Glossary

The ARPA Paranormal Dictionary / Glossary

Absolute Humidity

The mass of water vapor divided by the mass of dry air in volume of air at a given temperature.

Adhesion

The bonding of materials at a molecular level.

Afterlife

Life after our physical bodies die. Common other names for the afterlife are the great beyond, heaven, and hell. Every culture in the world has their own beliefs and ideas of the what the afterlife consists of.

Agent

The ghost or spirit seen by someone. Also used to describe the cause of the haunting. For example, in the case of a poltergeist, popular beliefs are that a child at the age of puberty usually is the cause of the disturbances through some form of telekinetic projection. In a case like this, the child is the agent.

Amorphous

Having no definite form or shape, spirits and ghosts often appears in mist-like forms or shapes.

Amperes per meter (A/m)

A/M is used to measure the magnetic field in relation to electric current

Apparition

This is the most common thought by the public as to what a "ghost" is. An apparition is when a spirit is able to manifest itself as a physical form that can be seen. These are rare to see and can be any type of entity, including animals.

Asport

The disappearance of objects that reappear elsewhere or not at all.

ASQ

Some investigators use this as their method for conducting EVP investigations. It stands for: Alone, Supervise. Ask. 1. Leave the recorder alone until the tape runs out. 2. Supervise the recording area while it records. 3. Ask questions to check for an intelligent haunting.

Astral Projection

Also known as an "Out of Body Experience" (O.B.E.). This is when the spirit of a living human is able to travel outside of the body and be able to to visit other planes, times or locations. Some people claim to have the ability to do this at will... others may have this experience once in their lifetime and never have it happen again.

Astral Projection

When the spirit travels outside the body to either the astral plane or another location on this plane. This is also referred to as an Out Of Body experience or remote viewing.

Aura

The emanation of energy that surrounds all living things. These energies will emit a color, and there have been speculations as to what these colors mean. You can google "Aura Colors" to find out more about these colors and what they are believed to represent.

Automatic Writing

Phenomena by which people write without conscious thought. Believed by many that spirits take control of the living person and are able to communicate through them by writing.

Automatism

The theory in which the subconscious communicates with the conscious by means of a vehicle such as a Ouija Board, automatic writing or pendulum swinging.

Banshee

A death omen in Irish folklore that manifests to herald an upcoming death. Often heard singing and wailing mournfully.

Barometer

Any device that measures air pressure. It is one theory that entities disrupt the air pressure in an environment when they are attempting to manifest. Barometers can be a useful tool for recording this.

Benign Spirit

A spirit that is not harmful or evil to man. Spirit guides and angles fall into this category, also the spirits of loved ones that have come back to communicate something to us. Elementals are considered benign spirits.

Bilocation

When a person or an object is seen in two locations at the same time.

Calling Ghosts

These are ghosts that call out the name of the living in order to get their attention and lure them to their death.

Channeling

A popular tool of mediums and psychics for communication with the dead. The medium will summon ghosts or spirits and allow the entity to poses that person's body to communicate through. The entity can either poses the medium or communicate directly through them.

Charged Coupled Device (CCD)

One of the two main types of image sensors used in digital cameras when a picture is taken, the CCD is struck by light coming through the camera lens; each of the thousands or millions of tiny pixels that make up the CCD converts this light into electrons; the number of electrons, usually described as the pixels accumulated charged, is measured, and then converted to a digital value; this last step occurs outside the CCD, in a camera component called an analog-to-digital converter.

Circumambulation

Ceremonially surrounding a person or an object for the purpose of protection.

Clairaudient

The psychic ability to hears voices and sounds that are inaudible to the normal human ear.

Clairsentient

The psychic ability to feel things that are not normally felt by most people.

Clairvoyant

Someone with the psychic ability to see events or people which have not occurred yet.

Cold Spot

An area where the temperature is lower than the surrounding environment. Cold spots are believed to be created when a ghost is presence within that area.

Crossroads

The meeting and parting of ways has always been considered magical. In addition, crossroads are said to be haunted by various entities who lead confused travelers astray. It is also said that on All Hollow's Eve , spirits of the dead appear at a crossroad.

Deep Trace Medium

A psychic who allows a spirit to enter her/his body so that the spirit can communicate through them.

Demonic / Inhuman Haunting

Inhuman spirits are exactly what the name implies. These spirits are inhuman and have never been a human. They exist as an entity of their own. Some claim that inhuman spirits are demons or evil spirits. It is believed that inhuman or demonic spirits harbor extreme hatred towards humans and that all of their activities are designed to pave the way to breaking the person's will and taking possession of their body. During these types of hauntings, witnesses seem to notice growling noises that appear to be coming from all around them... extremely overpowering stench of rotted flesh. The air may become "heavy", temperatures will sometimes make drastic changes, usually getting hotter. These spirits have been known to bite, push, shove, scratch and attack without provocation. Raised welts and lesions may also appear on the body.

