The Cyrenean word for Beelzebub, the famous demonic figure the 'Prince of the Devils.’ of Satan's right-hand.
Agent: A person that unknowingly causes poltergeist activity.
Apparition: The appearance of a ghost or spirit. A spirit that takes a recognizable form (i.e. a person) Apparitions are based on each of the 5 senses;
Arête: a powerful evil, demon, or monstrous giant in Arabic mythology. The vengeful spirit of a murdered person which arises from the victim's shed blood.
Alchemy: The exploration and application of the sciences, including chemistry and the science of astrology. Alchemists were chiefly dedicated to the pursuit of producing gold from base metals and various materials.
Alien: Extraterrestrial: Refers to something not from this world. Belonging to, characteristic of, or constituting another and very different place, society, or person; strange.
Amulet: A symbol which is worn as a pendant or ring. A charm or ornament, often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to aid the wearer or protect against evil.
Angel: "Messenger of God," an attendant spirit or guardian. A celestial being, benevolent in nature. a spiritual being superior to humans in power and intelligence. There have been accounts of angels aiding people in times of crisis.
Animism: The belief that plants and other inanimate objects have souls. The belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena. The existence of spiritual beings that are separate from bodies.
Anomaly: something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified .Something other than an ordinarily understood experience.
Anthropomorphize: To attribute human form or personality to things that are not human. A tendency to impose human perceptions and priorities upon spirits and other worldly creatures.
Apparition: The projection or manifestation of a ghostly figure into a physical form. An unusual site. The visible, audible or physical manifestation of a spirit. Signs of an Apparition vary from smells and cold spots to movement of objects.
Area 51: Area 51 is a remote tract of land in the southwestern portion of Lincoln County in southern Nevada in the western United States.name given to part of a 'secret' military base in North America, also known as 'Dreamland'. The base is located 95 miles to the North of Las Vegas near dried up 'Groom Lake'.
A popular conspiracy theory is that this base houses reverse-engineered Alien Technology or the product of various Black Projects. In the past the base was used as a testing ground for previously top secret military projects such as the U2, F117A and SR-71. However in recent years, unusual airborne craft have been sighted over the Area 51 test ground "AreaS4", which seem to exceed our current technological capabilities. Other stories, including that of alleged ex Area 51 employee Bob Lazar, also bring further question to the true purpose of the base
Astral Projection: Scientific evidence is now suggesting that we can leave our physical body and that we may even survive the death of that physical body. A Belief that a person's spiritual awareness can temporarily detach itself from the physical body,
Aura: A distinctive but intangible quality that seems to surround a person or thing; atmosphere: A reflection of our moods, existence. It is also said to precede the onset of certain disorders, such as an epileptic seizure or an attack of migraine.
Auditory: Voices, doors opening / closing, sounds of walking.
Automatic Writing: A method of Spirit communication, conventionally performed by a Medium, but can usually be attempted by just about anyone. The writer is typically unaware of what he/she is writing, and can produce pages of text that are thought to be the result of a Spirit communicating through that person. While many believe that this form of Spirit communication really does work, others remain skeptical, some even claiming that the writing could simply be originating from the writer's own subconscious.
Baphomet: Demon character supposedly worshiped by the Knights Templar in 14th century France. The "god" of lust and regeneration, or as symbolic of the Devil. Baphomet has occasionally been portrayed as a synonym of Satan or a demon, a member of the hierarchy of hell.
Banishing: Formal, ceremonial, procedure affected to cast an invisible presence or influence out from an area. This term can refer either to a spiritual cleansing, or the closing of a magical rite, when the invoked powers are dismissed
Bigfoot: A bulky, hair covered, bipedal humanoid which appears to possess both human and ape-like characteristics. Also known as Sasquatch and Yeti, depending upon locale.
Bogey (-Man): A grim spectral figure who delights in menacing mortals with rather gruesome pranks and abductions. Although the lore of this character has degenerated into a familiar device used to threaten rambunctious children, the 'Bogey' was formerly soundly dreaded in Celtic regions, and was said to prowl the stretches of fields, marshes, and moors, looking for hikers and travelers who had strayed from their paths.
Book of Thoth: Another term used to refer to a deck of Tarot cards.
Borley Rectory: Known for its reputation of being the most well known Haunted house in England, Borley Rectory has been investigated by hundreds of researchers and experts over the years. The Rectory was built back in 1863 by Reverend Henry Bull, but was later destroyed by a large fire in February 1939.
