Below is a glossary of paranormal terminology as defined and written by TAPS and also found in Troy Taylor’s Ghost Hunter’s Guidebook

Akashic Records: Originally a Hindu concept of a vast, and ever increasing, psychic repository of every thought and emotion - human or otherwise - which has ever been, and into which some individuals seem able to tap. 

Agent: A living person at the site of a haunting.  Some human agents act only as witnesses to paranormal events while others are believed to be the method by which the hauntings occur.  Some agents may cause phenomena to increase, while others may be the entire source of the activity.  How this works is as yet unexplained. 

Amulet: A symbol with magical significance, which is worn as a pendant or ring. 

Angel: "Messenger of God," a celestial being, benevolent in nature and if visible, appearing in human form, and possessing miraculous abilities such as teleportation, healing powers and knowledge of future events. There have been accounts of angels aiding people in times of crisis throughout the ages, albeit with no real consistency to their 'modus operandi.' 

Anomaly: An occurrence or condition removed from ordinarily understood experience. 

Apparition: The projection or manifestation of a quasi-physical entity. 

Apport: A physical object that can materialize and appear at will and can include coins, watches, jewelry and even food.  They are often connected to spirits who interact with the living as the spirits cause items to appear and disappear in an effort to make themselves known. 

Astral Travel: Belief or theory that a person's spiritual awareness can temporarily detach itself from the physical body, remaining connected by what is called the "silver cord," and experience things in other locations, time frames or dimensional planes. Some refer to this as "Astral Projection" or "Mind Projection." 

Aura-world: A reflection of our own sphere of existence, composed of the electromagnetic emanations of physical matter, and probably influenced by thought and emotion. It is another dimensional plane proceeding from one in which we exist. 

Automatic Writing: A method used by spirit mediums to obtain information from the next world.  It is believed that spirits take control of the medium and cause them to write unconscious information on paper. 

Banshee: A death omen or spirit that attaches itself to certain families. 

Banishing: Formal, ceremonial, procedure affected to cast an invisible presence or influence out from an area. This term can refer either to a spiritual cleansing, or the closing of a magical rite, when the invoked powers are dismissed. 

Bogey: A spirit that is particularly antagonistic toward humans, traveling alone or in groups to cause trouble. 

Channeling: A modern method of spirit communication in which the spirits pass information directly to the medium, who then repeats the information for the listener. 

Clairaudience: The experience of receiving paranormal information through auditory impressions, voices and whispers.  Many psychics are said to receive information from the spirit world in this manner.  It can also be used to describe voices and whispers heard in haunted locations. 

Cleansing (Psychic): A less ritualized form of exorcism, where-in a dwelling or site is purified and malevolent influences are banished through prayers, spoken as the petitioner moves through the area. 

Collective Apparition: A type of ghost sighting that occurs when one or more people see the same apparition. 

Control: A spirit who acts as a medium’s connection with the next world.  Also referred to as a “spirit guide”. 

Construct, Psychic: It has been theorized, and experimentation has been conducted to support this premise, that through directed psychic energies a responsive spirit-like entity can be created, continuing for a time to exist independently. 

Crypto-zoology: The branch of paranormal research which deals with the exploration of legendary creatures such as Bigfoot, lake and sea monsters, 

Thunderbirds, etc. It should be noted that the Giant Squid (the "Kraken"), orangutans (the "Red Men of the   Forest"), Komodo Dragons and gigantic Nepalese elephants all were formerly included in the roster of fabled creatures! 

Crystal Skulls: Five human skull models, exquisitely crafted in antiquity from solid quartz crystal, have been found in various locations throughout Latin America, the best known of these being the 'Mitchell-Hedges Skull,' discovered in 1924 in the Balese Jungle of Labuton by Anna Mitchell-Hedges while on an expedition with her father, and still in her possession in Canada. The others are kept in collections in Guatemala, Texas, the Smithsonian and the British Museum. Mayan legend tells that eight more crystal skulls remain, and that by the time all thirteen are united, mankind will have learned how to extract and decipher the vital information, history and revelations, which they contain. 

