Occult Glossary - Understanding Paranormal Terms

Whether you’re a seasoned investigator or new to the world of the unexplained, our occult glossary is crafted to help you navigate the language and phenomena of the supernatural. This occult glossary provides a comprehensive resource to enhance your knowledge of key occult terms, offering clear definitions for every level of interest.

Explore these essential occult terms to deepen your understanding of the mysteries that lie beyond the ordinary. Uncover the secrets of paranormal phenomena and expand your exploration of the supernatural.

Hypothetical cosmic records that hold detailed accounts of all events, thoughts, words, and actions in human history.
A symbol depicting an eye, often enclosed in a triangle, surrounded by rays of light, representing divine providence and omniscience, famously associated with Freemasonry and conspiracy theories.
The hypothesis that extraterrestrial beings visited Earth in ancient times and influenced human civilization.
Explore: Delve into this theory with a comprehensive book on ancient astronauts.
Sequences of numbers that carry divine guidance by referring to specific numerological meanings.
Deities in the ancient Sumerian pantheon, sometimes claimed to be ancient astronauts who visited Earth.
A ghost or ghostly figure that is seen or appears to be present.
A highly classified remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base, often associated with alien conspiracy theories.
Explore: Discover the secrets of Area 51 with an in-depth book.
The practice of sensing or visualizing the energy field that purportedly surrounds living creatures.
A region in the North Atlantic Ocean where numerous aircraft and ships are said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Explore: Learn more about the Bermuda Triangle with a detailed book.
A large, hairy creature said to inhabit remote forests, also known as Sasquatch.
Explore: Track the legend of Bigfoot with a cryptid encyclopedia.
A spectral, often ominous dog seen in British folklore.
A restricted 2,700-acre campground in California belonging to a private San Francisco–based gentlemen's club known for secretive gatherings.
A fairy child that was left in place of a human child stolen by the fairies, according to European folklore.
The supposed ability to gain information about an object, person, location, or physical event through extrasensory perception.
Explore: Develop your clairvoyant abilities with a clairvoyance training guide.
Paths that spirits of the dead were believed to follow to reach their burial grounds in European folklore.
A demon in folklore who can be summoned at a crossroads for exchange of one's soul for favors.
Skull-shaped carvings from quartz said to exhibit paranormal phenomena by some members of the New Age movement.
A creature whose existence is suggested but not scientifically proven, like the Loch Ness Monster.
A supposed curse believed by some to be cast upon anyone who disturbs the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian person, especially a pharaoh.
Explore: Read about the Curse of the Pharaohs in a book on Egyptian myths.
A mythological figure in Irish folklore, said to carry souls of the deceased away to the afterlife.
The study of demons or beliefs about demons.
A condition where individuals are believed to be controlled by a malevolent supernatural entity.
The concept of moving between different dimensions or realities, often associated with paranormal experiences or theoretical physics.
Numerous unexplained vanishings in US national parks, attributed to natural hazards, animal attacks, or speculative paranormal causes.
Foretelling future events, typically through inspired revelation.
A non-biologically related look-alike or double of a living person.
The mysterious deaths of nine hikers in the Ural Mountains in 1959, under unexplained circumstances.
An urban legend and ritual game that involves using an elevator to travel to another dimension by following a specific sequence of button presses and floor visits.
A well-documented case from the 1970s of alleged haunting and poltergeist activity in Enfield, England.
Voices or sounds of unknown origin captured on electronic recording devices.
Explore: Capture your own EVP with a high-quality digital recorder.
A 2014 flight that vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, remaining one of the greatest aviation mysteries.
A theory that views Earth itself as a living organism where biological, physical, and chemical processes are interdependent.
The spirit or soul of a deceased person that can appear to the living.
Explore: Document ghost sightings with a ghost hunting journal.
Atmospheric ghost lights seen in various places around the world, thought to be spirits or portents.
