New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
A person who believes he or she was abducted by extraterrestrials. Often, such a person does not have immediate recall of either the abduction or the events preceding, during, or immediately after the experience. The memories are triggered through chance events or during trancework such as hypnosis. Sometimes confused with contactees.
During the life between lives we are progressively empowered to use past life experiences as critical growth resources to accelerate our evolution through next life planning.
2. Wakefulness and sleep are the two most familiar states of consciousness. Others include dreaming, meditation, trance, hypnosis and self-hypnosis, hallucination, astral projection, etc. ASCs can be induced by sleep deprivation, chanting, fasting, ecstatic dancing, drumming, sex, psychedelic drugs, and conscious self-programming. Once you’ve been "there," it is easier to get there again.
The belief that aliens landed on Earth thousands of years ago. Some contend that this ancient beings helped humanity develop and even evolve. Others claim they used early humans for their own ends.
2. Etheric, or life, energy that, like Reich’s Orgone, is present in all animal life. It can be concentrated, stored, transferred and projected by magical practices—essentially the use of a trained imagination. It formed the basis for many of the practices of Mesmerism, considered by some to be an early forerunner of Hypnotism.
Expression used to describe what appears to be psychic or paranormal abilities in non-human animals. Sometimes represented by the term, “Anpsi.”
A concept relating to reincarnation. When a soul is ready to reincarnate, it will announce itself, often to the woman pregnant with the soul’s future body. Sometimes, however, another person—such as the future child’s father or other relative—will have the announcing dream. Implies that the soul of a person does not enter the body at inception.
An experience that cannot be explained by currently accepted Western scientific theories.
Phenomena found in the natural world that cannot be explained by currently accepted Western scientific theories. Also known as Fortean phenomena (named after the famed collector of reports of such phenomena, Charles Fort), an example would be a rain of frogs.
3. A projection of one’s image that is seen by another. Unlike Astral Projection, the appearance is mostly spontaneous and does not involve the projector entering into a trance state. Apparitions are often connected with a personal crisis or intense interest in the other person. Sometimes the apparition is coincidental with the person’s death.
A phenomenon in which sensory perceptions are associated with inner, subjective impressions.
The aptitudes and capabilities you demonstrate. Many self-improvement classes give you new aptitudes that augment your "Application Programs."
2. The appearance of an object as if moved from another location by psychic means. It is believed to involve the dematerialization and then rematerialization of the object.
A remote site of Edwards Air Force Base about 95 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada. Known to the CIA as either Groom Lake or the Nevada Test and Training Range, it is used to design and test advanced aircraft. Many people believe it houses alien space ships that are being reversed engineered for their technology. Others believe it houses either the bodies of dead extraterrestrials or even living aliens who are giving the U.S. technological secrets.
Although it means theft and larceny, when it comes to Spiritualism the word "asport" means something removed from a séance room by unknown means. It's the opposite of an apport, and is often found in a nearby room. One famous medium who made possessions of her sitters disappear was Eusapia Paladino.
An astral projection procedure induced by hypnosis to survey past life experiences and retrieve those particularly relevant to current needs.
Each body or vehicle is inclusive of the one “beneath” it in the familiar scheme of levels of consciousness. With basic aura seeing, each higher vehicle’s aura extends further beyond the skin of the physical body in this sequence: physical body, etheric double, astral, mental, and causal vehicles for a total of four. Higher vehicles are not perceptible by ordinary clairvoyance.
The essential goal of astral projection is to extend awareness beyond the limitations of the physical brain to become fully conscious on the astral plane. Moving beyond single body limitation to multi-body consciousness our horizons become infinite.
The fluid stream of psychic energy used to convey telepathic messages in the Astral Telepathy System.
A procedure designed to arrest sleep and induce Out-of-Body travel to designated destinations.
The unique cosmic structure underlying each person's individuality as a conscious entity.
A procedure designed to acquire outer growth resources available only through Out-of-Body interactions with higher astral planes.
A procedure designed to muster PK resources during the Out-of-Body state, and focus them on specific health or fitness goals.
Methods of therapy that occur while having an out-of-body experience.
An Out-of-Body induction procedure designed to facilitate Out-of-Body astral scanning of multiple planes.
1. A technique to examine the physical plane while having an out-of-body experience.
2. A procedure designed to induce Out-of-Body clairvoyant scanning.
A system for communicating without physical contact that involves being out-of-body.
