Hi Dawn,

There appear to be so many interpretations as to what is and what is not a ghost/discarnate these days, one can get bogged down in lots of terminology.

Here are my interpretations:

A 'true' ghost ghostis the energy body(astral)of a person once alive but now deceased. For whatever reasons, the ghost appears to be tied into the physical dimension and has not moved fully into the spiritual dimension. A kind of 'neither here nor there situation'.
A ghost is also aware to some degree and can be interactive with the living. It can observe and be observed and sometimes be able to manipulate it's surroundings - as in making objects move, closing doors, etc.
Dying very suddenly or violently can result in disorientation, disbelief, anger, revenge. All these feelings may stop the spirit moving on into the spiritual dimension, and they may inadvertantly become a ghost.
Not all ghosts want to be noticed and seen, some just hide away and keep away from the living.
There are still 'soldier' ghosts haunting many a battlefield, and maybe not realising they are dead.

There is another kind of 'ghost' which is often termed anniversary ghost. This is the non-interactive type and not really a ghost, but an empty shell with no consciousness, but with a strong emotional charge to it. This type appears to be programmed to repeat certain actions at certain times. Eventually over time the energy shell will break up and disintegrate.

A discarnate was once a person who was alive at some time and now dead. Some people refer to them as just 'spirit'. The difference between a ghost and a discarnate for me is, that the discarnate is not tied into the physical realm and has moved into the spiritual dimension, but has the ability to move through the dimensions if need be.

sunshine