Demon: Hostile and resentful entity, supposedly of non-human origin, which some believe to be "fallen (from grace) angels." 

Dematerialization: The sudden disappearance of a person or spirit in full view of witnesses. 

Discarnate: A word used to describe a spirit or specter…literally means “without flesh”. 

Doppelganger: Meaning “double image”, it is thought to be an exact spirit double of a living person.  They are considered to be very negative in nature. 

Earthbound: Refers to a ghost or spirit that is unable to cross over at the time of death.  Many spirits make the decision to remain behind by choice while others are too confused or frightened because of a sudden death or suicide to make the crossing. 

Ectoplasm: An organic material that was supposedly exuded by physical mediums during séances as a way of proving contact with the spirit world.  It would often take certain shapes.  The substance was supposed to appear from just about any orifice of the medium’s body.  In more recent times, many researchers believe the substance had a natural form, created by fraudulent mediums during the Spiritualist era. 

Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP): Voices and sounds that are alleged to be from the dead and that are captured by electronic mediums on tape (digital recorders, tape recorders, etc.).  Disembodied "voices" and sounds imprinted on audio recording devices. 

Elementals: In magical tradition and ceremony, spirits which govern the four corners of the earth and are associated with, or reside within, the four basic elements. They are called Sylphs (the east, air), Salamanders (the south, fire), Undines (the west, water), and Gnomes (the north, earth). 

Empath: An individual who is particularly sensitive to the psychic emanations of his or her surroundings, even to a degree of telepathically receiving and experiencing the emotions of others in their proximity. Obviously, psychic empathy can be regarded as a mixed blessing, and the empath must learn to gain a measure of control over this ability. 

Entity: A disembodied "consciousness" commonly referred to as ghost, spirit or (if of an apparently malicious or resentful nature) demon. 

Exorcism: Ceremonial expulsion of invading spiritual/demonic entities from a person or dwelling, present in virtually every worldly culture. The Jewish and Catholic Christian faiths each have a formal 'Rite of Exorcism' to be conducted by the respective Rabbi or Priest. 

Extra: A shape or a face that is said to have supernaturally appeared on film and cannot be explained away as fraud, faulty film or developing flaws. 

Extra-terrestrials: Life forms originating on planets other than our own. This term usually refers to highly advanced visitors from other worlds, who journey to our sphere in space crafts with the probable intention of observing and studying our species. 

Fetish: Aside from the modern sexual connotation, a fetish is a shamanistic tool in the form of a figurine, animal part or a pouch containing items with magical associations. 

Floating Orb: A spherical image, usually translucent white, though sometimes of a reddish or bluish hue, which inexplicably registers on photographic film and videotape, also known as "Globule." 

Ghost: The image of a person witnessed after his/her death, reflecting the appearance of the living, physical body yet less substantial. These forms often seem to exist in a dream-like state of semi-awareness, at times though not always cognizant of their human observers.  Also, a generic term used for a number of different supernatural entities. 

Ghost Hunting: Various methods of investigating reports of ghosts and hauntings and determining their authenticity. 

Ghost Lights: Strange balls of light that appear in specific locations, often for an extended period of time but which have no explanation.  They are thought to be of natural origin, possibly pertaining to earthquakes, fault lines, railroad tracks or water sources, but remain a mystery.  Most such lights have a legend attached to them, usually involving a person who has been beheaded.  The light is then explained as this person searching for their missing head. 

Globule: An anomaly where-in floating, circular forms appear on photographs or videotape, which seem indicative of spirit activity. Globes are a natural containment formation of the meniscus of liquid, as in gas containing bubbles; perhaps the interaction of energy and a quasi-physical substance produced by spiritual manifestations results in a similar effect, the globules being an initial containment of energy. Presently, all we know is that they continue to appear, and extraneous possible causes such as moisture, light refraction or emulsion seepage, etc., have been considered and ruled out. 