An Out-of-Body induction procedure that introduces Out-of-Body walking as a figurative, multi-directional phenomenon.
In 1908, Dr. Walter Kilner invented aura goggles involving screens of dicyanin dye by which he could perceive the ultra-violet part of the field around the body that he termed "The Human Atmosphere" in a book of that title he published in 1911.
Often an aspect of astral projection, autoscopy refers to the ability to see oneself from a position outside the body. It may refer to seeing the astral double or, upon projecting, to seeing one’s own physical body.
An uncomfortable sensation experienced in connection with person or place and interpreted as a forewarning of something dire.
An area in southwestern Vermont where, between 1920 and 1950, five people mysteriously vanished. This name was given to the wilderness area by author Joseph A. Citro in two books he wrote.
2. (Also spelled bi-location) Instances where a person appears simultaneously in two separate locations, one of which is believed to be the physical body and the other the astral body.
Term used by psychic researchers to describe the use of the mind to have an effect on biological functioning by paranormal means. An example would be speeding or slowing cell division in a Petri dish.
2. Sometimes used as an alternative for the Astral Body, but more correctly as an image created ritually out of the astral light through the power of imagination and used by a magician as a vehicle for conscious perception and action.
Suggested Reading
– Ashcroft-Nowicki & Brennan: Magical Use of Thought-Forms – A Proven System of Mental & Spiritual Empowerment
– Slate, J.H. & Weschcke, C.L.: Astral Projection for Psychic Empowerment, 2012, Llewellyn
An area in southeastern Massachusetts, described by research Loren Coleman (Mysterious America), where a great deal of paranormal activity has occurred. Consisting of about 200 square miles, sighting in the area have included bigfoot, thunderbirds, UFOs, giant snakes, fireballs, cattle mutilation, and orbs.
In electrophotography, the phenomenon in which the electromagnetic pattern around the fingerpad separates into two parts during the Out-of-Body state. See electrophotography.
A basic form of ESP testing. It uses a deck of cards (such as regular playing cards or Zener cards) and repeated rounds of testing. This technique can be used to test for precognition, by having the subject guess a card before it is revealed, telepathy, by having the subject guess a card being looked at by the tester, etc.
In the PK Pool of Power, a procedure used to take water from the PK astral pool and pour it over the astral body. See PK Pool of Power.
A lake monster believed to inhabit Lake Champlain, which crosses the US and Canadian borders and the New York and Vermont borders. Similar to the more famous Loch Ness Monster (Nessie), there have been over three hundred sightings of this creature.
The occurrence and development of events without any obvious design; random, unpredictable influences on events that cannot be anticipated by normal means.
(1874–1932) Writer and novelist who achieved fame for collecting reports of paranormal phenomena in works such as The Book of the Damned.
A vital procedure in all astral training because astral consciousness includes the faculties of imagination and dreaming and untrained they lead to fantasy and even delusion. Variations of the phrase include “test and verify” and “trust, but verify.”
2. The psychic ability to hear things inaudible to most people, such as the voices of spirits, sometimes sounds of inanimate objects such as crystals, minerals, artifacts, etc.
2. (“Clear-seeing”) A person who can obtain information through “seeing” things that others do not.
A person who obtains information through “seeing” things, usually via spirit communications, that others do not.
A rare phenomenon in which clairvoyant information is revealed in reverse form. Examples are reversed numbers and spellings.
Liberation of the clairvoyant faculty to probe other realities. See Astral Sweep.
A set of cards used in ESP testing such as Zener cards. A subject tries to determine or “guesses” the symbol on card being viewed by a tester or predicts the next card and each card appears a fixed number of times. Statistical analysis of tests run using a closed deck uses different protocols than testing using an open deck. (See “Open Deck.”)
A technique used by Wilhelm Reich wherein he used a device that supposedly fired Orgone energy at clouds to make it rain. He officially used it twice and received some level of success, eventually abandoning the practice for fear of lawsuits from people who might claim too much rain or that he was taking rain away from other areas. Instead, he used the device to "shoot down" what he believed were UFOs that were trying to destroy our world.
A supposedly psychic technique of choosing a small cloud and causing it to quickly dissolve at will. This is also used by some people as a test of their psychic abilities or to prove one's psychic abilities to others. Debunkers claim this is not real, as most small non-storm clouds will dissipate on their own (especially on windy days) within about 20 minutes. However someone trying to make clouds dissolve will usually achieve his or her goal in a few seconds or minutes.
