GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Magnetometer (EMF, Gauss Meter) - An instrument for measuring the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field.

Malicious Spirit - A spirit that will destroy or damage things of personal or financial value for the sake of hurting others.

Manifestation - A witnessed physical appearance of a ghost, spirit, or event from a previously empty space.

Materialization - A witnessed sudden appearance of spirits in physical form; The sudden appearance of a person or object in front of a witness or witnesses.

Matrixing - When the mind attempts to manifest images as something they are not.

Meditation - The process of relaxing, emptying your mind of all thought or reaching a different state of consciousness. Meditation can aid in spiritual development and/or inner peace. There are many types of meditation.

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. Derived from the Latin word Meta which means beyond. Literally means that which is beyond the laws of physics.

Medium - A person who can communicate with spirits or ghosts; a person who acts as an conductor for spirit communication.

Mesmerism - A hypnotic induction of a sleep of trance state. (see also Hypnotism).

Miasma - A glowing mist usually sighted hovering above graves; miasmic light is a ghostly light.

Mist - Foggy or vapor-like materialization that can sometimes be traced to supernatural forces.

Malevolent - One wishing to do harm. A malevolent spirit wants to cause chaos and harm.

Motor Automatism - Bodily movement or functions that are accompanied but not controlled by consciousness. (see also automatic writing).

Nature Spirit - Elves, nymphs, dryads, sprites, and other nature spirits believed to be guardians of their environment.

Near Death Experience (NDE) - An experience that is reported by people who clinically die, or come close to actual death and are revived. These event 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.

Neopagan - A follower of sympathizer of one of the newly formed Pagan religions based on ancient teachings or myths.

Occult - Means "Hidden". Pertaining to the preternatural or hidden principles behind nature; Hermetic. From the Latin, meaning something that is concealed or covered. Since the 16th century, it has meant anything that is mysterious. Today in America, it generally refers to magical, mystical and experimental studies.

Occultist - One who has "way better than average" knowledge of the Occult where spirituality comes into play. This does not mean an Occultist practices Occult beliefs. It is the study of those that do believe in occults.

Occultism - Esoteric systems of belief and practice that assume the existence of mysterious forces and entities.

Old Hag Syndrome - A nocturnal phenomena that involves a feeling of immobilization, suffocation, odd smells and feelings and is sometimes accompanied by immense fear (see also Sleep Paralysis).

Orb - Transparent or white ball believed to be spirit energy captured on film of trapped souls; can be caught on film, video tape, digital pictures, and sometimes seen with the naked eye; A round, whitish or pastel-colored translucent area in photos. Rarely seen in real life. Generally, these are perfectly circular, not oval. Many researchers believe that they represent spirits or ghosts. A photographed (not seen at the time of the photo) anomaly that, in theory, represents an ongoing "spirit" of a deceased person. It appears as a ball of light and may occasionally seem to be moving. This is a highly controversial subject since there are many reasonable circumstances that identify this as environmental (dust, rain, moisture in the air, dirty lens, insects, reflection, lens flare etc.). There has been no substantial proof that the balls of light are associated with "ghosts", "spirits" or any Paranormal behavior.

Ouija - From the French and German words for "yes," this is a spelling board used with a planchette'. A board pre-printed with letters, numerals, and words used by mediums to receive spirit communications. Usually a planchatte' (palm sized triangular platform) is employed to spell out words or point out numbers or letters. A game version of the Ouija board was mass-marketed as OUIJA by Parker Brothers in 1966 and is currently distributed by Hasbro. The device is intended to communicate with and through the spirit world, obtaining answers to questions. Many ghost hunters do not include them in scientific investigations, and some people object to them on principle alone. We do not recommend nor condone the use of Ouija Boards.

Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) - A sensation or experience in which ones self or inner spirit travels to a different location that their physical body. (see also Astral Projection).

Paranormal - Beyond parapsychology, The prefix, "Para" indicates something that is irregular, faulty, or operating outside the usual boundaries. So, "paranormal" refers to anything outside the realm and experiences that we consider normal. Above or outside the natural order of things as presently understood; An event or person that is beyond the everyday experience or scientific explanation; out of the accepted norm of human experience. ;it also means the study of different forms of "normal" communication between beings. Derived from the Latin word Para, which means beyond, parapsychology literally means beyond psychology. It is generally defined as the scientific study of paranormal phenomena. Term coined by J.B. Rhine.

Paranormal Investigator- The act of going to an allegedly haunted location, gathering data such as photos, audio recordings, video, electromagnetic field monitoring, etc., and summarizing your data in reports.

