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| The Arizona Paranormal Research Society |
| PARANORMAL TERMS GLOSSARY |
| A-C |
| Absent Healer Healing that takes place when the healer is not in direct contact with the person to be healed. Absent Sitter A person, not present during a sitting, on whose behalf readings are given. Afterlife Almost every society known has some belief in survival after death and what happens to people when they die. These beliefs vary enormously. The basic possibilities include a continuation of life with little change in the nature or quality of existence; A series of lives and deaths before ultimate extinction. Moral improvement through a series of stages, levels, or “planes”. Bodily resurrection at some future date. Alongside the idea of a future life one often finds beliefs in reincarnation- a return to earth life in successive bodies. Christian ideas about the afterlife include a judgment upon death and an assignment to either Heaven or Hell, depending on one’s merit leading to an indefinite period of existence in discarnate state that is followed by a resurrection in the body at the time of the second coming of Christ, which is also to be the end of the world. The conception of an afterlife is not always formulated clearly in all cultures. In other societies, the afterlife is believed to be structured very similarly to life on earth. There is the same type of social organization and there is plenty. In some societies, existence is believed to continue much in the way as on earth, but in reverse. In communicating with the dead, one says and does the opposite of what one means. Typically, in tribal societies, knowledge of the afterlife is said to have been gained from the experience of shamans, whose primary function is to act as an intermediary between the living and the dead. In the paranormal investigation field, it is widely believed that the consciousness, emotions and personalities of humans survive death of the physical realm and continues into the next. This theory has been established and validated many times through recorded EVP in which emotions and personalities have been verbally conveyed. Agent a) Person who attempts to communicate information to another in an ESP experiment. (b) The subject in a psychokinesis experiment. (c) Person who is the focus of poltergeist activity. Akashic Records "Memories" of all experiences since the beginning of time, believed by some mystical doctrines to be stored permanently in a spiritual substance (Akasha). Alchemy The Science of turning the baser metals into gold or silver by chemical means. The byproduct, "Quicksilver," was thought to have magical powers. This was a very perfected science in Egyptian times and lasted all the way up into the 14th-16th Century A.D. when some of the alchemy methods were lost due to wars and fires that were amid in those times. Alien Abduction Experience Reported experiences of being abducted by alien creatures, often into spacecraft. Abductees often experience lost time and suffer loss of memory. When memories are recovered, often using hypnotic regression, abductees may report that surgical operations were performed on them. All Hallows Eve (Halloween) Originally, a pagan festival of the dead, which has survived to the present in popular culture as “Halloween”, a night of trick-or-treating by children and others dressed in costumes of fantasy and the supernatural. All Hallows Eve is observed the night of October 31, followed on November 1 by All Hallows Day, also called All Hallowmas, All Saints, All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day. The ancient Celts called the festival Samhain (pronounced sow’ an) and observed it to celebrate the onset of winter and the beginning of the Celtic New Year. In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein. In Scotland, the celebration was known as Hallowe’en. Samhain was a solar festival marked by sacred fire and fire rituals. During the height of the Druids, the priestly caste of the Celts, all fires except those of the Druids were extinguished on Samhain. In ancient Ireland, the Druids sacrificed to the deities by burning victims in wickerwork cages. All other fires were to be extinguished and were relit from the sacrificial fire. Samhain marked the third and final harvest, and the storage of provisions for the winter. The veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was believed to be at its thickest point in the year, making communications between the living and the dead much easier. On the eve of the holiday, the souls of the dead freely roamed the land of the living. Numerous fold customs connected with the pagan observances for the dead have survived to the present. In addition to the souls of the dead roaming about, the Devil, witches and numerous spirits are believed to be out and at the peak of their supernatural powers. In some parts of modern Scotland, young people still celebrate by building bonfires on hilltops and high ground, and then dance around the flames. The fire is known as Halloween Bleeze, and custom once included digging a circular trench around the fire to symbolize the sun. Modern celebrants still believe that the unseen worlds of the Devil and witches have a free hand to exercise their powers on this night. Alpha Rhythm Electrical activity in the brain (about 10 cycles per second) associated with a state of mental relaxation. See also EEG. Altered State of Consciousness (ASC) A term used to refer to any state of consciousness that is different from "normal" states of waking or