agent - a human being, typically a teenage female, who is the focus or the center of paranormal activity.

apparition - a physical manifestation of a ghost or spirit in the form that it appeared in life.

apport - a solid object that appears in the presence of a medium. Some apports are assembled from invisible material matter while others are objects teleported from another, often distant location.

asport - an object that the medium or spirits makes disappear or teleport to another location.

astral body - the soul of an individual projected outside of their body.

astral plane - the place where all thoughts, memories, fantasies and dreams of everyone in the world exist. The astral plane is said to have many levels, and is said to operate at a higher frequency than the physical plane.

astral projection - the process by which the soul or consciousness separates from the physical body. An example of this is when a patient undergoing an operation can see and hear the operation in progress. Also known as "out of body experience."

atmospheric apparition - a visual imprint of people and/or an event that was left behind in the enviromnent that continues to replay. An atmospheric apparition is not actually a spirit or ghost and has no consciousness. See "residual haunting."

aura - the field of energy that surrounds all living creatures. Invisible to the naked eye, it is a glow surrounding each individual and changes colour and form depending on the mental and physical well being of the individual.

automatic writing - a form of communication in which a ghost or spirit takes control of a medium and writes a message or answer to a question in their own words and handwriting.

banshee - an Irish or Scottish omen spirit, identified by its high-pitched scream, that forewarns of an impending tragedy or death. The banshee is typically connected to one family.

channelling - the method in which mediums allow themselves to be used in order to manifest something which comes from outside themselves. For example, during a trance, mediums listen to instructions of a spirit guide and converse with other people while passing on messages.

clairalience - the ability to use the sense of smell to receive a spirit’s message.

clairambience - the ability to use the sense of taste to receive a spirit’s message.

clairaudience - the ability to hear sounds to receive a spirit’s message.

clairsentience - the feeling or sensing of a spirit’s message.

clairvoyance - the ability to see into the past, present, or future, or to be able to see objects or events that others can’t.

cold readings - a technique that allows fraudulent mediums, mind readers, and magicians to obtain previously unknown information about a person using a series of statements, questions, and answers.

collective apparition - a spirit sighting shared by more than one person at the same time and place.

crisis apparition - a specific type of spirit sighting during which the apparition manifests itself to a particular human being, usually a loved one, at a time of crisis or death, or on or near the anniversary of death.

cross roads - the point where two roads intersect. Cross roads are thought to be a focus point for paranormal activity.

direct voice phenomenon (DVP) - a spirit voice heard during a seance that is usually emitted from an area near the medium or through a horn or trumpet that is presumably spiritual in nature. The voice does not come from the mouth of the medium and is always directed to those attending the seance.

direct writing - a phenomenon in which spirit hand writing appears on a previously unmarked surface.

discarnate - a spirit or ghost; literally "without a body."

ectoplasm - a vaporous typically white substance thought to a manifestation of a ghost or spirit. It is usually dense, and may be accompanied by the scent of ozone.

electromagnetic field (EMF) meter - an instrument used to detect electromagnetic fields over different frequencies. Ghosts are suspected to produce strong changes and distortions in the electromagnetic field while manifesting.

electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) - the recordings of noises and voices that are not usually heard by humans during the recording process.

extra-sensory perception (ESP) - the reception of information obtained outside of the normal five human senses.

false arrival apparition - a phenomenon in which a person may hear or even see a person arrive typically shortly before the person actually arrives.

ghost - the disembodied spirit of a formerly living being.

gray lady - the ghost of a woman, typically seen as grey or brown, who died at the hands of a lover, or who died of unrequited or lost love.

haunting - the continuous manifestation of inexplicable phenomena associated with the presence of ghosts or spirits attached to a particular location.

incubus - a male demonic entity who sexually assaults human females.

levitation - a phenomenon in which a person or object is raised into the air by an unseen force.

ley lines - invisible lines of natural energy that run horizontally and vertically across the earth. Many traditionally sacred, forbidden, or haunted sites are located along ley lines. Many believe that humans are unconsciously drawn to these areas when establishing sacred sites, such as burial grounds or stone circles, as many of these sites are in alignment with each other on ley lines. It has been suggested that where two ley lines cross, a portal to other dimensions may open.

medium - an individual who can communicate with spirits. The word suggests that the medium acts as a midway point, halfway between the worlds of the living and the dead.

malveolent inhuman spirit (MIS) - an evil spirit that was never a human being, and that seeks to cause trouble and harm or worse.

object haunt - a type of haunt that involves a psychic echo or imprint on a particular object that the ghost had a particular attachment to in their physical life.

orb - a spherical ball of light, allegedly the true spirit form. One theory is that orbs are the beginning of the manifestation process. Orbs can be often caught in photographs.

ouija board - a board pre-printed with letters, numerals, and words used by mediums to receive spirit communications. Usually, a planchette is used to spell out words or point out numbers or words. Ouija boards are thought to be potentially dangerous to the amateur.

out of body experience (OBE) - the process by which the soul or consciousness separates from the physical body. An example of this is when a patient undergoing an operation can see and hear the operation in progress. Also known as "astral projection."

paranormal - existing outside of the normal, not explainable by science.

poltergeist - German for "noisy ghost." Poltergeist is a paranormal phenomenon centered around an agent, typically a teenage female, in which unexplained, disruptful activity occurs through the manipulation of material objects. Typically manifestations are knockings and rappings, slamming of doors and cabinets, levitation of objects, and objects being thrown about and knocked down. Poltergeist is generally thought to be the result of the emotional distress of the agent, who is unconsciously using telekinetic energy to create the phenomena, rather than the work of a spirit or ghost.

reciprocal apparition - a rare type of spirit phenomenon in which both the apparition and human see and respond to each other.

residual haunting - a phenomenon in which an event is seen replayed over and over again, like a piece of film. Residual hauntings may require certain atmospheric conditions to appear, or may appear only at certain times of the year, such as upon the anniversary of the event. They are not thought to be the result of ghost or spirit activity, and have no consciousness, but rather are the result of the psychic energy left behind by the event itself.

soul - the vital animating essence of a person, or animal; the intelligent being without a material body.

succubus - a female demonic entity who sexually assaults human males.

telepathy - the ability to transfer one's thoughts or feelings to another.

teleportation - a phenomenon in which an object is moved from one place to another by an unseen force.

vortex - a tornado-shaped energy field thought to be an entrance to the spirit world.

zooform phenomena - phenomenon in which entities are seen that resemble animals, but appear to be supernatural.