Paranormal vocabulary & Equipment
Apparition
An image of a deceased person’s ghost or spirit that materializes and can be seen even though a physical body is not present.
Cold Spot
An area that has a drastic temperature decrease when a ghost or spirit is trying to manifest. They are able to manipulate the natural environment. They do this by pulling the energy from the immediate environment in an attempt to manifest, causing a sudden drop in ambient temperature, thus creating a cold spot. These cold spots can be felt by the living and the movement of the cold spot can be tracked with a thermometer.
EMF Detectors
Electric Magnetic Field Detectors: K2 and Tri-field Meters are two sensors that detect electromagnetic fields/ These fields can be a indication of spirit activity.
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)
The process to capture a ghost or spirit voice on audio recordings (tape or digital). Typically, the voice is not usually audible to the ear of the living but only audible after playing the recording back. There are two types of EVP recording sessions -- The passive approach is when a recorder is placed in an area and left to record everything going on around it. A responsive approach is when specific questions are asked, with an expectation of hearing a response from the ghost or spirit when the recording is played back.
FLIR Camera
Forward Looking Infrared :The sensors installed in a forward-looking infrared camera use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a heat source (thermal radiation), to create an image assembled for video output.
Flux 2
Flux 2 uses two highly sensitive infrared laser motion and distance sensors. It also utilizes an ambient thermometer probe to measure air temperature. Flux Zone selections: Zone 1 (Green) < 1 ft ; Zone 2 (Yellow) < 2 ft; Zone 3 (Red) < 4 ft; Zone 4 (Purple) < 7 ft
Ghost or Spirit
Ghost or spirit are words that are often interchanged. Often the term ghost is used to identify earth-bound spirits, while spirit refers to those souls or energy essence that have crossed over. I prefer to use the words spirits and earth-bound spirits as ghost has come to be used in many commercial/cartoon environments. Earth-bound spirits may not have crossed over for numerous reasons. they don’t know they are dead, due to a traumatic, untimely, or sudden death experience, they may feel they will be punished when they cross over, they may feel they need to keep a promise to someone or to keep watch over their loved ones, their reasons are only theirs. They can manipulate the natural environment around them to draw in the energy from the immediate area (as described under a cold spot) and at times by draining battery operated and electronic devices such as digital and video cameras, cell phones, audio recorders, etc., in order to manifest and be seen with the naked eye.
Intelligent Haunting
A spirit or ghost who is aware of the living world and interacts with or responds to it. Under an intelligent haunting, spirits or ghosts may be able to communicate with the living, not just by talking, but also by moving inanimate objects, making noises, opening and closing doors, etc.
Orb
An intelligent moving energy ball of light which can appear in different colors. It is the most common form of evidence. It is the easiest form a ghost can manifest because it doesn’t require a massive amount of energy. Orbs must be analyzed in detail to determine if it is an actual orb or a reflection on dust, moisture, etc.
Ovilus 5b
The Ovilus 5 converts environmental readings into words. The goal of the device is to facilitate communications.
The Ovilus has 8 modes: Dictionary mode – the magnitude of energy changes causes selection of pre-defined words; Draw mode; Energy mode; Log mode; Motion mode – footsteps/touch device, Phonetic mode – building blocks of speech; True-False mode – Green increasing energy / Red decreasing energy; Proximity mode
Pareidolia
A psychological phenomenon in which the mind responds to a stimulus, like sound, image, etc. by perceiving a familiar pattern where there is none.
Poltergeist
Meaning noisy spirit; a general term applied to specific physical phenomena; temperature variations, anomalous sounds and physical movement; usually considered to be related to unusual physical conditions. Many suggest that poltergeist focus on an individual under some form of emotional stress.
Psychic
A person who has the ability to see, hear and feel by use of senses other than the natural senses.
Residual Haunting
Running a holiday sale or weekly special? Definitely promote it here to get customers excited about getting a sweet deal. Residual hauntings do not directly involve a spirit or ghost aware of the living world and interacting with or responding to it. It is a repeated or imprinted event that occurs over and over. It is visual and other sensory phenomenon that are attributed to traumatic life altering events or a routine event of a person or place reliving itself, like a replay of a video or audio tape of past events.
Shadow People
Spirits or ghosts which are black in appearance but have no discernible features.
SLS
Structured Light Sensor Camera System: Uses an IR light projector with a monochrome CNOS sensor that shows everything as dots in 3D formation. The software recognizes joints and Movements. The IR detects paranormal entities by recognizing body parts and joints.
Spirit
The soul or energy essence of a deceased person that has crossed over. Like ghosts, spirits can also manipulate the energy in the environment to make themselves known. Unlike ghosts though, they are aware that they have passed on and have crossed over to continue with their spiritual journey. They have the ability to come back to earth to visit those they left behind to check on them or to help them with something that is happening in their life.
Spirit or Ghost Photography
Paranormal photography uses traditional photography methods to imprint the signature of a ghost/spirit. Photos may include spectral imaging, heat signatures, magnetic interference, or odd lighting effects.
Vortex
A vortex is a portal or doorway to the spirit realm. Ghost and spirits can use this doorway to enter into the living world. It is a form of paranormal energy that will sometimes show up in still pictures as a translucent white tube, streaks or funnel shaped mass.