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| The Arizona Paranormal Research Society |
| PARANORMAL TERMS GLOSSARY |
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| Malevolent Spirit This is a spirit intent on causing harm or outright pain to living beings. As it is thought that human spirits carry their life emotions and attitude with them to the “other side”, this could be the result of a not so nice person when they were alive. Other theories include a spirit that is mad about being deceased and holding it against the living, as well as several spirits fighting for control and a human gets in the way, therefore causing harm to that individual. Materialization The manifestation or production of some physical object or person from the spirit world. The most difficult and impressive materialization, of course, was a complete human form. Medicine Man / Medicine Woman A witchdoctor or shaman. Meditation Mental or physical-mental techniques which aim to produce spiritually desirable states of consciousness. Medium A gifted person who receives messages, impressions and other communications from the spirit world. Mental mediums communicate with spirits without necessarily entering a trance state. This is often done by means of automatic writing, direct-voice communication, clairaudience, clairvoyance, or the use of a Ouija board. Physical mediums, on the other hand, generally operate from a trance state, and many produce materializations, rapports, rapping’s and other paranormal phenomena. Mediumship Activity of a medium. Mentalism A branch of conjuring involving the simulation of psi. Mental Mediumship The paranormal obtaining of information by a medium. Mesmerism A system of healing developed by F.A. Mesmer, involving the induction of trance states and the supposed transfer of animal magnetism. People in Mesmeric trance often showed paranormal abilities such as clairvoyance. Metempsychosis Another term for reincarnation. Micro-PK Psychokinetic effects that cannot be directly observed, but only inferred from the statistical analysis of data. Miracle A beneficial event attributed to supernatural or divine intervention. Mnemonist A person who has learned techniques that enable extraordinary feats of memory. Morphic Resonance A term coined by Rupert Sheldrake to refer to the way in which the "morphogenetic field" (underlying form) of an object or organism may influence distant fields. Multiple Personality A psychiatric condition in which the person manifests two or more distinct and separate personalities at different times. Mystic (a) A person who has mystical experiences. (b) Used loosely to refer to psychics, mediums or romantics. Mystical Experience Involving experiences of ecstasy, unity, timelessness, loss of self, divine revelation, etc. Mysticism Religious or spiritual doctrines which argue that the human mind or soul can directly experience the divine. Near Death Experience/ NDE Experiences of people after they have been pronounced clinically dead or been very close to death. Tipical features of the NDE are an OBE, life review, a tunnel experience, light, coming to a boundary (marking death), seeing dead friends and relatives, experiencing a loving or divine presence and making a choice (or being told) to return. Occasionally, NDEs can be frightening and distressing. NDEs often have profound effects on the person’s later life. Necromancy Black magic practices involving communicating with the dead. New Age A term which became popular in the 1980s and is used to describe a nebulous, quasi-religious set of beliefs, encompassing a wide array of notions, such as spiritualism, astrology, mysticism, the occult, reincarnations, parapsychology, ecology and planetary awareness, as well as a commitment to complimentary medicine and the pseudo-scientific applications of the 'healing powers' of crystals and pyramids. Null hypothesis The hypothesis that experimental results are due to chance. Numerology A system of divination involving the interpretation of numbers. Obsession The word obsession refers to a condition wherein a spirit, usually thought to be evil (or, in some cases, a demon) has a strong influence over a person’s psyche. It is defined by the dictionary as, “The act of a demon or evil spirit in besetting a person, or impelling him to action from without.” Unlike possession, wherein a spirit or demon takes residence within an individual and gains near full or complete control of the victim’s body and psyche, obsession involves external spirits and does not render a person powerless to exercise his or her own will. It can also be accompanied by poltergeist-like activity when the spirit causes certain things to happen around the person it is influencing. Not all cases of obsession lead to full-blown possession. In fact, very few ever do. However, it is said that the state of possession is always preceded by one of obsession. Occultism Esoteric systems of belief and practice that assume the existence of mysterious forces and entities. Odors/Phantom Odors Although it may sound a bit weird, ghosts do sometimes make their presence known by an odor. Some cases that involve apparent violent paranormal activity have reported the odor of rotten flesh. Many hotels, B&Bs and Inns will tell of stories where guests have detected a certain perfume or cologne, and attributing it to the ghost of some long dead guest. Strange odors are not proof positive of paranormal activity, but it could be an indication. Omen A sign that foretells events. One-Ahead Principle In mentalism, a procedure for sequentially revealing information where the revealing of one item gives the mentalist the next answer. Also used by fraudulent clairvoyants. Orb A small sphere of light, often regarded as an indication of the presence of a spirit. Orbs commonly appear in pictures taken with a digital camera, but can also be seen with the naked eye. Many Paranormal investigators will try to capture evidence of Orbs at a location so as to indicate that some form of paranormal activity is present. There is still much debate on the subject of Orbs; many believe them to be little more then specks of dust, insects or other mundane objects, in