The house was reported that a great deal of Poltergeist activity and related phenomena did occur there even before anyone had moved in. In 1930, Reverend Lionel Foyster and his family moved there, but left only 5 years later after a staggering 2000 accounts of unexplained paranormal phenomena. Strange writing which appeared on a regular basis on the walls, to unusual Apparitions and figures appearing to be moving through the gardens at night - the family were constantly plagued by these disturbing Supernatural occurrences and events.
The last people to live in Borley Rectory were Captain William Gregson and his family, and after the fire it was believed that the Ghosts had actually moved across the road to the nearby Borley Church. Even after the destruction of the building the strange occurrences continued for some time.
Brontoscopy: A form of Divination through the examining of thunder. The Romans in particular practiced this. They were able to determine whether good or bad luck would be experienced based on the direction from which the thunder was coming, and on which day of the week it occurred.
Channeling: Receiving messages from a spirit usually by allowing the spirit to use the body of someone who is alive.
Charm: A spell or object said to contain magical powers
Clairaudience: French for 'Clear Hearing'. It is a word that refers to the ability to perceive sounds and voices that cannot be discerned through normal hearing. Many Mediums use Clairaudience when contacting the deceased, it can enable them to hear sounds and voices associated with a Spirit.
Clairvoyance: Psychic ability to see into past, present or future events.
Cold Reading: An accurate reading from a psychic without any prior knowledge.
Cold Spot: An energy area associated with a temperature change.
Crisis Apparition: When spirits of loved ones appear just before or soon after the anniversary of their death.
Crop Circles: is a term used to describe patterns created by the flattening of crops. They span several hundred feet in diameter and often quite intricate in design, the circles frequently appear overnight in wheat and grain fields. Speculation, regarding this topic is available. Hoaxers have been known to make crop circles.
Cross Correspondence: Messages received from the spirit world.
Construct, Psychic: It has been theorized, and experimentation has been conducted to support this premise, that through directed psychic energies a responsive spirit-like entity can be created, continuing for a time to exist independently
Cleansing: A less ritualized form of exorcism, where-in a dwelling or site is purified and malevolent influences are banished through prayers, spoken as the petitioner moves through the area.
Continuance: Commonly referred to as life-after-death, survival of the psyche post cessation of the biological organism which had generated it. Duration of a state or condition.
Crypto zoology: The study and research of new and undiscovered species of animal, that are reported to exist, Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, but have yet to be substantiated. Such creatures range from new species of fish and undersea species, to modern Cryptids such as Bigfoot and the Chupacabra. Crypto zoology involves the study of any unknown species that are yet to be included in International Zoological Catalogues
Crystal Skulls: A variety of crystal skulls have been discovered in parts of Mexico and Central America, most of them composed of clear rock quartz crystal. They have been found in a variety of sizes, and range in date from thousands of years to more recent contemporary versions. The mystery as to exactly why they were created has not been discovered.
It is believed they have had some religious significance to the people who created them, mainly because most of them have been found in tombs.
Cthula: is a mythical giant being, one of the Great Old Ones in H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. It is often cited for the extreme descriptions given of its appearance, size, and the terror that it invokes. Horror enthusiasts describe it as a kind of demon-god from another world Because of this reputation; Cthulhu is often referred to in science fiction and fantasy circles as an extreme horror or evil.
Déjà vu: A feeling that you have met a new person before, done the event that is currently happening before, or that you have visited a new place before.
Dematerialization: The fading out and in of an object or the complete disappearance of something that apports.
Demon: In religion, folklore, and mythology a demon is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit, non human in origin and in Christian terms it is generally understood as a fallen angel, formerly of God
Discarnate: Having no physical form or body.
Divination: Divination is often dismissed by skeptics, including the scientific community, as being mere superstition:
The art or practice of discovering future events or unknown things, through the use of tools such as Tarot Cards, Scrying Bowls/Mirrors, Crystal Balls, Divining Rod, Pendulums and other such items.
Doppelganger: A mirror image or double, an identical replica of a person. The idea behind this is that everyone has a Doppelganger, an identical copy of themselves somewhere in the world. If the person is good, then the Doppelganger will be evil and vice versa. It is even said that if the two should meet, then they will both perish.
Dowsing: The ancient art of being able to locate things that are hidden underground, such as water or gold, through the use of a Divining Rod, often a Y-shaped stick, held at the forked end with the single end as a pointer.
Dowsing Rod: A forked twig said to move when held over ground in which water, metal etc. is to be found. Usually done with a "Y" shaped twig, the individual dowsing will hold the stick by the forked end, and use the single end as a pointer. "Following" the rod will lead the dowser to the water/metal he is seeking, and vibrates when nearing the target in question.
Dreamland: A term often used to refer to the Area 51 'secret' facility in Nevada.
