S-Z
PARANORMAL TERMS GLOSSARY
A-C
D-L
M-R
S-Z
S-Z
S

Seance
A mediumistic session.

Second Sight
Another name for clairvoyance.

Self-Enquiry
To seek an answer to the question "Who am I?" not by intellectual reasoning,
but by beholding oneself. To look within.

Self-limitation
The perception of one's self and the ability to set up boundaries for that self.

Sensitive
A person who frequently demonstrates extrasen-sory gifts such as clairvoyance,
telepathy, or precognition.

Sensory deprivation
Conditions of greatly restricted sensory input.

Scrying
A term used to cover a wide range of divination techniques which parapsychology would tend to
classify as types of ESP. Most scrying techniques involve some degree of fixation on a surface
with a clear optical depth (e.g. a crystal ball, a pool of ink or deep water) or on an area which
shows random patterns (e.g. flames in a fire, smoke), the idea being that subconscious
information available to the scrying will be manifested in their interpretation of the imagery or
random patterns they see. Techniques using a clear optical depth are actually very similar to
the idea behind the homogenous visual field used in Ganzfeld ESP research.

Shadow Beings
These are generally considered intelligent, if not just watchful beings. Shadow beings are an
anomaly that has been reported throughout written works. Although these beings have no
definable facial features, other than the occasional red eyes, having a solid and dense shadow
look to them is what usually sets a shadow being apart from regular spirit activity. Side views
include the same facial points, as you would expect to see on a human. Some shadow beings also
have definable other characteristics, such as hats, canes and purses – all in the same shadow
look. There are many theories on what exactly these beings are, up to and including a form of
deceased spirit. Video and photographic evidence has been obtained of these beings, however,
all evidence has been written off or simply covered up by the scientific community.

Shaman
A witchdoctor or medicine (wo)man who communicates with spirits while in trance and who has the
power of healing. May also show other paranormal abilities.

Shape-Shifting
Paranormal ability to assume the form of another person, an animal or other entity.

Sheep-Goat Effect
Effect, discovered by the parapsychologist Gertrude Schmeidler, in which "sheep" score higher
than mean chance expectation on psi tests, while "goats" score lower than MCE.

Siddhis
Name given to paranormal powers associated with the practice of Yoga.

Simultaneous Dream
A dream whose elements correspond closely with those in the dream of another person.

Sitter
A person who has a session with a medium.

Sitting
A seance.

Sixth sense
Popular term for ESP.

Skeptic
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.

Slate-Writing
Writing that appears on a slate during a seance.
Often produced by fraudulent mediums and mentalists.

Sleep Paralysis
An often frightening state of seeming to be awake but unable to move.

Smoke Ghosts
A curious phenomenon not to be confused with "ectoplasm" or "mist" phenomena, these are
curious ghost forms which give the appearance of columns of smoke and are often accompanied
by the pungent odor of burning wood. These ghostly columns are reported to move of their own
accord while maintaining a disciplined column shape, though it may assume other similar forms,
before dissipating in a manner, which is alleged to be altogether different
from smoke drifting in the wind.

Somnambulist
(a) a person who performs physical activity while asleep (e.g., sleep-walking).
(b) a person in a deep hypnotic state.

Sorcery
Enchantment. The art of throwing spells and using black magic.

sortilege
A method of foretelling the future by drawing lots.

Soul
The spiritual element of a person, generally believed to be immortal.

Spectre
A ghost or apparition.

Spell
Written or spoken words believed to have magical power.

Spirit
A discarnate entity, soul or divine essence.

Spirit Cure
Healing that is believed to result from the intervention of spirits.

Spirit Photography
Photographs of figures or faces, believed by some to be those of deceased persons.
These photographs are generally revealed as fraudulent.

