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Are you confused about some paranormal terms? This glossary should help. Click on the first letter of the word you are looking for or scroll
down to find it.
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z]
- Agent
- The apparition or ghost seen by a human being. Also can be a spirit guide for a medium.
- Amulet
- Any object that is believed to be endowed with supernatural powers allowing it to fend off ghosts and evil spirits, or to bring good luck.
- Anomaly
- An anomaly (literally, no law or rule) is an irregular or unusual event which does not fit a standard rule or law.
- Apparition
- A spirit apparition is the classic form of a ghost and the rarest paranormal phenomena. It is the partial or full
(sometimes incomplete) form representing a person or animal who was once living and is presently passed on. Sometimes
the apparition is transparent and sometimes it can look as if it were solid, but eventually disappears.
- Apports
- An object created by mediums and poltergeists, which materializes out of thin air and takes solid form. These objects can be coins,
jewelry, or anything that would have significance to the members of the séance. Also known as Materialization.
- Astral Projection
- Is also called Out of Body Experience (OBE), and is a phenomenon where a spirit double (or astral body) leaves the body
(of a living being) and travels to another location.
- Atmospheric Apparition
- Also referred to as Atmospheric Imprinting, or Residual Haunts. When an event is so traumatic that it actually
imprints itself onto the atmosphere and then replays over and over again. This is most commonly seen at battlefield sites. In the case
where a ghost is seen only on the anniversary of the event, the phenomenon is referred to as a Recurring Apparition.
- Aura
- The field of energy that surrounds all living creatures, including human beings, animals and plants.
Some people have the ability to see colored auras and can determine the health and emotions of an individual by the color of their aura.
Aura Photography is used to capture the aura on film, usually using Polaroid cameras and film.
- Automatic Writing
- Is a type of automatism-unconscious muscular movements that are guided by spirits, in this case, writing.
Automatic painting has also been documented-where a former artist spirit guides the brush of a living artist.
- Awakening
- The exact moment when paranormal activity suddenly and unexpectedly emerges from
a location where no paranormal activity has been reported before, (or that has not been recorded for a long time).
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- Banshee
- An ancient Irish and Scottish tradition of a female spirit foretelling a tragedy or death.
They are said to emit a sound similar to a mournful crying.
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- Channeling
- A form of spirit communication where a spirit takes possession
of a medium to impart spiritual guidance, wisdom, or to communicate with those present at a séance.
- Clairvoyance
- The extrasensory perception manifesting in the form of either an internal or external vision of present or future events, objects, places and people.
Clairvoyance usually occurs through dreams or flashes of events while the clairvoyant is awake. An example of a famous clairvoyant was Edgar Cayce. (See Famous Psychics page)
- Cold Reading
- A fraudulent technique used by charlatans to obtain information about a person. It is usually accomplished by a series of statements and questions
by a fraudulent medium, responding to verbal and non-verbal answers of the person being "read."
- Control
- A spirit of the dead who acts as a medium's guide or intermediary to the "Other World." Also known as a Spirit Guide.
- Collective Apparition
- A case where more than one person sees the same spirit phenomenon.
- Crisis Apparition
- A specific type of apparition where the agent projects his or her astral
body at a time of crisis or death, usually to a loved one.
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- Direct Writing
- Writing that materializes on a previously unmarked surface without the aid of a medium's hand.
- Direct Voice Phenomenon (DVP)
- Is heard most often at a séance when a spirit speaks directly to the sitters, not though the medium.
The voice usually is heard near the medium, but not out of her/his mouth.
- Dowsing
- A method of locating people, animals, objects and water by the use of a forked rod, or a bent pair of wires.
It is believed that we all have this skill, but it is usually untapped.
- Drop In Communicator
- A spirit who shows up at a séance uninvited.
They often don't stay, but can bring with them apports, noises and/or strange lights.
- Druids
- A spiritual Celtic practice (religion) based upon the love of nature and the Earth.
It fosters: Love of Land, the Earth, the Wild and reverence for Nature. They were the priests, magicians,
mystics and priestesses of the Celtic people. The oak and the mistletoe that grows within its branches
were scared to the Druids. Mythologies describe Druids capable of control of the weather, healing, levitation
and shape changing themselves into the forms of animals. See information sheets regarding Druids and Stonehenge.
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- Ectoplasm
- From the Greek words, "ektos" and "plasma," which means "exteriorized substance."