Golden-rod: A rare anomaly seen in videotape recorded at the site of a suspected haunting, appearing as bright, white or yellowish lines rapidly moving across a room. 

Haunting: The repeated manifestation of a supernatural phenomena  attached to a specific locale.  The activity may appear as physical apparitions, sights, sounds, smells or cold areas.  Hauntings may continue for years or may only last for a brief period of time.   Hauntings can be categorized into four (usually) distinct types, these being Intelligent (responsive), Poltergeist (likely initiated by pent-up stress on a subconscious level), Residual (replay) and Demonic (non-human origin). 

Hex: A magical working, or "spell," cast to influence a person's will or fate, most often referring to a curse rather than a blessing or healing.

Hobgoblin: Mischievous sprite (fairy, spirit) who delights in perpetrating pranks upon hapless humans, once widely believed in and dreaded throughout Europe and Celtic regions. (Caution: It is theorized that these diminutive denizens of the netherworld will, upon occasion, interfere in psychic investigations by devices such as misplacing directions and telephone numbers, draining flashlight and camera batteries, and even pulling keys right out of investigators' pockets!) I assume that anyone who reads the proceeding caution will realize it is farcical!

Hypnosis: A state of profound mental focus, actually self-induced although an external agent - a "hypnotist" - often acts as the catalyst, or director, for the subject entering this state. Also known as "Mesmerism" after Franz Anton Mesmer who first popularized this practice (utilizing magnets as his props) during the last two decades of the 18th century. As concerns paranormal investigation, hypnosis is sometimes used as a vehicle for "past lives regression" and memory restoration in suspected (alien?) abduction cases. 

Icon: A rendering or image of particular (often religious) significance. 

Incubus: Stemming from medieval lore, a demonic entity capable of sexually arousing and sometimes assaulting human females. Cases of apparent incubus attacks continue to be documented, suggesting a germ of reality behind the myth. 

Infestation: Repeated and persistent paranormal phenomena, generally centered around a particular location or person(s). Also known as a haunting. 

Influence: An invisible entity of undetermined nature, effecting the inhabitants of a dwelling. This may initially manifest as an inexplicable feeling of uneasiness, then be followed by more definite signs which reveal a haunting. 

Lepke: A very unique and interesting type of spiritual manifestation, a ghost which has the appearance of a solid, living person, may even converse with someone, then suddenly vanishes. "We were talking, I turned to face her again, and she was just gone!" Such apparitions are most often reported to have been encountered within, or immediately outside of cemeteries. 

Levitation: A phenomenon sometimes encountered in hauntings, particularly with Poltergeists, rare yet credibly reported, where solid objects (including persons) are moved and lifted by an unseen force. The first historically documented occurrence was that of St. Francis of Assisi in the 14th century. 

Lurking Enigma: "Lurk" means to furtively move about, and I can think of no more appropriate term to describe this phenomenon - a type of entity which can be visible to human observers, yet appears in distorted, unidentifiable forms. Common traits reported by witnesses include glowing red or silver eyes, dark color (fur or feathers), startling speed and agility, in some cases winged and capable of flight, as with the 'Jersey Devil.' Although such nebulous creatures seem to mean us no harm, encounters with them can be terrifying, and provoke much curiosity. As one would expect, they are extremely elusive. 

Miracle: A wondrous and beneficial event apparently brought about by supernatural/divine agent. 

Materialization: A ghost appearing visually, suddenly or gradually, sometimes indistinct, sometimes seemingly quite solid. 

Matrixing: The natural tendency for the human mind to interpret sensory input, what is perceived visually, audibly or tactilely, as something familiar or more easily understood and accepted, in effect mentally "filling in the blanks." 

Mumiai: Native American Indian spirit which behaves in the manner of a Poltergeist. 

Necromancy: The practice of communicating with the dead to obtain knowledge of the future, others' secrets, etc. An archaic term, the necromancer was said to employ magic spells and conjuration to summon, then banish, the spirits of the dead. 

