Demonology and Negative Paranormal Activity Articles

The Psychological Signs of Demonic Possession

The psychological signs of demonic possession should not be confused with mental illness and should, in fact, be separated from the common signs associated with mental illnesses. The demonologist will want to make every effort to determine whether the symptoms an individual is displaying might somehow be related to a mental illness before proceeding to spiritual means in an effort to clean the individual of a demonic spirit. It is important to note that all of the symptoms do not have to be present at once, and some symptoms may appear while others may not. Many symptoms are also accompanied by a number of physical manifestations, not discussed in depth in this terse explanation about psychological symptoms.

Interview with a Demonologist: Patricia Gardner from Isis Paranormal Investigations

Incubus and Succubus

The etymology of the word Incubus is rooted in Late Latin and is derived from the Latin incubo, meaning nightmare. It is also believed that the word Incubus is derived from the term incub?re, which means “to lie on” (“Incubus”). Incubo also means “to hang over, dwell in, [or] lie heavily upon” (“Incubo”). In The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology, Rossell Hope Robbins asserts that the Incubus is known by many other names in many other cultures (254). The French call the incubus the follet, the Spanish call the Incubus the duende, and the Italians refer to the Incubus as the folletto (Robbins 254). Meanwhile, in The Terror That Comes in the Night: An Experience-centered Study of Supernatural Assault Traditions (The Terror That Comes in the Night), David J. Hufford explains that the term Succubus, which defines the incubus’s counterpart, literally means “to lie under” (130). Further, the orthographical nature of the term incubus has changed little over time. By the year 1205, the now plural form of incubus, which is incubi, was written as incubii (“Incubus”). Around 1330 BCE, the term incuby appeared in Robert Manning’s Langtoft's Chronicle (“Incubus”). Later, Geoffrey Chaucer used the singular term Incubus in the Wife’s Tale (“Incubus”). The singular form of Incubus has remained the same to date (“Incubus”). Meanwhile, the now understood plural form of incubus as incubi, did not become standard until sometime after the year 1801. (“Incubus”). In fact, the plural form of incubus in 1801 appears in Monthly Mag. XII where William Taylor used the plural form Incubusses.

Poltergeists

In the Oxford English Dictionary the term poltergeist is defined as “a ghost or other supernatural being supposedly responsible for unexplained physical disturbances such as loud noises and the movement of objects” (“Poltergeist”). Further, the activity and characteristics of a poltergeist are denoted by the term poltergeistic (“Poltergeist”). Meanwhile, the actual manifestation of poltergeist activity is sometimes referred to by the term poltergeistism (“Poltergeist”). While there are several different words that referred to poltergeists and poltergeist activity, the etymological roots of the term poltergeist have not changed since it was first introduced into the English language. The term poltergeist is rooted in the German language and is a combination of two words: poltern and geist (“Poltergeist”). Poltern literally means “to make a loud noise or uproar, to rumble, to thud,” while geist translates as ghost (“Poltergeist”). Thus, the poltergeist phenomenon is often colloquially referred to as the noisy ghost phenomenon (“Poltergeist”). Orthographically speaking, since the term poltergeist has been introduced into the English Language in the late 1860s, there is no evidence that the spelling of the word has changed.

Banshee

The screaming banshee is from Irish and Scottish lore and is a creature that is also referred to as the White Lady, the White Lady of Death, the White Lady of Sorrow, and the Lady of Death (Taggart). She is also known to be referred to as "The Female Fairy," "The Angel of Death," "The Woman of Peace," "The Nymph of the Air" and the "Spirit of the Air" ("Banshee"). According to the listing in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fairies by Anna Franklin, the banshee is also referred to as "The Woman of the Mound" and is a being that "attaches itself" to families of Scottish and Irish Descent (22). Franklin further suggests that the Banshee will attach itself to families that are "particularly gifted in music or song" (22). The word "banshee" is derived from "bean sidhe" (Irish) and "bean sith" (Gaelic) which comes to mean "woman of the faeries" (Buckland 35). No matter what other names the screaming banshee is known by, it has been a source of interest for those interest in myth, legends, and hauntings for centuries.

Calling Ghost

According to Rosemary Ellen Guiley in The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits, the calling ghost phenomena is when a ghost of a dead calls the name of those who are living in order to get their attention (64). Some legends suggest that if one should hear a calling ghost saying their name they should not respond, as some people believe that calling ghosts lead the living to their demise. Likewise, other legends suggest that a stranger who calls your name may be a calling ghost in disguise, and one should not respond. Further, Guiley suggests that there is a link between the Sirens in Homer's Odyssey and the lore associated with the calling ghost.