Perceived anomalies or errors in the fabric of reality, often associated with the idea that life is a simulation.
A textbook of magic, typically including instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets, how to perform magical spells, and how to summon or invoke supernatural entities.
The presence of ghosts or spirits in a particular location, often causing disturbances.
A mythical figure who rides a horse and has no head, often seen as an omen of death.
Creatures that are said to be part human and part supernatural entity, often found in mythology and folklore.
A male demon believed to lie upon sleeping women in order to have sexual intercourse with them.
Hypothetical gateways that allow travel between different dimensions or universes.
A legendary creature said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, with bat-like wings, a horse's head, and a sharp, forked tail.
Supernatural beings in Islamic mythology, created from smokeless fire.
A legendary sea monster of giant proportions said to dwell off the coasts of Norway and Greenland.
A legend claiming that a specific music track from the Pokémon game caused psychological effects, including anxiety, illness, and even suicides among children.
Straight alignments drawn between various historic structures and prominent landmarks.
Transitional or transformative spaces that evoke a sense of eeriness or unease, often associated with abandoned buildings, empty hallways, or places that feel out of time.
A phenomenon where a large group of people remembers an event or details differently from how they occurred.
A person who is able to communicate with spirits of the dead.
Explore: Enhance your mediumship skills with a mediumship training guide.
The theory that proposes the existence of multiple, possibly infinite, universes including our own.
A personal experience associated with death or impending death, often reported as a feeling of detachment from the body, seeing bright light, or encountering deceased loved ones.
A supposed planet predicted by some conspiracy theories to collide with or pass by Earth, causing catastrophic events.
Activities associated with secret or hidden knowledge and the supernatural, often involving magic, alchemy, or mystical rituals.
Explore: Learn about occult practices with an occultism guide.
A sphere of light seen in photographs or videos, often thought to be a spirit or ghost.
A hypothetical planet that is sometimes incorporated into doomsday scenarios.
A type of ghost or spirit that is responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed.
An urban legend about a 1980s arcade game that supposedly had psychoactive effects and was part of a government experiment.
A phenomenon where groups of people, often in a school or workplace, simultaneously experience similar physical symptoms with no identifiable physical cause, typically triggered by stress or anxiety.
In some Christian beliefs, a state or place of purification or temporary punishment after death.
A metaphor for a deep dive into complex and confusing theories or situations, leading to increasingly bizarre discoveries.
A purported race of shape-shifting reptilian aliens believed by some to control Earth by assuming human form and positions of power.
A type of haunting where the apparition or event repeats itself, like a recording, without interacting with the living.
The offering of food, objects, or the lives of animals or people to a deity as part of a religious ritual.
A 1947 incident that many believe involved the crash-landing of an unidentified flying object (UFO) in Roswell, New Mexico.
A meeting where people attempt to communicate with the dead, usually through a medium.
Explore: Host your own séance with a complete séance kit.
A dark, shadowy figure often seen out of the corner of one's eye, believed to be a type of spirit or entity.
Explore: Document sightings of shadow people with a night vision camera.
A practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to interact with the spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world.
The hypothesis that reality, including the universe and human existence, is an artificial simulation, such as a computer simulation.
The act of using magical or supernatural powers to influence reality, typically involving spoken words, rituals, or materials.
Phenomena where objects are reported to disappear without explanation.
Hidden or subtle messages embedded within media intended to influence the subconscious mind.
The experience of two or more events as meaningfully related, whereas they are unlikely to be causally related.
The supposed ability to move objects at a distance by mental power or other non-physical means.
A series of mass-produced prints of a crying boy that were rumored to be cursed and linked to numerous house fires.
An urban legend about a creepy figure with an unnaturally wide smile who follows people at night.
The concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space.
Explore: Discover the possibilities of time travel with a science fiction novel on the subject.
Mysterious noises that have been interpreted by some as signs of the apocalypse.
