GHOSTS AND NATURE SPIRITS

Basically there are two main differences between Ghosts and Nature Spirits, the theory is that ghosts are the souls or memory of someone who has died where as nature spirits never knew life as we know it as they originate from another realm of existence. But in today’s society people are more readily to accept a belief in ghosts rather than nature spirits, I think this originates from the fact too many people have been affected by ghosts during their lives or they know close friends or family who have been affected but today’s society finds belief in the typical Victorian Fairy very hard, described as no more than four inches tall these creatures displayed butterfly wings and danced around in fancy dresses.

Quantum physicists will openly discuss the theory of alternative universes but mention you have Fairies at the bottom of your garden and before you know it you are enjoying your lunch through and straw in the confines of a padded cell.

Incidentally, the word "nature" derives from a Latin word "natus" which is the past participle of "nasci" meaning "to be born". So nature is what has been born, and "physics" is originally the study of what has been born (in a broader sense, the universe, then), it seems. Over the course of time I think it has strayed from its original meaning as we have seen physics become the study of physically measurable quantities and their relations, but we as a whole in the paranormal field know there is much more to nature than that which can be physically measured. Ironic to think that modern physics makes use of "invisible fairies, which cannot be measured": they are referred to as "quantum fields".

A reference taken from the Fortean times describes the Earth Spirits as particles, which are there and not there; like electrons they are both material and non-magical. they are quantum events at the bottom of the garden. we cannot know particles in themselves, but only by the traces they leave, like tiny yetis. they are as elusive, maddening and paradoxical as fairies ever were.

Well, what an easy explanation! Or is it?

I know from my own experiences with nature spirits that the phenomenon is strikingly different from that of a typical haunting if indeed you can have such a thing as a typical haunting. On most occasions you will be able to walk into a property and you can almost sense if a ghost in present, I am aware at times they can mess the team about and stay well away. But a nature spirit, should it choose to, will approach you and its vibrations are much more prominent. One case we are currently studying in Northern Ireland involves a Rath, a pre-Christian settlement. In local folklore there have always been tales of a chamber underneath the Rath, but there has never been any archaeological digs to prove or disprove this tale.

From our own experience the nature spirit, which is linked to the site has indicated through a series of loud thumps where this hidden chamber lies. The chamber is known as a Souterrain, which was often used as ritual sites and hiding places. If the Iron Age settlement became threatened the women and children fled into these passageways and would have been protected by one of the males from anyone who would have dared to crawl through to the main chamber.

Christianity identified it as a demon. Legend states the reason for it being there was to protect treasure, I know from experience it is just as curious about us as we are of it. One account of a clergyman entering a renowned Fairy ring at night, tells of the man being held down by these small creatures and hearing an unforgettable buzzing. I too have been on site at sunset and experienced the buzzing almost similar to a mosquito, and several times after. An associate of mine who is a practicing pagan claimed the buzzing was not myself getting in tune with the entity but the entity getting in tune with me.

Unfortunately due to other commitments and cases I have not been able to return to the Rath, but I do plan on being back in the next few weeks, both with recording gear and night vision, though this is to try and capture footage and understand the movements of the badgers that live near the Rath.

They say there are over 3000 different breeds of Nature Spirit though I suspect there may be mis-identification over continents but I’m only familiar with about 30. Ireland is renowned for its Fairy Tales and it’s a well-known fact when men moved out of the old forts and Abbeys the Fairy moved in. Even in today’s environment I can travel approx a mile from home and find a Fairy tree. These thinly crooked and rather worthless trees dot the landscape and are usually found near the middle of a cleared field, but a great superstition lingers about cutting one down as they are links to the Fairy world.

There are various legends and claims made about these entities but in fairness we know so little. In the late twentieth century they were nearly forgotten and resigned to myth, but I have been watching a growing interest near the end of the 1990’s to present and hopefully we may get the chance to observe and understand this close and yet very distant world.

- Barry (TAPS)