The Paranormal Dictionary

A / Z list of paranormal terms and definitions. This paranormal dictionary is designed to help with paranormal research & investigations.

 Agent : A person who is the focus or cause of Poltergeist activity.

Amorphous : Without form or shape.

Ancient Alien / Ancient Astronaut Theory : This theory suggests that mankind has been created, assisted or genetically modified in the past by extraterrestrial beings.

Angel : A none human entity, aligned with God or positive energy.

Apparition : When an entity takes a form that can be seen.

Apport : The appearance or disappearance of an object during paranormal phenomena.

Asport : When an object disappears then reappears during paranormal phenomena.

Astral Projection :  Also known as an O.B.E. outer-body experience. This is when your soul voluntarily or involuntarily leaves the body and travels to the Astral Plane or another location on this plane.

Atlantis : A legendary and mysterious civilization. Some believe it was located in the Bermuda Triangle.

Aura : Energy that surrounds living things and sometimes objects.

Automatic Writing : A method of communication with entities where the entity uses the hand of the living to write words or draw pictures.

Automatism : When the subconscious communicates with the conscious by means of a vehicle like a pendulum, ouija board or automatic writing.

Banshee : An Irish death omen that manifests when someone is going to die soon.

Benign Spirit : A harmless entity.

Bermuda Triangle : The Bermuda Triangle, also know as the Devil's Triangle, is an area in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where numerous ships and aircraft have mysteriously disappeared. This area has many reports of U.F.O. and U.S.O. activity as well. The Bermuda Triangle shares similarities with the Dragon's Triangle near Tokyo.

Bigfoot : A creature with ape and human characteristics found in legends around the world.

Bilocation : When you, another person or object appears to be in two different places at the same time.

Book of the Dead : Is the modern name of an ancient Egyptian funerary text, used from the beginning of the New Kingdom  (around 1550 BC) to around 50 BC. The original Egyptian name for the text, transliterated rw nw prt m hrw is translated as "Book of Coming Forth by Day". Another translation would be "Book of emerging forth into the Light". The text consists of a number of magic spells intended to assist a dead person's journey through the Duat, or underworld, and into the afterlife. The Book of the Dead was part of a tradition of funerary texts which includes the earlier Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts, which were painted onto objects, not papyrus. Some of the spells included were drawn from these older works and date to the 3rd millennium BC. Other spells were composed later in Egyptian history, dating to the Third Intermediate Period  (11th to 7th centuries BC). A number of the spells which made up the Book continued to be inscribed on tomb walls and sarcophagi, as had always been the spells from which they originated. The Book of the Dead was placed in the coffin or burial chamber of the deceased.

Channeling : Communication by entities through human beings like channelers or mediums.

Channeler : A person who allows entities to temporarily possess their body for communication.

Chupacabra : Chupacabra translates to "Goat Sucker". Physical descriptions vary from a humanoid like creature with spikes on its back to a more animal like form on four legs. This creature is reported to attack livestock and drain their blood, leaving only three puncture wounds.

Clairsentient : The psychic ability to feel things nobody else can.

Clairvoyance : The psychic ability to communicate with entities, see into the future, or collect information using the mind.

Clairvoyant : Someone with the psychic ability of clairvoyance.

Cleansing :  Nontraditional, occult or new-age ways to remove paranormal phenomena.

Cold Spot : An area that is colder than its surrounding environment, where ghosts or spirits are believed to be or were.

Collective Apparition : An apparition that is visible to more than one witness.

Corpse light : Unknown lights that are seen when paranormal phenomena is occurring.

Coven : Is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or vampires.

Crisis Apparition : Usually a onetime paranormal experience when a ghost is seen at the time of its death by family and friends as a way of saying goodbye or giving information.

Crop circle : Crop circle or Crop formations are large patterns created by the flattening of crops.

Cryptid : Is a creature or plant whose existence is suggested but has not been officially recognized.

Cryptozoology : Is the study of unknown creatures that allegedly exist but have not been officially documented or for creatures that are considered extinct, but are reported being seen from time to time.




 Curse (also called execration) : Is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object. In particular, "curse" may refer to a wish that harm or hurt will be inflicted by any supernatural powers, such as a spell, a prayer, an imprecation, an execration, magic, witchcraft, God, a natural force, or a spirit. In many belief systems, the curse itself (or accompanying ritual) is considered to have some causative force in the result.

Curse of the Pharaohs : Refers to the belief that any person who disturbs the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian person, especially a pharaoh, is placed under a curse. This curse, which does not differentiate between thieves and well-intentioned archaeologists, may allegedly cause bad luck, illness or death.

Deep Trance Medium : A psychic who allows a ghost or spirit to enter them for communication purposes.

Deja' Vu : The feeling that you have experienced something before.

Demon : A negative nonhuman spirit. Commonly used in Judeo - Christian terms are “fallen angles”, the term also applies to many different Gods, Spirits and traditions in other cultures that predate Judeo - Christian ones.

