Glossary of Terms Related to Phenomena

Please Select a Letter to Access a Term

  A

Agent:  A term used in psychical research to signify one who acts as the transmitter in telepathic communications.

Agnosia: Loss of the ability to interpret sensory stimuli, such as sounds or images.⁸. Agnosia was once considered a rare condition, but since the work with inattention blindness, it has become clear that it is much more common than previously thought.

Akashic Records:  A cosmic gallery of pictures and the records of every thought, action and feeling since the world began.  Many believe that these records can be contacted in certain psychic states of consciousness.

Apparition:  The paranormal appearance of someone that is distant or dead.  This is a visual phenomenon that usually happens spontaneously.  The appearance of an apparition seems to be motivated by the particular anxiety on the part of the entity.  The need is felt to deliver an urgent message of perceived danger, worry, death or illness.  Apparitions seem more likely to manifest in moments of crisis.  The perception of an apparition is not restricted to the wee hours of the morning or to those who are in some private place.  It can occur at the most unexpected moments and publicly.

The message given by the entity is usually brief as if the power to bring it is limited.  Those seeing apparitions of the dying or dead often report feeling chilliness.  Apparitions may appear quite solid and yet objects may be seen beyond them.  They also may be accompanied by bright light.

Apports:   The entry or appearance of various objects through an apparent penetration of matter.  Apports are related to movement caused by spirit entities or unknown forces of energy.  An apport is an object that appears in a closed area, such as a room in which a séance is taking place.  Apport is the dematerialization of an object that then passes through obstacles such as walls and then re-materializes.  Objects differ in size, may be living or inanimate and appear not to be harmed by their strange journey.  With live apports it is thought that they are not dematerialized but rather the obstructing structure is dematerialized.  Inanimate objects are often reported to feel hot when they arrive, although some have been reported to be cold.

Appropriate Science: The population of participants and the history of the phenomenon determine the ability of the community to quantify/codify the subject. Every discipline of science has undergone an evolution as it is developed into a system of understanding or an effective tool for learning. At some point in that evolution, people studying the discipline are untrained and not supported by academic institutions and literature. The measure of how well the discipline of science is applied to the understanding of a phenomenon must necessarily be measured by its place in that evolution.

Asport:  An asport is the apport phenomena in reverse.  It is the disappearance of objects from a closed room and their re-appearance in another room.

Astral Body or Double:  A term often used to denote the etheric body.  Interpenetrating counterpart of the physical body that is said to be connected to it by a cord.

Astral Plane:  Often synonymous with the Etheric Plane.  However in Theosophy it means the place occupied by the recently deceased and by non-human nature spirits or elementals. See the essay Cosmology.

Astral Projection:  A condition in which there is separation between the physical and etheric body.  Astral projection often occurs during sleep.  Some have learned to consciously astral project and there are instances where information has been brought back and then verified.  A cord connects the physical body to the etheric or astral body.  This cord is often referred to as the “Silver Cord.”

Atmosphere:   The gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a celestial body, especially the one surrounding earth.  There is evidence that there is an aura or special atmosphere that surrounds all living bodies.

Aura:   An energy field or field of radiation that surrounds the human body.  Said by those who can see it, to consist of bands of color.  Investigation done by Dr. W. J. Kilner showed this energy field to vary in brilliance and color during illness and mental or emotional stimulation.  The aura shrinks to nothing near the time of death.  Mediums have confirmed these findings and often discern impending changes by studying a person’s aura.

Automatic Drawing and Painting:  Also called psychic art.  Artistic expression without the control of the conscious self.  Sometimes this is done in complete darkness and at great speed.  The subject and quality of this type of art is varied.

Automatic Speaking:  The use of the vocal cords without the volition of the conscious self.  Spontaneous speech without the control of the conscious self, taking place in trance or in the waking state.

Automatic Writing:  Written or typed material produced without the control of the conscious self.  It is a flow of intelligent writing produced in a disassociated state.  This is a common form of mediumship but is also not always true mediumship.  Automatic writing is a source of countless cases of self-delusion. When it is reliable it can open up a direct channel of communication from the Spirit World.  The content is very important and can determine whether the writing is automatic or from the mind of the writer.  Therefore, in judging such scripts, the standard of evidence should be very strict.

Automatic writing may be produced in trance or in the waking state with the important point being that there is no interference of the conscious mind.  Normally in automatic writing the hand of the writer is controlled and often writes at a furious pace without pause for thought and at times in an unfamiliar handwriting.  With automatic writing the pen moves the writer, where as with conscious writing the writer moves the pen.

