Afreet: In Arabic lore, the vengeful spirit of a murdered person which arises from the victim's shed blood.

Akashic Records: Originally a Hindu concept of a vast, and ever increasing, psychic repository of every thought and emotion - human or otherwise - which has ever been, and into which some individuals seem able to tap.

Alchemy: The exploration and application of the sciences, particularly chemistry and the pseudo science of astrology, such as they were understood during the middle ages and early Renaissance period. Alchemists were chiefly dedicated to the worthy pursuit of producing gold from baser metals and various materials.

Amulet: A symbol with magical significance, which is worn as a pendant or ring. See also: Icon

Angel: "Messenger of God," a celestial being, benevolent in nature and if visable, appearing in human form, and possessing miraculous abilities such as teleportation, healing powers and knowledge of future events. There have been accounts of angels aiding people in times of crisis throughout the ages, albeit with no real consistency to their 'modus operandi.'

Anomaly: An occurance or condition removed from ordinarily understood experience.  See also: Paranormal

Anthropomorphize: The humanocentric tendancy of imposing human perceptions and priorities upon spirits and other wordly creatures or forces, assuming that all consciousnesses must be akin to ours on some basic levels. (This is a logical assumption when applied to the survival instinct and perhaps to physical procreation; anything more is merely a guess.)

Apparition: The projection or manifestation of a quasi-physical entity.

Astral Travel: Belief or theory that a person's spiritual awareness can temporarily detach itself from the physical body, remaining connected by what is called the "silver cord," and experience things in other locations, time frames or dimensional planes. Some refer to this as "Astral Projection" or "Mind Projection."

Atavism: Reversion to an earlier, ancestral type.

Aura-world: A reflection of our own sphere of existence, composed of the electromagnetic emanations of physical matter, and probably influenced by thought and emotion. It is another dimensional plane proceeding from one in which we exist.

Avatar: Hindu belief in divine incarnation.







Baphomet: Demon character supposedly worshiped by the Knights Templar in 14th century France. Some present day practicioners of the black arts regard Baphomet as a "god" of lust and regeneration, or as symbolic of the Devil.
See also: Sigil of Baphomet

Banishing: Formal, ceremonial, procedure effected to cast an invisible presence or influence out from an area. This term can refer either to a spiritual or the closing of a magical rite, when the invoked powers are dismissed.

Bigfoot: A bulky, hair covered, bipedal humanoid which appears to possess both human and ape-like characteristics. Also known as Sasquatch and Yeti, depending upon locale. Sightings of these creatures have for centuries been widely reported.

Bogey(-Man): A grim spectral figure who delights in menacing mortals with rather gruesome pranks and abductions. Although the lore of this character has degenerated into a familiar device used to threaten rambunctious shildren, the 'Bogey' was formerly soundly dreaded in Celtic regions, and was said to prowl the stretches of fields, marshes, and moors, looking for hikers and travelers who had strayed from their paths.









Carcosa: A mysterious nether region or outer-world containing the mythical lake called "Hali," which appears in the fiction of authors Ambroce G. Bierce ("An Inhabitant of Carcosa") and Robert W. Chambers ("The King in Yellow" : "Cassilda's Song"). There are students of arcane, mystical lore who believe that Carcosa may truly exist, which is why it is included with this roster of terms.

Chupacabra: Spanish for Goat sucker. In Puerto Rico, for twenty some years, numerous livestock and stray pets have been found with throats torn out, drained of blood and bearing mysterious puncture wounds. On the scene sightings of the creature supposed responsible are exceedingly rare, and descriptions always include "glowing red eyes." Locale and the absence of distinct tracks rule out either wolverines or monitor lizards, both of which always drag off their prey. The most feasible suggesion is a coyote or feral dog, but again, the behavior doesn't match. Whatever is the true culprit, Chupacabra has become a popular sensation on the island.

Construct, Psychic: It has been theorised, and experimentation has been conducted to support this premise, that through directed psychic energies a responsive spirit-like entity can be created, continuing for a time to exist independently.

Continuance: Commonly refered to as life-after-death, survival of the psyche post cessation of the biological organism which had generated it.

Cleansing (Psychic): A less ritualized fom of exorcism, where-in a dwelling or site is purified and malevolent influences are banished through prayers, spoken as the petitioner moves through the area.

Crop Circles: During the past three centuries, throughout the British Isles but with a particular concentration in the southern region of England, circular impressions spanning sometimes several hundred feet in diameter and often quite intricate in design, have frequently nd inexplicably been appearing overnight in wheat and grain fields. Sometimes the source can be traced to haoxters; sometimes the details do not allow for any satisfactory, mundane explanation. Much documentation, as well as speculation, regarding this topic is available.

