Being scared of your shadow has always been a cheeky phrase to describe jumpy people. Shadow people however are an entirely different case altogether. Shadow people have long been talked about and discussed thoroughly throughout the paranormal world with numerous theories. Children have seen them in their rooms deep into the night while even adults have caught glimpses during the middle of the day in their very own homes. But what ARE shadow people? Well, let’s explore from the beginning.
Appearance Of Shadow People
What does a shadow person look like? Describing a shadow person goes a lot further in-depth than most think. The most typical description is a human-like or humanoid shape that can be seen with movements that mimic typical human behavior. It can often be seen as dark in color or slightly opaque. Rarely does it appear in colors other than black or a darker hue. Their features often have a sense of depth or even facial expressions.
While the term “shadow” is the most common term for a description, they have been reported at times to appear almost smoke-like or as a form of mist as it forms before them. Even more terrifying accounts have said they generally have glowing red eyes that seem to burn through you with an intense stare. Yikes!
For some, the appearance is brief or out of the corner of their eye. Typically it’s fleeting causing many to ask themselves, “Did I see what I thought I saw?”. For others, it can be seen plainly as it slowly walks or passes by which removes all doubt from their mind.
Reports have been made that the shadow person or people have appeared from a waking nightmare causing the individual to be paralyzed with intense fear. Sometimes it's even sitting on the person’s chest as if it’s perched. This has often been dismissed or explained as some sort of nightmare by many medical sleep experts.
However, many are wide awake performing daily activities, as this shadowy visitor makes its debut. Even creepier still, witnesses have seen these shadow people sitting in chairs or on couches observing them. With any shape, color, or form, one thing everyone tends to agree with, is they are certainly unwelcome guests!
Shadow People in History
Nalusa Falaya
These mysterious entities have been reported for centuries. Native Americans have reported shadowy figures far back in their culture who believed they were the embodiments of demons. In fact, according to the Choctaw Indians, a “long black being” is often referenced. This is also referred to as Nalusa Falaya. It was said to have been lurking in the forest and comes after young boys who don’t help the tribe with the daily tasks needed.
Another version of this Choctaw Nalusa Falaya stands at an overwhelming 8 feet tall and preys upon hunters in the forest. This shadowy entity is said to prick them on their hand and infect them with evil. This version is centered around the shadow person cursing the human or even punishing him. Some see this part of history as a cautionary tale to those who wander off or to encourage young tribe members to be more helpful.
Djinn
In Western culture, some refer to shadow people by the name of Djinn. This goes so far back with extensive research even overlapping with studies of demonology. These demonic shadow beings were said to be shape shifters who could represent themselves as shadows to appear less intimidating to the person they were communicating with.
From a religious Western perspective, the Qur’an states that the Djinn is not evil at all. It sees the shadow figure as a creation of Allah from smokeless fire doing good deeds. Many saw them as very helpful beings who came to assist in human affairs.
Khailbut
Ancient Egyptians talked about shadow people all the way back to 600 BC. They were called Khailbut. Similar to some of the beliefs about the Djinn, Egyptians believed that these shadow people did the bidding of humans whether it was with good intentions or malicious ones. The belief stands that the Khailbut was real in both this world and also the “other” metaphysical world.
This supports the view that these figures had supernatural powers ordained to them by deities or higher-up influences in the spirit realm. The Greeks and Romans believed that these shades “umbra” were simply extensions of themselves that continued to exist even after death. If you were good in life, then your umbra was good in death. If you had evil intentions in life, according to the Egyptians, then your shadow was filled with malintent in death.
What Are Shadow People
Demons
When people encounter things that are seemingly dark in nature, it’s often assumed that the presence is demonic. Reports and encounters tend to lean toward the presence or incident as a feeling of darkness or dread. With glowing eyes and seeing something manifest before their eyes, anyone could certainly see why most lean toward thinking this could certainly be a demon in front of them. One thing that is always seemingly certain is that it appears to mimic human behavior with its expressions and movements but it certainly feels inhuman when it appears.
Aliens
When you think about dark figures appearing like shadows, you may get a sense that whatever is present is certainly not of this world. You may not be wrong. Some theorists have long believed that shadow persons are aliens from another world or even from another dimension. Others feel that these beings are astral beings who have even time traveled in this form to give us messages, warnings, or even to study us. No one can explain how we think they came here, but many have speculated that they can slip in and out with ease.
Ghosts
Paranormal investigators have long sought after shadow people in their investigations. Often before taking on heavy cases, shadowy figures are generally reported as appearing in the haunted residences giving the homeowners a complete sense of dread. This has led many to believe that these apparitions are spirits or ghosts. Professional paranormal experts tend to believe if these are indeed spirits, they have lost their way or need help in passing through this world to the next.
Hallucinations
Skeptics have often wondered if seeing dark figures could be the result of visual hallucinations. People who suffer from severe sleep deprivation or insomnia have reported shadow figures waking them in terror or fear, even blaming the shadow person for keeping them from sleeping at all. Scientists have explained this as a form of “sleep paralysis” after many years of sleep studies performed on individual subjects. Another catalyst for seeing shadow people has been under the influence of drugs or hallucinogens. People partaking in these substances have also seen these dark figures after the drug effects begin to take place.
Conclusion
Recent studies have had scientists, historians, paranormal investigators, ghost hunters, and witnesses all scratching their heads when it comes to figuring out who the shadow people truly are and what their true motives are. With very little scientific data and so many varying accounts, it’s difficult to put a true label on what these shadowy entities truly are. What we do know is that if you ever encounter one in your home, or wake up to see a dark figure sitting on the end of your bed as its eyes glow like beckoning flames, don’t scream! Just close your eyes and let the moment pass!
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