If the writer is fully conscious when doing automatic writing, they must remain entirely passive.  The writer may have an idea of the sense of the communication or they may not.  Messages have varied content and can be personal, political, societal, etc.  Automatic writing may be in another language and the term for this is Xenoglossy.  It can be backward, upside down or horizontal.  It may be so minute that a magnifying glass is needed to read it or very large and speed across a page.

Automatic writing can occur while the medium is conscious and engaged in other mental activity such as conversation or reading.  The medium Leonore Piper wrote with both hands at the same time while carrying on a conversation.  All three communications were on different subjects.

Scientists and parapsychologists now give little are no attention to automatic writing as a matter for proof of survival.  It is interesting as in the beginning it was accepted as proof of survival and is actually what led to the field of parapsychology.

Automatism:   The body functioning is not under the control of the conscious self.  This control can be by either the subconscious self or by a discarnate entity.  It encompasses automatic drawing, speaking, writing, painting, playing of musical instruments, dancing and even surgical operations.  Sensory automatism includes clairaudience and clairvoyance.

Axiom: A self-evident or universally recognized truth.⁸

B

Best Practices

Methods and procedures found to be most effective. Best practices are not rules, laws or standards which people are required to follow. In practice, best practices are to be used as a guide to help people be aware of that which is known to work and that which has inherit pitfalls--the "state of the art."

Billet Reading:  Usually done in a public demonstration where the audience write down messages to their departed friends or ask questions on pieces of paper.  The medium who is blindfolded or is in some other way unable to physically see the questions (questions placed in envelopes) then answers the questions and provides facts of an evidential nature.

Bilocation:   The ability to exist simultaneously in two places at once.

C

Cabinet:   A small enclosed space from which mediums condense the energy that is necessary for physical phenomena.  A cabinet is usually very simple.  A curtain placed across the corner of a room could serve as a cabinet.  Some mediums sit within the cabinet while others sit outside of it.  Many great mediums who produced physical phenomena found a cabinet unnecessary.

Chakras: Also known as energy centers or spiritual centers.  According to Hindu and occult concepts these are centers of psychic power situated in the subtle body that penetrates the physical body.  There are said to be six main chakras that ascend from the base of the spine.  Various authorities actually differ on the number of chakras, some citing seven.  Much like the aura, some psychics and mediums say that they can see these centers, which are a mixture of color of varying brightness.  The various centers usually are described red at the base; orange at the spleen; yellow at the solar plexus; green at the heart; blue at the throat; Indigo at the brow; and violet at the crown chakra.  Some authorities differ on these colors.  Certain spiritual healers say that they work on the chakras to stimulate a healing of the physical body.

Channeler:  A person who acts as an intermediary and through whom communication from the Spirit World is passed to those in the physical world.  Also described as "trance-channel." See Medium

Channeling:   see Spirit Communication

Clairaudience:   This is a French word that means clear hearing and is the ability to hear sounds that are removed from natural hearing conditions or the environment. Parapsychology refers to it as extra-sensory information received as sound.  To the person who experiences this, it is as if someone’s voice is being heard spoken orally.  The sound, however, is not audible and the physical ear does not receive it.  It is closely allied to clairvoyance but the impressions are heard rather than seen and it could be likened to hearing with the spiritual ear or mental hearing.

Clairsentience:  This is a form of impressional mediumship.  The medium senses the physical makeup, personality, health condition, and the likes and dislikes of the spirit entities when they were on earth.

Clairvoyance:  A French word meaning clear seeing.  It is a paranormal mode of perception in which visual images are presented to the conscious mind.  The perception may be of objects, people and/or scenes, and can be from the present, past or future.  The clairvoyant experience may be spontaneous or induced as through meditation, scrying or other methods of divination.

Cold Spots:  Breezes, cool currents, and cold spots with a significant drop in temperature.  They are often associated with etheric energy, an apparition or a spirit entity.

Colors:   The colors in the human aura are perceived as meaning different things depending on the authority presenting their meaning.  Gold or violet is often seen as spirituality; pink as love and affection; red as energy, strength, courage, or anger; green and blue are often seen as healing colors.  Dark muddy hues are said to signify problems or illness.  Some healers use color therapy with particular hues influencing or helping to heal various illnesses.

Coloring:   A term used to describe a message purported to come from spirit that has been influenced by the medium’s own thoughts and ideas.  A medium is trained to give what they receive even if they do not understand the message.  They are trained to guard against trying to interpret or translate a message to assure that their own thoughts and views are not placed into the message.