Ectoplasm: a physical substance/ semi-fluid organic material that supposedly forms as a fog like mist, solid white mass, or vortices. Manifests as a result of "spiritual energy" or "psychic phenomenon" A product of psychic energy
Electric Phenomena: Phenomena with properties resembling electricity
Elementals: A spirit being associated with the four elements of the Earth (earth, air, fire, water). Elementals traditionally are very powerful and somewhat amoral.
EMF: Electro Magnetic Field a field of force produced by electric charges and currents, which has both an electric and a magnetic component and contains electromagnetic energy.
Electromagnetic Field Meter (EMF Detector): A device that detects the changes in the
Electromagnetic Field: This field is around everything from TVs to power boxes. It is thought that ghosts and other paranormal phenomena will disrupt the EM Field when present. The normal reading for paranormal activity is between 2.0 and 8.0 mg. above this is usually man-made in origin. During most paranormal activity there will be an increase and fluctuation in the EMF.
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP): Sounds or voices recorded on magnetic tape which is only heard upon playback, discovered by Konstantin Raudive.EVPs are usually recorded in a range from 0 - 300 Hz (human speech is generally within 500 - 2000 Hz, and has never been recorded
below 300 Hz.) it registers a voice that is not audible otherwise.
Empath: A person who is sensitive to various forces around them and can “know” the emotions and feelings of people and/or animals in their presence. They are particularly sensitive to their surroundings, even to a degree of telepathically receiving and experiencing the emotions of others in their proximity.
Enochian: A magical, "angelic" language first translated by Dr. John Dee, and used in the rituals of both the "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" in the 19th century and the "First Church of Satan" in the 20th century.
Entity: A disembodied "consciousness" commonly referred to as ghost, spirit or (if of an apparently malicious or resentful nature) demon.
Entropy: The observation that everything in the material Universe will eventually, inevitably wind-down, burn-out, fall apart.
Epicenter: Person or persons, which a poltergeist tends to focus on. When the Epicenter is present, the activity will increase.
ESP: Also known as extrasensory perception. The 3 Paranormal subjects that fall under the ESP topic are clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition.
Evil Eye: The evil eye has a long history. It is believed that someone with the evil eye ability can do things to you by just looking at you. There are many, many charms and chants to chase away the effects of the evil eye.
Evocation: A chant said to conjure an entity.
E.V.P: 'Electronic Voice Phenomena.' Disembodied "voices" and sounds imprinted on audio recording devices.
Exorcism: 'Rite of Exorcism' to be conducted by the respective Rabbi or Priest holy rite used to cast out a demonic entity from a living person or location. is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed The practice is quite ancient and part of the belief system of many religions.
Extraterrestrials: Life forms originating on planets other than our own. This term usually refers to highly advanced visitors from other worlds, who journey to our sphere in space craft’s with the probable intention of observing and studying our species.
Fairy: A small human-like creature of myth. Can be good or evil Flying Saucer.
Unidentified Flying Object. The first modern sighting of a UFO was in the Cascade Mountains in 1947.Flying saucer is the name given to a type of unidentified flying object (UFO) with a disc- or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either alone or in tight formations with other similar craft, and exhibiting high maneuverability.
Forte, Charles: The first person to research and document reports of paranormal phenomena in a concise and coherent way. Charles Forte was born in 1874 and died in 1932. He spent much of his days in the New York City public library and British museum where he'd search through newspapers, magazines and other publications for reports of mysterious phenomena.
Fortune Telling: Various practices used to tell the future.
Geomancy: Fortune telling by the use of lines and shapes.
Geopathic Stress: an unfavorable reaction of the biological system as the result of exposure to radiation's from the earth that are dowsed or divined as detrimental. Noxious energy. Noxious energy will cause Geopathic stress in humans and most animals and effect the growth of trees etc.
Ghost: The spirit body of someone who has passed away from the Earth Plane of existence, they reflect the appearance of the living. They are not always aware humans are observing them.
Ghoul: A Demon of Islamic lore which is said to consume the flesh of both the dead and the living. Ghouls are said to live in graveyards, ruins and other desolate locations, and come out at night to feast. They are most commonly described as being human in form, rising from the dead to prey on the living to satiate their unholy appetites.
Globule: An anomaly where-in floating, circular forms appear on photographs or videotape, which seem indicative of spirit activity. Globes are a natural containment formation of the meniscus of liquid, as in gas containing bubbles; perhaps the interaction of energy and a quasi-physical substance produced by spiritual manifestations results in a similar effect, the globules being an initial containment of energy.
Presently, all we know is that they continue to appear, and extraneous possible causes such as moisture, light refraction or emulsion seepage, etc., have been considered and ruled out.