Discarnate

A spirit that exists without a physical body.

Discernment

The ability to feel or perceive something with the use the mind and the senses.

Disembodied

A spirit that is functioning without a body.

Disembodied Voice

A voice that is heard that comes from no physical body, also known as EVP.

Divination

The obtaining of future events and/or the unknown by the use of outside forces, these are usually spiritual in nature.

Ectoplasm

Better known as "Paranormal Mist", "Paranormal Fog". Ectoplasm is an outdated term used originally by so-called "physical mediums"... it was given a bad name due to the amount of fake physical mediums that used the term Ectoplasm to describe certain "manifestations" that they were falsely creating. Respected researchers will generally not use the term Ectoplasm for this reason.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF)

An Electromagnetic Field is a physical field produced by electrically charged objects. It affects the behaviour of charged objects in the vicinity of the field. One of the theories out there is that entities can manipulate the Earth's electromagnetic field in an effort to manifest. EMF detectors are used to find these fluctuations. See also: Vortex

Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)

This is the art of capturing spirit voices (that cannot be heard by the human ear) on any type of audio recording device. Digital and Analog records have been both known to produce results.

Elements

Elements are benign, almost angelic spirits who watch over the four elements, air is sylphs, earth is gnomes, fire is salamanders, and water is nymphs. These spirits are referred to as the spirits of the earth and are often malicious or angry. The lesser spirits of nature are referred to as undines.

EMF Detector

A device that measures and detects changes in the electromagnetic field. A common device used by ghost hunters. A reading between 3-7 milligauss is a good sign of paranormal activity, but higher readings have been recorded by spirits have been present. A complete scan of the area should be done first to detect natural sources. The EMF detector is also known as a Gauss Meter or a magnetometer.

Evocation

The summoning of demons or spirits by usage of ritual, gesture or verse of incantation.

Exorcism

The explusion of ghosts, demons, spirits or other entities that are believed to be disturbing or possessing a person or a place that people frequent. Exorcism can range from a friendly conversation to rituals demanding the entity to leave.

Extra

A face, shape, or object that appears in a photograph supernaturally and can not be explained by a natural source, faulty film, developing errors or fraud.

Extra Sensory Perception (ESP)

The ability to receive information about past, present or future events that can not be obtained through the normal senses. These include telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition. It is believed that everyone has some level of ESP ability, but some individuals possess a heightened ability.

Gauss Meter

A device that is used to measure the electromagnetic field, also referred to as EMF detectors or magnetometers.

Ghost

A ghost is believed to be the soul or the life force of a person. When someone dies, this energy is released from physical body and is believed to do one of two things; either it goes onto a higher spiritual place or plane, or it stays behind and lingers on for an unspecified time. Why it stays behind, no one knows for sure. Many of the famous ""psychics"" differ on their explanations. Some of the more popular theories are as follows; unfinished business, a strong emotional ties to someone or something, saying goodbye, wrongful death or perhaps to pass on a warning. Animals and even inanimate objects, such as builds, cars, ships trains, etc. have been reported as ghosts.

Ghost Hunt / Investigation

Going to a location that is known to be haunted and recording data video, photos, audio, temperatures, notes, interviews and other evidence to prove/disprove the haunting. to assist the owners and the spirits in moving on and leaving the place if needed.

Ghost Lights

Closely resembling orbs, but are much larger and brighter in appearance. These are mostly seen in remote places and have been seen changing colors, directions and sometimes heard making a buzzing sound. When these lights are confronted by approaching people, lights or noises they will quickly disappear. These lights will ""haunt"" a particular location for anywhere from days to years.

Ghost Ship

The appearance of a ship that has been know to have wrecked or disappeared years or centuries before to fore warn of a pending disaster. This term has also been used to to refer to ships that have been found to be empty where the crew and passages had mysterious disappeared, but the ship shows no signs of distress.

Globule (Orb)

Spirits and ghosts are often photographed as globule, also known as an orb. These are tiny spheres of electromagnetic energy. These are not always perfect circles, and they come in a large variety of colors.

Grey Ladies

The ghosts of women who died a violently for the sake of love or pined away from loss of love. The name grey lady comes from the frequent appearance of these ladies who are dressed in grey.

Haunted

A person, place or an object to which a spirit is attached. The spirits can be human or inhuman in nature.

Haunting

A phenomena where the spirit or the ghost of a deceased person or animal that attaches itself to a certain location, object, or person and continues to remain or revisit them causing paranormal activities such as apparitions, strange sounds, inducing smells, electrical disturbances, etc. A haunting is often repeated and experience by those who enter the area or come in contact with the person or object that is the object of the haunting for days or years.

