Ghosts vs Fae

[Élistariel]

(for believers in fae and ghosts)
How does one tell the difference between a ghost and a fae?
I had a rather, um, interesting experience this weekend at my grandparents house. I have visually seen a little girl (ghost) in my room, and my friend got a mental image of her in another room. She however, was the one who appeared most human. Human as in she didn't float and I could see all of her, well, most of her. Anyway, her being there, or the others, whatever they may be, doesn't make sense. My grandparents built the house, so it's not haunted per say, but there is something there. Also, I believe the fae exist on another plane, much like ghosts/spirits.
I'll be willing to go into as much detail as possible about my experiences (grandparent's house and yard only) here, if anyone wishes to know, I was trying to keep the post short.

[Willow_Raindancer]

My first impression is the little girl is a ghost. Fae, to the best of my knowledge, prefer the outdoors. I've felt little energies in my back yard I tend to think of as Fairies. I would not think a Fairy would take on human form, but that's just my opinion.
Have you asked your grandmother if she'd lost a child. Sometimes families don't talk about such things:(
She could be a Fae folk if her presence is stronger outside.
Either way, she sounds as curious about you as you are about her;)
Spend some time talking to her. :D

[Caelin]

More likely to be a ghost, IMO.
The daoine sith are known to take on or have human form in some tales - as in the Tam Lin or Thomas Rymour tales. Ghosts are associated with them sometimes, in that if you pass the elfin court riding (the sith and elves are one and the same, btw) you may see your deceased relatives riding with them. But as the tradition states that its your own relatives you will see, this doesn't seem likely in this case. Sometimes humans can be hangers on with the daoine sith, as with both the Rymour and Tam Lin, but they are actual, living people, rather than ghosts.

[Raevyn]

Have to agree with Caelin. We have lots of fae in the house (as do our friends) on a regular basis, though at least in our case they tend to show up as flashes of lights or "unique" (not odd) little shapes, whereas if the spirit is in human form it's likely a ghost.

[Old Witch]

I think it's probably a ghost...........

[Élistariel]

I agree, I believe she's a ghost. I also have fae outside, and sometimes inside, (at my apartment too). I can't really 'talk' to her, we can see each other though. Back when I was still "baptist", I tried to tell her she should go to heaven, either she couldn't 'hear' me, or she was meant to stay. I've also learned not to ignore her. I got kinda freaked out about it once, and tried to think of her as 'my imagination' I saw her again. It wasn't a bad experience per say, but it sure was strange. Then this weekend, I thought she had finally left, I saw a child ghost, I could only tell it was a child, so it may or may not have been her, floating over me, not like in movies, it was more of just a breif image. I was all Okaaaay? Then I felt something, not hands exactly, but something trying to choke me. I could breath just fine, but I still felt something. I then, thought, "okay, okay, you're here" and it quit. She doesn't 'ask' for attention, she downright demands it. To an extent that is, if I'm not thinking about her, it's fine, but if I try to disprove her existence, or try to believe she's not there, she's not too thrilled.
I think my 'grandmother' (really 2nd cousin or something) may have had a miscarriage or something once. It's not proper to ask, when my cousin Luke was born, she gave his mom a box of stuff, that was for her boy that never came. I never asked her about it, and I never will.

[Annika]

Based on what you have described, I would have to agree with everyone else....this little girl is probably a ghost. Hopefully you'll be able to find out more about her.

[Raevyn]

My friend has one named Simon, and when he gets ignored (she doesn't greet him, or she isn't upstairs a lot, etc.) he tends to throw things or slam doors. I wasn't so sure either until last time I was there and out of nowhere and with all of us sitting quietly at the other end of the room and no animals nearby and no wind whatsoever a gate was thrown into a shelf about a foot or two over and a couple inches up from it.

[Eirwen Hartsock]

Seeing as I'm the friend who saw the little girl (and her dad) I think I should at least say something. The little girl is deffinetly a ghost, after all I saw her in the red-room. For everyone else, the red-room is the formal living room in Maren's house, it is done in red carpeting and black and white furniture. Looks like it came from the 80s. Anyway the red-room is ALWAYS cold. No matter how warm the rest of the house is, the red-room is always cold. Rather odd considering the red room is pretty much in the middle of the house.

As for the difference between ghosts and faery. One is the probably the way they make you feel. Most ghosts creep people out, give them the chills, or make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. I don't think faeries do this, I think most people just feel normal, slightly curious and magickal, but normal around faeries. Also don't ghosts come in different forms? from your low-powerful orbs that are usually white, all the way up to your full-form roaming specture. I would say the little girl is a full-form limited-roaming specture. The less powerful ones, orbs and vapor forms are usually seen in shades of white, grey, and black. While the more powerful full-forms can be seen in color, light muted colors but colors. Faeries on the other hand, at least I think, would tend to shine more, sort of sparkle, and they can be seen in colors. Blues, purples, greens, and so on. I'm not sure about this, those who live with faeries would probably know better.

As for your Grandmother, and the question on the lost child. I'd have to ask my mom about this, but I remember her saying that something happened in our county back when Gran would have still been young. Alot of the children where somehow made sterial. I don't know if it was a test by the government, or a mishap with some medication or what. But that is why most of the people from our county who are Gran's age either adopted, are raising their grandchildren, or just don't have children. If you want to know more about that Maren I'll ask my mom, she might still have the article on it.

[Joshua]

I agree with Eirwen that ghosts are generally creepy. After all, they're dead people. Fae are not, although if you see one and you don't know what it is then it could be just as scary.

I'd love to see a ghost, or a fairy for that matter. My wife thinks I'm crazy (which may be true), however I want to see one. She had a fairy encounter once but it's her story to tell so I'll mention the thread to her. An old friend of mine also had a fairy encounter when he was a child. I had a bad ghost experience when I was very young but I am not deterred. Let's see some ghosts and fae!

[Aidron]

Ghosts and me do not seem to get along in the least and with the few dealings I have had with them they most often seem to be very bitter or deeply saddened.

Fae on the other hand, which I have seen and both sensed for a long time tend to be more joyful. I am forever catching them playing pranks, seeing them dance, or catch a brief blast of light out of my eye of them passing by. They seem, for the most part, to love me as much as I adore them, but perhaps that is because my room is a small shrine to them and I speak of them in admiration and respect, warning people never to belittle them or fear their wrath.

Ghosts, however, seem to evoke their wrath regardless of what it said or done on people for no apparent reason. In my opinion, ghosts are extremely rare, and often so-called ghosts are energies or projected subconcious entities of our own mind. Perhaps this girl is of you or someone else in that house (I would not say previously owned unless the house has only recently been bought, and if it is of someone previously owned, definitely a ghost), even if they look nothing like you. Sometimes our minds project images of ourself that we fear due to symbology, or that we are most fond of. I have seen myself in mirrors before during deep meditations as a woman in white with dark hair, a facet of me shown to my concious self for a reason (that I won't bore you with here).

If it is a ghost, be cautious. Not only can they be as full of mischief as a fae, but they can be outright deadly in some cases. Sometimes their anger knows no bounds, other times they are merely lingering on and content to fill your home with the sounds of joyful laughter. Like I said, simply use caution, and if you attempt to remove the ghost, you had better go with your best broom and cauldron as it is no piece of cake, even for the most dedicated and advanced practioner.