Golden-rod: A rare anomaly seen in videotape recorded at the site of a suspected haunting, appearing as bright, white or yellowish lines rapidly moving across a room.
Gray: The most commonly reported form of Alien entity. Grays are characterized by being small, thin beings, with large eyes and grayish/brown colored skin. They are hairless, and are reported on some occasions as wearing metallic skin-tight "space suits".
There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of Grays; however that doesn't alter the fact that they are the most commonly accepted form of Alien creature.
Griffiths, Francis: One of the two girls who in the summer of 1917 took photographs of what they claimed to be fairies at Cottingley Beck. The photographs became known as the Cottingley Fairies.
Groom Lake: A dried up lake in Nevada that is also the location of the 'secret' Area 51 military base and Nellis Air Force Range.
Guardian Angel: A messenger sent from God, assigned to protect and keep a person safe and out of trouble.
Haunted: sites of reported ghost activity. The reports of these hauntings are often referred to as ghost lore. Ghost lore is fueled by history and legends and is a part of folklore. These accounts can be subjective in nature and there is no commonly accepted objective evidence that ghosts or similar phenomena exist.
Haunting: Paranormal activity in a place. This can be apparitions, ghosts, unexplained sounds, unexplained smells, etc over a period of time with a certain location. ; A paranormal event or events characterized by spiritual activity. A repeated manifestation of supernatural phenomena occurring
over a period of time in a specific location. It may include apparitions, sounds, smells, cold spots, moving or disappearing objects, etc. There are four types of hauntings
Intelligent, Poltergeist, Residual, Demonic
Hex: Also known as a curse. Used to bring “evil” or bad things into someone’s life.
Hidden Sense-ESP: The unexplained sensing of sights, sounds, smells and touches without the use of the known five senses.
Highway of Death: One of the best recorded examples of strange phenomena concerning car crashes, occurred directly after the construction of a new motorway section in Germany in 1930. The section was a completely straight area of flat roadway, on the side of which was a small stone kilometer marker known as kilometer marker 239. During the first 12 months of the roadway's existence, over 100 cars crashed on the carriageway near the jinxed marker.
An extreme example of this occurred on a very clear dry day in September 1930, when a total of 9 separate cars left the road right next to the accursed marker. It was only after the stone marker had been completely removed from the ground, and the area sprinkled with holy water did the accidents stop.
Hynek Classification System: A system commonly used to classify sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects. The system divides sightings up into three main categories, Close Encounters of the first, second and third kinds. See also: Close Encounters.
Hypnosis: An altered state of consciousness where you are susceptible to suggestions or can delve deeper into your subconscious for answers
Illusion: An appearance that causes you to see something that might truly not be there
Incubus: .According to medieval theology, Incubus was a Demon or Goblin that upon taking on the form of a human male would attempt to have sex with women, usually while they were asleep. The female counterpart of Incubus was Succubus. There are documented cases of Incubus attacks.
Infestation: Repeated and persistent paranormal phenomena, generally centered on a particular location or person(s). Also known as a haunting.
Indirect voice: A spirit speaks through the medium to whoever is in the room. The voice coming from the medium is not the normal voice usually had. .
Influence: An invisible entity of undetermined nature has indirect control of persons. Starts out as a feeling of being uneasy, then takes control or manipulates something or someone. Eventually the people realize these plus other signs are those of a haunting.
Instrumental Transcommunication-ITC: The recording of images on video for which there is no known source. This is similar to recording examples of Electronic Voice Phenomenon, except Instrumental Transcommunication involves images rather than sounds. A video camera pointed at a Television screen set to display static is one way of obtaining results for this method.
Examples of ITC usually exhibit images of unusual shapes or faces, which many believe to be Ghosts or Spirits attempting to communicate. Despite a lot of research into this phenomenon, there is yet no satisfactory explanation for the source of these images.
Intelligent Haunting: When spirits seem to live in a specific area and act with free will, as well as show intelligence i.e., (not residual). Spirits don't necessarily haunt the place they die at, but could haunt the most comfortable place for them to stay i.e., (their old home). The spirit will interact with witnesses at a location and attempt to make its presence known. The spirit is well aware of its surroundings.
Jersey Devil: A creature with a considerable history which has been seen in the state of New Jersey. The legend itself dates back to 1735, when a woman in Leeds gave birth to what was considered to be a 'cursed' child, with the head of a horse, hooves, a snake's tail and wings.
This entity came to be known as the 'Jersey Devil.' The most prominent series of sightings of the creature occurred in 1909, when over 100 people reported they'd seen it over a five day period. Hoof prints were also found stretching over a great distance in the snow, and the local fire department allegedly fired their hoses at it when they encountered the creature flying overhead. There is much debate over the authenticity of these reports, and some believe that the story was used as a way to sell property to developers at lower prices. Even so, sightings of the creature have been reported more recently.