Communication, After Death:  The departed bring messages to friends and relatives.  Normally the intent of these messages is to comfort the bereaved and let them know that the loved one who has made their transition is all right and very much alive.  A message may also be brought due to unfinished business and in order to bring closure to some unresolved issue.

Bill and Judy Guggenheim have done in-depth research into After-Death Communications.  They interviewed 2,000 people and collected more than 3,300 firsthand accounts from people who believe they have been contacted by a loved one who has died.  Hello From Heaven! (5)

Based upon their research, the following are the twelve most frequent types of after-death communication people report having with their deceased loved ones:  (Taken from the ADC website at www.after-death.com/about/adc.htm).

Sensing A Presence:  This is the most common form of contact.  But many people discount these experiences, thinking, "Oh, I’m just imagining this.”  It’s a distinct feeling that your loved one is nearby, even though he or she can’t be seen or heard.  Though most often felt during the days and weeks immediately after the death, you may sense his or her presence months and even years later.

Hearing A Voice:  Some people state they hear an external voice, the same as when a living person is speaking to them.  However, the majority of communications are by telepathy – you hear the voice of your relative or friend in your mind.  When you have two-way communication, it is usually by telepathy.  In fact, it’s possible to have an entire conversation this way.

Feeling A Touch:  You may feel your loved one touch you with his or her hand, or place an arm around your shoulders or back, for comfort and reassurance.  You may feel a tap, a pat, a caress, a stroke, a kiss, or even a hug.  These are all forms of affection, nurturing, and love.

Smelling A Fragrance:  You may smell your relative’s or friend’s favorite cologne, after-shave lotion, or perfume.  Other common aromas are:  flowers (especially roses) bath powders, tobacco products, favorite foods, and his or her personal scent.

Visual Experiences:  There are a wide variety of visual experiences, which we have divided into two broad categories:  partial visual and full visual ADCs.  Appearances range from "a transparent mist" to "absolutely solid" with many gradations in between.  You may see only the head and shoulders of your relative or friend, or someone you love may make a full appearance to you, and you will see the entire body as well, which will appear completely solid.  Some visual ADCs occur in the bedroom, next to or at the foot of the bed.  Others may happen anywhere – indoors or outdoors – even in a car or aboard a plane.  Typically he or she will be expressing love and well being with a radiant smile.  Loved ones virtually always appear healed and whole regardless of their cause of death.  Verbal communication may take place, but not always.

Visions:  You may see an image of a deceased loved one in a "picture" that is either two-dimensional and flat or three-dimensional like a hologram.  It’s like seeing a 35-mm slide or a movie suspended in the air.  Visions are usually in radiant colors and may be seen externally with your eyes open or internally in your mind.  Communication may occur, especially during meditation.

Twilight Experiences:  These occur in the alpha state – as you’re falling asleep, waking up, meditating, or praying.  You may have any or all of the above types of experiences while you are in this state of consciousness.

ADC Experiences While Asleep:  Sleep-state ADCs are much more vivid, intense, colorful, and real than dreams.  They are very common.  Both one-way and two-way communications are typical.  You usually feel your loved one is with you in person – that you’re having an actual visit together.  These experiences are not jumbled, filled with symbols, or fragmented the way dreams are.

Sleep-state ADCs are similar to those that occur when you are wide awake.  Your relative or friend can come to you more easily, however, when you are relaxed, open, and receptive, such as while you are in the alpha state or asleep.

Out-Of-Body ADCs:  These may occur while you are asleep or in a meditative state.  They are dramatic experiences during which you leave your body and often visit your loved one at the place or level where he or she exists.  These are extremely vivid, intense, and real – some say, "more real than physical life.”  The environments usually contain beautiful flowers and butterflies, colorful bushes and trees, radiant lighting, and other lovely aspects of nature – and are filled with happiness, love, and joy.

Telephone Calls:  These ADCs may occur during sleep or when you are wide awake.  You will hear a phone ringing, and if you answer it, your loved one will give you a short message.  Two-way conversations are possible.  His or her voice will usually be clear but may seem far away.  If you are awake, you will probably not hear a disconnect sound or a dial tone when the call is completed.

Physical Phenomena:  People who are bereaved often report receiving a wide variety of physical signs from their deceased relative or friend, such as:  lights or lamps blinking on and off; lights, radios, televisions, stereos, and mechanical objects being turned on; photographs, pictures, and various other items being turned over or moved; and a long list of "things that go bump in the night."

