According to folklore an Etiäinen is a spirit sent forth by a Finnish shaman or a person in great distress. It will either show itself where the shaman wishes, or where the closest person to the one in distress resides. It generally will be able to communicate something, but rarely in any great detail.

Modern explanations have tended to point the finger at migraine hallucinations.

See also: bilocate; doppelganger