Ectoplasm from Ghostbusters
Now, this isn’t a type of ghost, but it is connected to them. We think of ectoplasm as ooze left behind when a ghost interacts with the physical world. It’s almost like mucus with it being clear or white-hued. Yet, there is a more supernatural version that has been around longer than the phrase ‘He slimed me.’
Ectoplasm, which is usually proven to be a hoax, is a substance that comes out of a medium when they are in a trance. Instead of a slime, it is more of a fabric that comes out of the person. The ectoplasm covers the targeted ghost who is then forced to interact with people, usually by answering questions. People have seen hands, feet, and faces within this ‘mysterious’ substance. Typically, they start off clear and gradually darken as they take on a physical form.
Most stories have ectoplasm with no smell, but there are several that do. It is rarely pleasant with either being burning ozone or a mildew stench. The latter I can see since that’s almost like a rotting smell. Other reported aromas are sweet ones like cotton candy or marshmallows as well as citrus. I couldn’t find any explanation for that last one, so I’m going to assume that ectoplasm can only be found in places that export oranges.
I find this interesting only because I grew up thinking slime left by a ghost made perfect sense. That is until you think about it and the idea of a spiritual being leaving behind a physical substance was less likely. Still, there is a part of me that would hope such a thing exists. Why? I like the idea that spirits of the dead can still interact with the physical world and leave a mark on it. Nothing world-changing, but a sign to show they are still around in some fashion.
Legends of Windemere 
Of course I think of all of the Ghostbusters films.
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Same here.
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Me. too, L. Marie. I immedIately thought of the slime!
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One of the greatest scenes ever.
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Ectoplasm is great fun to write about – it features prominently in the first book of my Bad Boy Wizard series for kids.
Sorry about the shameless plug.
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No problem. The topic fits, so it isn’t shameless.
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I got all my knowledge of ectoplasm from Ghostbusters.
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Until writing this post, Ghostbusters was all I knew too.
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I’ve used it in stories, but usually use the word psychode, just because it’s different.
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Interesting word. You make it yourself?
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I found it online somewhere.
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As you said, ectoplasm seems to be more associated with mediums and seances than anything else. Apart from Ghostbusters, of course.
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I see it showing up in other supernatural stories. Maybe Ghostbusters started that.
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If it was real, ectoplasm could be collected to prove a ghost was or was not present at a particular place. It would be sampled and analyzed. That hasn’t happened in the real world, and probably never will.
In stories, though, it can be useful for setting/atmosphere and other plot reasons. I seem to recall in some games, you can gather ectoplasm as a crafting material, too.
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Maybe. Ectoplasm could also be something that evaporates quickly. There might not be any way to keep and maintain it.
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