"Ghostbusters" Theory: slimy residue left over by a spirit who was recently in the area.
More accepted explanation is that it is electro magnetic energy from a spirit.
It is almost always white, (not green!) and changes form quickly, even when there's no wind.
At times it is expelled from a medium's body while in a trance-like state.
Ectoplasm is warm to the touch, and has a wax-like consistence. It can also be rubbery and disappears
when exposed to bright light. Vaporous ectoplasm is light, and resembles clouds of smoke.
- Electro-Magnetic Field Meter
- An electronic devise that detects the changes in the Electro-magnetic field.
Since this field is around everything, care should be taken around electric equipment.
A reading of between 2.0 and 8 usually indicates paranormal activity. Above that is man made.
- Extrasensory Perception (ESP)
- The acquisition of information by means beyond the five human senses. Sometimes referred to as the "Sixth Sense."
- Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)
- A "spirit" voice on recorded on tape, usually audio.
Most often not heard at the time of taping, but is present when the tape is replayed.
- Exorcism
- A religious rite performed by a holy man for the purpose of expelling an evil spirit or demon.
An exorcism performed by the Roman Catholic Church is known as Rituale Romanum.
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- Fortean Phenomena
- Paranormal phenomena that science cannot explain.
The term originated from Charles Fort (1874-1932), an American who catalogued thousands
of strange phenomena that could not be explained in rational terms. See Information page on Charles Fort.
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- Ghost
- The imprint of a previously living, now deceased entity. Usually human, but also can be of an animal.
Because they are only imprints, it is not possible to communicate with ghosts. Ghost energy repeats the same pattern, and usually doesn't change, which is an indication that it is a ghost and not a spirit..
- Ghost Hunt
- An informal attempt to contact and record ghost or spirit activity.
Not as scientifically conducted as a Paranormal Investigation.
- Ghost Lights
- Lights that resemble orbs, but are much larger and are usually seen from a distance.
They can also be associated with a spirit who would have normally carried a light while living,
(i.e. and railroad worker or monks carrying candles.) Also called "ignis fatuus" meaning "foolish fire."
- Gray Ladies
- Are ghosts of a woman who has died at the hands of her lover or while waiting for him to return.
They are so-named because of their mournful expressions. Most are found in England.
Gray Ladies have been credited with providing preemptive warnings of disasters that have saved many lives.
- Grief
- The five stages of grief: Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression, and Finally.
These also apply to spirits who have not moved on and stay at the place they haunt.
They must move on in their own time, and nothing the living can do can speed up their grieving process.
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- Haunting
- An event where a spirit/ghost makes itself known to the people living in its former home,
office building, or property. Usually a ghost is attached to a place rather than people; and
they don't often leave the place that is being haunted when the people leave.
- Heart of a Haunting, The
- The precise location where paranormal activity occurs with the most frequency.
The nucleus of the paranormal phenomena.
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- Ley Lines
- The invisible alignments between sacred or mystical locations,
which are usually built on sites with energy vortexes.
When sacred sites or energy vortexes are plotted on an area map, the
straight lines connecting these locations are the Ley Lines. These pathways
often have much more paranormal activity than other surrounding areas.
- Lucid Dreaming
- A person having a lucid dream is usually not aware that they are dreaming.
The dream seems real and it appears impossible to determine whether the person
is still asleep or has actually woken up. There might be telepathy, precognition,
or clairvoyance involved when two people have the same dream. Past life experiences
are also commonly projected through lucid dreams.
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- Magnetometer
- A devise used to measure the presence of a magnetic field, as well as its strength,
direction, and fluctuations. Some paranormal investigators believe that spirits have a
detectable magnetic or energy aura.
- Marian Apparition
- The appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The most famous Marian apparition began
in 1981 in the village of Medjugorje, Bosnia. Six children began seeing visions of the
Blessed Virgin and documented over two thousand sightings. Almost everyone who has made a
pilgrimage to the village has experienced something that they could not explain.
Healings have occurred. These apparitions are not ghosts, but considered spiritual events.
- Medium
- A person who has the psychic ability to communicate with the dead. Sometimes mediums use
spirit guides to find the spirits of particular deceased loved ones. The word suggests that
a medium acts as a midway point between the dead and the living.
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- Near-Death Experience (NDE)
- An experience where a living person actually dies, or comes close to actual death,
and is revived. Many people recount their experiences of rushing though a tunnel
toward a bright light, seeing deceased relatives, and other visions of the afterlife.