Symbolic ADCs:  People frequently ask a Higher Power, the universe, or their deceased loved one for a sign that he or she still exists.  Many receive such a sign, though it may take some time to arrive.  Occasionally these signs are so subtle they may be missed, or they may be discounted as mere "coincidences.”  Common signs include butterflies, rainbows, many species of birds and animals, flowers, and a variety of inanimate objects such as coins and pictures.

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Concentration:   One's attention, or the mind, is kept continuously on one point of focus without distraction.  This can be difficult, but it is a good exercise for the stilling of the mind, which is necessary to receive psychic impressions.

Concept:   A fundamental idea; a root thought from which systems of thought can be derived. For instance, the concept of something to protect a foot is the fundamental idea for shoes, sandals and such. In Etheric Studies, the intention of "concept" is to refer to the underlying thought form from which reality is eventually created. It is thought that the etheric aspect of reality, which we find ourselves after transition, is more conceptual, and that trans-etheric communication is conceptual-based.
    A more traditional approach to this is "metaphysics," in which concepts are codified as a system of belief. Each system of belief has a unique metaphysics. Etheric Studies requires a more precise and clearly stated explanation since it is to be empirically based, rather than a system of belief. Using the term, "concepts," rather than the more generic, "metaphysics," will help avoid confusion with traditional, belief-based usage.

Contact Field: The concept is that the rapport of mutual cooperation builds the kind of etheric/physical energy necessary for etheric to physical influences. This may be the accumulation of auric energy due to long-time human occupancy and/or the expression of extreme emotion.

Contact Healing:  Healing where physical contact is made between the patient and the healer.  Also called “laying on of hands” healing and spiritual healing.  Absent healing is healing done without contact and at a distance.  Excellent results have been achieved with both types of healing.

Control:  The spirit in charge of a medium or a séance proceeding often called “guides.”  The control directs the operation of the communication with the medium being the instrument of the communication or physical phenomena.  See Inner-band

Cosmology: See the essay, The Cosmology of Imaginary Space. The "layer-cake" view of cosmology works in conversation as a means of indicating "here" and relatively "not here" as one "moves" into other aspects of reality. The structure of reality is often part of a system of belief and used to define the seeker's relationship with other entities and parts of reality. It is probably not correct to use terms such as "finer and coarser," "higher and lower" or degrees of "vibration." These terms are useful for expressing ideas, but reality appears to be an energetic environment that more resembles a plasma field than electromagnetic, and movement is more a function of changes in perspective. Cosmologies are used as models to explain a set of metaphysical concepts.

Cross-Correspondence: One or more forms of phenomena are experienced and found to produce information that agree. For instance, A medium might say that the love done is standing behind the person, and at the same time, a photograph of the person contains a disturbance that "seems" to be the shape of a person.

Cross-Reference: Different mediums simultaneously receive the same message with a request to forward the message to the same person.

Crystal Gazing or Scrying:  A very old form of divination done by gazing at a crystal ball, pool of water, mirror or other reflective surface.  After a time of cloudiness, pictures and scenes are said to appear.  This is the form of divination said to have been used at the time of the Greek Oracles and also by Nostradamus.  See Divination.

D

Death-bed Visions: There are countless reports of “death-bed visions” in which the person, before dying, reports seeing the appearance of deceased loved ones and relatives.  A curious feature of these visions is that the dying only reports seeing deceased persons.  If this were a function of the dying brain one would expect that the visions would be of living persons as frequently as deceased ones.

Dematerialization:  The disappearance of matter or a materialized form.  Parts of the medium’s body have been recorded as temporarily disappearing during séances in which physical phenomena has taken place.  Small objects have also disappeared and if they reappear elsewhere they are known as asports.  See Asports

Differentiation:  Differentiation is used here to describe the process of changing the nature of energy.  A person is thought to receive nonphysical energy via the finer bodies of Self, and to change that energy for use in the physical.  In differentiation, spiritual energy issuing from Infinite Intelligence is differentiated or transformed through the intelligent application of Natural Law to create visualized aspects of reality according to intention.  It is through this process that an individual is thought to create his or her reality.

Direct Drawing and Painting:  This type of art is done without the use of the hand of the medium or any human contact with the materials used.  The materials combine directly to produce the artistic result.  The Bangs sisters, David Duguid and Mrs. E. J French are all mediums known for this phenomenon.