Spiritualism
A movement that began in 1848 with the “raps” of the Fox Sisters (Kate and Margaret) in
Hydesville, NY. Normally associated with mediums or channelers, who contact the spirits of the
deceased. Religious doctrines that advocate communication between the living and the spirits of
the dead using a medium as intermediary.

Spontaneous Cases
Paranormal phenomena that occur in everyday life, unsought and unexpected.

Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC)
Refers to cases in which a badly burned human body has been discovered in circumstances
suggesting that the fire originated spontaneously in or on the body of the victim.

Spook Lights
Also known as ghost lights, these are lights, which sometimes appear in haunted houses or in
some cases, woods. Not necessarily evil, these lights are often photographed
by psychic researchers.

Sprites
Disembodied spirits, elves, fairies or daemons; often the term used for the Air elemental known
as “sylphs,” or as the name of the elementals of Spirit.

Stigmata
Unexplained markings on a person's body that correspond to the wounds of Christ.

Subjective Paranormal Experience
An experience that the person who has it believes it to be paranormal.

Subliminal Perception
Sensory impressions below the threshold of conscious awareness.

Succubus
In medieval legend, a succubus (plural succubi; from Latin succubare, "to lie under") is a female
demon which comes to men, especially monks, in their dreams to seduce them and have sexual
intercourse, drawing energy from the men to sustain themselves, often until the point of
exhaustion or death. This legend was an explanation for the phenomena of
wet dreams and sleep paralysis.

Supercharged Orb
These are orbs that tend to leave long streaks behind them, probably from them moving so fast.
Watch for light sources in the area though. Moving the camera around quickly will usually
produce streaks of light on the photo of whatever light sources are present. Keep your camera
steady and try not to move it around at all. If the rest of the photo is clear (as in the camera
was being shaken around a lot) and there weren't any light sources in the area of the streaks of
light, yet you get them in your photo, you may have caught some super charged orbs.

Supernatural
The supernatural refers to conscious magical, religious or unknown forces that cannot
ordinarily be perceived except through their effects. This word is often used interchangeably
with preternatural or paranormal. Unlike natural forces, these putative supernatural forces
cannot be shown to exist by the scientific method. Supernatural claims assert phenomena beyond
the realm of current scientific understanding, which are often in direct conflict
with current scientific theory.

Super-ESP Hypothesis
The suggestion that people are capable of unlimited ESP. The super-ESP hypothesis is often
presented as an alternative to the survival hypothesis in explaining mediumistic phenomena (the
medium is believed to obtain information using super-ESP powers and not directly
from the spirit of a deceased person).

Supernatural
Paranormal.

Survival
The belief that some aspect of the person (e.g., consciousness, mind, personality, soul)
lives on after death of the body.  

Synchronicity
Meaningful coincidences that often are mediated by subconscious psi activity. Our intuitive/psi
faculty nudges our paths into  meaningful intersections in times of need.

T

Tantra
Tantra is the state of feeling that there is no other person that is not ourselves. Tantra is the
balance of the vibrant yin-yang energy. When we fully feel these complementary energies
balanced within us, we feel like a whole and complete person-without the compulsory idea that
we need another person to make us feel complete.

Tapas
Tapas means devoting oneself single mindedly to spiritual practice and it is often translated as
spiritual austerity or penance. When Shri Swamiji uses the term tapas, he usually refers to
meditation in samadhi for at least twelve hours every day. He explains that such tapas is
necessary if one wishes to attain God realization.

Tarot
A mystical set of cards having an uncertain origin. Although these cards, covered with images,
are most commonly used for divinaton, they have much more spiritual purposes. The Tarot is
composed of two main sections, the 22 picture cards of the Major Arcana and the 56 numbered
cards of the Minor Arcana.

Telekinesis (psychokinesis, levitation)
The ability to move objects with the mind. To move an object or your body without physical means.

Telempathy
The mental communication of thoughts from one entity to another.

Telepathy
To know what others are thinking as if to hear thoughts in your head. Thought transference
including the sending and receiving of thoughts.