Intelligent Haunting

Also called "Classic Haunting", "Traditional Haunting" and "Human Haunting" These types of hauntings seem to possess human personalities and emoitions. They are aware of you being there and may interact the same as "living" humans may interact. These hauntings can be hostile or friendly and you will usually know which they intend to be fairly quickly. They have also been known to interact with objects, closing doors, windows, moving furniture, etc.

Levitation

The raising of a person or object into the air without any visible means. Levitation is a popular event during hauntings, meditative trances, seances and possessions. Levitation is a major part of Poltergeist activity with object being moved and thrown around.

Light Rod

A light rod appears as a bar or stick like shape. When a light rod sometimes takes a bend, it is then called a swirling light rod.

Light Trance Medium

A person whom spirits can communicate through. In contrast to deep trance mediums, the spirits wishing to communicate through the medium does not possess them.

Malevolent

A malevolent spirit is one that wishes to do harm.

Malicious

A spirit that is spiteful and/or evil. These spirits will destroy or damage things of a personal or financial value for the sake of hurting others.

Manifestation

The appearance or taking of form of an entity. This can also mean the outbreak of paranormal activity.

Materialization

The formation of a visible and/or the physical form of a spirit. These are usually brief in appearance and often is just a face, hand and are not a full formation of a spirit.

Medium

A person that acts as a bridge between the living and the dead.. They receive and relay information through a ""sixth sense"" for the spirit whom is communicating through them.. The common name used today for mediums is psychic. There are two types of mediums: light and deep trance.

Metaphysics

The term metaphysics is derived from the Latin word "meta" which means "beyond" and the word physics which means the study of psychical research. Essentially the word metaphysics literally means the study of that which is beyond the laws of physics.

Necromancer

A person who holds abilities or knowledge to draw power and skills from the dead along with summoning and controlling ghosts, spirits, demons, zombies, etc. It is believed that through this ancient practice, the one who practices necromancy can use the summoned spirit to find hidden treasures, cast spells on others, learn about the future and even hurt other living beings.

Orb

A spherical shaped, translucent mass of energy resembling a ball or globe of light. This is the most photographed and most basic form of a spirit. These are balls of energy have been recorded on film, digital cameras, infrared monitors, and videotape. Orbs usually appear in most haunted places. Orbs can also be caused by moisture , bugs, insects, and dust.

Ouija Board

A game board that is used to communicate with spirits. The players ask questions and the pointer will answer yes, no or will spell the answers out.

Outward Manifestation

Any type of paranormal activity. These many include, but not limited to disembodied voices, odors, movement of objects, manipulation of temperatures, electrical disturbances, etc.

Parapsychology

Parapsychology is the scientific and scholarly study of certain unusual events associated with human experience, such as ghosts, UFOS, ESP, Bigfoot, etc. It is generally defined as the scientific study of paranormal phenomena. Parapsychology is not a recognized science by many within the scientific community. The word parapsychology is derived from the Latin word "para" which means ""beyond" parapsychology literally means beyond psychology.

Parapyschologist

Someone who studies parapsychology.

Phantom

An apparition or a specter. Existing only as an energy form.

Phantomania

Paralysis that occurs when someone is under attack from supernatural or preternatural forces, also known as psychic paralysis.

Planchette

The triangular instrument used as a pointer to answer questions on a Ouija board.

Poltergeist

A German words that means ""noisy or mischievous ghost."" A destructive spirit that has the ability to move objects by solidifying the ambient air which results in the movement and/or teleportation of objects. This phenomena is also associated with noises, rapping, levitating and throwing of objects, as well as other physical manifestations. These events usually come on suddenly and end just as fast. They can last for days, months or a few years. The longer lasting ones seem to occur for a few days each year. Many of these cases have been attributed to a specific person in the household. In most cases, this specific person, known as an agent, is a young child entering the puberty stage of life. It is believed that the agent causes an involuntary type of involuntary type of psychokinesis, causing the disturbances.

Poltergeist Agent (PA)

This is a phenomena usually surrounding one person... usually a young female child. The person the activity is surrounding is considered the Poltergeist Agent (PA). The PA is always around when activity occurs; the activity usually involves objects being thrown around when nobody is around, tapping sounds, scratching noises and objects being mis-placed or dis-appearing, then showing back up hours, days, or even weeks later. In severe situations, there can be injuries to humans from thrown objects and/or scratches appearing on the skin of the PA. The theory is that the PA is producing these displays of paranormal activity and is unknowingly generating a flow of psychic energies.