The combining of clairvoyant faculties of two or more persons to gather clairvoyant information.
In the discussion of mediumship, a message from a non-physical entity. “I received this communication from spirit.” Also see "Spirit Communication."
A two-component strategy for activating telepathic sending and receiving.
A phenomenon characterizing the liberated discarnate state, in which command of past experiences exists on a need-to-know basis.
A phenomenon characterizing the typical incarnate state of constricted memory.
A group of random people who are given a test, the results of which give a baseline range or “norms” as part of clinical experimental protocols. A subject would then be tested and the results of his or her tests would be compared to the norms.
The full realization of personal growth potentials related to past-life experiences.
A strategy designed to activate Out-of-Body precognition by focusing on external, cosmic sources of precognition.
A Procedure leading to self-empowerment through astral projection facilitated by a framed sheet of clear glass.
In Past-Life Excursion, a chart of the orbs and lines representing elements of our past, including pre-incarnate, incarnate, and discarnate experiences. See Past-Life Excursion.
The astral double. That aspect of physical matter—alive or not—that exists only on the astral plane. The counterpart can survive after its physical plane aspect has ceased to exist.
An OBE preparatory exercise designed to extinguish any subconscious resistance to astral projection by focusing on moving images outside the body.
A term used by some Spiritualists to describe all aspects of mental mediumship. This is where there are no physical phenomena produced; however, the medium is able to bring forth messages to the sitters. The term was coined by Charles Richet.
Supposed original thoughts that are actually the recall of forgotten memories. These may be mistaken as paranormal revelatons and may explain some past-life memories.
A technique that uses an out-of-body session to re-experience past-life origins of traumas that have resulted in negative effects in you current life and liberating yourself from their impact.
The experience that some dying people seem to have wherein they see and communicate with dead friends and relatives.
1. In aura photography, the decline in brightness of recorded images.
2. In tests of psychic abilities, an expression that describes how some subjects may have decreasing results over time.
2. Traditionally written déjà vu [French], a phenomenon in which a new event appears familiar or as if it had been previously experienced.
1. An inexplicable fading away or sudden disappearance of a physical object.
2. The fading away or disappearance of an entity or object that is usually invisible, such as a spirit or ghost.
The process of exploring paranormal phenomena to make it less mystical and more scientific.
Seeing (stimulation of the optic nerve receptors) through the skin.
A strategy utilizing sleep to induce out-of-body travel.
A term used by Spiritualists to denote a group of people, generally ones who meet regularly, with a goal of being trained to develop mediumistic or psychic abilities.
One of any type of tests uses by parapsychologists using dice to test the psychic abilities of a subject. Skills tested for may include the ability to predict or control the numbers that will appear on the next (or a future) throw of the dice, or the ability to determine the number showing on dice that is either observed by the experimenter or hidden from the experimenter.
1. The term “dimension” has certain specific meanings in mathematics and physics, such as the three dimensions of length, width, and height. To mystics and occultists, a dimension is the area in which we exist and which is bounded by the extent of our normal five senses. Thus, we normally experience life in this physical dimension while the next or astral dimension is outside of our normal apprehension and is usually observed only via paranormal senses.
2. When a medium allows a spirit to directly speak through her/him, it appears to be the voice of the deceased.
A record of one's personal existence in the discarnate realm between past lifetimes and following one's final incarnation.
Any of a myriad of manifestations of the discarnate realm, to include ghosts and hauntings.
Certain parapsychology tests involve series of turns, such as guessing a series of cards. In some occasions, subjects have shown greater accuracy not of the immediate target, but of one two, three, or more in the future. This type of result is known as displacement.
An abbreviation for Direct Mental Interaction with Living Systems, it means that the subject has been able to show some sort of influence via paranormal means over natural physiological processes.
A strategy that emphasizes imagery, choice and self-determination in acquiring psychic information, particularly of a precognitive nature to possibly allow conscious influence of future events.
2. A seemingly unconscious projection of the astral body.
In scientific research, including parapsychology, a procedure wherein neither the subject nor even the experimenter is aware of valuable key aspects of the experiment. For example, one experimenter could put a variety of photos in separate envelopes. A second experimenter would randomly choose one of the envelopes and could not have any idea of what is in the envelope. The subject would try to determine, paranormally, what is in the envelope.