Direct Voice:  A voice heard in space without any visible source or agency.  The voice often emanates from a trumpet, which serves as a condenser and amplifier for the voice.  But with sufficient energy the voice can be heard from any part of the room and a trumpet is not necessary.  The theory of how this is done is that ectoplasm is withdrawn from the medium’s or from the sitter’s body to produce a larynx or artificial voice box. The voices may be human sounding or the sounds of animals.  Many and varied experiments have been conducted to prove the validity of this phenomenon.  Ventriloquism and the “throwing of voices” were ruled out.

Direct Writing:  In Direct or Independent writing the script is obtained without any physical contact with the medium.  Partially materialized hands have been seen, in some instances, writing these messages.  Writing has been obtained in sealed boxes. A form of this phenomenon is known as “slate writing” where writing appears between a pair of sealed slates.  Direct typewriting has also occurred and there have been reports of written messages being received on computers that were not connected to the Internet.  These messages were not written by anyone in the household.  Photographic paper can also be impressed with direct scripts. See SORRAT for a modern example of direct writing.

Discarnate:  A spirit person who has died in the earthly sense.  Not incarnate.  Not possessing a physical body.

Divination:  Deliberate pursuit of knowing the future or the discovery of things that are hidden by various practices.  Some of the most common are:  dowsing, astrology, numerology, palmistry, crystal gazing and various cards used for divination such as the Tarot. 

An interesting explanation to how practitioners and listeners might find EVP where there are none is found in the Gestalt Laws of Perceptual Organization, which includes[6]:

The Law of Proximity: Stimulus elements that are closed together tend to be perceived as a group

The Law of Similarity: Similar stimuli tend to be grouped, this tendency can even dominate grouping due to proximity

The Law of Closure: Stimuli tend to be grouped into complete figures

The Law of Good Continuation: Stimuli tend to be grouped as to minimize change or discontinuity

The Law of Symmetry: Regions bound by by symmetrical boarders tend to be perceived as coherent figures

The Law Simplicity: Ambiguous stimuli tend to be resolved in favor of the simplest

Doorkeeper:   See Control

Double:   See Astral Body

Dowsing:  Using a rod, twig or pendulum to find water or other materials.

Dreams:  Dreams are a common occurrence and are often dismissed.  However there is much evidence that dreams that are prophetic do take place, and many cases have been authenticated.  Dream prophecies are often repetitive and usually consist of some kind of pre-vision in detail of some imminent disaster

Reports of visitations by deceased loved ones during the dream state are common.  These are usually much more distinct and intense than a normal dream.  They are not fragmented or full of symbols as is evidenced in most dreams.  Those who have experienced this say that they felt that their loved one was right there with them in person and that the conversation and visit were as real as any physical meeting.

Lucid dreaming is the ability to retain possession or control and consciousness while in the dream state.  It can be acquired with practice.

E

Earthbound Entity: A term often used to describe entities who have remained energetically close to the physical aspect of reality because of habits, attachments or ignorance of their true state. Earthbound spirits are often held responsible for haunting type activity. Rescue circles help to enlighten such spirits and assist them in finding help and move on to their natural domain in the Spirit Planes.

Ectoplasm:  From the Greek ektos and plasma:  exteriorized substance.  A subtle matter present in the physical body that is primarily invisible but capable of assuming various vaporous, liquid or solid states and properties.  It emanates from the body of mediums and is manipulated by either discarnate intelligences or the subconscious, to produce phenomena including partial and complete materializations.  Ectoplasm is usually a whitish sticky substance that emerges through the pores and any of the natural orifices of the body.

Ectoplasm often has a smell similar to ozone.  It can appear in many different forms, colors and conditions although it is most often described as a whitish color.  It is sensitive to light and can also affect the general temperature of the room.  Ectoplasm possesses some of the properties of a living substance in that it has the ability to change, move and assume form.

The medium, Mme. d’Esperance, said that she could feel fine threads being drawn out of the pores of her skin and that her first impressions were of being covered with spider webs.

This substance is said to be responsible for the production of physical phenomena.  In addition to materialized forms spirit operators build elastic or rigid rods to produce movements in objects, raps, artificial voice boxes, levitation of tables and other objects.

Photographs were taken in the Margery séances in Boston.  They show ectoplasm being reabsorbed by the medium’s body through the openings of the mouth, ears and nose.

Ectoplasmic formations are potentially dangerous to the medium.  If the materialized formation or the medium is touched or subjected to light, the ectoplasm rapidly returns to the body of the medium and can cause severe injury.

Electronic Voice Phenomena or EVP:  EVP are anomalous, intelligible speech produced in electronic devices. They may be heard as a real-time output but are more generally heard on review of a subsequent recording. No currently understood physical processes account for the existence of EVP. See the AA-EVP website (aaevp.com) for more information on these phenomena.