Teleportation
Paranormal transportation of objects to a distant place.

Temporal Lobe Activity
Electrical activity in the temporal lobes of the brain. Often associated with strange sensations,
time distortions and hallucinations. Sometimes used as an explanation for seemingly paranormal
experiences such as apparitions and alien abduction experiences.

Terrafirm
To be connected with the planet Earth as if it were a part of you.

The Arizona Paranormal Research Society
An experienced paranormal research and investigation group based in central Arizona serving
clients throughout the entire state free of charge.

Theosophy
Religious and philosophical system of the Theosophical Society, founded in 1875 by Madame
Blavatsky. Its paranormal claims were controversially and damningly reported upon by the
Society for Psychical Research in 1885.

Thoughtography
Paranormal ability to produce images on photographic film (e.g., by concentrating on a mental
image). Most famously demonstrated by Ted Serios.

Thought Transference
The power of transferring one's thoughts without a word - voiceless speech. This is no psychical
power. Its psychical aspect, commonly called thought transference or telepathy, is but a feeble
manifestation of a truly sublime power, and is illusory, because it is but a reflected light of the
real spiritual power within. True thought transference is a spiritual faculty.
Having this spiritual power you can transfer your thought and your consciousness and your will
to any part of the earth  - and actually be there, see what goes on, know what is happening
there. No merely psychical power will ever enable you to do that. In Tibet this power is called by
the generalizing name hpho-wa. Having this power your conscious and percipient inner self can
pass through stone walls as easily as the electric current runs
along or through the copper wire.

Tibetan Buddhism
Form of Mahayana Buddhism known as Vajrayana that took root in Tibet, emphasizing rich
metaphysical imagery, colorful ritual, and development of special powers

Time Travel
To project your soul's consciousness out of your body and into a past or future time.

Tone Healing
Your tone of voice affects others by disturbing, catalyzing, soothing, lulling,
inspiring and quite often healing them.

Touch Healing
To impart through your hands soothing and healing vibrations of energy.

Trance
A dissociated state of consciousness, generally involving reduced awareness of
surroundings and external events.

Trance Medium
A person who enters a state of trance in order to produce mediumistic phenomena.

Transmediumship / Transchanneling
To have severe personality shifts.

Transcendental Meditation / TM
A technique of meditation taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, involving the
repetition of a sound (mantra).

Transpersonal Psychology
The study of experiences, beliefs and practices that suggest that the sense of self can extend
beyond our personal or individual reality. The subject matter of transpersonal psychology
overlaps to some extent with parapsychology, but the two disciplines tend to have different
approaches and emphases. Parapsychology is primarily concerned to investigate evidence for
and against the reality of paranormal phenomena. Transpersonal psychology, on the other
hand, is more interested in investigating the transpersonal significance of such phenomena (i.e.,
the ways in which they may give people a sense of connectedness with a larger,
more universal or spiritual reality). See also mysticism.

Travelling Clairvoyance
(a) An early term for the out of body experience.
(b) Clairvoyance exhibited when a subject travels in imagination to another location.

U

Ufology
The study of UFOs.

Unidentified Flying Object (UFO)
Unexplained sightings of lights or objects in the sky, often taken to be
evidence of extraterrestrial visitations.  

V

Vampire Ghosts
A distinctly different form of the "vampire", these spirits have been recorded in the histories of
several European countries, as well as India, where traditions surrounding this spirit type are
very prevalent. These spirits are generally regarded as invisible entities which occasionally
attack human beings, leaving behind a characteristic bite mark in the flesh.

Veridical
Information or experience that is confirmed by facts and events.

Veridical Dream
A dream that corresponds to real events (past, present or future)
that are unknown to the dreamer.

Vision
A religious apparition.