Any aerial phenomenon that cannot immediately be identified.
A religion based on Roman Catholicism and West African Vodun, involving spiritual rituals.
A whirling mass of fluid or air, often thought to be a portal to another dimension in paranormal contexts.
Mythological or folkloric humans with the ability to shape-shift into wolves or wolf-like creatures.
A mythical creature or evil spirit from Algonquian folklore, often associated with cannibalism and insatiable hunger.
The phenomenon of speaking or writing in a language unknown to the individual.
A large, ape-like creature said to inhabit the Himalayan mountains, also known as the Abominable Snowman.
A reanimated corpse, often found in horror stories and folklore.

The claimed kidnapping of a person by extraterrestrial beings, usually for experimental purposes.
Claims of paranormal phenomena reported by the Lutz family at 112 Ocean Avenue, site of a notorious murder.
Explore: Read the chilling account of the Amityville Horror in this classic horror book.
Unexplained lights often seen in the sky, on the ground, or underwater, sometimes associated with UFO sightings.
A realm of existence believed to be accessible through astral projection, different from the physical plane.
Writing produced without conscious thought, often attributed to spiritual or supernatural influences.
A forest at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan, known as a common site for suicides.
An urban legend and internet meme describing an endless maze of randomly generated, monotonous office rooms and other unsettling environments, where one can become trapped.
A female spirit in Irish folklore whose wailing signals an impending death.
Paranormal creatures resembling children with black eyes who are said to appear on doorsteps and ask for entry.
A legend of a ghost or spirit conjured to reveal the future, often involving chanting in a mirror.
The highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away.
Unexplained phenomenon involving the killing and mutilation of livestock.
A conspiracy theory suggesting that certain high-profile figures, such as celebrities or political leaders, have been replaced by lookalikes or clones.
Centers of spiritual power in the human body in Hindu and New Age belief systems, often associated with different physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
Explore: Balance your chakras with this chakra healing kit.
A temporal illusion in which the first moment after a sudden eye movement appears to be extended.
A mythical creature said to feed on the blood of livestock, particularly goats, originating from Latin American folklore.
The low-temperature freezing and storage of a human corpse with the hope of future revival.
A genre of online horror stories or myths that are shared widely on the internet, intended to scare or unsettle readers.
An item believed to be imbued with negative energy or supernatural properties that bring misfortune to its owner.
The sensation that one has already experienced a present situation, despite it ostensibly occurring for the first time.
A substance or spiritual energy exuded by physical mediums during a séance.
Unexplained disturbances that affect electronic devices, often attributed to paranormal activity.
Mythical beings or spirits associated with natural elements such as earth, air, fire, and water.
Conspiracy theories that allege global elites are involved in the widespread illegal trafficking of children.
Incidents of people dressed as creepy clowns in unsettling situations, largely considered to be hoaxes or pranks.
An ancient Chinese practice of arranging living spaces to promote harmony and positive energy flow.
Refers to the series of Marian apparitions and associated miraculous events reported by three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, including the Miracle of the Sun witnessed by thousands.
A fraternal organization that has been the subject of many conspiracy theories regarding its influence.
A purported phenomenon where individuals believe they are being watched and harassed by a coordinated group, often described as involving psychological manipulation and control.
The practice of investigating locations that are reported to be haunted by ghosts.
Conspiracy theory alleging that a group of international elites controls and manipulates governments, industry, and media organizations worldwide.
A common depiction of extraterrestrial being with grey skin, large heads, and black eyes.
A supernatural dog in folklore believed to guard the entrance to the underworld.
The legendary and sacred vessel associated with Jesus’s last supper, often the subject of myth and speculation.
A pseudoscientific theory that suggests the Earth is entirely hollow or contains a substantial interior space.
Historical monastic military order reputed to have possessed great wealth and power, subject to many myths and legends.
Known for its association with Jeffrey Epstein and alleged criminal activities.