Paranormal Researcher - Someone who uses their own theories/ideas to test new research methods, protocols, and equipment. A true researcher is not biased to an old idea, but works to disprove or prove further the old idea, to expand the knowledge of the community. Typically, a researcher does not work to prove a paranormal occurrence as genuine, but to disprove the occurrence legitimately. Only when all possible false-positive contaminants have been ruled out can something be defined as a true anomaly.

Parapsychology - A term coined by J.B. Rhine. The study of mental abilities and effects outside the usual realm of psychology. Parapsychology includes the study of ESP, ghosts, luck, psycho kinesis, and other paranormal phenomena; Scientific study of psychologically based phenomena beyond conventional explanation. The study of the evidence for psychological phenomena that are inexplicable by science.

Past Life Recall - To remember or have mental flashes about previous lives.

Pendulum - A small weight at the end of a cord or chain that is usually about six to ten inches long. The movement of the weight, when uninfluenced by other factors, can be used to detect areas of paranormal energy.

Pentagram - Magical diagram consisting of a five pointed star that is a representation of man; occultists consider it the most potent sigil for conjuring spirits.

Phantasm - Projection of the mind; an illusion; sometimes used to connote a spirit or ghost.

Phantasmagoria - A crowd of dim or unreal figures. It is also a device used for ghost making as a popular entertainment in the 18th century developed by E.G. Robertson around the 1790's for projecting convincing figures before an audience.

Phantom - Another name for "ghost" or "spirit", although interestingly, many use the word "phantom" to refer to ghosts that have been seen wearing cloaks or robes; Any non-material spirit; specter, entity, or apparition; usually malevolent. Something that is seen, heard, or sensed, but has no physical reality. (also see ghost)

Phantomania - Paralysis that occurs when someone is under attack from supernatural or preternatural forces, also known as psychic paralysis.

Pink noise or 1/ƒ noise is a signal or process with a frequency spectrum such that the power spectral density is inversely proportional to the frequency. In pink noise, each octave carries an equal amount of noise power. The name arises from being intermediate between white noise (1/ƒ⁰) and red noise (1/ƒ²), more commonly known as Brownian noise. Within the scientific literature the term 1/ƒ noise is used a little more loosely to refer to any noise with a power spectral density of the form S (f) ∞ 1 /f ͣ where ƒ is frequency and 0 < α < 2, with α usually close to 1. These "1/ƒ-like" noises occur widely in nature and are a source of considerable interest in many fields. The term flicker noise is sometimes used to refer to 1/ƒ noise, although this is more properly applied only to its occurrence in electronic devices due to a direct current. Mandelbrot and Van Ness proposed the name fractional noise (sometimes since called fractal noise) to emphasize that the exponent of the spectrum could take non-integer values and be closely related to fractional Brownian motion, but the term is very rarely used.

PK - Movement of an object without using physical means; telekinesis; ability to move objects using the psychic or mental energy.

Planchette'- An indicator or pointer used in association with a Ouija Board, spirit board or talking board.

Poltergeist - From the German meaning "noisy ghost," this term has been in use since the early 19th century to mean a spirit that makes noise, or otherwise plays pranks often annoying. Unlike other ghosts, poltergeists can move from one location to another, following the person they've chosen to torment. Many psychologists believe that poltergeists are not ghosts at all, but some form of psycho kinesis or remote activity. A non-human spirit entity which literally means "noisy ghost" but is usually more malicious and destructive that ghosts of dead humans beings. Traditional poltergeists activities are thumping and banging, levitating or the moving of objects, stone throwing and starting fires. It is thought that poltergeist activity in some instances may be brought on subconsciously by an adolescent agent or females under the age of 25. The target human is called the epicenter and most if not all activity will be surrounding this person. Activity will escalate it the epicenter, (person) is agitated or scared.

Portal - Literally, a doorway or gate, this term suggests a specific location through which spirits enter and leave our world. When there are multiple phenomena in a confined area, such as an abundance of unexplained orbs, some people call this a "ghost portal."

Possession - A state in which a living person is taken over by a more powerful often malignant spirit or energy.

Premonition - A vision or feeling of some future event; a warning of approaching negative occurrence or occurrences in the future.

Precognition - The prior knowledge of future events. The ability to predict or have knowledge of something in advance of its occurrence, especially by extrasensory perception. (also see Clairvoyance).

Preternatural - Something that is associated with inhuman, primitive, demonic, or uncontrollable spirits or forces.

