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| The Arizona Paranormal Research Society |
| PARANORMAL TERMS GLOSSARY |
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| Daemon A guardian spirit who communicates inspiration and advice. Death Generally understood to be the extinction of an organism’s life in which many doctrines assert that there may be some form of mental or spiritual survival of physical death. Deja Vu Certain events and experiences seem as if you are re-experiencing the event or situation that has happened at another time. As familiar as the experiences are, you cannot recall nor figure out when they happened. Delta A term used to refer to any kind of anomalous experience. Dematerialization The paranormal fading or disappearance of a physical object. Demon(s) Various kinds of spirits, both good and evil, which allegedly have the ability to intervene in the affairs of humankind. In Christianity, demons are evil and are the minions of Satan. Their sole purpose is to tempt and torment people and lead them into sin. The gods and goddesses of pagan religions became demons in Christianity. In other religions, demons can be either good or evil or have a dual nature. Demonology One who studies and practices the art of demonology. An individual who specializes in the removal of evil or demonic forces from a given environment using the art of demonology. One who brings demonic forces out of their slumber to be cast away. Someone who uses the art of demonology to incantate demons for ones use in battling them. The study and classification of the hierarchy of demons, their powers and limitations, attributes, multiple names, and derivations. Also, a branch of magic which deals with malevolent spirits. In religious science demonology has come to indicate knowledge regarding supernatural beings who are not deities. Demonic Possession Possession of the body and mind by a demon or evil spirits. Deport The paranormal movement of objects out of a secure enclosed space. Direct Writing Direct writing is when spirits actually write using any means. This can be done by slate writing or by pen and paper. Direct Voice A voice heard in a seance which does not seem to emanate from any person. The voice may seem to come out of thin air, or from a trumpet used specifically for this purpose. Discarnate Entity A spirit or non-material entity. Often used to refer to the personality of a deceased individual. Dissociation Activity performed outside of normal conscious awareness, or mental processes that suggest the existence of separate centres of consciousness. Divination The obtain unknown knowledge or future events from omens. Astrology may be considered divination. Practices involving the interpretation of signs or symbols that seek to obtain oracular knowledge of events. Divining Rod A forked rod from a tree said to indicate the presence of water or minerals underground. D.M.I.L.S. Abbreviation of Direct Mental Interaction with Living Systems. Used to denote instances where one person is attempting to influence a distant biological system, usually the physiology of another person. As it is unclear whether this represents an influence (see psychokinesis), a case of ESP on the part of the influence (see ESP) or an opportunistic selection process, the term 'interaction' has been adopted. Doppleganger A spirit of a living person outside of the physical body. Double A duplicate of one's own body. See also astral body Double Blind An experimental procedure in which neither the subject nor experimenter is aware of key features of the experiment. Down Through Technique (DT) An experimental test for clairvoyance in which the person guesses the order of a stacked series of target symbols (e.g., cards) from top to bottom. Dowsing Dowsing is the use of simple instrumentation (such as a rod or a pendulum) to detect hidden items (most commonly, underground water). To be able to find underground water and/or underground minerals. Dream See paranormal dream. Drop-in Communicator An uninvited communicator who 'drops in' at a sitting. Earthquake Effect A phenomenon produced by the physical medium D.D. Home, involving the room shaking as if there was an earthquake. Ecstasy An altered state of consciousness in which the person experiences great rapture and loss of self-control. Ectoplasm-Ecto In parapsychology, ectoplasm is the name given to a hypothetical form of dense bio-energy liberated by living things, which is claimed to make possible the materialization of ghosts and psycho kinesis. In the early twentieth century photographs claiming to show ectoplasm were occasionally published; these were shown to be fraudulent. Often the medium would have concealed cheesecloth about their person to produce at an appropriate moment. Many people still hold out faith that ectoplasm exists, but as of yet, no solid evidence for it has been found. Parapsychologists have tried to use different photographic filters to find ectoplasm, but usually what has been found is simply an odd light, which may be the filters corrupting the picture. EEG (Electro-encephalography) A method of recording variations of electrical activity in the cortex of the brain. Electromagnetic Field-EMF A field propagated by a combination of electric and magnetic energy that radiates from radio and light waves to gamma and cosmic rays. Most parapsychologists believe that when spirits of the dead manifest, they create an electromagnetic field. Electronic Voice Phenomena-EVP Intelligible voices recorded on recording media, (analog tape recorder, digital recorder and video cameras with microphone etc.) under conditions of silence or white noise, which are heard only when said recording media is played back. Elemental Spirit A spirit associated with one of the classical four elements (fire, earth, air and water). Elongation Paranormal extension of the physical