Demonic Haunting : A haunting by a negative nonhuman spirit or spirits.

Demonic Possession : Is the control of an individual by a negative entity.

Demonologist : Is an expert in nonhuman or demonic entities and who performs exorcisms.

Discarnate : Another name for a ghost or spirit with no body.

Discernment : Is the ability to feel or perceive something with your mind or senses.

Disembodied : A spirit or ghost with no body.

Disembodied Voice : A voice that comes from no physical body or any person in the area.

Divination : Obtaining information of future events by outside forces.

Dowsing or Divining : Locating objects, water, portals or supernatural energy with dowsing or divining rods.

Dragon's Triangle :(Also known as the Devil's sea) A region in the Pacific around Miyake Island 100 km south of Japan. This area has officially been declared a danger zone because of the amount of paranormal phenomena that has occurred throughout history. Countless ships have vanished without a trace within the Dragons Triangle. This region has received enormous amounts of U.S.O and U.F.O. reports as well. It has been called the Pacific's Bermuda Triangle because of the ire similarities.

Echolalita : When used in the paranormal field it means when a ghost or spirit repeats what you say.

Ectoplasm : A mist or smoke like substance that is usually only seen in photographs when paranormal phenomena is taking or has taken place.

Electromagnetic field (EMF) : Is electric and magnetic energy from natural and unnatural sources.

Electromagnetic Field Meter or EMF Detector : EMF detectors are devices used to detect ghosts and spirits by measuring EMF levels.

Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) : When voices and noises are recorded on audio equipment, but are usually not audible to the human ear at the time of recording.

Elemental : A nonhuman spirit with a connection to the elements. Earth, Water, Air, Fire.

Empath : A person sensitive to paranormal activity.

Entity : A broad term used to describe a paranormal being like ghosts, spirits and elementals.

Evocation : The summoning of spirits or ghosts.

Exorcism : The expulsion of demons or other negative entities from a person, place or object. This is usually performed by a demonologist, shaman, priest or witchdoctor.

Extrasensory Perception (ESP) : The psychic ability to receive information about future, present or past events not attained through normal human senses.

Extraterrestrial : Refers to an object or being beyond planet Earth.

Extraterrestrial Life : Is life that does not originate from Earth. This can range from bacteria to beings far more advanced than humans.

Fairy : Is a form of spirit. In alchemy they are regarded as elementals. They are also described as ghosts in some Gaelic folklore.

Familiar or Familiar Spirit : A supernatural entity that assists witches and other people who practice magic. They come in animal or humanoid form.

Full-bodied Apparition : When you see the full form of a ghost or spirit.

Ghost : The soul, life force, energy or essence of a person.

Ghost Light : Larger and brighter than orbs, they are unexplained lights associated with paranormal activity.

Ghost Ship or Vessel : The apparition of a ship that was sunk, wrecked or disappeared years or centuries ago. Sailors say they warn of impending doom.

Ghoul : In Arabian culture, ghouls are desert dwelling demon shape-shifters that can appear as animals and lead travelers to their deaths. Ghouls are also known as undead zombie like creatures found in graveyards or servants to vampires.

Haunted : A person, place or object that has a ghost or spirit attached to it.

Haunting : When paranormal phenomena has been happening for a lengthy period of time in a certain location.

Imprint : The theory that highly emotional situations or feelings can leave an imprint or copy of themselves on this plane of existence and replay again and again like a tape recorder. This can lead to residual hauntings.

Incubus :A demon that can appear in male form and seduces or assaults women. These attacks usually take place while the victim is asleep.

Infestation : This is when multiple ghosts or spirits are involved in a haunting. This term is also used to describe a very intense rise in paranormal activity.

Inhuman Spirit : A nonhuman spirit.

Intelligent Haunting : When paranormal activity interacts with the living and shows intelligence.

Invocation : The summoning of spirits.

Levitation : When a person or object is raised into the air by no explainable means.

Light Trance Medium : When a person communicates with ghosts and spirits by going into a deep trance.

Lycanthropy : When a person transforms into a wolf.

Malevolent : An evil spirit or ghost that wants to do harm.

Manifestation : When an entity takes form.

Manifesting : When your mind makes things happen.

Materialization : When an entity takes physical form.


Medium : A person who acts as a bridge between the living and the other side.

Metaphysics : The study of phenomena beyond the laws of physics.

Mummy : Is a body, human or animal, whose skin  and have been preserved by either intentional or incidental exposure to chemicals, extreme cold (ice mummies), very low humidity, or lack of air when bodies are submerged in bogs, so that the recovered body will not decay further if kept in cool and dry conditions. Some authorities restrict the use of the term to bodies deliberately embalmed with chemicals, but the use of the word to cover accidentally desiccated bodies goes back at least to the 1730s.

Near Death Experience (NBE) : The experience of death or nearly dead.

Necromancy : The practice of communicating with the dead for obtaining information of future events and other secrets.

