Glossary

Aura

The subtle energy field some practitioners believe surrounds and emanates from a living being, often described as varying in color and thought to reflect emotional or physical state.

Chakra

One of several energy centers in the body described in Hindu and yogic tradition, each associated with specific physical, emotional, and spiritual functions; commonly referenced in energy healing and Reiki practice.

Clairvoyance

The claimed ability to perceive events, people, or information beyond the normal range of the five senses, often through mental images or impressions.

Coven

A group or gathering of witches or Wiccan practitioners who meet regularly to practice ritual, celebrate sabbats, and support each other's spiritual development.

Crystal Healing

A practice that uses specific stones and crystals, believed to hold particular energetic properties, for intention-setting, meditation, or placement in a space believed to affect its energy.

Cryptid

An animal whose existence is claimed but not scientifically confirmed, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster — the subject of cryptozoology.

EMF (Electromagnetic Field)

A field of energy produced by electrically charged objects; investigators use EMF meters to detect fluctuations sometimes considered a potential indicator of activity, though EMF has many mundane sources too.

Empath

A person who identifies as unusually sensitive to and absorbing of other people's emotions, sometimes described as an intuitive or energetic sensitivity beyond ordinary empathy.

Esbat

A ritual gathering in Wiccan and pagan practice typically held at the full or new moon, distinct from the eight sabbats that mark the wheel of the year.

EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena)

The practice of recording audio in a quiet space and reviewing it afterward for voices or sounds not audible during the recording itself, commonly used in ghost hunting.

Full-Spectrum Camera

A camera modified to capture light across a wider range of the spectrum than standard cameras, including infrared and ultraviolet, used to document visual evidence in low light.

Grimoire

A book of magical knowledge, spells, rituals, and correspondences kept by a practitioner, often personalized and built up over years of practice.

Ley Line

A claimed alignment of ancient sites, landmarks, or energetic pathways across the landscape, believed by some practitioners to carry or concentrate spiritual energy.

Manifestation

A practice of setting clear intentions and working, often through visualization, journaling, or ritual, toward aligning actions and mindset with a desired outcome.

Medium

A person who claims the ability to communicate with spirits of the deceased, often acting as an intermediary between the living and the dead during a reading or sitting.

Orb

A circular anomaly, often light-colored, appearing in photographs and sometimes interpreted as potential spirit activity, though orbs are frequently explained by dust, moisture, or lens artifacts.

Pagan

A broad umbrella term for nature-based and polytheistic spiritual traditions, including Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, and many eclectic or solitary practices, generally united by reverence for nature and seasonal cycles.

Poltergeist

A type of claimed paranormal phenomenon involving physical disturbances — moved objects, noises, or disruptions — attributed to a disruptive, often noisy spirit rather than a visible apparition.

Reiki

A hands-on or hands-near energy healing technique originating in Japan, in which a practitioner channels energy toward a recipient to support relaxation and the body's own healing processes.

Sabbat

One of eight seasonal festivals marking the Wiccan and pagan wheel of the year, including Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, and Mabon.

Sage / Smudging

The practice of burning dried sage or other herbs to cleanse a space, object, or person of unwanted energy, rooted in various cultural and spiritual traditions.

Shadow Person

A dark, humanoid silhouette some people report seeing briefly out of the corner of their eye or in low light, often interpreted within paranormal belief as a spirit or entity.

Spirit Box

A modified radio device that rapidly scans frequencies, producing fragments of sound some investigators interpret as spirit communication; a popular but debated tool within the community.

Synastry

The astrological practice of comparing two complete birth charts — factoring in moon signs, rising signs, and planetary placements — to assess compatibility beyond sun-sign matching alone.

Tarot

A 78-card deck used by practitioners as a tool for reflection, insight, and guidance, with each card carrying layered symbolic meaning built up over centuries of practice.

Third Eye

A concept from various spiritual traditions referring to an inner faculty of perception associated with intuition and insight beyond ordinary sight, often linked to the sixth chakra.

Twin Flame

A concept describing a believed spiritual counterpart or mirror soul, distinct from the related idea of a soulmate, said to reflect a person's own growth and challenges back to them.

UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena)

The modern, more formal term increasingly used in place of UFO to describe observed phenomena in the sky, underwater, or in space that aren't readily explained.

UFO (Unidentified Flying Object)

An object or light observed in the sky that isn't readily identified or explained by the observer at the time of the sighting; the term predates and remains in common use alongside UAP.

Wicca

The most widely practiced modern pagan religious tradition, generally involving reverence for nature, ritual practice tied to the moon and the wheel of the year, and a range of specific lineages.