Protection - Objects, rituals, routines, tactics, or processes through which you guard yourself against psychic, demonic or paranormal intrusions and effects.

Psi - Popular term used to mean any psychic phenomena, psychic abilities, and sometimes inclusive of paranormal disturbances as well. A letter in the Greek alphabet that denotes psychic phenomena.

Psychic - From the Greek word meaning of the soul, or of life, this word usually refers to the world outside the domain of physical law. "Psychic" can relate to the spirit or the mind, depending upon the context. When someone is described as a psychic, it usually means that he or she is able to perceive things that are outside traditional physical laws and perceptions; A person who knows or communicates with unseen forces, spirits, or entities; telepath; clairvoyant. A person who is responsive to psychic forces with above average ESP abilities.

Psychical - The popular British term used as an adjective or adverb, for what Americans call "psychic."

Psychokinesis (PK)- or psycho kinesis - To move something with the powers of one's mind, alone. It may be a factor in a haunting, and particularly in poltergeist phenomena. It's usually called "PK." The power of the mind to affect matter without physical contact, especially in inanimate and remote objects by the exercise of psychic powers.

Psychometry - The ability to acquire knowledge by touching an object associated with a certain person, place, thing, or time. The ability or art of divining information about people or events associated with an object solely by touching or being near to it. The ability to touch an object and "read" the imprints of energy attached to that object and tell about the history or owner of the object.

PV - Voice Phenomena, unexplained disembodied voices, Voices and sounds that are alleged to be from the dead and that can be heard audibly. Ghostly voices witnessed by one or more persons, with out the aid of digital audio equipment or recordings.

Pyrokinesis - The ability to unconsciously control and sometimes in rare cases produce fire with their mind only.

Radio Voice Phenomena (RVP)- A form of electronic voice phenomena received over a common radio in the AM, FM or short wave frequencies.

Reflection Image - A false positive that occurs when the flash of a camera reflects off of a shiny surface causing a false ghostly image or streak of light to appear on film.

Reciprocal Apparition - A rare type of ghost sighting when both the spirit and a human witness or witnesses see and respond to one another.

Reincarnation - The belief that each person possesses a soul which is independent of the body and can be reborn into another body after death.

Relic - An artifact or item closely associated with a saint or holy person, or some source of spiritual power.

Remote Viewing - Used by some psychics, this is a procedure in which the percipient or psychic attempts to become physically aware of the experience of an agent who is at a distant, unknown location though ESP.

Research Site - A true research site is when a controlled environment is established and then visited frequently (normally on a regular basis, weekly, biweekly, etc.) to test new theories and research ideas. To a researcher, the benefits of a long-term research site is the ability to find out what is normal for that location, therefore deviations from that norm may be recorded as data. This is not possible on an investigation where one may only visit a site a few times.

Residual energy - Many ghost hunters believe that emotionally charged events leave an imprint or energy residue on the physical objects nearby. What distinguishes residual energy from an active haunting is that the energy/impressions repeat consistently, as if on a loop. The energy levels may increase or decrease, but the content remains the same with each manifestation. By contrast, in what we term an active haunting, the ghost may respond to environmental stimuli and direct contact; The energy behind classic anniversary hauntings; these cases exhibit a release of built up energy as if they were recorded in the walls or ground of a haunted location by some traumatic event; psychic imprint energy; spirit trapped in a continuous emotional loop in time.

Residual Haunting - Noises and or apparitions of people or inanimate objects, playing over and over as if stuck in the "play back" mode of a VCR. This "loop" is only a memory and will eventually fade with time. This is an unconscious spirit, incapable of an intelligent response. Communication would be futile.

Retro Cognition - An experience in which a person finds themselves in the past and is able to see and experience events in which they had no prior knowledge. Paranormal knowledge of past events.

Reverse Crowd Noise - Recorded noise of a market day crowd or in a crowded place that is then reversed and used as background noise on EVP Recordings.

RVP- A form of electronic voice phenomena received over a common radio in the AM, FM, short wave or microwave frequencies.

Satanic - Anything pertaining to Satan, the devil, his underlings and worshippers.

Saturation - The first wave of a paranormal investigation, involving photographs and establishing baseline readings of environmental levels in the absence of perceivable paranormal activity.

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.

Séance' - A sitting that is held for the purpose of communication with the dead. At least one person in the circle is preferred to be a medium (or Psychic), with the power of contacting the spirits; A meeting or gathering for the purpose of contacting the dead; usually lead by a medium to receive spiritualistic messages, manifestations or communication with the dead at a table while participants are holding hands.

