Para Glossary

[Alan Vende]

Welcome to the Para Glossary! In this thread, you can reference words that you may come across while on an investigation or while having a paranormal experience.

[Alan Vende]

A

Afterlife: The place to which the human soul is believed to go after the body dies. Many people believe that a soul in the afterlife can contact the living; although it does not haunt the Earth.

Akashi: Is believed by some mystical doctrines to be a mystical, spiritual substance where "memories" are stored since the beginning of time. It is one of the five elements in Hindu philosophy and is often described as a form of atmosphere or ether. The Akashi is thought by some to contain a record of everything that has ever happened, but also everything that will ever come to pass in the future. Theosophists believe that persons with special psychic powers can tap into the Akashi or "Astral Light". They achieve this by using their astral bodies or "astral senses" to search for spiritual insights which have been stored for all eternity.

Alchemy: The Science of turning the baser metals into gold or silver by chemical means. The byproduct, "Quicksilver," was thought to have magical powers. This was a very perfected science in Egyptian times and lasted all the way up into the 14th-16th Century A.D. when some of the alchemy methods were lost due to wars and fires that were amid in those times.

Angel: A spiritual being that is believed to be much more powerful than a human. Angels are composed of ethereal matter, thus allowing them to take on whichever physical form best suits their immediate needs. In Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other theologies an angel can be one who acts as a messenger, attendant, or agent of God.

Anomaly: Something that is different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified within a scientific aspect.

Anti-Christ: Satan. The enemy of man and God who, according to many religious cultures, will establish a reign of evil on earth, before being overthrown by the second coming of Christ.

Apparition: Refers to a ghost, spirit, or dead person. The part of the human personality that survives the physical world after the death of the body. Usually a visual image.

Astral Projection: Is thought to be the process whereby our etheric body, spirit, or mind separates from the physical body while maintaining a level of consciousness. Once separated from the physical body, this etheric body then begins to operate at a higher frequency allowing it to travel on the astral plane. This astral plane operates at a higher frequency than that of the physical plane and can possibly be likened to the Akasha.

Aura: An emanation, breath, or radiation that is invisible to the naked eye. It is often thought to be an invisible surrounding glow emanating from each individual. Some persons believe that they can actually see the aura of a person and depending on its color and form, this is taken as an indication of the mental and physical well being of the person. Kirlian photography deals with the supposed art of photographing this type of phenomenon.

Automatic Writing or Automatic Art: To freely channel your higher self or another soul's words, music, or art without the interruptive interference of the mind.

[Alan Vende]

B

Banishing: A formal and ceremonial procedure to cast an invisible presence or influence from an area. This term refers to a spiritual cleansing.

Banshee: Is a name given to a female spirit which can be found in Irish and Scottish folklore. The wail of a banshee is associated with the foretelling of an imminent death in the house, outside of which the banshee has previously visited. An omen of impending death in a house, a banshee is a female entity said to herald death by groaning and screaming.

Benign Spirit: A spirit that is not evil or harmful to man. Angels and spirit guides fall into this category as would spirits of loved ones that come back to tell us something.

Bilocation: When an object is seen in two locations at the same time. Padre Pio was said to exhibit bilocation.

Black Dogs: There are countless reports of phantom like creatures of canine form which have been termed "Black Dogs," "Devil dogs," or "Hellhounds." Allegedly they are as large as Labradors or Alsatians and are usually described as being black, often with shaggy coats. They are said to exude a distinctly sulphurous smell and their crimson eyes glow like fire. Although appearing to be solid, they can apparently disappear at will; sometimes in a firey explosion. It is said that anyone who touches one of these beasts usually dies shortly afterwards. Even the act of seeing a black dog is believed to be an omen of doom. These beasts are said to frequent more restricted localities such as a specific country lane, churchyard, or riverbank. They are not known for straying very far from their established territory that is often associated with ancient monuments or ley lines marking out postulated channels of earth energy.

[Alan Vende]

C

Channeler: Person who's under trance (See Channeling below).

Channeling: Uses communication with the paranormal through a state of trance. Some channellers allow the spirit to use their vocal chords to communicate. Others choose to let the spirit through by allowing them to use their hearing, vision, and intuition.

Clairaudience: In the field of parapsychology, clairaudience [from late 17th century French clair (clear) and audience (hearing)] is a form of extra-sensory perception wherein a person acquires information by paranormal auditory means.

Clairalience: Also known as clairescence. In the field of parapsychology, clairalience (or alternatively,clairolfactance) [presumably from late 17th century French clair (clear) and alience (smelling)] is a form of extra-sensory perception wherein a person accesses psychic knowledge through the physical sense of smell.

Clairgustance: This term means clear tasting. People with this ability can taste a substance without putting anything in one's mouth. It is claimed that those who possess this ability are able to perceive the essence of a substance from the spiritual or ethereal realms through taste.

Clairsentience: is a form of extra-sensory perception wherein a person acquires psychic knowledge primarily by feeling. 

Clairvoyance: To have lucid mental perceptions and keen insights about people and life situations; to have clear visual/mental images/pictures, to "see" auras and other psychic phenomenon.

Cold Spot: An isolated area of dramatically decreased temperature in contrast to the ambient air temperature of the surrounding area.

Curse: To speak a wish of evil against someone or call down forces to hurt someone.

Crypto-zoology: The branch of paranormal research which deals with the exploration of legendary creatures such as Bigfoot, lake and sea monsters, thunderbirds, etc. It should be noted that Giant Squid (the "Kraken",) orangutans (the "Red Men of the Forest",) Komodo Dragons and gigantic Nepalese elephants all were formerly included in the roster of fabled creatures.