In 1993, a park ranger encountered the creature late at night. He took cover in his car as he observed what he described as a six feet tall dark figure with the head of a deer and two piercing red eyes.
Kap Dwa: 'Kap Dwa' was allegedly a 12-foot tall two-headed giant, who lived in the 17th century, and was captured by Spanish sailors in 1673. It was said he had a pike driven through his heart after managing to kill four of his captors.
Since then his stuffed body has been displayed at various sideshows in England from 1900 onwards, and in America since 1980.
Kappa: A Japanese mythological creature, that resembles a sprite or imp that is said to enjoy playing pranks on humans. It is also said that the Kappa longs for human company and acceptance.
In recent years the Kappa was the subject of a scam on a Japanese Television program called 'Denpa Shonen'. An actor dressed up as the creature lived for three months in a wilderness area around the city on Tono, scaring locals and causing considerable protests. After the scam was revealed, locals complained bitterly, claiming that the Kappa had seriously disrupted their lives.
Kirlian photography: A type of camera that can take a picture that shows the aura of a person. refers to a form of photogram made with high voltage. It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is connected to a source of high voltage, small corona discharges (created by the strong electric field at the edges of the object) create an image on the photographic plate.
Kundalin: A vital energy usually manipulated in yogic practices that can provide energy to paranormal phenomenon Levitation The act of being able to float in the air without support or without any apparent physical means. Levitation has been performed by Magicians for centuries as a magic trick, however genuine Levitation is also thought to be possible. Some believe that levitation can be put down to a form of Telekinesis. There have also been cases of alleged Levitation relating to Hauntings, Spirit possession and other Ghost related phenomena.
Ley Lines: Ley Lines are thought to be alignments of ancient and sacred sites, such as Stone Circles, churches, burial grounds and megaliths, and are considered to be sources of powerful earth energies.
The points where Ley Lines cross are often found to be the subject of various Ghost phenomena, as well as sightings of UFOs and mysterious lights. It has been suggested that Spirits of the deceased draw energy from Ley Lines in order to help them manifest.
Image: Megaliths are thought to be one source of ley energies.
Levitation: A phenomenon sometimes encountered in hauntings, particularly with Poltergeists, rare yet credibly reported, where solid objects (including persons) are moved and lifted by an unseen force. The first historically documented occurrence was that of St. Francis of Assisi in the 14th century.
Lilith: Devil of Sumerian origin and later included in Hebrew beliefs, believed by Quabbalists to have been the first wife of Adam, later excluded from the Talmud, and held by some occultists to be a vampire goddess and a powerful succubus. Succubus, Vampire
Lore: Collective beliefs and legendry relating to a subject, as in "vampire lore".
Lucifer: Name taken from the Latin "luci" (light) and "fere" (to bear), originally a Roman lesser deity, "Son of the Morning," formerly the name for the planet Venus when observed at dawn, in Christian theology identified with the Devil: arch regent of fallen angels. Lucifer is sometimes called upon in pagan ceremonies and rituals. (See also Satan)
Manifestation: Positive signs of a haunting; they can include tactical, auditory, olfactory, and visual manifestations. All these signs can be used to support paranormal activity.
Mass Hallucination: When more than one person experiences an event that never took place.
Malevolent: A spirit that wishes to hurt a human or that has ill intent.
Materialization: A ghost appearing visually, suddenly or gradually, sometimes indistinct, sometimes seemingly quite solid.
Matrixing: The natural tendency for the human mind to interpret sensory input, what is perceived visually, audibly or tactilely, as something familiar or more easily understood and accepted, in effect mentally "filling in the blanks."
Medium Category: A term given to an individual who is capable of contacting the Spirits of the deceased. Some Mediums use mental techniques such as Clairvoyance and Clairaudience when contacting Spirits.
In addition a Medium can often have a 'Spirit Guide', an entity that stays with them and assists in contacting the deceased.
Metaphysics: literally means beyond physics. Any unexplainable happenings that science can’t explain or have a reason for happening are usually branched under this term.
Mist: Is a cloudy substance caught on film; it normally looks like smoke or fog.
Necromancy: The practice of communicating with the dead to obtain knowledge of the future, others' secrets, etc. An archaic term, the necromancer was said to employ magic spells and conjuration to summon, then banish, the spirits of the dead.
Nostradamus: Born in France, 1503, Michel de Nostredame originally attended medical college and became a specialist in the Plague. It wasn't until he turned to writing in 1550 however, that Nostradamus began to make predictions about the future. He was twice married, and had a total of 8 children.
