A Mini Paranormal Investigator's Glossary

10/16/09

Here are some of the more popular terms used in paranormal investigation.

Banishing - A ceremony to cast an invisible presence or influence out of an area.

Continuance - Life after death. The energy that survives physical mortality.

Demonologist - A person ( usually clergy ) who studies, catalogues and casts out demons.

 Digital Audio- Sounds, voices, or EVP's ( electronic voice phenomena ) captured on a digital voice recorder.

Digital Infrared Camera - Captures images in a wavelength that is invisible to the naked eye. Images are transferred to a computer for examination.

Dowsing Rods - Y shaped or 2 L shaped rods. Traditionally made of brass and used to find water. Now can be made of any metal, willow or hazel wood. The dowser would hold a tip of the Y shaped rod in each hand ( or one L shaped rod in each hand) and walk across an area. When water was found the furthest most point would bend toward the ground, suggesting that is where water is buried. While holding 2 L shaped rods, one in each hand by the smaller end, the rods would swing together and cross or swing outward toward the user, thus indicating water.

Ideology being that the dowser's energy would be transmitted through the rod and attracted to another energy source. Also noted as reacting to paranormal energy.

 Ectoplasm - Material spirits are said to be made of.  In photos it resembles wisps or soaked fabric.

Electromagnetism - EMF or electromagnetic field. Force given off by electrical charges. Spikes in an EMF detector are thought to be generated by unseen or paranormal energy. This is possible only if there are no man-made sources in the area ( wiring or electrical devices).

EMF fields can cause dizziness, pressure, nausea or paranoia in some people.

 Entity - Disembodied conscious. Apparition, ghost, spirit, or demon.

Exorcism - Ceremonial expulsion of invading entities (demons) from a person, dwelling or place.

The above video was the inspiration for the movie: The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

Hi-8 - Type of 8mm video camcorder used in investigations.

Intelligent Haunting - When a spirit interacts with the living.  Trying to gain assistance, intimidate or attack people.

 K2 or EMF Detector-  Measures magnetic and eletric fields.  Used commercially to detect eletrical or radiation leakage.  More recently used as a means to detect and communicate with the spirit world.

Matrixing - Tendency to interpret sensory input as something familiar or something more accepted.  Rationalization.

Medium - Person who senses emotions of the living or dead.  Is sensitive to eletrical fields emitted by people or entities. ( A sensitive )

Mini DV - Small, handheld digital video/sound recorder.

Psychic Cleansing - Less ritualistic form of cleansing. Prayers are used to banish unwanted or malevolent ( violent ) entities.

Residual Haunting - Imprint of energy that plays out and repeats itself over and over. These are witnessed by the living. Can be sounds or seeing an image walk through a wall.

Shadow People - Black image that appears.  Can be blob-like or human shaped.  Solid or transparent.

Silky- Female ghost attired in a ruslting, silky garment. Sometimes appears, other times the swishing of the garments are heard.

 Orbs- Spherical images caught on camera.  Can be white, reddish or blue.  Believed to be spiritual energy but more often times dismissed as dust particles.

 Smudge Sticks- Native American tools for purification, healing, cleansing and spiritual ceremonies.  The smoke is believed to balance or eliminate negative energy.  Herbs such as white sage or creosote are used.

 Thermal Imaging Digital Camera - Records long wavelength infrared radiation or heat that is not visible to the naked eye.  Used by the military and firemen as well as commercially to detect heat loss in houses.  Now being used by parapsychologists to document phenomena.

Vortex - Gateway that opens from the spirit world allowing entities to enter our physical world.

There are probably many other terms or phrases used in paranormal investigating. These seem to be the most prevalent.

There are many books, DVD's websites, and of course TV shows that explain the unexplainable.  Information on this site compiled with the help of "Ghost Hunters."

(photos courtesy of Yahoo Images)