The phrase was coined by Dr. Raymond Moody in his book recounting patient's NDEs.
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- Objective Apparitions
- Actual entities that appear independent of our mind, thoughts and feelings.
- Orb
- Always appears as a sphere or ball that looks as if it is emitting its own light.
It seems to "glow" as it hovers or moves. They are usually white or blue. Orbs most
often appear on photographs and/or video, but they are rarely seen by the human eye. No one is really sure what they are. All we do know is that appear in locations that are reportedly hauntd.
Out of Body Experience (OBE)
Is also called, Astral Projection, and is a phenomenon where a spirit double (or astral body)
leaves the body (of a living being) and travels to another location. This usually occurs when
the living person is asleep or in a trance-like state. The Astral body, (spirit, soul) returns
to the living person and is reunited.
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- Paranormal
- Beyond the simple human experience and scientific explanation.
- Paranormal Investigation
- A carefully controlled scientific research project to verify the presence of a
ghost or spirit and to document the activity.
- Pareidolia
- The misperception of an obscure stimulus being perceived as something more
specific and distinct. An innate human characteristic to see something in something
else-like depicting a face in the swirling of a stucco wall or ceiling, or from a pattern
in wood paneling. Or, the most often occurrence in the paranormal investigation business,
seeing a face in photograph that is probably a reflection and believing it to be a ghost.
To quote the great Sherlock Holmes, (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) "Eliminated all which is impossible,
then whatever remains,however improbable, must be the truth."
- Percipient
- A person who sees or perceives the presence of a ghost or apparition
- Phantom Hounds
- The sighting of phantom hounds seems to be at random, some times manifesting to guard something
of importance. They are frightening large dog spirit creatures with glowing eyes,
(sometimes headless) that chase the living, but rarely ever catch them. As long as
the person seeing one of these apparitions is not frightened to death, or runs off a cliff to
avoid them, they cannot cause any real damage.
- Phantom Phone Calls
- Calls via a telephone made by someone who has passed on. This usually occurs when the
caller has a close emotional relationship to the person answering the call. Hundreds of
reports of this type of phenomena have been recorded, but it is still considered a rare anomaly.
There have also been reports of communication via other electronic appliances, such as radios, CB's,
television sets and even computers.
- Phantom Ships
- The appearance of phantom ships is thought to be a death omen by sailors. The most famous
Phantom Ship is the Flying Dutchman, which has many documented sightings from the 1800's.
The Griffon can still be seen on the Great Lakes.
- Phantom Travelers
- Ghosts that haunt modes of transportation, (trains, buses, and airplanes) that seem to be cursed
to never-ending travel. Also known as Phantom Hitchhikers. Some apparitions occur only on the
anniversary of the spirit's death.
- Phasmophobia
- Fear of ghosts.
- PSI
- The factors responsible for a variety of paranormal phenomena, free
from the cultural and personal assumptions of the paranormal.
- Psychic Attacks
- Paranormal assaults on humans or animals that can cause physical or mental distress,
cultures, the "Evil Eye" or curses are also examples.
- Poltergeist
- Activity believed to be caused by an adolescent with latent psychic PK abilities. This is not believed to be spirit activity. Poltergeist is a
German word translated, "Noisy Spirit." Most studies have concluded that the agents of
poltergeist activity originate from females under the age of twenty. Poltergeist activity
is accumulative as the activity progresses. See separate Poltergeist information page.
- Power Points
- Spiraling rhythms of earth energy being drawn together from different sources to form a
concentrated energy mass. Power Points have abnormal amounts of ghost and UFO sightings and
poltergeist activity, making them a focus for many paranormal investigations.
- Precognition
- The ability to receive information about objects or events that exist in a future time. The ability to predict the future through dreams or flashes of events while awake.
- Psychokinesis
- The movement of objects through the use of one's mind, without the aid of physical persuasion.
The force of Mind over Matter. Sometimes it is done without the conscious knowledge of the person
using it. This is the case with Poltergeist incidents, and usually is brought about by a young
adolescent. Uri Geller was believed to possess this ability.
- Psychic Burn
- The location where a terrible event, typically extremely violent, occurs causing human emotions,
(fear, panic, anger, pain, hate, confusion, etc.), to explode from the scene scarring the physical
environment. This is not a ghost, but rather a reenactment of a horrible event. This is also referred
to as Atmospheric Apparitions.