Nostradamus wrote a vast number of predictions in total, ranging from weather and crop-prospects to war and major events. The technique he claimed to use to predict these events, was what he called 'comparative horoscopy', which involved looking at horoscopes and working out when major elements of past events would happen again. It is thought that only 5-10 percent of his predictions have been fulfilled with 100 percent certainty. Although many of his predictions have been apparently fulfilled, there is still the fact that a lot of them can be seen to mean a variety of things.
Some took his prediction of 'hister' for example, to be evidence of a prediction of Adolf Hitler, when in fact 'hister' was a classical name for the river Danube. Other more recent predictions include one for 1999 that refers to 'a great king of terror'
Noxious energy a form of energy that may be harmful to humans or some other species of life or vegetation. This is generally found in association with underground water and at crossing points of some types of energy lines. However other forms of life, such as ants, cats etc., thrive in the presence of noxious energy.
Olfactory: Odors, smells usually associated with an individual or event.
Occult: means “hidden”. Although many occult practices are no longer hidden as they once were, what was once considered odd or strange practices are usually defined as occult by mainstream society.
Orbs: circles of light in photographs that are evidence of spirits in the vicinity of the environment the photo is being taken in. Skeptics like to claim these are dust particles light is being reflected off of.
Omen: A sign which is interpreted as an indication of some future event. Omens are an integral part of the practice of Divination, where an individual will attempt to gain knowledge of the future through some occult means.
Many cultures have belief that signs of nature are also Omens, such as an Omen of storms to come, or the sighting of a specific type of animal being an Omen that there will be famine in the coming winter.
Oracle: A prophet, seer and visionary, especially one of renown. Also, a special device which aids in prognostication, such as a crystal ball. (i.e. "The Mystifying Oracle" of William Fuld's Ouija Board.)
Orb: A manifestation of energy caught on film. Quite often confused with dust, insects, moisture, reflection, and lens contaminate. Orbs are usually present during paranormal activity. Beware; sometimes an orb is not what it seems to be. If the orb has a blurred light trail behind it, I would look into it further; it seems like a solid piece of evidence.
Ouija Board: A board with numbers and letters, and a triangular
marker used to communicate with the spirits of the dead. It is known to
summon spirits other than those the querrent intended to summon. It is
very difficult to rid an area that has a spirit summoned by an Ouija Board.
Paranormal: Beyond the normal of human or scientific explanation. Paranormal A general term which refers to anything that cannot be explained scientifically, i.e. that which cannot be understood in terms of current scientific knowledge. The word Paranormal is often used specifically to describe phenomena relating to Ghosts and Hauntings.
PARAPSYCHOLOGY: beyond psychology, it also means the study of different forms of “normal” communication between beings Parapsychology: The Avenue of paranormal studies and research relating chiefly to psychic abilities (e.s.p., telepathy) and spiritual phenomena.
Pentacle/Pentagram: The traditional five-pointed star design, with its interior pentagon delineated, generally representing both spirituality and protection when point "up"; when inverted, it is said to signify diabolism.
Phantom: Another word for Ghost. It is often used to describe something that is Ghostly, i.e. Phantom Drummer.
Philadelphia Experiment: An alleged experiment that took place in Philadelphia in 1943. A Destroyer Class ship, the USS Eldbridge, was thought to have been the subject of a radical experiment involving force fields. Witnesses who were at the actual event reported that the experiment had succeeded in turning the ship completely invisible for a period of time. It was also reported that during this period the ship had actually physically teleported to Norfolk, Virginia, before returning to Philadelphia.
During the experiment, it was said that some of the people on board the vessel exhibited strange phenomena. Many of the crew became ill and died shortly afterwards, some had become 'embedded' in the ship itself, while others were able to 'walk through walls'. To date the experiment has remained a very controversial story - if it were true, then it would mean that Teleportation technology was in the hands of the US Military as early as the 1940's.
Poltergeist: A form of Ghost or spiritual entity, characterized by the moving of objects, noises and other disturbances. Poltergeist comes from the German 'poltern' meaning 'to knock', and 'geist' meaning Ghost. Reports of poltergeists have been recorded for centuries, and have been studied since the 1890's.
Typically poltergeist activity will begin and end suddenly, often lasting only a few months and sometimes only for a few hours. The activity commonly includes the moving or throwing of objects by unseen hands, electronic devices breaking, light bulbs popping or loud noises. In some extreme cases, individuals have been 'attacked' by a poltergeist. It is believed that a poltergeist is in some way tied to a specific person, and that the activity will rarely occur in the absence of that individual. Some believe that poltergeist activity is actually a telekinetic psychic phenomenon, and not the result of Ghosts or Spirits at all. One of the most well documented and chilling modern examples of poltergeist activity is the case of the Enfield Poltergeist.