[Alan Vende]

D

Déjà 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.

Demon: Hostile and resentful entity, supposedly of non-human origin, which some believe to be a "fallen" (from grace) angels.

Demonologist: 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.

Demonology: The study of demons.

Discarnate: Spirits that exist without a physical body.

DMILS: Is the 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 influencee (see ESP) or an opportunistic selection process; the term "interaction" has been adopted.

Dowsing: To be able to find underground water and/or underground minerals. Some use dowsing rods to detect graves and/or the presence of energy thought to be spirits.

Doppelgänger: Also known as a fetch, this ghost is supposed to be the double of a living human being. If people are unfortunate enough to see their own doppelganger, it can be an omen that they will die in the near future.

[Alan Vende]

E

Ectoplasm: A cloudy or mist like substance that may materialize after an orb and before an apparition. It is said to possibly be the energy of a spirit before any manifestation occurs. Usually a milky white vaporous color.

Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP): Disembodied "voices" and sounds imprinted on audio recording devices, audible remarks of seemingly paranormal origin on sound recording media, such as reel-to-reel tapes, audio cassettes, video tapes and recently, computers.

Empathy: 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.

ESP: Extrasensory perception (ESP) is the knowledge of external objects or events. A sixth sense beyond the five senses man already use. Animals seem to have it.

Exorcism: Ceremonial expulsion of invading spiritual/demonic entities from a person or dwelling, present in virtually every worldly culture. The Jewish and Catholic Christian faiths each have a formal "Rite of Exorcism" to be conducted by the respective Rabbi or Priest.

Extra-terrestrials: Life forms originating on planets other than our own. This term usually refers to highly advanced visitors from other worlds who journey to our sphere in spacecrafts with the probable intention of observing and studying our species.

[Alan Vende]

F

Fading Ghosts: A haunting ghost often fades away with time. But there are stories of ghosts of Roman legionaries which have been haunting for at least 1,600 years.

Faith Healing: To know that you and others can simply heal yourselves by simply believing it.

[Alan Vende]

G

Ghost: The image of a person witnessed after his/her death, reflecting the appearance of the living, physical body yet less substantial. These forms often seem to exist in a dream-like state of semi-awareness, at times though not always cognizant of their human observers.

Ghost Hunting/Investigations: The use of investigations to determine whether a location is actually haunted or can be scientifically be explained using natural explanations.

[Alan Vende]

H

Hallucination: An image which seems real even though it does not physically exist.

Haunting: The manifestation of a ghostly presence, or presences, attached to a specific locale. A materialization/appearance of an often-unexplained happening repeated often and over a period of time. Hauntings are usually connected to a certain place or residence.

[Alan Vende]

I

Incubus: Stemming from medieval lore, a demonic entity capable of sexually arousing and sometimes assaulting human females. Cases of apparent incubus attacks continue to be documented, suggesting a germ of reality behind the myth.

Inner Voice: Receiving guidance and assistance from inside you.

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.

[Alan Vende]

J

Filler Word: 

[Alan Vende]

K

Knowingness: To get information without knowing where it came from.

Killian Photography: The photographing of the human aura. Two Russian scientists, Semyon and Valentina Kirlian founded this process.

[Alan Vende]

L

Ley Lines: Were 're-discovered' by a man called Alfred Watkins (1855-1935,) on the 30th June 1921. "Ley-lines, or Leys, are alignments of ancient sites stretching across the landscape. Ancient sites or holy places may be situated in a straight line ranging from two to several miles in length. A ley may be identified simply by an aligned placing of marker sites. Or it might be visible on the ground for all or part of its length by the remnants of an old straight track. Ley lines and water lines are found at most ancient monuments and sacred places such as Stone Henge. These magnetic lines and underground water systems are thought by some to be an easy way for spirits to travel or move around by using the extra energy supplied by this naturally occurring earth phenomenon.

Lucifer: Name taken from the Latin "luci" (light) and "fere" (to bear,) originally a Roman lesser deity. "Son of the Morning," formerly the name for the planet Venus when observed at dawn, in Christian theology identified with the Devil; arch regent of fallen angels. Lucifer is sometimes called upon in pagan ceremonies and rituals. (See also Satan)

[Alan Vende]

M

Marshlights: Shimmering, moving flames that are sometimes seen at night in marshes and other wet areas. They are also known as Will-o'-the wisps. Marsh lights are caused when the gases of rotting vegetation begin to burn of their own accord. It was once said that they were the tiny ghosts of young children.

Medium: A subcategory of psychic whose realm is between the living and the dead.

Mediumship: How a medium contacts the dead.

Moon Madness: As the Lunar cycle waxes to its full point, incidents of psychotic behavior, violence and crime seem to escalate. To a lesser degree, the phase of the New Moon seems correlated to a rash of abnormal behavior. Current understanding of human psychology and physiology refutes the observation that our moon can exert significant influence on the human mind. Though statistics support it. (Hence the term "lunatic" for a crazy person)

Moon Phases: Displays the moon's current phase and estimates the time of the next full moon using a calculation of the moon's rotation and the date. Paranormal activity is thought to increase during a full moon due to the increased magnetic field.

[Alan Vende]

N

Necromancy: The practice of communicating with the dead to obtain knowledge of the future, others' secrets, etc. An archaic term, the necromancer was said to employ magical spells and conjuration to summon, then banish, the spirits of the dead.

Night Vision: A trademark used for a technology that enables vision at night, as by amplification of low light to create visible images by detection of infrared wavelengths.