don’t “bring death” nor are they a bad omen. You’re alive and seeing them? They aren’t looking for you. They are to collect the dead spirits, or other entities that belong on the other side of the veil and bring them back. It’s cool that you’ve seen one, but not dangerous for you at all. In fact, mediums like myself call on them to help bring stubborn ghosts and spirits back to the other side.
Poltergeist: A ghost, or person who has died and not passed to the veil, where the spirit has mutated at death because of rage, hate, vengeance. These entities mutate from human form into lights and tendrils of currents and energy, and cause physical danger to people because of the ability to move objects. Their psychic energy is so intense that these guys have telekinesis and can mess with the frequencies of radios and electric currents.
Obake: These ghosts, or person who has died on who HAS NOT passed on to the veil, where the spirit has mutated at death because of sadness, woe, and depression. These entities mutate from human form into small black fuzz and soot. They are dangerous to humans as their lethargy and weight is contagious, quite literally covering them in heaviness of soot and despair.
Spirit Guide: Generally a humanoid spirit companion, however that isn’t necessarily the case, as an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual guardian. Some ancestor spirits chose to become guides instead of reincarnating. Spirit guides come in many forms. Some from nature (like tree spirits, or from the waterfall), some from ancestors, some from the guardian plane, animal guides or totems, aumakua, and some from other categories of the spiritual. This is more of a job title than a genus.
Bogart: This is a boogeyman. It has been around FOREVER in every place around the world! They will put their clammy hands on your face while you sleep, they are cause dogs to be lame, they say uncouth things, ugly, bestial attributes, and give bad dreams. The good news is this: They have no body and they just want to move into your house and cause havoc. They are hard to get rid of and like to attach to people, by harassing them. They pretend to be demons because they know you are afraid. They don’t want to be ‘in’ you or take over your soul, but they’ll say it to upset you. Their purpose is to feed off of ectoplasmic fear (NOM NOM). Creating a happy place and ignoring them will make them go elsewhere, just stay strong! Other names: Sack man, Boogeyman, El coco, a cucca, babua, butzeman (check out Wikipedia!)
Demon: ½ human, ½ beast, but upright. Generally appear to have too many fingers or none, no bones or skin, have a number of heads, talons, wings, hooves. They like homes, are aggressive, and like chaos, and messy places. They have no body and wish to use a living creature as a shell, but will settle, in some cases, to reside in an object that has a lot of living emotional energy attached to it. They will only (and I mean ONLY) seek those who have unbalanced lives, holes in their soul, and live as a mess. Remember, if a person is complete, then the house is full. Like a hermit crab, it needs a place that isn’t totally occupied. Then it will do what it can to live in it. Extraction is painful for both the host and the demon.
Dybbuk: Like a demon, they are a possessing or parasitic spirit. They leave their host body once its goal is accomplished (whatever that is). Each dybbuk may have a unique ‘goal.’ Learning this helps with extraction, otherwise, both may die in the process.
Incubus & Succubus: An incubus is a bogart in male form who, according to mythological and legendary traditions, lies upon sleeping women in order to engage in sexual activity with them. Its female counterpart is a succubus. Salacious tales of incubi and succubi have been told for many centuries in traditional societies. Some traditions hold that repeated sexual activity with an incubus or succubus may result in the deterioration of health, mental state, or even death.
Angel: Humanoid with bird wings. It’s a human messenger. Angels engage in destroying creatures unlike themselves by their definition, very similar to people in the idea of ‘justice.’
Garuda: Bird-kite-man of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain. Protector and can go swiftly anywhere. This could be another culture’s angel. Same critter, different name.
Kinnara: Hindu. Plays music. Part human, horse, bird and watches over humans. This could also be another culture’s angel. Same critter, different name.
Mothman: Looks like a shadowperson with large black wings, red eyes, humanoid. They are doom deliverer (bad stuff is coming. Our 2020 spirit animal?). It’s not there to harm you, directly. Its more of a foreshadowing.
LESSER KNOWN:
Pukwudgie: Like a goblin but has no body (maybe its actually a boggart?). Best left alone. If annoyed, lures people to death or creates fires and likes to put sand in people’s eyes.
Kami: Japanese elements of landscape, forces of nature, as well as beings that express a singular expression.
Tengu: Japanese, human form, white hair, red face, Bird-like, lives in mountain peaks, and is a spirit of the arrogant dead. They tempt weak people away from Buddha with false images, seductions, and easy-workless life. They are basically a nasty critter that is faking being an angel. Tempter. Remember, real angels don’t tempt or make promises.
Vodyanoi: Russian water demon and never leaves where he is. It comes out when a body is ready for burial if drowned where is home is. That’s pretty specific, so not a lot to worry about.
Yuki-Onna: Japanese irresistible woman in all white, pale, and has cold breath. She eats souls and they freeze to death… through the mouth.
Kishi: An Angola attractive man. He has a second face hidden behind long hair. He also eats people.
Gwyllion: She is an old woman that lives in the mountains. She also eats lost humans
Akvan: Persian demon of unlimited powers and strength. It has fangs, horns, appears to wear a skirt. It spread lies and enjoys destruction, but does the exact opposite of what it’s asked. Might be another name for a Dybbuk.
Gamayun: Bird with woman’s face that spreads divine knowledge & prophecies.
Kalavinka: Asian creature with a human head, bird torso, blowing tail, sings about the divine words of the Dharma.
I hope you enjoyed this!