POLTERGEIST: a “noisy” spirit. I often get into debates about this term because I was taught there are no such things as poltergeist. When a poltergeist is reported in a home, there is usually a girl in the house getting ready to hit puberty or has just started puberty. It has also been said that paranormal activities that occur that are classified a poltergeist happen when there is emotional stress in the house.
Possession: Invasion of the human mind by a spiritual or demonic entity, where the invading agent for a span of time, influences or entirely subverts the personality of the human host. It is in these instances that the boundaries of psychology, religion and spiritualism are rendered less distinct.
PRECOGNITION: knowing beforehand, sometimes people have dreams then the next day or some time later the events occur. Sometimes déjà vu’ is felt because of this. Precognition: The psychic perception of future events or conditions.
PSYCHIC: person who is able to use divination methods such as a crystal ball, tarot cards, etc. to tell about someone’s future or answer questions a seeker has about their life.
Psycho kinesis: A psychic phenomenon where-in objects are remotely imprinted or displaced and moved around, solely by the powers of the mind (psychic force).
PSYCHOMETRY: the ability to touch an object a “read” the imprints of energy on that object to tell about the history or owner of the object.
Pyrokinesis: Rare Psychic ability in which an individual is able to set fire to an object without touching or making any physical contact with it. Some Pyrokinetics have been described as 'Human Flamethrowers'. The level of control exhibited by individuals reported to possess this ability seems to vary, some are able to control it very well, while others are unable to control what they set on fire. It is believed that this ability is a variation of Telekinesis, and that aside from being a rare psychic gift it is something that anyone can achieve with enough practice and concentration.
Pyromancy: A method of Divination involving the use of fire. This was often practiced by the ancient Greeks, who would set fire to a sacrifice and observe the behavior of the flames. If the fire burned hot and fast, then it was considered to be a good Omen, whereas a slow burn indicated a bad Omen. Similar practices were performed through the observing of flames when burning a selection of objects in turn and drawing Omens from the way in which they burned.
Reincarnation: The belief that a person's soul will, following bodily death, inhabit a new body in a long cycle of rebirths, purportedly for the soul's evolution through gaining experience.
REMOTE VIEWING or RV: is also referred to as remote perception, enhanced perception, extrasensory perception (ESP). It means being able to be in one place but see something happening in another place or another time. This subject is gaining more and more popularity.
Residual Haunting: An event repeating itself much like watching a videotape. The haunting usually has no awareness of outside events and is not affected by present day activity. The most common style of a human haunting is a residual haunting. A residual haunting is like having an impression made in time. The entity may seem to be lost in a time warp. The spirit really isn't there, only the energy is.
Residual (Haunting): Psychic imprint of a scene which is repeatedly played out, where the witness of such phenomenon essentially is peering into the past. The ghostly participants of these time-displacements often seem unaware of their living observers. (Read more about Here)
Retro cognition: The psychic perception of past events or conditions.
Revenant: One who returns; a spirit, which returns to the place where it resided in life.
SCRYING: an umbrella term used to define methods of divination that may be considered forms of ESP. Some scrying methods include the use of water, dowsing rods, a crystal ball, flames of a candle, etc.
SETI: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
SHC: Also known as spontaneous human combustion. Where a person starts on fire for no apparent reason.
Sitter: The word ‘sitter’ is used to describe a person having a sitting or a face-to-face reading with a medium.
Simulacra: These are natural objects that look like something else, such as oddly shaped vegetables, trees, minerals, images in the sky or on buildings. Probably the best known simulacra are the ones that look like something held in awe by a particular group, such as a stain on a church window that looks like the Virgin Mary or the pattern in the seeds inside an aborigine that forms a phrase in Arabic from the Koran.
Spirit Guide: In Spiritualism, a spirit guide is an advanced soul who has passed to the Other Side (aka the Beyond, Summerland, etc.) and helps a person still in this world. A non-psychic person may not be aware that he or she is being watched over or guided, but a medium may be able to sense the guide psychically. One aspect of spirit guides that attracts skeptical comment is the number of Native Americans and Eastern scholars that take on these roles to the exclusion of many other cultures. Some psychic artists produce pictures of these guides for sitters, and some spirit guides, such as Silver Birch, have become just as famous as their mediums and prolific authors of philosophical works.
Spirit extra: A spirit extra is a figure that appears on a photograph although it wasn’t physically (visibly) present at the time the photo was taken. Often looking out of place due to inappropriate clothing, proportions and perspective, the clearest ‘extras’ clearly don’t belong. One famous photo that has been the subject of lectures at ASSAP meetings by investigator Maurice Grosse shows a smiling interloper who has seated herself with a group of holiday makers in the Tyrol, Austria.