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 the 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!

Crystal Skulls: Five human skull models, exquisitely crafted in antiquity from solid quartz crystal, have been found in various locations throughout Latin America, the best known of these being the 'Mitchell-Hedges Skull,' discovered in 1924 in the Balese Jungle of Labuton by Anna Mitchell-Hedges while on an expidition with her father, and still in her possession in Canada. The others are kept in collections in Guadamala, Texas, the Smithsonian and the British Museum. Mayan legend tells that eight more crystal skulls remain, and that by the time all thirteen are united, mankind will have learned how to extract and decipher the vital information, history and revelations, which they contain.







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

Doppelganger: German for "Double-goer." A person's duplicate or identical counterpart, seen as a result of bi-locational or astral travel. This phenomenon has been overshadowed by the more modern (and viable) concept of cloning, with its speculative ramifications.

Druid: A Celtic priest of the Bronze or Iron Age, trained in healing, divination and astronomy, whose tradition was passed on to successors by oral tradition.








Ectoplasm: A filmy, quasi-solid substance which supposedly issues from the bodies of mediums (from the mouth, nostrils, eyes, ears, navel or nipples) during trance states. In photographs, this phenomenon seems to resemble soaked muslin fabric. Whether or not it has ever been genuine, curiously, virtually no ectoplasm has been reported in the past fifty years.

E.M.F: (Electro Magnetic Field) is a physical field produced by electrically charged objects. It affects the behavior of charged objects in the vicinity of the field.

EMF meter: (sometimes referred to as an EMF detector or "ghost detector") is a scientific instrument for measuring electromagnetic radiation. It is used widely by ghost hunting groups to identify any normal sources of EMF, which may contribute to paranormal reports, to reveal unexplained EMF "spikes" from unknown sources.

Entity: A disembodied "consciousness" commonly referred to as ghost, spirit or (if of an apparently malicious or resentful nature) demon.

Entropy: The observation that everything in the material Universe will eventually, inevitably wind-down, burn-out, fall apart.

E.V.P: 'Electronic Voice Phenomena.' Disembodied "voices" and sounds imprinted on audio recording devices.

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 space crafts with the probable intention of observing and studying our species.







Fetch: A spectral double of a living person.  See also: Doppelganger

Fetish: Aside from the modern sexual connotation, a fetish is a shamanistic tool in the form of a figurine, animal part or a pouch containing items with magical associations.

Floating Orb: Spherical image, usually translucent white, though sometimes of a reddish or bluish hue, which inexplicably registers on photographic film and videotape.






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.

Globule: An anomaly where-in floating, circular forms appear on photographs or videotape, which seem indicative of spirit activity. Globes are a natural containment formation of the miniscus of liquid, as in gas containing bubbles; perhaps the interaction of energy and a quasi-physical substance produced by spiritual manifestations results in a similar effect, the globules being an initial containment of energy. Presently, all we know is that they continue to appear, and extraneous possible causes such as moisture, light refraction or emulsion seepage, etc., have been considered and ruled out.

Golden-rod: A rare anomaly seen in videotape recorded at the site of a suspected haunting, appearing as bright, white or yellowish lines rapidly moving across a room.





Hallowe'en: 'The Eve of All Hallows,' also known by Pagan Celts and Wiccans as 'Samhain' (pronounced, 'Sow'-an'), October 31, the night preceeding the Catholic Church's 'All Saints Day.' For a millenium, in much of Europe and the British Isles, this was held to be the night when departed relatives were especially remembered, and the veil separating the realms of the living and the dead was rendered thinner than usual. Jack-o' lanterns were placed on stoops and window-sills to frightened off malicious spirits. Hallowe'en is presently celebrated as a night of revels and masquerading, and in Mexico it is part of a traditional annual festival known as 'El Dia De Los Muertos' ('The Day of the Dead').

Haunting: The manifestation of a ghostly presence, or presences, attached to a specific locale. Hauntings can be categorized into four (usually) distinct types, these being Intelligent (responsive), Poltergeist (likely initiated by pent-up stress on a subconcious level), Residual (replay) and Demonic (non-human origin).

Hex: A magical working, or "spell," cast to influence a person's will or fate, most often refering to a curse rather than a blessing or healing.

Hypnosis: A state of profound mental focus, actually self-induced although an external agent





Icon: A rendering or image of particular (often religious) significance.