Night terror : Usually a terrifying nightmare or unexplained nocturnal occurrence.

Obsession : One of the initial ways a demon gains control of a victim or subject. The person becomes obsessed with the entity.

Occultism : A belief and practice of mysterious forces and entities.

Occult Science : The systematic research into, or formulation of occult concepts. Various aspects of what have been considered "occultism" are in fact scientific in the same manner that chemistry or physics is scientific.

Orbs : Energy orbs, spirit orbs or ghost orbs , are spheres of energy containing the soul of the deceased or the essence of a non human entity. Some believe this is the easiest way for ghosts & spirits to manifest, because it takes less energy than a full bodied apparition.

Out-of-body-experience : When your soul temporarily leaves the body.

Ouija Board : A board used to communicate with ghosts and spirits.

Paranormal : A term used to describe anything out of the ordinary.

Parapsychology : The scientific study of paranormal phenomena.

Pendulum :  Typically a crystal or stone suspended from a chain. Pendulums are used for divination or to communicate with the other side.  

Phenomena : A term used to describe more than one event or occurrence that cannot be explained by traditional science.

Phenomenon : A term used to describe an event or occurrence that cannot be explained by traditional science.

Phantom : An apparition of an entity. This can also be a distortion of the senses, like the sensation that a missing limb is still attached to the body.

Physical mediumship : A type of communication with spirits or ghosts, using both physical energy and consciousness of the medium.

Planchette : A pointing device used for ouija boards.

Poltergeist : The term comes from Germany and translates to "noisy ghost". This type of paranormal activity has often been blamed on evil ghosts or spirits. However, more recent theories show a connection to psychokinesis.

Possession : When an entity takes control of a person.

Precognition : Having knowledge of future events.

Premonition : The feeling or warning of future events.

Progression hypnotherapy : When you visit past lives through hypnosis.

PSI : A term used to describe psychic power or ability.

Psychic : A person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception (ESP), or who is said by others to have such abilities.

Psychic Attack : Is a physical or mental attack by an entity or person.

Psychic Vampire : A person or being who feeds off the 'life force' of living creatures .

Psychokinesis : The ability to move objects using only the mind.

Reincarnation : The belief that when you die you will come back in a different body.

Residual Haunting : An imprint left at a location that repeats itself over and over again.

Seance : A way of communicating with ghosts and spirits.

Sensitive : A person who can see or feel ghosts, spirits and other entities. Can also be used as a broad term for mediums, psychics and clairvoyants

Sixth sense : A term used to describe psychic powers or PSI.

Shape-Shifting : An ability to change form.

Shaman : Shamans are intermediaries between our world and the spirit world. They are healers of the soul.

Sleep-Paralysis : When you seem awake but are unable to move.

Specter : Can refer to a ghost, spirit or apparition.

Spirit :  A spirit is a generic term used to describe any entity that was never human like angels, demons, elementals or other Gods.

Spirit World : A term used to describe the general dimension or plan of existence for entities.

Spirit guide : A spirit that watches over the living and guides them.

Spontaneous Human Combustion : When a human suddenly catches fire for no known reason.

Supernatural : Anything beyond the definitions of the natural world.

Stigmata : Unexplained markings on someones body that resembles the wounds of Christ.

Subliminal Perception : When you perceive something without conscious awareness.

Succubus : Is a demon that can appear in female form and seduces or assaults men. These attacks usually take place while the victim is asleep.

Table tipping : An old way to communicate with ghosts and spirits by moving a table.

Telekinesis : When objects are moved by only using the mind.

Telepathy : A way of communication using only the mind.

Teleportation : Instantaneous transportation from one area to another.

Time slip : When an individual or individuals experience a different point in time, usually in the same place.

Trance mediumship : When the medium shares their energy with an entity through the use of a trance.

U.F.O.   : An unidentified flying object.

U.S.O.   : An unidentified submerged object.

Undead  : Anything deceased and yet behaves as if alive.

Urban Legend : A tale that is told about a friend of a friend.

Vampire : A person or being who feeds off the life essence (usually blood) of living creatures.

Vodou / Voodoo : Vodou is a combination of beliefs and practices from west Africa with Arawakian religious beliefs, and Roman Catholic Christianity. It was created by slaves who were brought to Haiti in the 16th century, as a way to conceal their African beliefs after being forced to convert.
            
Vortex : A vortex is a type of doorway to the spirit world. Vortexes usually appear only in photos as a misty funnel like shape and they have been photographed in many different colors.

Werewolf : A person who posses the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like being.

White noise : Background noise behind the intended signal.

Witch Doctor : A person who uses remedies to protect others against witchcraft.

Wormhole :  A wormhole is a "shortcut" or "bridge" through spacetime.

Xenoglossy : An ability to speak or write in a language not known.

Zombie : This term can be used to describe an undead or hypnotized person. Some of the earliest known text about zombies comes from 5000 B.C. in Africa.