What Are Spirits, Really? 👻✨
There are a lot of different ideas about what a “spirit” is, but this is my personal perspective from years of experience working with them. You might agree, you might not—but that’s the beauty of spiritual exploration.
At their core, spirits seem to be sentient energy—consciousness without a physical body. Over time, I’ve come across several types of spirits, each with their own quirks, personalities, and purposes.
Deceased Humans
These are the souls—or fragments of souls—of people who have passed away. They tend to show up in a few different ways:
Residual Energy
This isn’t a “full” spirit, but more like an energetic fingerprint left behind. Think of it as the emotional echoes of someone’s life—similar to the way a perfume lingers in a room long after someone’s gone.
Earthbound Spirits
These are sentient and aware, but haven’t crossed over yet. Reasons vary:
- They’re looking after family or loved ones.
- They don’t realize they’ve passed away.
- They have unresolved emotional issues.
- They fear judgment or punishment after death due to religious beliefs.
- They have addictions and prefer to linger around places or people connected to those habits.
Like the living, spirits have reasons for their choices—and sometimes those choices keep them close to our world.
Crossed-Over Spirits
Once a spirit fully crosses, they often appear like glowing energy that radiates love. They’re detached from worldly desires, filled with peace and joy, and their presence is deeply comforting.
Angels and Divine Beings 😇
These majestic beings radiate bright light, beauty, and wisdom. Encounters with them are awe-inspiring—often accompanied by deeply uplifting messages that carry unconditional love. Their guidance tends to be universal, compassionate, and filled with a sense of hope.
Dark Energies 🌑
These aren’t the kind of guests you want to invite in. They’re sentient, soulless entities often formed from accumulated human negativity. They thrive on fear, anger, and despair—and the more they’re fed, the stronger they become. Their presence can cause chaos in your life. (Don’t worry, I’ll be doing a separate post on identifying and what to do if you come across one—because they deserve their own spotlight… or maybe a flashlight 😏).
The “Other” Category
The spirit realm is vast. Just like Earth has an abundance of living beings, the spiritual world is full of incredible variety:
- Animal spirits – pets, wild animals, and symbolic animal guides.
- Mythical beings – unicorns, fairies, mermaids, dragons.
- Elementals – spirits of earth, air, fire, and water.
- Nature spirits – tree beings, plant spirits, even rock guardians.
- Unfamiliar creatures – beings that defy description but carry a sense of purpose or connection.
When your third eye is open, you never know who—or what—you’ll meet.
Keeping a Spirit Journal 📓
If you’re interacting with spirits, keeping a detailed journal is essential. Write down:
- What they looked like.
- The energy or emotions you sensed.
- Any messages they gave you.
- Where you were and what you were doing.
- Moon phase, time of year, and location.
- Any smells, sounds, or sensations connected to the encounter.
Over time, you’ll see patterns and develop a personal reference guide for your spiritual work.
Spirits aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some are loving, some are lost, some are protective, and some are… well… best kept at a distance. By learning to recognize their different energies, you’ll navigate the spirit realm with more clarity, confidence, and safety.
Learn about protection and spirit door.
Mantra
“I honor the spirits I meet, I trust my intuition, and I am always safe and protected.”
Journal Prompt
“Think of a time you felt a presence, received a sign, or sensed an energy. How did it make you feel? What details do you remember—sights, sounds, sensations, emotions? What do you think that spirit’s purpose was in that moment?