Emanations: Science now knows of many kinds of emissions or radiations.  Those not yet known or understood could be responsible for such faculties as dowsing and psychometry.

Entity:   An individual.  This term often refers to a discarnate personality.

Etheric:  That aspect of the greater reality that is not physical; nonphysical; everything that is not physical. "Nonphysical" is a negative term while "etheric" has been traditionally used to describe the subtle, underlying media supporting reality. "Etheric" will probably be "subdivided" as more is understood about the greater reality just as the ancients cultures have developed cosmologies with planes of existence.

Etheric Body:  A counterpart of the physical body that lives on after the change called death.  Also known as the spirit body.

Etheric Communicator

When an etheric entity is identified as the source of an etheric-to-physical influence, then it is an "etheric communicator."

Etheric Energy: Instead of spiritual energy, psychic energy, auric energy, ectoplasm, orgone energy, od etc. This should be used in the awareness that etheric energy does not necessarily meet the usual scientific definition of energy and is not electromagnetic. Current best guess is that etheric energy is more like a plasma and is nonscalar in that it has no direction of propagation. Many quantum mechanic descriptions seem to describe known behavior of etheric energy, but it is probably too soon to use those theories as anything more than descriptive.

There is probably a continuum of energy between physical and nonphysical much like there is a continuum of electromagnetic energy ranging from very low to very high frequency. A hypothetical spectrum might include: physical - auric (bio energy) - energy associated with psi functioning- etheric energy.

Etheric Entity:  Instead of spirit or soul, which are religious terms. "Etheric" only argues that the communicator has a nonphysical aspect, which would include the etheric "Self" of people still in the physical. A nonphysical consciousness which is sentient and interactive. When being addressed as the initiator of a trans-etheric influences, it is also correct to refer to this as an "etheric communicator." A discarnate animal, possible nature spirit, extraterrestrial and the etheric aspect of a physical person is correctly referred to as an etheric entity.

Etheric-Physical Interface

Given that there is a physical aspect of realty, and all the rest described here as "etheric," then there is an etheric-physical interface, across which etheric-physical influences change from depending on unknown etheric principles to known or soon to be known physical principles. This is an assumption, but the transition point does seem to exist as some kind of energy barrier.

Etheric Studies: The study of all things etheric. This is not an individual science, such as biology or physics. It is a field of study concerned with the nature of the etheric aspects of reality. By comparison, physics and biology are sciences concerned with the physical aspect of reality and would be part of "Physical Studies." Etheric studies is intended to complement physical science, as it is thought that discoveries in etheric studies will often extend the definition of physical principles while occasionally requiring the definition of new principles. See Ethericstudies.org

Experimental Model:  A hypothesis; the unifying illustration of a system of thought; in traditional philosophy, a cosmology. Cosmologies are used to illustrate how the various concepts or beliefs "fit together" as a whole. In traditional metaphysical cosmologies, the typical cosmology is designed as a "layer cake" in which the physical is on or near the bottom and heaven is on the top. Virtually every metaphysical cosmology is based on a system of belief usually derived from an evolved philosophy or from revealed knowledge. To avoid confusion with other belief systems, "hypothesis" or "experimental model" is used in place of "cosmology."

Experiencer: A person who witnesses phenomena.

Extra Sensory Perception or ESP:  Communication or perception by means other than the physical senses.  Professor J. B. Rhine conducted thousands of experiments, which produced statistical evidence of the existence of a telepathic function in some individuals.  There are differences between ESP and mediumship.  ESP is a partial or complete correspondence between the mental patterns of two persons, a sender and a receiver.  In mediumship the information is often unknown by the sitter at the time and in the absence of a “transmitter” the ESP explanation does not fit for what is happening in mediumship unless we say that the sender is in the Spirit World. Psi functioning is used as the general term for all forms of psychic ability and the energy involved is referred to as "psi."

F

Faith Healing:  Healing which is said to happen due to a healing recipient’s belief or faith in Divine power.  This is the type of healing that has taken place at Lourdes and other such places.  Faith Healing is different from spiritual healing.  With spiritual healing the recipient does not have to have faith to be healed.  An animal can be treated and cured, which rules out faith as the necessary factor.

G

Ghost:  See Etheric Entity. An energy field that repeatedly appears in the same location and is often perceived as a “living presence.”  The appearance of a ghost is often accompanied with a drop in temperature.  Ghosts are considered to be entities that are held earth bound for various reasons.  Due to misinformation from former education, or religious beliefs, the entity may not be aware that he or she is dead.  There may be an emotional tie from the past that is not understood and that binds them to the earth plane.  Mourners who do not stop talking and thinking about someone who has died can hinder that person’s movement into the Spirit World.  A ghost can receive energy from an environment that holds emotional ties regarding its past life.

