By Nikki Phipps
From the earliest of time, man has used magic and rituals in an attempt to overcome the unexplained. The strange, the bizarre, and most especially the mysterious realm of the unexplained has always, for some reason or another, created intrigue and interest from many people, whether we believe in it or not. The world of the unknown may appear to be based more on unanswered questions rather than actual proof; yet, we still seem drawn by its mystique, fascinated nonetheless.
With the idea of ghosts, there seems to be the curiosity about the afterlife. Most tales result from the sightings or visitations from ghosts or apparitions. Generally, these are more likely to be experienced after recent deaths or those on the verge of it. Existing from fear associated with all that is evil comes the fascinating, yet, repulsive presumption of monsters. Dragons, for instance, are awe-inspiring creatures found in the myths and legends of cultures all around the world. Many of our monsters are likely produced by characteristics of their presumable association with the dark side rather than reality. And with the sightings or encounters by objects flying above us, there are questions of “What if” and “Who are they?” People have been seeing bizarre things in the skies since the earliest of time. Unidentified flying objects have been the subject of endless controversy, fueling both fear and strong emotions. Most sightings, however, have been attributed to hoaxes, delusions, or normal phenomena.
The “paranormal” explores phenomena beyond that of normalcy. One of the most common paranormal phenomena deals with the poltergeist and is often linked with haunted houses. Various experiences include unexplained and sometimes violent movement and breakage of objects, interference with and manipulation of electrical devices and appliances, unaccountable sounds and odors, and apparitions. Since adolescent children are usually present during outbreaks of poltergeist activity, it has been reasoned that they may somehow be the causal agents associated with the unusual events that occurred. At the other end of the spectrum, individuals who have intense paranormal experiences also have a greater probability of having an encounter with a UFO. There seems to be a couple similarities between UFO encounters and hauntings too. One is attributed to the appearance of flying balls of light reported by tenants of haunted houses, the other coming from electromagnetic effects. Interference with electrical transmissions are often experienced with both UFO and poltergeist phenomena.
The mystery of the unknown, in which human knowledge has no meaning, is all around us. From ghastly tales of ghosts to sea monsters, man-apes, and tiny green men, whether these are creations of the mind or real life experiences, the realm of the unknown will no doubt continue to provoke the natural curiosity in us all.