Haloghost

Haloghost is a term used in speculative fiction, folklore-inspired discourse, and some game design contexts to describe a class of spectral phenomena associated with light halos. The name blends halo, a ring or glow around a light source, with ghost, a supernatural presence. In these traditions, haloghosts are not ordinary apparitions but entities whose visibility and behavior are linked to illumination.

Description and behavior: Haloghosts are typically depicted as translucent forms or as faint glows that linger near lamps, candles, or headlights. They may hover along lighted passages, cast subtle halos on surfaces, or subtly alter the surrounding brightness. Some portrayals present haloghosts as benevolent guides, while others cast them as omens or warnings. Accounts vary, with witnesses reporting the appearance of halos, whispered cues, or patterns of light that seem to respond to emotion or intention rather than physical contact.

Origin and use: In fiction and interactive media, haloghosts are often employed to explore themes of memory, guilt, or the afterglow of past events. They can serve as atmospheric motifs, narrative devices, or puzzle elements tied to lighting conditions or reflections. The concept remains informal and is used across a spectrum of genres, from horror to mystery to speculative science fiction, without a basis in established empirical study.

See also: ghost, halo, luminescence, atmospheric phenomenon, light artifact.