A ghost can also be nothing more than an astral shell.  Earthly desires and habits may be so strongly engraved that the shell can hold its human like form for a considerable length of time.  This form of ghost is often not responsive to people.  Thought to be associated with body consciousness, rather than the Self.

Glossolalia:  Speaking in tongues unknown to the medium or person doing the speaking.

Guide:   A continual, benevolent, protective influence who acts in a protective and or instructive capacity.  They are said to be advanced spirits who voluntarily return with a purpose in mind.  Some guides say that they are only the mediums for even higher or more advanced entities.

H

Haunting:  Paranormal disturbances usually attributed to the spirits of the dead.  Various phenomena are reported including moving objects, strange noises, lights, cold spots, unpleasant smells, and the appearance of ghostly figures. See Trans-etheric Influence

Hauntings Investigation: An organized study using instruments designed to sense the energetic environment of the space, including temperature, magnetism, broadcast electromagnetic radiation, light and sound. Often a mental medium or clairvoyant will participate. Gathered data is compared with historical records and a report is made intended to show whether or not trans-etheric influences have been detected, and if so, how they relate to the known history of the location.

Home Circle:  A group of seven to ten friends who meet on a regular basis usually in a person’s home to develop their psychic powers.  They believe that spirit helpers and guides are ready to assist their efforts.  A developed medium is usually present but not always.  Some circles sit for specific purposes such as absent healing, meditation, spirit rescue, psychic development, or physical phenomena.

Hypnotism:   A peculiar state of consciousness artificially induced, a kind of sleep state that seems to liberate the subconscious powers of the subject.  The subject executes suggestions made by the hypnotist as long as they do not conflict with deeper instincts.  These suggestions may even be delayed to take affect after the subject comes out of the hypnotic state.  The hypnotic state also can be self-induced in order to attain greater self-confidence, self-control, or management of pain.

Hypnotic Regression:  A technique whereby a subject being hypnotized is able to recall details of events that happened in their distant past.  Hypnotists have regressed the memory of subjects to events before their birth.  The substantiation of these events is advanced as evidence for the theory of reincarnation.

I

Inattentional Blindness: is the failure to notice a fully-visible, but unexpected object because attention was engaged on another task, event, or object. (Scholarpedia)

Incredulity blindness: A category of inattention agnosia, in which an audio or visual example of a phenomenon is not experienced because it is so foreign to a person’s worldview. There are at least two forms of the experimenter effect. One is the difference in experimental results collected by “believers” and “skeptics.” The second is due to the difference in results ''reported'' between a “believer” and a “skeptics.”

There is some evidence of incredulity blindness (deafness?) shown by results of online listening trials as reported in Online listening trials. In Trial 1, 34 participants indicating a belief in EVP correctly identified an average of 40.9% of the words in five EVP examples. 31 participants indicating a skeptical view correctly identified 28% of the words and 5 participants who indicated that they were both skeptical and academically trained correctly identified an average of 20% of the words.

Impersonation:  The medium can temporarily take on the past conditions of the communicator.  These can be physical conditions such as difficulty breathing, a bad leg or any number of situations.  This often provides very evidential information.

Impersonation can also mean something else.  A spirit may imitate another spirit or say that they are someone that they are not.  This can happen in mediumship and also in Electronic Voice Phenomena.  One’s passing to spirit life does not make one immediately illuminated or in anyway automatically more advanced than in earth life.  Spirits may impersonate for attention or as a prank.  Communicators that seem pompous or make claims of being some important personality should be approached carefully and supporting information must be obtained to substantiate any claims that seem out of the ordinary.

Independent:  Independent voice, writing, drawing and painting – see Direct Voice

Impression:   A process by which entities can impart information to the mind of a person with mediumistic ability.  The impression may be visual or more like a thought.  There may be an urge to take a certain course of action or to perform some sort of task.

Infinite Intelligence:  In Spiritualism, the Prime Creator, First Cause, God, whatever you think of when you think of the force that started reality in the first place, is known as Infinite Intelligence.  Yes, it is correct to say that Infinite Intelligence is God.  Spiritualists do believe in God.  But there are a few important differences in the way Spiritualists understand God.  Infinite Intelligence is not a father figure that offers rewards and punishment to his children.