A phenomenon that transmits collective illusions of threats, real or imaginary, through a population or society.
Individuals who allegedly appear to enforce secrecy regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena.
A divination technique that involves looking into a mirror to gain mystical insight.
A creature reportedly seen in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, described as a large humanoid with wings and glowing red eyes.
A form of magic involving communication with the deceased to foretell the future or influence events.
Biblical beings described as the offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men."
Ghostly apparitions of an ancient Hawaiian warrior party that roam the islands at night.
The belief in the mystical significance of numbers and their influence on human life, often used for divination and understanding personality traits.
An ancient device similar to a crystal ball used for divination.
A board marked with letters and numbers used to communicate with spirits through a planchette.
Explore: Experience the mystery of the Ouija board with a classic spirit board.
The study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP, telepathy, and psychokinesis.
Recollections or experiences that individuals believe are from previous incarnations or lifetimes, often accessed through hypnosis or spontaneous recall.
The sensation that an amputated or missing limb is still attached to the body and moving appropriately.
Alleged military experiment that purportedly achieved invisibility.
A debunked conspiracy theory linking high-profile politicians to a child sex-trafficking ring.
A ghost or spirit responsible for physical disturbances such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed.
Dolls believed to be inhabited by spirits and capable of moving or communicating.
A conspiracy theory that alleges governmental plans to simulate a second coming through holograms to establish a new world religion.
A covert program run by the CIA involving experiments on human subjects with the aim of developing mind control techniques.
The alleged psychic ability to cause objects, or oneself, to hover or float.
The ability to discover information about an object's history through physical contact.
A theory suggesting a quantum connection between consciousness and the fabric of the universe.
A philosophical hypothesis in quantum mechanics, suggesting that individuals continue to live in parallel universes when they die in one universe.
The belief that the soul is reborn into a new body after death.
Explore: Discover past lives with a reincarnation study guide.
The practice of seeking impressions about a distant or unseen target through purported extrasensory perception, often associated with experimental psychological research.
Explore: Develop your remote viewing skills with a remote viewing training manual.
A thought experiment suggesting that a future superintelligent AI might retroactively punish those who did not help bring it into existence, creating a paradoxical dilemma.
A philosophical secret society said to have been founded in late medieval Germany, holding a doctrine "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past."
Alleged, and largely discredited, reports of satanic rituals involving abuse.
Conspiracy theories claiming that there are alien bases or human military installations on the moon.
In Navajo folklore, a type of harmful witch who has the ability to turn into, possess, or disguise themselves as an animal.
Explore: Learn about skinwalkers with a book on Navajo legends.
A location in Utah reputed to be a site of numerous paranormal and UFO-related activities.
A malevolent entity perceived during episodes of sleep paralysis, often accompanied by the sensation of being unable to move.
A fictional supernatural character that originated from a 2009 internet meme.
The concept of evolving or moving into a higher consciousness.
The phenomenon of a human body allegedly catching fire and burning without an external source of ignition.
Bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ.
A female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men.
The alleged use of hidden messages inserted into music meant to pass below the normal limits of perception.
Entities created in the mind, acting independently of, and parallel to, the host's own consciousness.
A phenomenon where a person or group of people seem to travel through time to a different period.
A term used in robotics and 3D computer animation to describe the discomfort people feel when they see a human-like robot or digital character that is almost, but not quite, lifelike.
A mythical being that subsists by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of living creatures.
Explore: Learn about vampire lore with a vampire mythology book.
A spirit or ghostly double that precedes a living person, arriving before them and performing their actions in advance.
The practice of magical skills, spells, and abilities, historically often linked to the supernatural or mystical. It has a diverse history across numerous cultures and is often practiced as part of a religious or spiritual belief system.
A type of female ghost reportedly seen in rural areas and associated with some local legend of tragedy.
A phosphorescent light seen hovering or floating at night, often over marshy ground, and sometimes attributed to spirits.