A parapsychological test where the subject is required to guess (or determine paranormally) the order of a set of symbols (such as cards) from top to bottom.
2. The belief that some spirits, especially those dying in sudden and unexpected transitions, and children, cling to the earth experience they knew and fear moving on and resist the natural process.
Suggested Reading
Davidson: Spirit Rescue, A Simple Guide to Talking with Ghosts and Freeing Earthbound Souls.
Crawford: Spirit of Love, a Medium’s Message of Life Beyond Death
2. A misty appearing substance emitted from various body orifices of the medium believed to originate from the etheric body.
Electroencephalography. A practice often used during parapsychological testing that observes and/or records (via an electroencephalogram) the electrical activity of the brain, especially in the cortex, the outermost layer of the cerebrum (it appears folded and gray) that seems to play an important role in consciousness.
The paranormal ability to generate and manipulate forms of energy, especially electricity, using only the powers of the mind.
The primary substance composing subtle bodies.
Suggested Reading – Bladon, L.: The Science of Spirituality
A rare physical phenomenon observed as occuring to some mystics and mediums wherein a paranormal extention of the physical body appears.
The substance (matter) of the astral plane, of its energies and “operating system” is defined as Emotion. Whenever and however we experience what we know as emotion (feeling, love, desire, affection, ambition, gratitude, etc.) our astral body and the astral world are the field of action. Emotion is the energy "powering" most intentional psychic and magical operations, the energy responsible for many types of psychic phenomena, possibly including hauntings, poltergeists, rapping, etc.
Also known as Zener cards, a deck of twenty-five cards consisting of five sets of repeating symbols believed to be easily and clearly visualized and differentiated. The five symbols are a cross, a circle, a square, three wavy lines, and a five-pointed star. The cards were designed by a perceptual psychologist, Karl Zener, in the 1930s, for use in experiments by his colleague, J.B. Rhine.
A very systematic process for training memory and visualization skills, focusing on one “station” at a time within a short walk within the home, preferably leading from the sleeping area and back in a circle. After extensive “live practice,” the walk is repeated entirely in the imagination. It is a valuable preparatory technique for astral projection and lucid dreaming. It is adapted from The Art & Practice of Astral Projection by Ophiel.
An Out-of-Body state in which personal identity remains intact with acute awareness of one's own being as an independent entity.
In parasychological scientific research, an experimental group is a set of people who take the same tests to rate their paranormal ability. This compares with a control group, who are similarly tested and form a base line to compare against the experimental group.
The description of actually performing experiments studying the paranormal rather than merely theorizing, reviewing other tests, comparing anecdotal reports, etc.
Although long acknowledged by occultists, the experimenter effect has only recently been accepted as a potential reality by mainstream scientists. The effect states that the experimenters behavior, personality, observation, or mere presence may alter the results of scientific testing.
Term used by Spiritualists to describe the appearance of a face, a partial figure, or complete person within a photo even though that image was not seen when the picture was taken.
A phenomenon in which sensory perceptions of changes produced in external objects are related to internal psychic elements or faculties to reveal new psychic knowledge. Examples are sand reading and the wrinkled-sheet technique.
Something, especially an entity, that comes to the planet Earth from someplace other than Earth. Usually not equated with extradimensional.
1. At the conclusion of parapsychological experiments, giving test subjects information about the relative success they had on the test.
2. At the conclusion of public rituals, a discussion of what worked and what was less successful.
The concept that we must develop consciousness raising psychic technology to facilitate our search for knowledge & understanding to continue our evolutionary journey beyond perceived physical limitations.
A photographic phenomenon where video cameras or still cameras take photos that seem to show rod-like images or objects traversing the photo. Some debunkers have claimed that these are simply flying insects that form a blur and move too fast or too close to the lens to be clearly photographed.
On June 24, 1947, pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing flying objects he could not identify. He described them using terms such as “pie-plate,” “ disc,” and “saucer.” News media reported this as Arnold seeing a flying saucer and the term stuck. The term is generally considered obsolete as it doesn't include the shapes of other such sightings of triangles, spheres, oblongs, etc. As a result, the usual modern expression is UFO or Unidentified Flying Object.
