Anomaly - (1) Something found on a picture, photograph, video or voice recording that has no explainable source. (2) An occurance or condition removed from an ordinarily understood experience.
Afterlife - Life after our physical bodies die. Common other names for the afterlife are the great beyond, heaven, and hell. Every culture in the world has their own beliefs and ideas of the what the afterlife consists of.
Angel: "Messenger of God", a celestial being, benevolent in nature and if visible, appearing in human form and possessing miraculous abilities such as teleportation, healing powers and knowledge of future events.
Automatism -The theory in which the subconscious communicates with the conscious by means of a vehicle such as a Ouija Board, automatic writing or pendulum swinging.
Astrology: The theory and practice of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs.
Aura - (1) The emanation of energy that surrounds all living things. It is believed that our physical health and our emotional state is reflected in our auras. For example, if someone is ill, happy, or sad it will be reflected in their aura. Those with psychic abilities are able to see and interpret this energy. Two Russian scientists by the names of Semyon and Valentina developed the Kirlian Photography, through the use of this photography one's aura can be photographed. Some believe that the color of orbs is similar to that of one's aura. (2) A reflection of our own sphere of existence, composed of the electromagnetic emanations of physical matter and probably influenced by throught and emotion. This usually surrounds all living things and can be seen by gifted humans.
Automatic Writing: (1) This method of obtaining information from disembodied spirits is used by mediums in which the spirit takes control over the medium causing them to translate unconscious information on paper without being aware of the contents.(2) Phenomena by which people write without conscious thought. Believed by many that spirits take control of the living person and are able to communicate through them by writing.
Bilocation - When a person or an object is seen in two locations at the same time.
Coincidence: The occurrence, within a short space of time, of two or more meaningfully related events and without any apparent causal connection between them. Coincidences are sometimes bizarre and extraordinarily improbable.
Conjuring: Using trickery to simulate paranormal effects, generally for the purpose of entertainment.
Cold Spot - An area where the temperature is lower than the surrounding environment. Cold spots are believed to be created when a ghost is presence within that area.
Crossroads -The meeting and parting of ways has always been considered magical. In addition, crossroads are said to be haunted by various entities who lead confused travelers astray. It is also said that on All Hollow's Eve (Halloween), spirits of the dead appear at a crossroad.
Demon: Hostile and resentful entity, supposedly of non-human origin, which some believe to be "fallen (from grace) angels". Wiccan's may refer to these as 'angry spirits'.
Discarnate - A spirit that exists without a physical body.
Divination -The obtaining of future events and/or the unknown by the use of outside forces, these are usually spiritual in nature.
Ectoplasm: (1) A filmy, quasi-solid substance which supposedly issues from the bodies of mediums during trance states. In photographs, this phenomenon seems to resemble soaked muslin fabric. No ectoplasm has been reported or observed in since the 1950's, and then in question (2) A substance that emanates from a medium during a trance. It often appears as a mist-like or vapor substance. It can been seen moving, often faces and other forms can been seen in it. (3) The term used for a smoke-like or fog looking mist that appears in photos but was not discernable by the human eye. This phenomena has been captured in the midst of large groups of people, as well.
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) - A field progated by a combination of electric and magnetic energy that radiates from radio and light waves to gamma and cosmic rays. It is believed that a spirit can manipulate these fields or create their own.
Entity: A disembodied "Consciousness" commonly referred to as a ghost, spirit, or (if of an apparently malicious or resentful nature) demon.
Evocation: The summoning of (often evil) spirits using a magical incantation or ritual
Evocation -The summoning of demons or spirits by usage of ritual, gesture or verse of incantation.
Exorcism: (1) Ceremonial expulsion of invading spiritual/demonic entities from a person or dwelling, present in virtually every worldly culture. The Jewish and Catholic Christian faiths each have a formal 'Rite of Exorcism' to be conducted by the respective Rabbi or Priest. (2) The explusion of ghosts, demons, spirits or other entities that are believed to be disturbing or possessing a person or a place that people frequent. Exorcism can range from a friendly conversation to rituals demanding the entity to leave.
Extra Sensory Perception (ESP): (1) Communication or perception by means other than the physical senses (2) The ability to receive information about past, present or future events that can not be obtained through the normal senses. These include telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition. It is believed that everyone has some level of ESP ability, but some individuals possess a heightened ability.