Possession

There are several different types of possession. Mediums will allow the a spirit to enter their body for the purpose of communication. During partial possession, the host remains in the body. In full or perfect possession, the spirit of the host is displaced from the physical body. In cases of demonic possession, the entity enters the body without permission and will not leave on its own will. An exorcism is necessary to expel the possessing entity.

Precognition

Knowledge of pending future events.

Premonition

Feeling or warning about future events. This can be vague or it can be very specific.

Preternatural

Diverging from or exceeding the common order of nature, but are not outside the natural order as distinguished from the supernatural.

Psychic

A person with the ability to see, hear and feel by the use of senses other than the natural senses, also referred to as a ""sixth sense."" Also a classification of unusual happenings.

Psychic Attack

An attack that can either be physical or mental by a spirit. The spirit may be visible or invisible during the attack. There is evidence that people are also capable of psychically attacking others.

Residual Haunting

This type of haunting can best be compared to a movie or video clip that is on loop. One theory is that this type of haunting is actually a time-displacement from a past time at that location. In this type of haunting, the entities rarely display any awareness that you are there. They are just looping and doing their own thing. Although, there have been some rare cases in which these entities display some type of brief awareness to those witnessing the event. Generally these cases also produce sounds like footsteps and other strange noises.

Shadow People

Reports of shadow people are similar to ghost sightings, but differ in that shadow people are not reported as having human features, wearing modern/period clothing, or attempting to communicate. Witnesses also do not report the same feelings of being in the presence of something that 'was once human'. Some individuals have described being menaced, chased, or attacked by shadow people. There have also been reports of shadow people appearing in front of witnesses, of which they stay there or lingering for several seconds before disappearing. Witnesses report that encounters are typically accompanied by a feeling of dread.

Spirit

Spirits are believed to exist in an invisible realm that can only be seen under certain circumstances or by people with special abilities. Unlike ghosts, the term ""spirit"" is used for demons, angels, fairies, elves and even places. Mountains, woods, lakes, trees and sacred sites are all said to possess a spirit...and in many ancient and indian cultures, this is a living spirit

Telekinesis

The ability to move an object with thought or willpower alone, without the application of a physical force. Some believe that Telekinesis is created by higher levels of consciousness, and that it can not be created by 'wishing it' to happen on the physical level. The energy to move or bend an object is created by a person's thoughts created by their subconscious mind. Only a select few individuals seem to possess this remarkable ability. It is believed by some that Telekinesis was something prehistoric man used instinctively on a daily basis, and modern humans have simply "forgotten" how to use it. Others believe that it is a sign that humans are on the verge of a new level of consciousness.

Trance

In general terms a trance is a hypnotic or cataleptic state, in which an individual remains awake but is mostly unaware of their surroundings. Hypnosis for example often induces a trance like state. Spiritualist mediums can also enter into a trance while attempting to contact the spirits of the deceased.

Unidentified Flying Object (UFO)

Term used to refer to any airborne craft or object that cannot be readily identified. The first modern UFO sighting was that of pilot Kenneth Arnold in 1947. Since then there have been thousands of reports of UFOs from people all over the world. Some believe that UFOs contain extraterrestrial visitors, while others consider them to be secret aircraft that are being tested by the military. Most UFO sightings turn out to be of ordinary everyday things such as balloons, planes, helicopters and even birds, but there are always a small percentage that seem to defy explanation. The most common UFO descriptions include bright moving lights, disc shaped objects, long, cigar shaped objects and the controversial Rods phenomenon.

Vortex

This is a swirling funnel shape when in motion. They can also appear long and narrow and having a tread like design. Some theorize this is a vehicle to transport spirits in the shape of orbs from their realm to ours. The vast majority of vortexes that are photographed, are nothing more than a camera strap in front of the lens.See also: Electromagnetic Field (EMF)

White Noise

A hiss-like sound, formed by combining all audible frequencies. One theory is that if white noise is played while doing EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena), the sound will drown out other lower sounds, and allow you to hear more of what the entity is trying to say. Another theory is that entities, if given a base sound like white noise, will be more capable of manipulating those sound waves to say what they have to say, rather than having to produce their own sound waves. There are also a decent amount of investigators who think white noise unecessarily blocks out sound, and thus makes an EVP harder to come by. A White noise generator can be purchased to produce the white noise sound... there are also various ways of creating your own white noise (like with a radio)... but we won't get into all of that here!

Zombie

The reanimated, souless corpse of a deceased person, with no mind of it's own. In Haiti, a Voodoo priest is said to be responsible for raising the bodies of the dead in this way. In reality it is more likely that 'zombies' are actually still living, people who are given a powerful neurotoxin which renders the individual in a death-like state. Zombies are popular fictional creatures in horror books and movies, but it us unlikely that a genuine reanimated corpse could ever exist in reality.