During the investigation of poltergeist (or poltergeist-like) activity, it is usually discovered that the sounds, movements, etc. are centered around one person, most often an adolescent female. Such an individual is known as a focal person.
Named after psychologist Betram R. Forer. In 1948 he created an experiment that showed that if people receive general descriptions that could apply to anyone, they will accept it as specifically applying to themselves. Debunkers use this phenomenon to explain away the methods of people claiming to give psychic readings. Examples of phrases used to represent this effect are sometimes called Barnum Statements.
A basic exercise consistent with that of the Magic Circle and the Qabalistic Cross that awakens and balances the elemental forces in your own psyche.
While Time is called the fourth dimension in Relativity Physics, it is also a non-spatial addition to the physical three dimensions of space found on the astral plane enabling a clairvoyant to see all three dimensions of an object at once.
Deliberate faking of paranormal phenomena for the purpose of notoriety, manipulation, financial gain, etc. When done for entertainment it is not considered fraud.
In some instances of ESP, either unregulated or under test procedures, it is unclear as to which sense—clairvoyance, telepathy, precognition, etc.—is in play. Rather than try to define it after the fact, it is simply called general extrasensory perception.
(1909–1980) A famous Dutch psychic, parapsychologist, and practitioner of psychometry. Although he claimed to have helped find some missing persons, debunkers have questioned this.
The psychic engagement of a global interaction for such purposes as bringing forth global peace.
In the absence of consciously determined goals, paranormal phenomena is spontaneous and hap-hazard. When goals are determined, paranormal energies and skills have direction and produce desired results.
Term used by parapsychologists for a subject in an ESP test who does not believe in the phenomenon being tested.
When one person is in an altered state of consciousness, another may help that person by "holding space," being physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually available to enable that person's experience while altered. This process may include being comforting, spiritually encouraging, and listening without judgment. Holding space is a practice used by some Neo-Tantrics to help a person who has achieved an altered state through breathwork, visualization, Tantric sexuality, or other means.
Within Spiritualism, the name given a group of people that regularly meets in a private home to learn about and develop the members' mediumistic and psychic abilities.
Intuition. A "feeling" expressing the "truth" of a situation.
A state in which your senses are exceptionally acute.
2. A state between being awake & falling asleep. It is also called the "Borderland Consciousness." It is during this state of consciousness when we are most receptive to images, symbols, impressions, sounds, ideas and feelings. It is also a state very receptive to Intuition. Its counterpart, between sleep and being awake, is called the hypnopompic state.
Images that appear to the mind while in the dreamy state between wakefulness and achieving sleep.
1. A dreamy state that occurs on arousing from sleep but before being completely awake. May be accompanied by visual, auditory, or kinesthetic hallucinations. Its opposite is the hypnagogic state, which can have the same hallucinations, but which occurs between wakefulness and sleep.
2. A state between sleep and being awake. It is also called the "Borderland Consciousness." It is during this state of consciousness when we are most receptive to images, symbols, impressions, sounds, ideas and feelings. It is also a state very receptive to Intuition. It's counterpart, between being awake & falling asleep, is called the hypnagogic state.
Images that appear to the mind while in the dreamy state between sleep and fully achieving wakefulness.
A popular, modern, non-occult name for creative visualization.
Lack of decay. Allegedly seen in the corpses of some very spiritual people.
Established at Athens State University in 1970 by Joe H. Slate, Ph.D., this foundation is committed to the study of parapsychology and related topics. It has conducted extensive research and established student scholarships in perpetuity at Athens State University and the University of Alabama. The president of the foundation is District Judge Sam Masdon of Montgomery, AL. For more information, contact Joe H. Slate, Ph.D. at joehslate@aol.com
2. A blinding flash of insight answering a question or solving a problem originating at the Soul level of consciousness. Instinctive knowing without actual knowledge and sensory validation. "Our central nervous system automatically responds to events that have not yet happened and of which we are unaware in the present." (Research by Dean Radin of the Institute of Noetic Sciences quoted in Larry Dossey’s The Power of Premonitions.)
A trance state in which one experiences one’s existence in the spirit realm between lifetimes.
Suggested Reading:
Newton: Destiny of Souls: New Case Studies of Life Between Lives
Newton: Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives
Newton: Life Between Lives, Hypnotherapy for Spiritual Regression
Newton: Memories of the Afterlife – Life-Between Lives Stories of Personal Transformation
Slate: Beyond Reincarnation
A basic system of training and development, mostly of the Etheric Double, for astral projection developed by Ophiel in his The Art & Practice of Astral Projection.