Inspiration:  An agency, such as a person or work of art, which moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.  In Spiritualism this is more of a psychic state in which one is receptive to creative spiritual influence.  Inspirational speaking, writing and drawing have been done by mediums who have no training in these fields and who also lack any natural ability.  The results are often exemplary.

Inspirational Speaking:  An extemporaneous oral communication by mediums in various states of trance with the resulting communication frequently surpassing their own abilities.

Inspirational Writing and Drawing:  Recording written or drawn mental impressions that are supernormally received.

Instrument:  A term used to refer to a medium as in, “the instrument of communication.”  This may seem to refer to a totally mechanical transmission, but this is not the case.  The medium’s mind and vocabulary have to be employed by the spirit communicators.  The mental associations of the medium must be watched for as they may present themselves in addition to the transmitted material. See coloring

Interested Observer

A person who is present for a recording session, knows about it, or in some way has attention of the session, is considered an interested observer or witness.

Intuition:  The act or faculty of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes; immediate cognition; a perceptive insight.

Instrumental TransCommunication (ITC):  Images and messages that are received from spirit entities through televisions, radios, telephones, computers, and other devices.  See Electronic Voice Phenomena,  Video ITC

J

(Empty)

K

Karma:  A principle in Theosophy, Buddhism and Hinduism that states that we are the cause of our present conditions.  These conditions are governed by the Law of Action:  for every action there is a reaction with our deeds, acts and attitudes creating our future and making one ultimately responsible for oneself. This concept is probably more correctly thought of as "imperfect understanding of the operation of reality or Natural Law." 

Kirlian Photography:  Photographs of the emanations surrounding people, plants, animals and objects made possible by a high voltage camera invented by Semyon and Valentina Kirlian.  These emanations are not detectable through normal human sight.  The camera converts non-electrical properties into electrical properties, which are then captured on film by means of high-voltage spark discharges.  It is believed that the emanations detected by this method are representative of the aura.

Kundalini:  Yoga teaching regarding a psychic force coiled at the base of the spine.  This force is dormant until awakened through Yoga teachings and techniques.  The force then ascends to the chakras, or energy centers in the body, activating them and creating psychic abilities appropriate to the centers activated.

L

Laws of Nature:  All things including phenomena proceed according to Natural Law.  Phenomena are not considered miracles.  They simply happen according to Natural Laws not yet discovered or understood.  Phenomena may be supernormal but not supernatural.

Laying on of Hands:  This healing practice is equivalent to the Spiritualist’s “contact healing.”  In the Bible, Elisha, an Old Testament prophet, cured a leper by the laying on of hands.  The practice of the laying on of hands, as introduced by Edward the Confessor in the eleventh century, can be traced directly back to the statement found in St. Mark:  “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Levitation:   To rise or cause to rise into the air and float in apparent defiance of gravity.  A form of physical mediumship in which objects such as chairs, tables and even human beings, are lifted into the air without any physical agency.  The medium, D. D. Home, was famous for levitation.  One eyewitness account tells of his floating out a third story window and then returning into the room through another window.

Often used to distinguish a communicator thought to be a discarnate friend or family member from just any communicator.

Luminous Body:  A term often used to describe the astral body.  Pythagoras is credited with originally using the term for the astral body.

Luminous Phenomena:  These frequently occur in association with physical mediumship.  A survey of cases seem to conclude that psychic lights have a chemical origin and are derived from the body of the medium or the sitters and are similar to the organic lights observable in nature, such as luminous insects.  The lights can vary in brilliance, size and are sometimes colored.  They appear as semi-solid objects that float about the room.  Phosphorus smells have been said to accompany these lights.

These definitions have been adapted from the following references, with modifications and additions by Tom Butler.

1   Fodor, Dr. Nador—The Encyclopedia of Psychic Science, www.spiritwritings.com/channelingglossary.html

2   Blunsdon, Norman—A Popular Dictionary of Spiritualism, The Citadel Press, 1963.

3   Educational Course of Study on Modern Spiritualism from the Morris Pratt Institute, 11811 Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, www.morrispratt.org

4   Thurman, the Rev. Barbara, NST—Spiritualism 101

5   Guggenheim, Bill and Judy—Hello From Heaven, Bantam Books, 1996, www.after-death.com/about/adc.htm.

6   Bletzer, June G., PH.D., The Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary, New Leaf Distributing Company, 401 Thornton Road, Lithia Springs, GA 30122-1557, 1986

7    Crisp, Tony, The Chakras, www.dreamhawk.com/cakra1.htm

8    American Heritage Dictionary