sleeping. ASCs include hypnosis, trance, ecstasy, psychedelic and meditative experience. ASCs do not necessarily have paranormal features. Ancestor Worship Religious practices involving the veneration of dead ancestors. Angels In Judeo-Christian and Islamic mythologies- A class of beings, both good and evil, who are intermediaries between God and Man. The term “angel” is derived from the Greek angelos and the Latin angelus, translations of the Hebrew mal’akh, which originally meant “the shadow side of God” and then came to mean “messenger.” Angelology, which is the study of angels, was developed in ancient Persia and absorbed into Judaism and Christianity. Angels also exist in Islamic mythology. The Bible provides uneven and sometimes contradictory information on angels, initially portraying them as beings created by God who carry God’s messages to earth, and then as interveners, acting on God’s instructions. They were said to pass as human beings while on earth. Some angels supposedly aided and protected humankind, while others wrought God’s punishments and brought illness and destruction. The New Testament tells of the angel Lucifer (Satan), who defied God and was cast out of heaven, along with one-third of the angelic realm. These fallen angels became the demons of hell under the leadership of Satan. In Catholicism, it is believed that every person is born with at least one personal guardian angel, a protective being that stays with a person for his or her entire life. Although Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, rejected the doctrine of angels, many modern Protestants believe in angels and in guardian angels. Until about the 18th century, angels were believed by many to play roles in everyday life. However, during the Age of Enlightenment, with its emphasis on science and intellectual thought, angels retreated to the realm of poetry and romantic fancy. Encounters with angels continued to be experienced in the modern world. Angels are most often sensed or heard by clairaudience; occasionally they manifest as apparitions in brilliant white robes or as balls of brilliant white light. Interpretation of what angels are is a very widely and highly subjective subject. Some experts in parapsychology believe that angels are created in part or in whole by projection from the depths of the human unconscious in response to the need. Other theories have linked angels to extraterrestrials. Animism Religious practices based on the belief that all living things and natural objects have their individual spiritual essence or soul. Anomaly An irregular or unusual event which does not fit a standard rule or law. An anomaly is something which cannot be explained by currently accepted scientific theories. Anything weird, abnormal, strange, odd, or difficult to classify is considered an anomaly. Anomalous Experience A general term referring to unusual experiences that cannot be explained in terms of current scientific knowledge. Anomalous Phenomena Anomalous phenomena are phenomena which are observed and for which there are no suitable explanations in the context of a specific body of scientific knowledge, e.g. astronomy or biology. Common examples though are out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, extrasensory perception, ghosts, UFO's and alien abductions. These concepts are not widely accepted as real by mainstream scientists, some of whom go as far as calling the study of them pseudoscience. As the body of knowledge available expands, some anomalies are incorporated into an explanatory framework and lose their standing as anomalies. For instance, while the idea of stones falling from the sky was long ridiculed, meteorites are now acknowledged and well understood. Often used as a synonym, but actually a subclass are the paranormal phenomena, studied by parapsychology. Announcing Dream A dream believed to announce an individual's rebirth. See also reincarnation. Amulet Any material or object believed to have supernatural or magical powers of protection against ghosts, evil spirits, witchcraft, the evil eye, illness, misfortune, calamities and any kind of disaster. Amulets have been used universally since ancient times. The term “amulet” comes from the old Latin term amoletum, which means “means of defense”. Most amulets are worn or carried on the person. Other amulets are placed in a house, building or ship, or among ones possessions. Still other amulets are painted on houses, buildings and ships. Virtually any object can be an amulet. Personal items commonly include pieces of jewelry, semiprecious and precious stones, and common stones that have odd but natural shapes such as those with holes in them. Religious objects are amulets. The supernatural power of an amulet is believed to occur naturally, bestowed by nature or the gods. In occult lore, amulets also can be fashioned and imbued with supernatural power through magic. Apparition Not always recognized as what they truly are, an apparition is considered a lifelike form of a living being. Witnesses who claim to have seen apparitions have varying accounts. Several incidents have occurred where persons saw the same apparition, either at the same time, or over a period of time. Accounts range from seeing an apparition as solid looking as any human, down to just a body part being visible, or a full body that is translucent in form. Apparitions are thought to be how a spirit perceives itself and then projects itself to you, the viewer. This could account for the large majority of apparitions that appear in period dress (the deceased