body, reported in some mystics and physical mediums. Empath Someone who shows considerable empathy, especially of the apparently psychic type. Empathy Rarely used in modern parapsychology, the popular usage of this term refers to a low-level form of telepathy wherein the empath appears to be aware of the emotional state of a distant person. An empath may also be able to "broadcast" emotions to others. Entity A spirit or non material entity often used to refer to the personality of adeceased individual. Extra Sensory Perception-ESP Extra-sensory perception, or ESP, is the supposed ability to acquire information by some means other than the normal human senses, such as the traditional five senses of taste, sight, touch, smell, and hearing, or any of the other senses well known to science.. Because the definition of sense is vague, the precise definition of extra-sensory is as well, but the term is generally meant to imply sources of information unknown to modern science. Controlled scientific research detects consistent evidence of extra-sensory perception, but the strength of ESP demonstrated with normal participants is usually weak and apparent only under statistical analysis. Possible ESP phenomena include: telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, retro cognition, medium- hood and séancing, psychometrics, clairaudience, clairsentience, astral projection,the reading of auras and psychokinesis. Study of these phenomena is known as parapsychology. The word "psychic" is used as both a noun and adjective to denote a person capable of using ESP in any of its forms. Evil Eye Alleged ability of some people to harm others by looking at them. Evocation The summoning of (often evil) spirits using a magical incantation or ritual. Exorcism A religious or quasi-religious rite to drive out evil spirits. See also possession. Experiment A test carried out under controlled conditions. Experimental Group A group of subjects who undergo a specific experimental procedure. Often results from this group are compared with those of a control group. Experimental Parapsychology Parapsychological research involving experimental methods rather than survey techniques or the investigation of spontaneous cases. Experimenter The person who conducts the experiment. Experimenter Effect Influence that the experimenter's personality or behaviour may have on the results of an experiment. Extradimensional Originating outside our normal space-time reality. Extraterrestrial Originating beyond planet Earth. Not normally considered to be extradimensional. Faith Healing To know that you and others can heal yourselves by simply believing it. False Awakening An experience in which a person believes he or she has woken up, but actually is still dreaming. Familial Apparitions Ghostly apparitions particular to a family line. Most often described as an ancient ancestor who remains earthbound to insure the continuation and prosperity of the family line. In other cases, the spirit of an ancestor follows the family line and appears as an omen of ill fortune, such as in the case of "The Black Friar" who haunted the family of poet Lord Byron. Faraday Cage A wire mesh enclosure that provides a shield to radio waves. Focal Person A person who is at the centre of poltergeist activity. Forced-Choice Test An ESP test in which the subject guesses from a predetermined list of alternative targets. Fortean Phenomena Any paranormal or strange phenomena that appear to defy natural explanation, such as rains of frogs, fish, stones, dead birds, flesh, and snakes; mystifying religious experiences, such as stigmata; floating balls of light in the night sky; spontaneous human combustion; UFO’s; poltergeist activity; and monstrous creatures. Fortean Phenomena is named after Charles Fort (1874-1932), an American journalist. Fraud The deliberate faking of paranormal phenomenena, generally for the purpose of financial gain, psychological manipulation, or notoriety. Faking for the purpose of entertainment (e.g., by stage magicians and mentalists) is not normally classed as fraud. Gainsfield A state of mild sensory deprivation, characterized by the presentation of homogenous sensory fields. Thus, a person in Ganzfeld will have diffusive plastic hemispheres over their eyes while in a dimly red-lit room, be listening to white noise through headphones, and be seated in a comfortable, semi-reclined chair. Its use in parapsychology is based on a noise-reduction model. General Extrasensory Perception (GESP) ESP in which it is unclear whether the results are due to clairvoyance, telepathy, precognition or retrocognition. Geomancy A system of divination involving the interpretation of lines or figures. Ghost Ghosts are the supposed apparitions of the dead. A ghost is often thought to be the spirit or soul of a person who has remained on Earth after death. Every culture in the world carries stories about ghosts, but its beliefs vary substantially across time and place, with disagreements both as to what ghosts are and whether such things exist in reality. Glossolalia Unintelligible speech generally uttered in a dissociated or trance state. Also known as "speaking in tongues". Guardian Angel An angel believed to protect an individual. Guide A spirit who is believed to assist a person’s spiritual journey. Hallucination A sensory experience (visual) that does not correspond to physical reality. Haunting Mysterious happenings attributed to the presence of ghosts or spirits. Phenomena include apparitions, noises, smells, tactile sensations, extremes in temperature, movement of objects, and the like. Despite much scientific inquiry since the late nineteenth century, very little is known about the nature of hauntings and why they happen. The term 'haunt' is derived from the same root as 'home', and refers to the occupation of homes by the spirits of deceased