Oui-ja (Board): A piece of wood bearing the letters of the alphabet that is used as a tool to make contact with the spirit world.  Sitters place their fingers lightly on the planchette (or pointer) by which the spirits can spell out messages on the board.  Experienced researchers vehemently advise against their usage.

Pact: The belief, prevalent in the late middle ages through the Renaissance, that someone could trade his or her soul in return for worldly gain. 

Paranormal: A word meaning “unknown” or “beyond the normal” that has come to refer to events that are unexplainable.  

Parapsychology: The avenue of paranormal studies and research relating chiefly to psychic abilities (e.s.p., telepathy) and spiritual phenomena. 

Pentacle/Pentagram: The traditional five-pointed star design, with its interior pentagon delineated, generally representing both spirituality and protection when point "up"; when inverted, it is said to signify diabolism. 

Phantom: Another name for “ghost” or “spirit” although, interestingly, many use the word “phantom” to refer to ghosts that have been seen wearing cloaks or robes. 

Phantom Lights: Sometimes they can be attributed to blue methane flame produced by swamp gas, or electrical discharges in the form of what is termed ball lightning or perhaps even misplaced fireflies. Yet, in other instances, the phenomenon of floating lights observed over water, the edge of woods, , lonely back roads and in the windows of darkened houses just can't be dismissed by ordinary explanations. These might be globules which coalesce and intensify in luminosity to the point where they become visible in dark surroundings. 

Poltergeist: Literally means “noisy ghost” in German.  Although it actually refers to Traditional ghosts and hauntings, in other cases, it can be used to describe the work of a human agent.  In this situation, the knockings and the movement of objects is caused by an outward explosion of kinetic energy from the human mind.  Most poltergeist outbreaks are short-lived. 

Possession: Invasion of the human mind by a spiritual or demonic entity, where the invading agent for a span of time, influences or entirely subverts the personality of the human host. It is in these instances that the boundaries of psychology, religion and spiritualism are rendered less distinct. 

Precognition: The psychic perception of future events or conditions. 

Psychic: An all-encompassing word that is used to describe a person who is allegedly sensitive beyond the normal means.  Such a person may be able to see and hear things that are not available to most people. 

Psychic Vampire: This is a term for individuals who seem to instinctively draw and absorb the psychic energies from others, usually while conversing with (or at) them. 

Psychokinesis (PK): The ability to move physical objects using only the power of the mind.  In many poltergeist-like cases, human agents affect objects in an unconscious manner. 

Radiant Child: The apparition of a child which is seen glowing or surrounded by a bright aura. 

Rapping: Can refer to sounds that occur at a location that is experiencing a haunting or be one of the earliest forms of spirit communication in which mediums and spirits work out a code by which questions can be asked and then answered by raps from the spirits. 

Reciprocal Apparition: A rare type of ghost sighting when both the spirit and the human witness see and respond to one another. 

Reincarnation: The belief that a person's soul will, following bodily death, inhabit a new body in a long cycle of rebirths, purportedly for the soul's evolution through gaining experience. 

Residual (Haunting): Psychic imprint of a scene which is repeatedly played out, where the witness of such phenomenon essentially is peering into the past. The ghostly participants of these time-displacements often seem unaware of their living observers. 

Retro cognition: The psychic perception of past events or conditions. 

Revenant: An entity which projects an appearance of being distressed or misplaced. 

Sanguinor: A person exhibiting vampirism tendencies (the desire to ingest blood) and attributes. These may be either contrived or pathological. 

Satan: Hebraic term for "Adversary," the "Tester" in the Biblical Book of Job, the most familiar name of the Devil, the "Fallen Angel" and the "Evil One." Investigators sometimes come across evidence of the activities of satanic cults, who perform animal sacrifices and apparently believe that desecrations and obscenities are devotions to their dark lord. 

