There are many common misconceptions about ghosts and spirits. This may shed some light on what is fact (fact, that is, to those who are not skeptics) and what is fiction. The most frequent inadvertence is failure to differentiate between ghosts and spirits. Here are a few discrepancies.

Ghosts are beings that are unaware they have died or are unable to accept it, perhaps due to an untimely, unexpected, grisly death, or have unfinished business on earth, or a sense of severe anger and/or revenge. It is true, however, that a few ghosts may realize they are dead, but are confused as to where they are and what their purpose is, or why they feel "different" (i.e., dead). The tragic death a ghost may have had can make it form emotional ties to the place where it's life ended. Ghosts can't move from place to place. They are forever stuck in the place they died, and can't manifest anywhere else.

(Note: The only way a ghost can completely pass on to the afterlife is if a medium can get in touch with the ghost and convince them that they are in fact dead and help them to understand their situation. Often the medium will call on a ghost's loved one who will then show them the way to the afterlife. This is, however, very dangerous and should never be attempted by an amateur, ESPECIALLY not alone.)

Spirits, on the other hand, have completely passed on to the afterlife and are aware they are no longer living. They can manifest anywhere, and usually do when they have a message to give to a loved one: i.e., letting them know that they are "okay."

A large amount of "ghost sightings" are actually a replaying of traumatic and emotional events that made a sort of psychic impression on the place at which they occurred. These are not true ghost sightings, but rather a phenomena called "psychic impressions." Just about anyone can see them, and they always happen at the same time and place.

Another common misconception is confusing manifestations and materializations. In the case of a manifestation, the spirit or ghost appears and looks real, but is not actually a solid being at all. You can't touch a manifestation. A materialization, however, looks and feels real because, providing there is enough energy, a substance called ectoplasm is used. The spirit actually draws the ectoplasm from the bodies of the people present at the materialization. It is important not to touch the spirit, though, as it may cause the spirit to dematerialize. It can also hurt the people present.

Ouija boards and seances are often used as a means to contact the dead. Usually, however, especially with Ouija boards, the messages that come through are not actual, bona fide spirits, but only the person contacting subconsciously pushing the planchette (a triangular shaped piece of plactic used to point to the letters on the Ouija board). The rest of the time it is a spirit. I personally strongly advise against using Ouija boards and having seances because you can never be sure who or what you are going to contact. If you do insist on holding a seance or using a board, never do so alone and if possible, have someone experienced with you. When using a board, always make sure it is clean, and the board should always be placed on the laps of those using it rather than on a table. Never take the planchette off the board while in contact with a spirit, and never let the board drop off the laps of those using it. This can open the door to the spirit world, and "invite" unwanted spirits into your life. Always have caution when attempting to contact a spirit.