Sensitive - A person who possesses psychic abilities to sense the presence of energy from spirits, demons, or paranormal energy.

Shadow Men - These ghosts usually appear as a shadow normally seen from the corner of your eye or in a mirror. It is difficult to distinguish shadow men from regular shadows on film or in photography, that's why it is important to see if it is possible to recreate the shadow.

Shadow People - Shadow people are mysterious dark shadow in human form that appear in pictures or video, but may be invisible to the naked eye. It is thought that these spirits do not have enough energy to materialize as a full bodied apparition.

Shaman - A wizard, sorcerer, or medicine man in tribal societies who is an intermediary between the living, the dead, and the Gods. One who practices magic or sorcery for the purposes of healing, divination, and control over natural events.

Shanghai - Also known as Era Cues; the recreation of an era or period surroundings during an investigation; playing period music, vintage radio or television shows, playing recordings of a major event or a popular situation that occurred during the correlating time period.

Shotgun Sweep - Placing digital data loggers though out a specific location (like shotgun pellets) to record changes in the environment that may indicate the presence of paranormal activity.

Simulacra - A word used to describe the faces and shapes that are often reported in photographs and in almost every kind of inanimate object including doors, buildings, clouds, trees and bushes. Usually, it is nothing more than the imagination of the witness making the texture of the object into a face or figure.

Sixth Sense - Extrasensory perception. (receptive psychic) The ability to gain knowledge through means other than the five physical senses or logical inference. A sixth sense; ability to sense energy or information outside of the basic five senses of taste, touch, sight, sound and smell.

Skeptic - A person who is yet undecided as to what is true. One who looks for rational explanations as to why something occurs.

Sleep Paralysis - A condition in which a person seems to be awake/conscious but is unable to move. (see also Hypnopompic)

Soul - The essence that distinguishes one person from another and survives through time. Your body is the host for a soul; a soul resides in side of every living being.

Sparkles - A visual effect described as the sparkle of embers falling immediately after a fireworks display. These small, sparkling lights usually occur no closer to the camera than ten feet. They are often 20 to 50 feet away, or more. Sparkles are seen during and especially immediately after the flash on a camera is used. Even the most vivid sparkles will not show up on film. (If they do, check for dust or insects.) Sparkles are paranormal phenomena. "Sparkles" is a proprietary term developed in the 1990s by Fiona Broome during research for Hollow Hill. Other researchers have adopted the term to describe this unique phenomenon.

Specter (or Spectre) - Another term for a ghost; Phantom; disembodied spirit; grisly ghost; ghost not recognizable to the percipient.

Spirit - This word comes from the Latin, meaning that which breathes. It means that which animates life, or the soul of the being; Life force or human energy continuing to exist for a temporary period after death; a human soul after leaving the host body.

Spirit Photography - A term used for both legitimate attempts to capture ghosts and paranormal energy on film and also for the work of fraudulent photographers during the Spiritualist era. The art or process of taking photos using traditional film, or digital media to capture images of spirits.

Spirit World - Dimension of reality in which spirits reside Heaven, the Summerland, Valhalla, or more commonly, the Other Side.

Spiritualism - A faith based on the idea that life continues after death and that communication between the living and the dead can, and does, take place; Movement of belief in spirits and spiritual energy originating in the 1800s. The belief system that the dead are able to communicate with the living, through an intermediary or medium.

Stigmata - Unexplained bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain corresponding to the exact locations of the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ.

Subjective Apparitions - Hallucinations of apparitions or other phenomena that are created by our own minds.

Subliminal Perception - Perceiving things without conscious awareness. Sensory impressions below the threshold of conscious awareness.

Succubus - A demon posing as a female that is looking for or has had sexual intercourse with a living man. A form of Temptress or siren. A demonic entity capable of sexually arousing and/or assaulting men.

Supernatural - Events or happenings that take place in violation of the laws of nature, usually associated with ghosts and hauntings; Pertaining to that beyond nature or above natural law; as opposed to the term "paranormal," the term "supernatural" connotes divine or demonic powers; Beyond or exceeding the laws of nature.

Talisman - Charm or drawing of various shapes and sizes that has specified purpose such as protection from good, evil, or good luck.

Talking Boards - A piece of wood bearing the letters of the alphabet that is used as a tool to make contact with the spirit world. Sitters place their fingers lightly on the planchette' or pointer, by which the spirits can spell out messages on the board. We do not condone the use of Talking Boards.

Tarot - The history of Tarot is still unclear. However, since its use in 14th century Italy, "Tarot" refers to playing cards that are also used for fortune-telling or divination.

