In most cultures, there are those who claim that some spirits do not cross over to the light when they die. Instead, they say, these spirits stay close to the Earth's vibration and sometimes influence the minds of the living. Alan Kardec talks about this in his books and this idea is accepted in Spiritism (see Luis Sergio Marotta's video on spirit release therapy). But it is highly controversial even among Spiritualists and rejected by mainstream Western psychiatry.

However, Dr. Edith Fiore, author of "The Unquiet Dead: A Psychologist Treats Spirit Possession", and a small number of other psychiatrists support the idea. They claim that some spirits become confused after they die and do not cross over to the light. This is especially so if they died suddenly and traumatically. Others stay close to the earth because of addictions, unresolved guilt, fear of judgment or unfinished business. For examples see American Ghost Stories. Perhaps it was similar ideas that led to the belief in "hungry ghosts" which is widespread in Asia.