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- Radio Voice Phenomenon (RVP)
- The reception of the voice of a deceased through the speakers of an ordinary radio.
- Reciprocal Apparition
- When the agent (ghost) and percipient (living person seeing the ghost)
see and respond to each other and no one else in the area is aware of the ghost.
- Recurring Apparitions
- A ghostly appearance that occurs once a year or on a regular cycle, usually
on the anniversary of a death or traumatic event.
- Reincarnation
- The belief that a soul comes back to earth many times through many lives for the
purpose of attaining knowledge of every experience and to ultimately achieve perfection.
Once perfection is achieved the soul returns to God and becomes a part of Him. The
Christian religion is the only major religion of the world that does not accept this philosophy.
- Retrocognition
- A sudden shift or displacement in time in which one finds himself/herself in the
past seeing or experiencing events of which they had no prior knowledge. Also known as Postcognition.
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- Scrying
- A form of fortune-telling in which the seer perceives visions of the future
while gazing into a mirror, crystal ball, bowl of water, or other reflective surface.
- Séance
- A gathering or "spirit circle" of individuals for the purpose of communicating
with the dead. Also known as "A Circle."
- Sensitive
- Someone who is aware of or can feel paranormal presences that cannot be picked
up by the normal five senses. Ususally does not have the ability to openly communicate with a spirit as does Medium, but can sense or feel what a spirit might have to say.
- Shadow Figure
- Dark figure shaped entities of supernatural origin that appear in the peripheries of people's vision and then disintegrate, or move between walls, when noticed. Shadow figures/people are not reported as having human features, wearing modern/period clothing, or attempting to communicate. No one is quite sure what they are, but in most cases, they evoke fear and dread. It has never been reported that a Shadow Figure has ever harmed any living person, however.
- Soul
- The life force or energy of a human being or animal. A person's conscious
identity that cannot be extinguished after the death of their body.
- Spirit
- Thought to be the soul of a human being or animal. The willpower and driving force behind the soul. A spirit can communicate through a medium or sensitive and sometimes lingers in the Earth Dimension because they have a strong emotional connection to a place or a person. There can be a ghost and a spirit of the same once living person in the same area. A ghost image is their imprint and will be seen or felt performing the same motion, whereas their spirit can be anywhere and can communicate with a sensitive or a medium.
- Spirit Guide
- A spirit who assists a medium find and communicate with the spirit of a deceased friend or relative.
Also known as a "Control."
- Spirit Photograph
- A photograph where there is evidence of a spirit.
- Spontaneous Human Combustion
- The process of a human body starting on fire as a result of heat generated by an internal chemical action.
The phenomenon is very rare and not ever personally witnessed. See information page on Spontaneous Human
Combustion.
- Subjective Apparitions
- Are created by our minds and are actually hallucinations.
- Supernatural
- Something that exists or occurs through some means other than any known force in nature.
As opposed to paranormal, the term often connotes divine or demonic intervention.
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- Telepathy
- The mind-to-mind communication between individuals without the use of audible speech or hand signals.
This often occurs normally between twins, mother and child, or anyone who is closely connected to another.
- Teleportation
- A type of Paranormal transportation where an object or person is moved from one location to another,
sometimes through solid objects, such as walls, closed doors or closed windows.
- Time Slips
- Moments where the past and present collide at one point.
- Transmigration
- The belief that souls come back to life through many lives, ascending higher levels of life through insect,
animal and then to human forms to ultimately attain perfection. Once perfection is achieved the soul returns
to God and becomes a part of Him.
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- UFO
- Unidentified Flying Objects, considered as being alien spacecraft. See UFO Information sheet.
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- Vortex (Energy Vortex)
- Believed to be a portal between dimensions though which ghosts/spirits travel.
Another explanation is that they are more powerful orbs that are traveling at high speeds
and look as though they are milky contrails that bend in different directions. They can also
show on photographs as wiggly neon streamers of red, blue, white or yellow. They never leave s
hadows, so if one shows up in your photograph and it has a shadow, it's probably not a vortex.
Compasses go out of whack and sensitive electrical equipment fails. Vortexes can occur anywhere,
inside caves, in riverbeds, within a house, or on the grounds of a cemetery. The Chinese call this
energy Yin and Yang. Ancient civilizations built scared temples and holy shrines on locations believed
to be vortexes and believed that these areas amplified energy and spiritual enlightenment.
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Paranormal Glossary