The lower sub-planes of the Astral Plane with vibrations close to the physical level. It is the realm of ghosts, hauntings, and poltergeist phenomena.
2. A particularly vivid dream in which the dreamer himself appears. It is believed to be a form of astral projection, and if the dreamer can take conscious control of dream it then becomes a full out-of-body experience.
Suggested Reading:
McElroy: Lucid Dreaming for Beginners
The appearance of lights or glowing that cannot be explained by normal means. They may occur during a séance, during a peak experience, or during paranormal research.
2. When something appears as from nowhere. Apports reappear after being de-materialized. It is also associated with poltergeist-like activity when stones appear in mid-air to fall on a house. Materializations of human forms or just of limbs and hands sometimes occur in séances, and wax impressions have been made of them.
3. See also "Channel." Most mediums enter a trance state and then—often through the agency of a "control" or "guide," enable communication with a discarnate person. Often the Control speaks for the Spirit seeking communication.
Suggested Reading: Mathews: Never Say Goodbye: A Medium’s Stories of Connecting with Your Loved Ones.
The study and development of the skill necessary to function as a spiritual medium facilitating communication between the worlds of spirit and the living. See also Spiritualism.
Suggesting Reading: Van den Eynden: So You Want to be a Medium? A Down-to-Earth Guide.
A memory technique in which you learn to visualize rooms in a carefully designed pattern and you would associate learned facts and lessons with similar facts and lessons in assigned rooms.
Mind to mind communication by non-physical means. Usually, an image of the intended receiver is held in mind while a simple message, such as, "Call me," is projected. Once the message is sent, it is important to "let go: of it rather than doing constant repetition.
1. A change. Usually refers to shamanic shapeshifting.
Astral and other subtle powers applied to consciously directed projects. The Mind is the organizer, manager, and directors of such psychic powers as psychokinesis where material reality is changed.
1. A reversed (mirror) image sometimes used in magickal spells.
2. An induction procedure utilizing a full-length mirror to facilitate astral disengagement from the biological body, an OBE.
Suggested Reading—Slate, J.H. & Weschcke, C.L.: Astral Projection for Psychic Empowerment, 2012, Llewellyn.
An Out-of-Body experience preparatory exercise that involves focusing on the moon and imagining visiting it.
Suggested Reading—Slate, J.H. & Weschcke, C.L.: Astral Projection for Psychic Empowerment, Llewellyn Publications, 2012.
The capacity of consciousness in the Out-of-Body state to simultaneously engage itself in multiple realities. See bi-location.
Traditionally the metaphysical study of the mind and the intellect. More recently, the term has become a catchword meaning just about anything having to do with spirituality and consciousness. A group known as the Institute of Noetic Sciences describes it as the way our beliefs, intentions, and thoughts have an effect on the physical world.
Infinite, everywhere, omnipresent. Non-local events are eternal, immediate, timeless, and unmitigated by time or distance.
A scientific theory that explains away minor indications of paranormal phenomena as being merely chance. Since you can't prove that such minor indications are due to chance, ether a predetermined indication of what constitutes the paranormal has to be agreed to before experimentation or people accepting the null hypnothesis are doing so based on their own beliefs.
An expression used by Spiritualists to indicate the psychic power of being able to objectively see objects, non-physical entities, etc. This skill may be inborn or developed. The difference between objective clairvoyance and subjective clairvoyance is that with objective clairvoyance a person clearly understands the intended meaning of the vision.
The popular (and incorrect) definition of this expression is that the simplest explanation that covers all possibilities is the correct one. Whether or not that is valid, it's not the original meanng of Occam's Razor. Attributed to William of Occam (c. 1285–1349) the actual meaning is that when explaining a phenomenon by selecting one of two competing theories that are otherwise equal, you should select the one that makes the fewest new assumptions.
A series of cards used in ESP testing where a subject tries to determine or “guesses” a card being viewed by a tester or predicts the next card. With an open deck any particular card may be drawn at any time, leading to multiple appearances of some cards, few appearances of others, and possibly some cards not appearing at all. Statistical analysis of tests run using an open deck uses different protocols than testing using a closed deck. (See “Closed Deck.”)