persons time period). Several well known apparitions can be found documented, as well as groups of apparitions and even entire apparition army’s (complete with horses and gear). Why apparitions are seen is not always easy to theorize on, while some seem to be fairly easy to understand. Strong emotion, as with most hauntings, is often thought to be the reason why residual apparitions appear. Interactive apparitions are generally thought to be of the highest energy form available for spirit activity. Apport A physical object which appears in a way that cannot be explained (seeming to come from nowhere). Apports are often associated with the seance room and physical mediumship. Artefact In parapsychology, false evidence of paranormal phenomena, due to some extraneous normal influence. Astral Body The astral body is a spiritual life force that’s sometimes able to separate from and return to the corporeal, living body. Some paranormal experts use the term synonymously with the soul; others think of them as two distinct entities. The astral body is believed to be separable from the physical body during astral projection (out of body experience) and at death. Astral Projection A term used by occultists, spiritualists and theosophists for the out of body experience. It is believed to result when the astral body separates from the physical body. To be able to leave your physical body and project your soul, consciousness or what appears to be your mind to another place and return via a silver cord. Astrology A theory and practice which attempts to identify the ways in which astronomical events are correlated with events on earth (e.g., with an individual's personality and biography, or with social and political trends). Atavism Re-emergence of ancestral characteristics; a genetic throwback. Augury Divination. Aura A field of energy believed by some to surround living creatures. Certain clairvoyants claim to be able to see the aura (generally as a luminous, coloured halo). Automatism Physical activites (e.g., arm movements, writing, drawing, musical performance) that occur without the automatist's conscious control or knowledge. Also known as motor automatism. Automatic Writing To freely channel your higher self or another soul's words, music, or art without the interruptive interference of the mind. Autoscopy (a) Seeing one's "double". (b) Looking back at one's own body from a position outside of the body. Banshee In Gaelic belief, a female entity who heralds a death by groaning and screaming. Battlefield Ghosts They are ghosts…found at battlefields. Battlefields are areas of intense emotional energy. So many people die in these areas that it is believed that the build up of energy in a concentrated spot can cause these places to become some of the most haunted areas anywhere. Most of the cases have seemed to go toward residual haunting. The last few moments of a soldier’s life or the most intense part of the battle are played out over and over again. Although, there are quite a few cases reported that have interaction between them and us. Such as the case from Gettysburg where a re-enactor was given a bullet from another man. When the re-enactor realized that it was a genuine mini-ball, the other man disappeared. To put it bluntly, battlefields are a great place to investigate. Bilocation An unusual phenomenon in which a person appears to be in two places simultaneously. Bilocation is thought to occur when a person’s double is projected to another location and is visible to others, who perceive the double as the actual physical body. In some cases, the double appears to be an apparition, not a solid physical form. Persons witnessing bilocations often notice that the double acts oddly or doesn't speak. Doubles of animals also have been reported in some cases. Biofeedback A general term for techniques that involve giving a person information about their current physiological state (e.g., heart rate, EEG). Biofeedback is used to enable people to control consciously their physiological processes. Bio-PK Psychokinetic effects on biological processes. See also DMILS. Black Art Conjuring technique of concealing objects using black covers against a black background. Also used by fraudulent mediums. Black Magic Magical spells or rituals practiced with the intention of harming others. Cf. white magic . Blind An experimental control in which subjects are not informed of certain key features of the experiment. Also used to refer to a procedure where a judge is asked to compare targets and responses without knowing which responses were made to which targets. Cartomancy Fortune telling using cards. Cerebral Anoxia Lack of oxygen to the brain, often causing sensory distortions and hallucinations, sometimes used to explain features of the near death experience. Chance Random, unpredictable influences on events. Channeling The activity of receiving messages and inspirations from discarnate entities. Charm A spell or object possessing magic power. Christian Science A religious healing movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy. Rejects orthodox medical practice. Cipher Test A coded message left by a person who intends to communicate the cipher after death. Circle A group of people who hold seances. Clairaudience Hearing voices, astral music or discarnate beings. Clairoleofactor To have an extraordinary sense of smell, as if you could smell flowers before they bloom or smell trouble before it occurs or death before it happens. Clairsentience The ability to clearly feel yours and/or another's emotions and