people and animals who lived there. Other haunted sites seem to be places merely frequented or liked by the deceased, or places where violent death has occurred. Most hauntings have no clear reason or purpose. Some are continual and others are active only on certain dates that correspond to the deaths or major events in the lives of the deceased. Some hauntings are brief, lasting only a few weeks, months, or years, while others continue for centuries. Haunted places often are pervaded by an oppressive atmosphere. Not everyone who goes to a haunted place experiences paranormal phenomena. The theory is that only individuals with certain psychic attunements or emotional states are receptive. Few hauntings involve seeing apparitions. In those that do, a ghost may be seen by a single individual or collectively by several people present at the same time. Thousands of hauntings have been investigated by psychical researchers and parapsychologists over the last hundred years or so. Numerous theories have been advanced, all inconclusive. Some early psychic researchers thought that ghosts were meaningless fragments of energy left behind in death. Others have theorized that hauntings are a form of psychometry, vibrations of events and emotions imbued into a house, site, or object. One popular spiritualist theory holds that hauntings occur when the spirit of the dead person or animal is trapped on the earth plane for various reasons, doesn't know it is dead, or is reluctant to leave. Hawaiian Island Research Society Hawaii's true paranormal research and investigation group. Healer Someone who claims the power of healing. Healing Generally indicates cures that cannot be explained in terms of accepted medical principles. Hex (a) An evil spell or magical curse. (b) To practice witchcraft. Historical Apparition A ghostly apparition which appears in the sites associated with great moments in the course of human events, garbed in period clothing and exhibiting mannerisms appropriate to the time period from which it is alleged to have originated. Usually residual in nature. Hit A response that accurately matches the target. Hot Reading A reading given in which prior knowledge of the sitter has been obtained, often using devious or fraudulent means. Huna An Hawaiian religious practice involving clairvoyance, precognition, healing, miracles and magic. Hyperacuity / Hyperaesthesia Exceptionally acute sensory awareness. Hypnagogic Imagery Imagery occurring in the hypnagogic state (occuring while dropping off to sleep). Hypnopompic Imagery Imagery occurring in the hypnopompic state (occurring while waking up). Hypnosis An ASC involving a heightened degree of suggestibility. Illusion (a) An appearance that leads the person to draw mistaken conclusions. (b) In conjuring, a perceptual trick. Imagery The ability to perceive images in the mind. These may be visual, auditory, tactile, etc. Immortality Various beliefs based on the assumption that some aspect of personal existence survives death. Incline Effect An increase in performance on a psi test when the test is repeated. Incorruptibility Inexplicable lack of decay in a corpse. Incubus Also known as demon lover. In occult lore, a lewd male demon or goblin which takes on the illusory appearance of a male human being and seeks sexual intercourse with women, usually while they are asleep. Indirect Voice Mediumistic phenomenon in which the discarnate entity appears to speak using the vocal apparatus of the medium. Often the voice will sound very different from the medium's normal voice. Instrumental Transcommunication / ITC Use of recording equipment to produce evidence interpreted as communication from deceased persons or other entititys. Inhuman Spirit The spirit of a creature that has never lived on this physical plane of existence. Inhuman spirits that are benevolent by nature are often classified as angels, while malevolent ones are classified as demons and devils. Also known as non-human spirit. Inner Voice Receiving guidance and assistance from inside of you. Interactive Haunting A haunting where the spirit appears to be an intelligent and interactive being. Interactive haunts are the ones with direct answers to questions (out loud or by recording EVP), replies to questions in other ways; example: knocking on cue, movement of a specified item, showing themselves in apparition form when requested (extremely rare). Intuition Act of knowing without the use of usual rational processes. Based partly on subconscious pattern association of known information, and partly on subconscious psi impressions. Invocation Summoning benevolent spiritual beings. Kirlian Photography A photographic method involving high frequency electric current, discovered by S.D. and V. Kirlian in the Soviet Union. Kirlian photographs often show colored halos or auras surrounding objects or people. Knowingness To get information without knowing where it came from. Laying on of Hands A healing practice, in which the healer's hands are placed on or near the body of the sick person. Levitation A phenomenon of psychokinesis (PK) in which objects, people, animals, and so on rise into the air without known physical means and float or fly about. Levitations are said to occur in medium ship, mystical trance, magic bewitchment, hauntings, and possession. Christianity and Islam record numerous cases of levitation. Life Review Flashback memories of the whole of a person's life, often associated with the near-death experience. Lucid Dreaming Dreaming in which the person is aware that the experience is a dream often associated with feelings of aliveness and freedom, and with the ability to control dream events. Luminous Phenomena The experience of strange lights or glows, often around objects or people. |
| References: paranormalabout.com ; psychicscience.org |
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