Séance: A group effort to contact the spirit world. In standardized format, the lighting of the chamber in which the séance is conducted is subdued, and the participants sit around the table, either holding hands or with hands palm down, flat against the table's surface and with fingertips touching those of the adjacent partners. A candle generally is set on the center of the table. The appointed director or "medium" addresses the spirit(s) with whom contact is sought, and then it's "We await a sign..." 

Shade: An entity resembling a once-living being (human or animal). 

Shaman: A tribal priest who, following much preparation and rite of initiation, uses the forces of magic to affect healings and divinations. 

Silky: A female ghost which is attired in a rustling silk garment (sometimes seen, other times just heard) and performs domestic chores for a household after the occupants have retired for the night. 

Specter (or Spectre): Another term for ghost. 

Spirit: A discarnate being, or ghost, that exists in an invisible realm. 

Spirit Photography: A term used for both legitimate attempts to capture ghosts and paranormal energy on film.  Also, for the work of fraudulent photographers during the Spiritualist era. 

Spirit Rescue: Attempting contact with entities, intended to alleviate the entities' distress and aid them in the resolution of their conflicts, and in "crossing over" to a higher, spiritual plane. 

Spiritualism: A faith based on the idea that life continues after death and that communication between the living and the dead can, and does, take place. 

Spunkies: The sad spirits of unnamed, unchristian or unbaptized children, believed by old Gaelic and English tradition to wander country roads in search of someone who will name them. 

Succubus: "Female" counterpart of the incubus, a demonic entity said to inspire lust in men (and most inconveniently!), sometimes capable of physically attacking and inflicting injuries (bruises & slashes). Following a nocturnal visitation from a succubus, the human victim will always feel ill and depleted of vitality, and inexplicably "un-clean." 

Supernatural: Events or happenings that take place in violation of the laws of nature, usually associated with ghosts and hauntings. 

Synchronicity: Unexplained system of causal interaction which binds together events, actions and thought, manifesting as uncanny coincidences. Term for and existence of this phenomenon was first proposed by pioneering psycho-analyst, Carl Gustav Jung (a contemporary of Sigmund Freud). Synchronicity indicates there is more to the Universe than our understanding of simple cause and effect, and that the subtleties of the mind and matter are somehow interconnected. 

Table-tipping: An experiment in psychokinesis (PK) which can fairly easily be replicated. Three or four participants lightly place their fingers along the edges of a small table top, then in unison chant "table move, table move..." With sufficient cooperation and concentration, and after several minutes of chanting, the table should start to wobble, pivot on its legs and possibly even lead the participants on a scurry about the room. 

Talisman: A design or inscription that is worn, carried or displayed, for the purpose of invoking strength, power, protection or the aid of spirits. 

Telekinesis: A psychic phenomenon where-in objects are remotely displaced and moved around, solely by the powers of the mind. 

Teleportation: The appearance, disappearance, or movement of human bodies and physical objects through closed doors or over some amount of distance using paranormal means.  Such events often are reported to take place during hauntings. 

Thought Transference: The telepathic transmitting of images and messages from the mind of one person to that of another. 

Ultra-terrestrials: Beings who appear human and visit our plane of existence with some form of message or mission, then inexplicably vanish. Speculation abounds! 

Vampire: A demonic (?) entity in the form of a deceased person, which perpetuates itself by draining the blood or psychic energy of the living. 

Vortex: pl. Vortexes or Vortices. An anomaly which sometimes shows up in still photographs taken at the site of a suspected haunting, appearing as a translucent white, tube or funnel shaped mass. Some researchers believe this may be a porthole to the spirit realm. 

Wraith/Wrayth: The image of a person appearing shortly before or after his or her death; term can also be applied to a ghost.  Also, an apparition that is generally supposed to be an omen of death. 

Zarcanor - A malevolent spirit which attacks people while they're asleep, inspiring nightmares, and sometimes even inflicting minor injuries such as scratches, bruises and what appear to be finger marks.  The name is possibly of Slavic origin. 

Zoomorphism: Representation of a deity or devil with animal attributes.