Infestation: Repeated and persistent paranormal phenomena, generally centered around a particular location or person(s). Also known as a haunting.

Influence: An invisible entity of undetermined nature, effecting the inhabitants of a dwelling













Kirlian Photography: Named after Semyon Kirlian who, in 1939, discovered - reportedly by accident - that when an organic or nonliving object is placed upon a photographic plate and subjected to a high electric current, a glowing "aura" forms around the object and is imprinted on the film. It is more accurate to say that rather than revealing a natural aura, this process produces such. However, fluctuations in the magnetic fields surrounnding the subjects can be detected in this way, and Kirlian photogrgaphy, the technique having been improved upon through the years, has recently come into use as a medical diagnostic devicec. It also has a popular market at psychic fairs as a sort of high-tech, more expansive version of the mood ring. Kirlian photography does produce some beautiful and interesting effects.





Levitation: A phenomenon sometimes encountered in hauntings, particularly with Poltergeists, rare yet credibly reported, where solid objects (including persons) are moved and lifted by an unseen force. The first historcally documented occurance was that of St. Francis of Assisi in the 14th century.

Lore: Collective beliefs and legendry relating to a subject

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.

Lycanthrope: A person who projects a frenzied display of their innate savagery for periodic episodes, believing themselves to be overcome by the spirit of a beast.








Metaphysics: Said to have been instituted by Aristotle, the line of philosophical thought which seeks the "why and wherefore," the intrinsic meaning of existence and human endeavor.

Miracle: A wonderous and beneficial event, apparently brought about by supernatural/divine agent.

Materialization: A ghost appearing visually, suddenly or gradually, sometimes indistinct, sometimes seemingly quite solid.

Matrixing: The natural tendancy for the human mind to interpret sensory input, what is perceived visually, audibly or tactiley, as something familiar or more easily understood and accepted, in effect mentally "filling in the blanks."

Mumiai: Native American Indian spirit which behaves in the manner of a Poltergeist.  See also: Poltergeist









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 magic spells and conjuration to summon, then banish, the spirits of the dead.

Nexus: The transitional, or joining point connecting physical matter (which, in a sense, is energy condensed) and pure energy, and containing properties of both definites, i.e. the physical brain producing a mind through its network of dendrites and firing axions, or the body's connection to the spirit. The concept of the Nexus is the basis for much conjecture and postulating.

Non-religionist: A materialist, one who embraces no formal religious beliefs; a more descriptive term than atheist or agnostic.

Nosferatu: Slavic, old world term for vampire, meaning "undead."




Oracle: A prophet, seer and visionary, especially one of renown. Also, a special device whice aids in prognostication, such as a crystal ball.


Orb: The term orb describes unexpected, typically circular artifacts in photographs. Sometimes the artifact leaves a trail, indicating motion.
The technical photographic term for the occurrence of orbs, especially pronounced in modern ultra-compact cameras, is backscatter, orb backscatter or near-camera reflection.

Oui-ja (Board): A divining implement consisting of a small, round or more often rectangular platform with letters, numbers and various symbols printed upon it, and a "plancette" which, when the fingers of two participants are lightly placed along its edges, is intended to glide across the smooth surface of the inscribed platform and indicate messages. Conceived of as a parlour game in the wake of popular spiritualism, this is potentially a very dangerous tool for inviting in unpredictable, invasive forces. Experienced researchers vehemently advise against their usage.

Paranormal: The realm of occurances and phenomena removed from those to which people are accustomed and comprehend, and presently uncategorized by standard academia.

Parapsychology: The avenue of paranormal studies and research relating chiefly to psychic abilities (e.s.p., telepathy) and spiritual phenomena.

Pentacle/Pentagram: The traditional five-pointed star design, with its interior pentagon dilineated, generally representing both spirituality and protection when point "up"; when inverted, it is said to signify diabolism.

Phantom Lights: Sometimes they can be attributed to blue methane flame produced by swamp gas, or electrical discharges in the form of what is termed ball lightning or perhaps even misplaced fireflies. Yet, in other instances, the phenomenon of floating lights observed over water, the edge of woods, , lonely backroads and in the windows of darkened houses just can't be dismissed by ordinary explanations. These might be globules which coalesce and intensify in luminosity to the point where they become visible in dark surroundings.

Poltergiest: German for "noisy ghost." This is an extremely rare occurance wherein random objects are moved and sounds produced by an unseen force, the sole purpose of which seems to be to draw attention to itself. The phenomenon always involves a specific individual, frequently a child or adolescent.