Voodoo
A spiritist and ancestor religion, originating in Africa, and now found predominantly in Haiti,
Jamaica and Cuba. Magical rites, trance states and possession all play a major role in Voodoo

Vortexes
In paranormal terms, a 'vortex' is a manifestation of energy, often associated with ghosts and
spirits. Most often spotted indoors, these swirling funnel-shaped anomalies show up in
photographs with a funnel-like quality in the body. There are a lot of theories regarding the
exact nature of this phenomenon, some believe a vortex to be a gateway to the spirit world,
through which spirits can travel, while others class them alongside orbs, as manifestations of
spirits. They are often seen with orbs but have also been spotted alone.
What are also referred to, as vortices can sometimes appear as anomalous whirlwind-shaped
objects on photographs taken in allegedly haunted locations.

W

Warm Spot
This term is another one that is fairly self-explanatory. Warm spots are pockets of air that are
warmer (rarely, but can be hot) than the rest of the air in a given location. Heat vents, door
leaks, physical problem, windows and sun reflection are just some of the causes for reported
warm spots. All reasonable causes should be ruled out prior to noting a warm spot in an
evidence log. Whereas cold spots are generally thought to be more common, warm spots do
happen on a regular enough basis to warrant further investigation. Conversely to cold spots
though, warm spots are thought to be when a spirit is pushing out energy instead of taking it in.
There is a seemingly incorrect association of warm spots with negative or malevolent spirits.
Evidence thus far collected does not support such a theory.
Warm spots can be detected and recorded with an ambient air thermometer.
A change of 5 degrees or more is considered sufficient.

White Ladies
White ladies are a commonly reported type of "ghost" with traditions found worldwide. In
England, they are believed to be the spirits of noblewomen who were either murdered or died
under tragic circumstances. In France, these spirits are said to be strikingly beautiful and
found generally found in areas near bridges. The reason for this, according to some legends,
was that it was once customary to offer young women as sacrifices to river
spirits to allow people to cross the bridge in safety.
In both England and France, some legends also hold that these spirit types are seen in old
castles and manor houses, occasionally carrying a cup of poison. The term, overall, has come to
generally mean any female apparition which is reported to be clothed in white.

White Magic
Magical spells or rituals to produce beneficial effects.

White Noise
The word “white” is used to describe this type of noise for the same reason that white is used to
describe lights. White light is created when all the colors in the light spectrum combine. White
noise (also called white sound) is a combination of equal amounts of different frequencies of
sound, just like white light is a combination of colors. You can think of white noise as 20,000
tones all playing at the same time and at the same level.
For investigation purposes, white noise is controversially thought to attract spirits and
perhaps give them a “boost” when they try to interact with an investigator. However, there have
been reports of a few spirits who showed (by activity or EVP) that they dislike the noise. Should
you find that white noise upsets or angers a spirit, discontinue use immediately.
Depending on which investigator you talk to, you will find varying opinions about the use of
white noise when recording or as a steady background to an investigation. One of the positive
aspects about using white noise is that it gives you a constant background noise. This helps to
make your recording more credible if you do capture an E.V.P., as it makes it harder to fake one
while keeping the background noise unbroken.
One of the downsides that many complain about is the fact that they have more noise to deal
with on a recording and that it can “mask” some EVP. The choice is left to the group, but it
should at least be experimented with to see if there could be a documented change in activity.

Wicca
System of witchcraft, especially as practiced today in western countries.

Witch
Someone who practices witchcraft.

Witchdoctor
A medicine wo(man) or shaman.

Werewolf
A werewolf is a creature that does not exist in the physical world. He is symbolic of a man that
turns into a monster, a normal person that transforms into a bloodthirsty animal. The werewolf
may represents something in your life or in your own personality. When interpreting this dream,
consider internal and external factors that generally seem normal but have a tendency to
transform into undesirable, hurtful, or dangerous concerns in your life.

X

Xenoglossy
The ability to speak or write in a language that has not been learned.

Z

Zombie
A corpse that has been brought back to (soul-less) life by magic.
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