Ghost - A ghost is believed to be the soul or the life force of a person. When someone dies, this energy is released from physical body and is believed to do one of two things; either it goes onto a higher spiritual place or plane, or it stays behind and lingers on for an unspecified time. Why it stays behind, no one knows for sure. Many of the famous "psychics" differ on their explanations. Some of the more popular theories are as follows; unfinished business, a strong emotional ties to someone or something, saying goodbye, wrongful death or perhaps to pass on a warning. Animals and even inanimate objects, such as builds, cars, ships trains, etc. have been reported as ghosts.
Ghost Hunting: A carefully controlled research project in which various methods and equipment are used to investigate reports of ghosts and hauntings.
Globule (0rb) - Spirits and ghosts are often photographed as globule, also known as an orb. These are tiny spheres of electromagnetic energy. These are not always perfect circles, and they come in a large variety of colors.
Haunting: (1) The manifestation of a ghostly presence, or presences, attached to a specific location. Catagorized in 4 distinct types which include: Intelligent (responsive), Poltergeist (child or mentally ill spirit), Residual (replay, non-responsive), and Demonic (non-human origin) (2) A phenomena where the spirit or the ghost of a deceased person or animal that attaches itself to a certain location, object, or person and continues to remain or revisit them causing paranormal activities such as apparitions, strange sounds, inducing smells, electrical disturbances, etc. A haunting is often repeated and experience by those who enter the area or come in contact with the person or object that is the object of the haunting for days or years.
Infestation: Repeated and persistent paranormal phenomena, generally centered around a particular location or person (s).
Kinetic Energy - Description for the movement of objects by a ghost. A physical manifestation of an unseen force which may move, throw or even destroy objects. These ghosts are known as "Poltergeists" (german for "noisy ghost").
Light Rod - A light rod appears as a bar or stick like shape. When a light rod sometimes takes a bend, it is then called a swirling light rod.
Materialization: (1) The act of forming something solid from the air. One of the most difficult and impressive materializations is when part or all of a ghost or spirit can be seen, especially if the face is recognizable. (2) A ghost or entity appearing visually, suddenly or gradually, sometimes indistinct, sometimes seemingly quite solid. (3) The formation of a visible and/or the physical form of a spirit. These are usually brief in appearance and often is just a face, hand and are not a full formation of a spirit.
Metaphysics: (1) Said to have been institited by Aristotle, the line of philosophical thought which seeks the "why and wherefore", the intrisic meaning of existence and human endeavor. (2) The term metaphysics is derived from the Latin word "meta" which means "beyond", and the word physics which means the study of psychical research. Essentially the word metaphysics literally means the study of that which is beyond the laws of physics.
Miracle: A wonderous and beneficial event apparently brought about by a supernatural event or a devine intervention.
Moon Madness: As the Lunar cycle waxes to its full point, incidents of psychotic behavior, violence and crime seem to escalate. To a lesser degree, the phase of the New Moon seems correlated to a rash of abnormal behavior. Current understanding of human psychology and phychology and physiology refutes the observation that our moon can exert significant influence on the human mind 'though statistics support it'. "Lunatic" is a term taken from this point of view refering to someone who is crazy because of the unseen influence of the particular cycle of the moon.
Manifestation -The appearance or taking of form of an entity. This can also mean the outbreak of paranormal activity.
Near Death Experience (NDE): An experience that is reported by people who clinically die, or come close to actual death and are revived. These events often include encounters with spirit guides, seeing dead relatives or friends, life review, out-of-body Experiences (OBE), or a moment of decision where they are able to decide or are told to turn back.
Oracle: A prophet, seer and visionary, especially one of renown. Also a special device which aids in prognostication such as a crystal ball.
Out-of-Body Experience (OBE): A sensation or experience in which ones self or spirit travels to a different location than their physical body.
