Reasons

Reasons for staying earthbound are surely as varied as people are varied themselves. In any case, strong connections to this world are of importance as well as uncertainty and fear of death that comes with it.

Material values, which are the centre of our life, are no longer important after our death. Only spiritual values will become important. If material values are vital while being alive, then the spirit will still try to obtain material wealth after its death.

However, after some time, the spirit will realise that it cannot obtain wealth and hence will - based on the resonance - attach itself to a living person who experiences the same greed for material values in order to live his greed through that of the living person.
Further reasons for staying earthbound can be dreams or ideas not fulfilled during lifetime: numerous addictions, karmic and/or emotional reasons, feelings of shame and guilt, all kinds of fears, unkind actions, suicides etc.

Long lasting and intensive grief for a deceased by their relatives can result in the spirit staying unnecessarily earthbound although the deceased might know how to go into the light. In such cases the spirit cannot leave as grieving thoughts are literally holding it back.

Dogmatic religious views that cause fear and feelings of guilt in spirits can be a further reason for staying earthbound.