It doesn’t matter who you are or what you believe, if I say the words “shadow people” you will know exactly what I am talking about. Everybody knows what a shadow person is and most people have had some kind of experience with what they believe to be a shadow person. We know so little about shadow people and I do not claim to know everything there is to know about the subject, but I will attempt to summarize it for you now.
First, let’s go through some of the common characteristics of shadow people:
The first thing you should know is that shadow people are not ghosts. Ghosts are the disembodied spirits of the dead and shadow people do not resemble individuals.
They are dark, shadowy people (duh) that lack any detail or facial features. Sometimes they might have legs and sometimes they might only materialise from the waist up.
They can be anything from the size of a large dog to tall enough to touch the ceiling.
There have been many reports of shadow people with red glowing eyes.
Once they have been spotted they are known to run away or disappear. Sometimes they will even act as if they are surprised at being seen.
Mostly, people will sense them before seeing them as they tend to instil a strong feeling of emotion when they are around.
A lot of the time you will only catch a glimpse of them in your peripheral vision.
They often come across as thin and smoke-like
Most common sightings include a human-like shape wearing a hat or a cloak.
Now, let’s go through the most commonly seen types of shadow people:
Lurker
A lurker is a shadow person that lingers in homes, often specific rooms, usually in doorways or corners just staring at you. It will not approach you but rather observe you. They are known to flee, or dissipate once they realise they’ve been spotted.
Cloaked
This type is known to give off a feeling of dread and is commonly associated with sleep paralysis. As the name suggests, the figure appears to be wearing a cloak. This type of shadow person will follow you from room to room and has no problem approaching you and standing at the side of your bed.
Visitors
These guys will do their own thing. They will move about as they wish, usually set on a certain path. They might come visit you and then go downstairs to visit your mother. They are not bothered by what is happening around them. This is the kind you see walk past the doorway while you’re drinking your cup of coffee.
Shadow Stalkers
These are commonly seen outdoors in bushes and shrubs and forests. They will move through forests and trees quickly without making a single sound. No breaking twigs or rustling leaves. Should they realise they’ve been spotted they will mimic your movements in an attempt to not give themselves away.
Haunting
These are shadow people that are tied to a specific location, a house, a field or occasionally even an object. Every so often there are reports of a shadow person attaching itself to a person.
Omens
These can come in many forms. Sometimes the shape of a person, sometimes the shape of a child, they have even been known to take on the shape of a dog. They are accompanied by a severe feeling of anxiety and worry and are believed to be a sign of something bad to come.
Now that we know their characteristics and the various kinds we might come across, it is time to get to the interesting part. What are they really? There are so many theories about what shadow people might be. I have put together a list of the most common theories surrounding shadow people.
Demons/Evil Spirits
Now it is no surprise that this is a strong theory. The sense of dread or oppression often felt when in the presence of a shadow person is most likely what led people to the belief that these are evil spirits. By nature, humans are afraid of what they do not understand. When you are afraid of someone or something you will see it has a threat and as an enemy. This is entirely understandable and possibly why this is a well believed theory about shadow people.
Aliens
Some believe that shadow people come from another planet and are observing us. Learning about our planet and the people on it. If shadow people are in fact from another planet, I would like to know why they have not attempted to make contact or communicate with us. Surely that would be the best way to learn about us. However, all theories have flaws, that is why they are theories.
Interdimensional Beings
It is believed that there are other dimensions, parallel dimensions, just beyond our reach. Some believe that shadow people are a sign of another dimension intruding on our own. It is believed that the situation is as strange to the shadow people as it is to us.
Imagination
This is quite obvious. Shadow people can be created by our imagination at times of extreme stress which is why they are so commonly associated with sleep paralysis and bad dreams. It is believed that they are reflection of our own fears.
Science
There is a scientific theory that suggests that shadow people are in fact created in our minds. Scientists were researching what causes epileptic seizures. They would send electric currents through various parts of the brain and document the results. In one patient when the electric current went through a section of the brain known as the temporoparietal junction the patient was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of anxiety and reported seeing a shadow following closely behind her. This is why it is believed that any change in that particular part of the brain can cause the illusion of a shadow person.
There are so many thoughts and theories around shadow people that it would be impossible to put them all into one list. However, there is one thing that is evident. They are drawn to electric magnetic energy. This is why they will often show up when the TV or computer is on and very often during a big storm. It is widely believed that they feed off of that energy. They are energy thieves. Maybe that is why they run when they’re spotted.
If you have or have had an experience with a shadow person, do not fear. It happens to loads of people. You might be crazy but the chances are small. Other than the awful feeling accompanied by some of these shadows, they are fairly harmless. Should you have one that is bothering you, try telling it to bugger off. Most of the time they will listen and leave.
Shadow people have been a fascination of mine for a long time so if you have any personal experiences or stories regarding shadow people, or any theories about what they might be please feel free to send me a message. I would love to hear about it. If there are any shadow people reading this over the shoulder of an unsuspecting victim, holler at me yo.