In Spiritualism, the name for the experience of a spirit lightly taking over control of the medium. This is sometimes confused with Transfiguration.
A philosophical argument that has within it an absurdity or inconsistency.
A person, often having a degree in psychology, who uses scientifically controlled and designed tests to study paranormal phenomena. See Parapsychology.
The psychological tendency to give random stimuli—such as sounds, events, images, etc.—a meaningful structure.
A term used by Spiritualists to describe a loud rapping sound supposedly caused by spirits.
A ghost, spirit, or apparition. Also, a delusion or illusion.
A branch of philosophy focused upon the investigation of experience. Also, an approach to research that has the purpose of clarifying a person's understanding of a specific event (or set of events) or phenomena.
An expression original uses by spiritualists to indicate phenomena that occurs during a séance that can be experienced by or perceived by the physical senses. Examples of physical phenomena include very subtle things such as a whispered voice or movement of air to more obvious phenomena such as the movement or even levitation of objects and people.
The center of energy that can be tapped into during astral projection and used to achieve goals on the physical plane, including changing the physical body such as for healing.
The sensation that there is another person or entity in the immediate environment.
An expression that indicates a significantly better than chance performance on a psi test.
An expression that indicates a significantly worse than chance performance on a psi test. Although it is not obvious, psi-missing is also evidence for psi. Being able to go so far below chance indicates that something realated to ESP is going on. One theory is that the only way a target can be consistently missed is if the test subject uses some form of ESP to "know" what a hit would be and then unconsciously makes a wrong choice.
Any of various paranormal skills possessed by almost every person, but usually undeveloped.
A form of mediumship that unites physical phenomena and non-physical phenomena. The medium or psychic goes into a trance and attunes or channels a spirit. While the medium keeps her or his eyes closed, they are able to draw on paper an image of the spirit communicating with them. This has expanded to include any sort of art that is inspired by non-physical sources and exhibits artistic qualities and abilities beyond those of the medium or psychic.
A state of awareness in which the mind becomes consciously aware of information from sources beyond the usual five senses.
Photographs produced by the power of the mind. Popularized in the 1960s by Ted Serios, who supposedly projected images directly onto the film of a Poloroid instant camera. Some people also use the term to describe Kirlian Photography.
A person who drains you mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Most often they do not recognize they are doing this. Such a person may come to you looking for advice or assistance and spend hours of your time using all sorts of excuses as to why your advice won’t work. Finally, they accept part of your suggestions, but in a short time it has all been abandoned and they will come back seeking more help and advice. It is best to avoid psychic vampires.
The scientific study of paranormal phenomena, especially ESP and mediumship. The term was coined in the late ninetheenth century and is now considered archaic. The modern term is “parapsychology.”
2. Name for the ability to use paranormal mental abilities to influence physical events and processes. A typical example would be to use the mind to move an object without physically touching it.
The belief that shapes that reproduce the angles and relative dimensions of the Great Pyramid of Cheops have powers such as giving better sleep, causing food to remain fresh, and keeping razor blades sharp.
A device, usually electronic, that uses a random physical process such as radioactive decay to generate random events or random numbers. Most often, however, REGs actually use an artificially-created long series of numbers (such as created by finding the square root of pi), which only seems to be non-repeating. This produces pseudo-random numbers, but has the same effect.
A series of numbers that has an unpredictable and unstructured sequence. Such numbers are frequently generated (by a random number generator or a computer program) and used in testing for psychic ability.
Discovered by Konstantin Raudive, this is the phenomenon of voices being heard when playing back recordings of silence or white noise.
A term used by paranormal researchers for poltergeist activity. This is prefered as it doesn’t imply a supernatural or “ghostly” source.
1. A statistical analysis of a series of data that leads to the ability to accurately predict following members of the set.
2. A technique used in meditation and hypnosis that allows a person to relive or observer past events in this life or of previous lives. In some people it may occur spontaneously, often giving the experience known as déjà vu.
2. Non-sensory knowledge of non-local events that are contemporaneous.
In paranormal testing, an action by a subject as part of an experiment.
In paranormal testing, the tendency of a subject to give certain responses. This can skew results as the subject is responding to personal influences rather than objectively responding to the test.
The description of a change to the result of an experiment by a subject (or other paranormal means) after the experiment has concluded.
The right hemisphere of the brain. It seems to deal, in part, with thinking processes that deal with patterns, poetry, spirituality, etc.