Tarot Cards - A set or deck of (usually 72) cards that include 22 cards representing virtues and vices, death and fortune etc. used by fortunetellers to help them predict future events.

Telekinesis - From a Greek word meaning any motion that is activated from a distance. Technically, this could describe a remote-controlled toy boat, so we use the word psycho kinesis for our research; Movement of an object without using physical means; telekinesis; ability to move objects using the psychic or mental energy only.

Telepathy - Mental, non-verbal, or psychic communication between people. Communication form one mind to another through means other than the five senses.

Teleportation - The appearance, disappearance or movement of human bodies and physical objects through closed doors or over some amount of distance using paranormal means. Such events often are reported to take place during hauntings; Dematerialization and re-materialization of an object; objects moved through time or space by supernatural forces.

Thermo scanner - Non-contact digital thermometer that measures surface temperatures by comparing the infrared energy to the ambient energy.

Trance - A hypnotic, cataleptic, or ecstatic state in which one becomes detached from their physical surroundings. Ability to tap into subconscious thoughts by placing yourself or someone else in an unconscious or relaxed sleep like state.

Unexplained EMF - Often indicate something paranormal. EMF fields can be measured with various tools, including an EMF meter or a hiking compass.

Vampire - Creature who, according to legend, feeds on human blood, and only walks at night.

Veil - where the spiritual veil stands for limitations of awareness that prevent human beings from directly perceiving divine realities. The Books of Mark and Luke indicate that the Veil of the Sanctuary tore when Jesus was crucified. The barrier between the physical and the spirit planes which separated God from humanity had been broken, the boundary had been transcended, and so the Veil tore. The Veil as the filmy barrier between the world of the physical and that of the spirit varies in density depending on the time of year and the individual's ability to see the spirit world. For those with psychic ability, the view is still shrouded in fog, yet accessible a good amount of the time. For those without the gift of second sight, the Veil is thick and impenetrable. The spirit world is not available to one such as this. During certain times of the year - Autumn and Halloween in particular or an anniversary, birthday or other important event in your or the spirit your trying to communicate with life time - the Veil is thinnest and is the best time for divination. Those who are able to access the Veil have experienced it as a place of silence, calm, and peace. All that is outside of the Veil is motion, noise, and desire. To be in the Veil is to be both separate from the physical world and a part of the oneness of Spirit. The veil can also intentionally serve to make communication difficult by preventing others from understanding what spirits are doing and why.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4201503

Voice Phenomena - Also PV; Unexplained disembodied voices, Voices and sounds that are alleged to be from the dead and that can be heard audibly. Ghostly voices witnessed by one or more persons, with out the aid of digital audio equipment or recordings.

Vortex - Since the time of Descartes, this has indicated the rotation of cosmic energy around a central point or axis. Beginning in the mid-19th century, the word "vortex" has meant any whirling movement of energy or particles. In some circles, a misty vortex can mean an open spiritual portal for spirit travel; Energy tornado or tunnel of swirling spiritual energy; caught in photographs as orbs in motion; some believe them to be portals in time and space. An anomaly that appears as a funnel or rope-like image in photographs. These images are sometimes thought to represent ghosts, collections of orbs or gateways which travel to a wormhole in time-space. There has been no substantial scientific evidence to support any of these theories.

Werewolf - According to legend, a person who transforms into a wolf or takes on wolf-like characteristics during a full moon.

White Noise - An acoustical or electrical noise of which the intensity is the same at all frequencies within a given band. A hiss-like sound, formed by combining all audible frequencies.

Wicca - Witchcraft; A neo-pagan movement that honors the "Gods of Nature"; "Wicca" means "Wise One".

Witch - A female follower of traditional witchcraft or modern Wicca; person who harnesses forces of nature by conjuring spirits and spiritual energy.

Wraith - An apparition that when appears, is generally thought to be an omen of impending death.

Zener Cards - A set or deck of cards for use in card-guessing tests for ESP. Zener cards were invented by Karl Zener. Each set contains the following cards: a hollow circle (one curve), a Greek cross (two lines), three vertical wavy lines (or "waves"), a hollow square (four lines), and a hollow five-pointed star. There are 25 cards in a pack, five of each design.

In a test for clairvoyance, the person conducting the test (the experimenter) picks up a card in a shuffled pack, observes the symbol on the card, and records the answer of the person being tested for extra sensory perception, who must correctly determine which of the five designs is on the card in question. The experimenter continues until all the cards in the pack have been used.