Orb - (1) Orbs are believed to be energy or the spirit and soul of individuals, which show up as circles or balls of light in photos - varying in size, color and opacity. I personally believe them to be departed spirits whose soul is "enlightened," hence they are seen as "light." The whiter or brighter the light, the more truth is known by them. As a side note, it is important to know that dust, rain or snow directly in front of the camera can also appear to be orbs in a photograph. (2) A spherical shaped, translucent mass of energy resembling a ball or globe of light. This is the most photographed and most basic form of a spirit. These are balls of energy have been recorded on film, digital cameras, infrared monitors, and videotape. Orbs usually appear in most haunted places. Orbs can also be caused by moisture (rain, snow, fog), bugs, insects, and dust.
Outward Manifestation - Any type of paranormal activity. These many include, but not limited to disembodied voices, odors, movement of objects, manipulation of temperatures, electrical disturbances, etc.
Paranormal: (1) The realm of occurances and phenomena removed from those to which people are accustomed and comprehend, and presently uncategorized by standard academia. (2) Anything that does not take place in the natural order or in a normal way of things that take place in the realm of the world. This term is used to refer to unexplainable events. These would included but are not limited to ghosts, ESP, telepathy, UFO's, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster.
Parapsychology: (1) The avenue of paranormal studies and research relating chiefly to psychic abilities (ESP, telepathy) and other spiritual phenomena. (2) Parapsychology is the scientific and scholarly study of certain unusual events associated with human experience, such as ghosts, UFOS, ESP, Bigfoot, etc. It is generally defined as the scientific study of paranormal phenomena. Parapsychology is not a recognized science by many within the scientific community. The word parapsychology is derived from the Latin word "para", which means "beyond", parapsychology literally means beyond psychology.
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.
Possession: (1) 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. (2) There are several different types of possession. Mediums will allow the a spirit to enter their body for the purpose of communication. During partial possession, the host (person)remains in the body. In full or perfect possession, the spirit of the host is displaced from the physical body. In cases of demonic possession, the entity enters the body without permission and will not leave on it's own will. An exorcism is necessary to expel the possessing entity.
Psychokinesis: A psychic phenomenon where-in objects are remotely imprinted or displaced and moved around solely by the powers of the mind (psychic force).
Premonition - Feeling or warning about future events. This can be vague or it can be very specific.
Plasma/Plasmoid - Moving orbs caught during the time of camera exposure. Orbs have also been filmed moving, on video. In photos, they appear as streaking light or as an orb with a tail showing the path of motion. These are also known as "supercharged orbs" in motion.
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.
Revenant: An entity which projects and appearance of being distressed or misplaced.
Sleep Paralysis - While not actually a paranormal event, Sleep Paralysis is very common sleep disorder that is commonly mistaken for an encounter with a ghost. Typically, a person experiencing sleep paralysis will wake up unable to move, and feel as if they are not alone. According to sleep researchers, when you enter REM sleep, your brain “disconnects” from your body. This way you won’t move in your sleep and act out your dreams. When you wake, the brain “reconnects.” In the case of sleep paralysis this reconnection is out of sync with waking, so you are still dreaming, but awake and still “disconnected” from your muscles. In an attempt to find order, your brain combines what your waking mind is telling with your dreaming mind. The result is often very frightening.
Satan: Hebraic term for "Adversary", the "Tester" in the Biblical Book of Job. The most familiar name of the Devil, the "Fallen Angel" and the "Evil One". Investigators sometimes come across evidence of the activities of Satanic cults who perform animal sacrifices and apparently believe that desecrations and obscenities are devotions to their dark lord.
Sceptic: A person inclined to discount the reality of the paranormal and to be critical of parapsychological research. Generally seeks rational or scientific explanations for the phenomena studied by parapsychologists.
Séance: A meeting or gathering of people, usually lead by a medium to receive spiritualistic messages, manifestations or communication with the dead.
Spiritualism: The belief system that the dead are able to communicate with the living, through an intermediary or medium.
Supernatural: Of or relating to existence outside the natural world. As opposed to paranormal, the term "supernatural" often connotes divine or demonic intervention.
Telekinesis: The paranormal movement of objects by scientifically inexplicable means. Some believe it is the power of the mind.
Telepathy: Communication from one mind to another through means other than the senses. Also called Thought Transference.
Trance: A hypnotic, cataleptic, or ecstatic state in which one becomes detached from their physical surroundings.
Vision: A religious apparition.
White Noise: An Acoustical or electrical noise of which the intensity is the same at all frequencies within a given band.
Xenoglossy: The ability to speak or write in a language that has not been learned.