21 Things You Need To Know About Dead People
Updated 2025.07.14
Dead People Facts. What are some common truths regarding the deceased?
It used to be that on some days, before I started balancing my professional and personal life, I would talk to more dead people for work than I did living people after work.
Over the course of these interactions, I’ve come across some differences between what people think dead people are like, compared to what they are really like.
These realizations have helped ease my fears with interacting with the deceased, both in readings and in everyday situations, so I wanted to share them with you.
Below, I go over some truths about the deceased, hopefully to release the stigmas -
1. They are all individuals
Each person is a uniquely different individual with behavior traits, characteristics and distinct personalities that are retained after death.
Meaning, each deceased person has a different way they like to communicate and express themselves - and no two are ever the same.
2. They are usually not zombies
Most of the time, the deceased are not drawing upon the energy of humans to gain anything - many can get their own energy from a Divine source.
They usually do not appear with their injuries sustained upon death, though this does happen from time to time.
They usually look, behave and act, just like they ever did - often appearing as they looked in their “prime,” but they will appear in the easiest way you can remember them.
3. Most are friendly and nice
Most people, by and large, are friendly, nice, well meaning individuals.
Which is why the deceased are quite a nice bunch to be around.
You can generally expect positive, loving interactions from most deceased individuals - just like you can with most human interactions.
4. They don’t always appear as white apparitions
Spirit can appear to us in a variety of ways and the traditional white, smoky apparition is only one such way.
Many of those in Spirit can appear in full color body and form or a little bit more of a translucent version of themselves, filled with intricate detail.
The more detail, generally, the more it takes for them to learn how to appear this way.
5. They can choose to stay on earth for their Heaven
Many deceased people loved being alive.
When they cross over, they are given the choice of staying fully in Heaven, or coming back to earth to hang with their own loved ones, helping them out and spending time with the people they knew still on earth.
This does not mean they’re earthbound; you can be fully crossed in the light and assist the living.
6. Their presence can be easily felt
Their behavior, personality and energy remains the same in death as it was in life.
Just as you can easily sense a living loved one when they walk in a room behind you, many people can easily sense a deceased loved one walking in a room behind them - it’s just that when they turn around to see no one there - they talk themselves out of it.
If you get a strong overwhelming memory of this person’s energy, this can also indicate their presence with you.
7. They aren’t usually held back due to ‘unfinished business’
Some do, but most deceased people aren’t hanging around because of something unresolved on earth.
In fact, while many deceased do have messages for the living, they aren’t being held behind because of it - just like you aren’t being held behind in your life, simply because there’s a conversation you need to have.
You can live your life and if the opportunity comes to pass a message, you do. If not, no worries. For the deceased, it’s the same.
8. They have emotions, thoughts and feelings - and can transfer these to the living
Individuals who are highly sensitive can feel the emotions and thoughts of others.
These people are called clairsentient empaths.
They can also sense the emotions, thoughts and feelings of the non-living, just as they can the living.
Many people who have mood swings are actually picking up on the thoughts, feelings and emotions of the unseen around them.
9. They can create sensations that feel like someone is touching you
Spirits can manipulate the energy around you to create a pinpointed physical sensation resembling physical touch.
When energy is condensed enough close to your skin, it can be felt and even leave marks.
You can tell them to stop touching you, and they usually will, just like you can tell a living person to stop touching you.
10. They can hear you when you speak out loud or ask them questions in your mind
They will often respond telepathically or by getting the message to you in dreams, through visions or by sending signs.
If you are talking or asking questions of a deceased person in your space, they can respond with action or communicate with you in a variety of ways - like by moving something.
11. The deceased can appear using the energy of the space
All things in life are made out of energy - including the deceased.
To appear, many of those in Spirit will gather excess energy in the space and focus it into a small area.
The denser the collection of energy, the easier they can be seen. It often looks like a ‘heat wave’ or wavy type of air.
It’s generally clear in color, but it’s sometimes white or has other colors in it too.
12. They can manipulate energetic objects
Speaking of a collection of energetic particles in the area, energy can be drawn upon or sent to electrical equipment - on purpose.
Batteries dying, lights flickering and televisions acting funny - this could be a spirit person trying to make you aware of their presence.
13. They can help you do things you never thought they could
The very nature of their presence generally means they want to help you with something.
Many deceased seek to assist the living and be helpful in some way. Just as some living people want to be of service and to help others, many deceased people are givers, too.
They can help put a birdie in someone’s ear or nudge someone to get their attention. They can work behind the scenes to arrange job offers, proposals, apologies and send certain beneficial people and situations in your direction.
Need a good word put in for you?
Ask a deceased person to help.
14. They can become Angel-like in death
While most deceased people stay human-like after dying, others ascend in the afterlife and become more Angelic. This is most common for children in Spirit and those who were very spiritual on earth.
15. They can be funny and play jokes on the living
While some deceased people do deliver serious messages, they are not always serious.
Some are pretty funny and emphasize paying more attention to fun in life. In fact, they will play jokes on their loved ones to get them to lighten up. They may misplace something, line up synchronistic situations in a fun way or attempt to bring more happiness into your life.
16. They like to hang out around living people
The deceased like to be in the company of others as much as the living do - and not to leech their energy - but simply, to enjoy a community of friends and family, even if no one can see them.
You can call them in anytime for this reason.
17. They don’t like to be yelled at but understand when you do
Instigating a deceased person for a paranormal investigation?
Meanness can change the message or response. For the highest and best response, aim for kinder interaction techniques.
If you’re upset or angry with a deceased loved one, they can understand this, but check out this article on forgiving a loved one to help soothe future interactions.
18. They can cross-over before their actual physical death
Not every person who dies leaves their body as soon as their physical heart stops beating.
Some people leave their bodies before their physical body ceases to exist. This happens frequently in the case of long-term decline.
Do you know a deceased person who died from something painful?
There’s a good chance they left their body moments before and didn’t feel a thing.
19. They may wait a few days after dying before officially crossing-over
Not every person who dies leaves this earth right away and crosses over.
Some visit with loved ones they weren’t able to physically see before passing or attend their own funeral.
But they don’t wait too long.
Generally, there’s a window of opportunity to cross over in the days after dying.
20. Once they die, their physical concerns are generally relieved
Most of the deceased people do not suffer after losing their physical body.
Free from their physical self, they are often free of all ailments that occurred while on earth.
Thus, when they reappear, it is rare for a deceased person to appear with physical ailments - unless it helps them get identified.
21. They can choose the way they appear to others
Without a physical body, many deceased people can choose how they want to appear - which is why you’ll often see the deceased, looking the best they ever did while alive.
If someone would recognize them by body ailments only, in this case, they may appear in the way that would be best for others to remember them by.
The deceased want to be remembered and many times, connect joyfully and helpfully with the living. It is only our minds, their behaviors, and popular culture that depicts them as otherwise.
Start your 14-day free trial in The Membership!
A guided intuitive and spiritual growth program with rotating topics, at-home lessons, live workshops, meditations and more — anytime, anywhere, at your pace.