particular those that appear on photographs. Those who believe Orbs have a greater significance however suggest that they are in fact evidence of a Spirit manifestation. Indeed, Orbs seem to be found quite often in locations thought to be haunted, however it is possible to create the effect in a photograph by throwing dust in front of the camera prior to taking the picture. The subject of "orbs" seems to be one of the most controversial paranormal subjects in existence today. On one hand, the "flying bug", "floating lint", "dust particles" or "air borne moisture" theory prevails among skeptics and skeptical paranormal investigators- and the majority of the time, that's exactly what they are. On the other hand, there is the occasional "true energy orb" that gets your attention while analyzing video or digital stills. Knowing the difference as well as proving what it was that was captured can be difficult for anyone to accept or explain. Remember that an "energy orb" is just that and may not be an actual ghost. It is just the gathering of environmental or man made energy grouped into a spherical shape which may or may not retain that shape continuously. This is thought to be the energy that the spirits use to manifest themselves visually or to communicate via EVP. These energy orbs may appear suddenly and move so fast that the camera may capture them in a single "streak" form which can be mistaken as motion blur. They may also appear and hover for a few seconds only to dissipate back into the environment in which they appeared from. Anyone may witness them with their own eyes or capture them in various media at anytime and anywhere, but trying to prove what you saw to someone that wasn't there themselves seems to be irrelevant. Oracle (a) An answer to a question, believed to come from the gods. (b) a shrine at which these answers are given. Orgone Energy A term used by Wilhelm Reich to refer to a universal life force, associated with sexuality. Ouija Board A board with letters and numbers on which messages are spelled out by unconsciously moving (with the fingers) a glass or pancetta. Out of Body Experience-OBE A fully conscious experience in which the person’s center of awareness appears to be outside of the physical body. Paranormal Beside or beyond the normal. Inexplicable in terms of our ordinary understanding or current scientific knowledge. Paranormal Dream Dreams in which the dream imagery provides paranormal knowledge Parapsychology Term coined by R. C. Rhine to refer to the experimental and quantitative study of paranormal phenomena. Now generally used instead of “Psychical Research” to refer to all scientific investigation of the paranormal. Literally beyond psychology. The study of apparent new means of communication, or interaction, between organisms and their environment (commonly referred to as psi, or psychic ability), beyond those presently understood by the scientific community. Pareidolia Psychological tendency to interpret a random stimulus (especially a sound or visual pattern) as meaningful. Past-Life Memories Mental images that are believed to be memories of previous lives. Past-Life Regression A technique of hypnosis involving regressing people to supposed previous lives. Past Life Recall To remember or have mental flashes about living in another century. Pendulum An object suspended by a thread. Movements of a pendulum are often used by dowsers to locate objects or answer questions. Pentacle Is a five-pointed star, the points of which represent earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. Pentacles are frequently set within a circle, which can represent the wheel of life, the encircling of the divine, or the union of the material and spiritual realms. Despite Hollywood's insistence otherwise, the pentacle is not a symbol of Satan or evil. Percipient Person who receives impressions in an ESP test. Phantasm An apparition. Phantom Coach Is traditionally held to be a horse-drawn carriage which appears to fetch the dying as well as being a favored mode of transportation by "ghosts" and other "phantoms". The term encompasses all forms of horse-drawn coaches, including hearses. The form is often reported as being black in color, as are the driver and the horses, which draw it. Rarely, if ever, is there a report stating that there is any sound associated with the sighting, though such coaches normally travel at tremendous speeds. In some cases, either the horses or the driver (if not both) are reported to be headless. Phenomenology An approach to research that aims to describe and clarify a person's own experience and understanding of an event or phenomenon. Phrenology The reading of character and mental ability from the shape of a person's skull. Physical Mediumship The production of paranormal physical phenomena (lights, sounds, materialization, elongation, levitation, etc.) by a medium. Physical mediumship often (but not always) involves a state of trance. PK Anagram for psychokinesis. Placebo An inactive treatment often given to a control group. Planchette A small platform on casters generally used with a ouija board. Sometimes used with an attached pencil to produce automatic writing. Poltergeist A German word meaning noisy or troublesome spirit. Poltergeist activity may include unexplained noises, movement of objects, outbreaks of fire, floods, pricks or scratches to a person’s body. Unlike hauntings, which are associated with specific locations, poltergeists typically focus on a person (the focal person or poltergeist agent) who is often a young child or adolescent. Many physical mediums experienced poltergeist activity in their childhood. Portal These are a mysterious and highly theoretical component of the supernatural world. Portals are thought to be doorways for spirits to enter and exit this world/plane. Theoretically portals open and close all the time, with only a few that are constant “open doors”. Some homes and locations that have had a lot of attention for various spirits are thought to have a portal on the premises. Locations that have portals do not keep the same spirits. They are actually thought to be more along the lines of a train station with respect to the amount