Possession: Invasion of the human mind by a spiritual or demonic entity, where the invading agent for a span of time, influences or entirely subverts the personality of the human host. It is in these instances that the boundaries of psychology, religion and spiritualism are rendered less distinct.

Precognition: The psychic perception of future events or conditions.

Psychic: Relating to the psyche, of the mind or soul, rather than the mundane. Psychic is the most familiar and bandied-about term encountered in paranormal research ( "a psychic," "psychic investigation," etc.).

Psychokinesis: A psychic pnemomenon where-in opjects are remotely inprinted or displaced and moved around, solely by the powers of the mind (psychic force).






Quabbala (also Cabbala, Kabbala): A very ancient and complex system of Jewish mysticism, probably influenced by Assyrian-Babylonian and Macedonian beliefs and existing as the basis of an underground cult during much of the middle ages.





Radiant Child: The apparition of a child which is seen glowing or surrounded by a bright aura.

Reincarnation: The belief that a person's soul will, following bodily death, inhabit a new body in a long cycle of rebirths, purportedly for the soul's evolution through gaining experience.

Residual (Haunting): Psychic imprint of a scene which is repeatedly played out, where the witness of such phenomenon essentially is peering into the past. The ghostly participants of these time-displacements often seem unaware of their living observers.
Retrocognition: The psychic perception of past events or conditions.

Revenant: An entity which projects an appearance of being distressed or misplaced.

Rune: An archaic character inscribed upon a stone or clay tablet, signifying some virtue or property, as with the Norse Runes, and used for divination and as a talisman.







Shaman: A tribal priest who, following much preparation and rite of initiation, uses the forces of magic to effect healings and divinations.

Sidhe: (pronounced Shee) Irish term for Fairy folk, the "little people" who sequester themselves in woodlands and caverns.

Signet: A ring bearing a personal or family emblem.

Spirit: Existence apart from, or transcending, the purely physical; also, the life-force of an organism. A spirit commonly refers to a ghost.


Spunkies: The sad spirits of unnamed, unchristened or unbaptized children, believed by old Gaelic and English tradition to wander country roads in search of someone who will name them.

Stigmata: Persons have been observed periodically bleeding from points on their bodies corresponding to the wounds of the Crucifixtion.








Talisman: A design or inscription that is worn, carried or displayed, for the purpose of invoking strength, power, protection or the aid of spirits.

Tash: Irish name for a ghost which can appear in either human or animal form. Also called Thevshi.

Telekenisis: A psychic phenomenon where-in objects are remotely displaced and moved around, solely by the powers of the mind.

Thought Transference: Telepathic transmitting of images and messages from the mind of one person to that of another.

Time-displacement: The experience of a time span separate from the native time span of the observer. The phenomenon is sometimes merely viewed and not participated in; sometimes a person seems to actually time-travel to another era.





Ultra-terrestrials: Beings who appear human and visit our plane of existence with some form of message or mission, then inexplicably vanish. Speculation abounds!





Voodoo: African magic traditions with a veneer of imposed Catholicism from the new world, taking root in the Carribean, particularly the dark populous of Haiti. Similarities in origin and practices exist in the beliefs of 'Obia' (Jamaica) and 'Santeria' (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic).

Vortex: pl. Vortexes or Vortices. An anomaly which sometimes shows up in still photographs taken at the site of a suspected haunting, appearing as a transluscent white, tube or funnel shaped mass. Some researchers believe this may be a porthole to the spirit realm.

Vorthr: Norse guardian spirit. This name is the source of the word Wraith.







Witch: Broadly, a practitioner of the magic arts, spec. a woman who employs charms, herbs and incantations to effect the workings of her will.

Wraith/Wrayth: The image of a person appearing shortly before or after his or her death; term can also be applied to a ghost.










Yeti: A legendary creature of Tibet's Himalayan Mountains region, an anthropoid with both human and ape characteristics, the "Abominable Snow Man." As with its western counterpart, the Sasquatch or Bigfoot, credible witnesses have reported sightings and numerous tracks have been found, but photographs and purported bodily remnants of the creature remain inconclusive.







Zarcanor - A malevolent spirit which attacks people while they're asleep, inspiring nightmares, and sometimes even inflicting minor injuries such as scratches, bruises and what appear to be finger marks.  The name is possibly of Slavic origin.

Zephyr: Spirit bourne upon, governing, or manifesting as the western wind.

Zoomorphism: Representation of a deity or devil with animal attributes.