The technique used by a tester to determine a subject's score.
Term used by parapsychologists for a subject in an ESP test who believes in the phenomenon being tested.
Discovered by parapsychologist Gertrude Schmeidler, “sheep” (people who believe in paranormal phenomena) score higher than chance in psi tests while “goats” (people who don’t believe in paranormal phenomena) score lower than chance.
An infinitely plastic (bendable, stretchable) cord, thread, or beam of energy that connects the astral body to the physical. It is said to link at either the solar plexus, heart, third eye, or top of the head. At physical death, the connection breaks.
A dream that is very similar to the dream another person is having at the same time.
1. The idea that you can learn something by having it repeated, such as using a tape loop, while you are asleep. Research has not proven the effectiveness of this technique.
2. The ability to tap into knowledge not normally available to the conscious mind during spontaneous out-of-body experiences while sleeping. See Celestial Learning
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1. Term used to describe a person who performs physical activity while asleep (i.e., a sleep-walker).
2. Archaic term that was sometimes used to describe a person in a deep hypnotic trance.
An abbreviation for Subjective Paranormal Experience or subjective Psi experience.
A healing of a physical or psychological ailment believed to have occurred as the result of an intervention by one or more spirits.
Although generically used to mean any type of healing achieved via non-physical actions, spiritual healing specifically deals with the interrelationships of the multiple bodies each person has (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, etc.). The idea is to in some way adjust or affect the spiritual body in order to have an effect on the physical body.
Descriptive expression for instances of paranormal phenomena that occur unsought and unexpected.
The use of various mathematical techniques for analyzing and interpreting (usually large amounts of) numerical data. Statistical methods are often used to determine if large collections of data from ESP tests indicate that subjects responded at mere chance level or if they seemed to exhibit actual ESP.
Also called a Subjective Psi Experience, this is an expression describing an experience by a person that the person believes to be paranormal in nature.
Being able to perceive objects or actions without conscious awareness or those objects or actions.
The idea that people are capable of unlimited ESP and that mediumistic phenomena (i.e., communicating with the dead) is not actually being in communication with the surviving spirit of a deceased person, but rather that the medium is using super-ESP abilities.
Expression for a variety of ways by which a person may link into or collect energy from an external source to use for magickal, healing, or similar purposes.
Electrical activity in the temporal lobes of the brain as registered via electroencephalography. Activity in the temporal lobe has been associated with strange sensations, time distortions and hallucinations. As a result, some pseudo-skeptics, as well as legitimate scientists, have used TLA to explain apparitions and alien abduction.
The belief that someone can change into an animal form and then back to their human form. Also called shapeshifting.
A person who produces mediumistic phenomena of all kinds after entering a state of trance. Sometimes spelled “transmedium” by people who are stressing the idea of transcending normal reality and by people unfamiliar with the original concept.
A technique used to facilitate easy out-of-body travel during sleep and to actualize the empowerment potential of the travel experience.
Levitation or astral projection. Can be induced through the use of entheogens, sex magick, etc.
1. A term used by early parapsychologists for out-of-body experiences. Now rarely used.
2. Clairvoyance exhibited by a subject while he or she travels in their imagination to another location.
A parapsychological test where the subject is required to guess (or determine paranormally) the order of a set of symbols (such as cards) from the bottom of a stack to the top.
Data or the reporting of an experience that is confirmed to be objectively accurate.
A dream that has events, previously unknown to the dreamer, that are the same as objective reality. A veridical dream may be predictive of events yet to come, but it may also accurate represent events occurring while the dreamer is in a dream state or that occurred previously.
2. A term used by Spiritualists to indicate different levels of consciousness.
The process of forming a visualization. To form a mental image. It may or may not be visible. It is the technique for creating something on the astral plane which must eventually manifest on the physical plane.
When séances that produced physical phenomena were more available than today, water sprinkling was not unusual. The expression describes how sitters at the séance are sprinkled with water or perfume as a gift from spirits. Unfortunately, this phenomenon could be easily faked.
The ability to write or speak a language that was not learned by natural means.
Also known as “ESP cards,” this is a deck of 25 card using a repeating set of five simple geometric shapes (circle, square, wavy lines) used to test for ESP. The cards were designed in the 1930s by Karl Zener, a perceptual psychologist, for use by famed parapsychologist J.B. Rhine.