sensations. Clairvoyance Paranormal vision of objects, events, places and people that are not visible through normal sight. Clairvoyance is an extrasensory perception (ESP) that overlaps with telepathy and precognition (knowledge of the future). It is a factor in mediumship and retro cognition, and may come into play in some cases of apparitions. However, everyone possesses the capacity for clairvoyance and probably experiences at least one clairvoyant episode during life. Clairvoyance can happen spontaneously, such as when a person has vision of apparitions of the past, or can perceive nonphysical forms in a place alleged to be haunted. Clairvoyance-and sensitivity to ESP in general-may account for the great disparity of experiences that occur in an alleged haunting. For example, one person may be able to clairvoyantly perceive a ghost while another may not (and the other thus may not believe in the haunting). Virtually all stories of hauntings include testimony from individuals who claim they experience nothing. In a case where collective apparitions are seen, some psychical researchers speculate that one person my perceive the apparitions and communicate it to others through telepathy. Clairvoyant Medium Or clairvoyant. A person who obtains information paranormally (often by spirit communication) without the need to enter into a trance state. Cf. trance medium. 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. See also synchronicity. Cold Reading A reading given with no prior knowledge of the sitter. Often a mixture of very general statements which could apply to anyone, together with inferences made from cues presented by the sitter (e.g., physical appearance, clothes, tone of voice, statements made). Cold Spot This is a fairly self-explanatory term due to its name. A cold spot is an area that has a notable temperature drop for no known reason. All reasonable explanations should be ruled out prior to marking down a cold spot in an evidence report. Window leaks, air vents, doors with cracks around the edges, fans and air conditioners are some of the false reports related to reported cold spots. An ambient air thermometer should be used to measure the temperature drop. A drop of five degrees or more is considered substantial. Cold spots are generally thought to be the result of a spirit “pulling” energy from the immediate environment to use for their own purpose, leaving the area cold and empty of energy. Collective Apparition An apparition seen simultaneously by more than one person. Collective Unconscious Concept put forward by C.G. Jung to refer to a level of unconscious thought and experience shared collectively by humans. Communication In mediumship, a message purported to be from a discarnate entity. Communicator A discarnate entity from whom the medium receives messages. See also drop-in communicator. Confederate A person who secretly provides information to a fraudulent psychic or mentalist. Conjuring Using trickery to simulate paranormal effects, generally for the purpose of entertainment. Contact Mind Reading A technique simulating telepathy, in which the "mind reader" (who generally holds a hand or arm) responds to slight muscle movements produced unconsciously by the person whose mind is apparently being read. Also known as muscle reading, Cumberlandism or Hellstromism. Control (a) In experimental parapsychology a procedure undertaken in order to ensure that the experiment is conducted in a standard fashion and so that results are not unduly influenced by extraneous factors. See also control group, artefact. (b) In spiritualism, a discarnate entity who communicates with a trance medium and who generally controls the trance state. Control Group A group of people whose performance is compared with that of experimental subjects. Correlation An association between two or more events or variables. Correlation Coefficient A mathematical index of the degree of association between two or more measures. Cosmic Consciousness A blissful experience in which the person becomes aware of the whole universe as a living being. Coven A group of witches Crisis Apparition An apparition of a person who is seen within a few hours of an important crisis such as death, accident or sudden illness. Cross-correspondence (a) Separate items of information, received independently by two or more mediums, which make sense only when pieced together. (b) THE cross-correspondences is a classic case of highly complex cross-correspondences which continued from 1901 to 1932 among a group of automatists associated with the Society for Psychical Research. Cross-Species Communication To have a special rapport and understanding with animals, plants or alien beings. Cryptomnesia Knowledge (acquired in normal ways) that may be revealed without the person remembering its source. Such memories may falsely appear to be paranormal revelations. Sometimes cryptomnesia is used as an explanation for apparently paranormal experiences such as xenoglossy or past-life memories. Crystal Gazing Staring into a reflecting surface (e.g., mirror, glass, crystal, liquid) in order to obtain paranormal information. Also known as scrying. Crystalomancy The art of gazing into a crystal globe, a pool of water, a mirror, or any transparent object. The person may put him/her self into a hypnotic state to see visions or to summon forth spirits or demons. Curse Words spoken or written in order to influence others paranormally, causing them harm. |
| References: paranormalabout.com ; psychicscience.org |
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