of spirits coming and going, with some staying longer than others. There seems to be no set duration on the length of time a portal can/will stay open. Possession Refers to cases in which a person's body is apparently taken over by another personality or entity. Precognition Pre-knowing; where nondeductible information about a future event is acquired. Precognitive Dreams To have dreams of events or incidents before they happen. Prediction To be able to predict future events before they occur. Pre-Existence A belief that the personality or soul exists prior to birth. Presence A subjected feeling that a person, animal or discarnate entity is present. Prophecy (a) A prediction, usually resulting from a sense of spiritual revelation. (b) The ability to receive prophetic revelations. Proxy Sitting A seance in which another person sits in on behalf of the person receiving a communication. Pseudo-Random Numbers Numbers generated by an electronic calculator or computer using a complex mathematical algorithm that simulates a random process. Although the numbers generated are essentially unpredictable, they are not strictly random. PSI A general term for parapsychological phenomena that includes informational (RV, ESP) and energetic (PK) effects. Psi, or Y, is the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet. Psyche Generally refers to the mind. Psychic Popular term used to denote a person who regularly uses, or who appears to be especially gifted with, psi abilities. Also refers to general phenomena related to the mind (from Greek psyche). Psychical Research Term coined in the late 19th century to refer to the scientific study of the paranormal. Now largely superseded by "parapsychology". Psychic Healing Forms of healing using psychic powers. Psychic Photography General term used to refer to paranormal photographic images. Psychic Surgery The supposed ability to paranormally perform invasive surgery using no conventional medical tools. The psychic surgeon uses either an unsterilized knife, or his bare hands, to appear to make an incision and remove some internal matter. Once the operation is finished, there is no sign of an incision, nor are there any unpleasant aftereffects (e.g. infection). Many of the investigated cases have turned out to be fraudulent, involving sleight of hand tricks to make the operation appear convincing. However, it is possible that, in some circumstances, the ritual nature of the "surgery" could help effect a cure through the equally mysterious placebo effect. Psychokinesis / PK The paranormal influence of the mind on physical events and processes. Psychometry To touch an object with your hands and get information about the object, it's creator, its owner or it's history. Purposeful Ghost A term used to describe a short-lived "ghost" who returns with a purpose for their haunting activity, such as directing the living to the location of a hidden body or treasure, or to pass along a message, which was not communicated in life. Once the purpose has been fulfilled, these types of "ghosts" are normally never reported again. Psyche Generally refers to the mind. Psychometry The ability to receive psychic impressions from an object by touching it. Psychokinesis-PK The paranormal influence of the mind on physical events and processes. Qualitative Method A research method involving the collection of non-quantitative data (e.g., observations, interviews, subjective reports, case studies). Quantitative Method A research method involving the collection and statistical analysis of numerical data. Recurrent Spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK) A theory that explains poltergeist activity as the unintentional movement of objects by the subconscious of a person, usually someone under stress and typically an adolescent. Regression (a) a statistical technique that enables predictions to be made from a set of data. (b) a technique used in hypnosis, involving suggesting to hypnotized persons that they are returning to an earlier time. Sometimes the regression occurs spontaneously, without suggestion. Reincarnation The belief that some aspect of a person's being (e.g., consciousness, personality, or soul) survives death and can be reborn in a new body at some future date. Reincarnation is often seen as a repeating cycle of death and rebirth in which future lives are influenced by past and present actions through the law of karma. Religious Provocation An attempt to provoke or command an evil spirit to reveal itself through invoking the name of God or Jesus Christ. This is said to be extremely dangerous for those without the proper training, experience, and, most importantly, faith. Remote Viewing Ability to access distant or shielded information primarily of visual character, such as natural or structural features, via an unknown mental process. RV can include other sensory modes, such as feelings, motion, or sound. Some individuals associate specific approaches, or protocols, with RV. Other similar terms: remote perception, enhanced perception, extrasensory perception (ESP). Residual Haunting This is a haunting by a ghost and not a spirit. A residual haunt may have observable activity and even a visible apparition, but the ghost that is seen has no consciousness of the present and either doesn’t know or care that they are no longer living. Some theories suggest that some residual haunts can only see their own time period around them. Other residual activity is thought to be left over energy from a past event, but the persons involved in that event went on to live their lives after the event; example: strong emotion by a woman sitting in a window, but after the emotion passed the woman got up and went about her life. However, perhaps the silhouette of her form is seen from time to time sitting in the window. Residual hauntings do not interact with the living and may not even know they are there. Retrocognition Paranormal knowledge of past events. |
| References: paranormalabout.com ; psychicscience.org |
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| The walkway between the Gila County Jail and Gila Courthouse in Globe, Az. |
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