Spirits, also referred to as ghosts, are the essences or souls who have died. When a person dies, their souls are collected by the Angel of Death and taken to the afterlife. However, not all become spirits as some choose to be reincarnated, thus starting a new life after death.

Some spirits remain on earth when they are unable to move on. Usually this occurs when a person has unfinished business in life, such as being unable to accept their death or when their death was so quick that they still believe themselves to be alive. Spirits may also remain on earth until justice had been done or when they seek avenge themselves. Evil spirits may remain on earth to avoid purgatory.

Appearance

The appearance of spirits has greatly varied over the course of the series. They may be translucent and hazy such as in the case of Elias Lundy or corporeal as with Charlene.^[1] Some ghosts like Rick and Nathan Lang are translucent but clear in appearance and without haze.^[2] Mark Chao, the first ghost encountered in the series, was invisible to everyone except magical beings, but to those he appeared undistinguishable from a live person.^[3] When Phoebe and Paige became ghosts, Chris stated they could haunt anybody they wanted.^[4]

Book of Shadows

Powers and Abilities

Active Powers

• Wisping: The ability to teleport through wisping lights. When spirits are summoned, they may also teleport through the use of white orbs.
• Intangibility: The ability to be intangible and move through solid objects. Spirits are naturally intangible, but can become able to become tangible and touch objects when angered.
• Invisibility: The ability to be unseen by the naked eye. Spirits are naturally invisible to mortals, though magical beings can see them.
• Floating: The ability to float in the air a few inches above the ground. Some spirits are seen floating, while others are grounded and can walk.
• Possession: The ability to enter the body of another being and possess it.
• Corporealization: The ability to assume a corporeal form. Some spirits are powerful enough to become corporeal. Summoned spirits can also become corporeal when stepping out of the circle they are summoned in.
• Spirit Writing: The ability to write messages from the afterlife through the use of orbs.

Other Powers

• Sensing: The ability to sense the location of other magical beings.
• Summoning: The ability to summon other beings to one's presence. Some spirits possess the ability to summon other Spirits to their side.
• Individual Powers: Spirits of magical beings retain their powers after death and are able to use them. Spirits of mortals can learn to harness energy to produce powers.
  • Electrokinesis: The ability to manipulate electricity and throw bolts of lightning. Elias Lundy was the only spirit to be shown using this power.
  • Plasma Balls: The ability to throw balls of ectoplasmic energy, capable of vanquishing beings. Olivia Callaway was the only spirit to be shown using this power.

Weaknesses

• Incorporeal Form: Neophyte spirits have a hard time making their presence known to mortals until they learn to harness enough energy to interact with the physical realm.
• Spirit Dominion: Ghosts can easily fall prey to those who can control spirits.
• Soul Killing: Ghosts can be destroyed by magical means, often with specific powers, or a spell cast by a dead witch or potion.

List of Spirits

Notes and Trivia

• A spirit's fingerprints can be scanned with ultraviolet. ^[17]
• Neophyte spirits normally cannot channel their anger into being able to touch physical objects. ^[18]
• According to the Book of Shadows, there are different types of spirit classification: ghosts, poltergeists, evil spirits, phantasms, and many more.^[19]

See also

• Mediumship
• Spirit Board
• Spirit Killer
• Ectoplasm

References