Spontaneous human combustion: Often all that is left is a leg and a pile of ashes to show that a human being was slowly consumed by what seems to have been an internal fire with minimal effect on the surrounding furniture. A famous literary case is in Bleak House by Charles Dickens; while there have also been many cases in real life. Theories put forward include the chemistry of the particular body concerned, the ‘wick effect’, etc. In a case reported from Lambeth, London, in 1967 a blue flame was seen emanating from the victim’s stomach by the fire brigade officer called to the scene. Combustible material just inches from the flame were untouched, but a hole had been burnt through the wooden planking beneath the abdomen.
Stigmata: Unexplained wounds on the body that usually correspond with those of the crucifixion of Christ.
Succubus: The female counterpart of an Incubus. A spirit that seduces or attacks men. On most occasions, it is usually initially welcomed by its victim, only later revealing itself as violent and demonic.
Superstitions: These are ancient and traditional beliefs that certain actions bring about certain effects, often beneficial but just as often unwanted and unfavorable. Examples include the belief that breaking a mirror causes seven years’ bad luck.
Tactile: Feeling a touch, wind blowing past you in a closed room, a tug on a piece of a person’s clothing. No one is in the immediate vicinity!
Tarot cards: The Tarot is a method of divination using a pack of 78 cards with a set of standard illustrations (although there are lots of variants produced by artists coming from different mystical systems) and a number of different spreads. The system has been in use for centuries, developing from a card game played in Italy in the 15th century. The cards are interpreted in the light of their position in the spread and how they relate to the other cards in the spread.
TELEKINESIS or PSYCHOKINESIS: the ability to move an object without physically touching it. The ability to effect or move objects with the power of the mind alone.
Telepathy: the ability to “hear” what others are thinking. Reading another person’s mind. It often happens between twins. Mental communication between two or more people.
Terrafirm: a connection to the Earth as if you are a part of it.
Transfiguration: In a transfiguration, ectoplasm apparently changes the appearance of the medium’s face (or other significant body parts) to aid identification of the communicator. This normally refers to a physical phenomenon, observable by anyone, but there are also references to ‘clairvoyant transfiguration’, in which only a clairvoyant person can see the subject’s face change.
Trance mediumship: This is a form of mediumship in which the medium enters into a trance of varying depths and is taken over by the spirit guide who proceeds to pass on messages from communicators to the people attending the séance or demonstration, or is taken over by the communicating spirits themselves.
U.F.O.: Unidentified flying object.
Unconscious Muscular Action: UMA has been put forward as the mechanism behind such things as the twitching of a pendulum, the movement of a planchette across an Ouija board and the production of automatic writing. Dowsing may well involve an element of this, with the sensitive dowser picking up signals from whatever object he is dowsing for and having these transmitted and magnified by UMA.
Vapor: (vaporous apparition) often seen as a mist, visible to the human.
Visual: The person was usually associated with the location in their past life.
Voodoo: This religion developed from the animistic religions that enslaved West Africans took with them to the New World and to which a sprinkling of Christianity was added. It is still widely practiced in, among other countries, Haiti, where it was only recently recognized as a religion by the government. Various spellings are current, and associated beliefs in the Americas include Candomble, Lucumi and Macumba. The religious practices have little connection with the flesh-eating zombies and curses prevalent in horror movies. An excellent permanent exhibition at the Horniman Museum in south-east London shows altars from various traditions and explains the place of ritual and ritual objects in the beliefs.
Vortex: Spiritual energy that is centered, focused, and concentrated. It is most likely accompanied by electromagnetic disturbances, cold spots, and increased paranormal activity.
Witchcraft: Witchcraft is also known as Wicca, an ancient tradition of religious belief and magic in the western world. Up to relatively recent times people were persecuted in Western Europe, including Great Britain, for their beliefs and practices.
Wraith: An apparition of a living person that appears as a portent just before that person's death.
Xenonormal: It would be helpful if there was a term for events that, in certain circumstances, resemble the paranormal, even though they are not. They can be called 'xenonormal'. This means 'foreign normal’; in other words 'the unfamiliar but natural'. In many cases, witnesses to apparent paranormal events (and sometimes even the researchers!) are simply unfamiliar with a purely natural phenomenon.
Zener cards: Used widely in ESP experiments and devised by JB Rhine and his associate, Karl Zener, the pack of cards shows five different symbols (star, circle, square, cross and wavy lines) and lends itself readily to statistical analysis. The usual idea is to ‘guess’ which symbol is going to come up next in the random sequence.
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