GLOSSARY

ANOMALY - Something found on a picture, photograph, video or voice recording that has no explainable source.

APPARITION - A spirit that is in human form and usually visible to the naked eye, or may appear in a photo undetected originally by the naked eye. Often this anomaly is dressed in period clothing. Very hard to capture on film but many have reported seeing this type of ghost. This is the "Hollywood Type" ghost featured in many movies.

DISEMBODIED VOICE - Audio phenomenon that can both be heard with the naked ear and recorded onto an audio device.

ECTOPLASM - The term used for a smoke-like or fog looking mist that appears in photos but was not discernible by the human eye. This phenomena has been captured in the midst of large groups of people as well.

ENERGY LIGHTS - These show up on photos as colored lights during some manifestations of hauntings. They usually are not visible to the naked eye and can appear in different colors such as red, orange or green.

ENTITIES - Entities such as "angels" and other various descriptions may be part of an "infinite collective" you've probably heard that it takes a village to raise a child, think of the village it takes to raise the child known as humanity. We invite you to talk more about entities, spirits and ghosts in our forums. We feel that in order to do a proper investigation, it's best to know more about what you are investigating.

EVP - Electronic Voice Phenomena - Audio phenomenon that usually cannot be heard but is captured on audio devices.

GHOSTS - Ghosts are people (sometimes animals) who have unresolved issues or who are having trouble "letting go" just as in life, people become attached to things, places or others. Keep in mind that when someone dies they do not suddenly become unknowing or something to fear.

INTELLIGENT HAUNTING - When spirits dwell in a specific area and demonstrate an interaction with those here in the physical realm.

KINETIC ENERGY - Description for the movement of objects. A physical manifestation of an unseen force which may move, throw or even destroy objects. These manifestations are known as "Poltergeists" (German for"noisy ghost").

ORB - Orbs are believed to be energy or the spirit and soul of individuals, which show up as circles or balls of light in photos -varying in size, color and opacity. It is important to know that dust, rain or snow directly in front of the camera can also appear to be orbs in a photograph. Orbs are rarely concidered as evidence of paranormal activity.

PLASMA/PLASMOID - Moving orbs caught during the time of camera exposure. Orbs have also been filmed moving, on video. In photos, they appear as streaking light or as an orb with a tail showing the path of motion. These are also known as "supercharged orbs" in motion.

POLTERGEIST - German for "noisy ghost." These ghosts or energies manifest in the physical enough to produce sounds and the movement of objects.

RESIDUAL HAUNTING - When spirits are seen doing the same thing over and over, many believe this to be simply an energy imprint or residual haunting. In other words strong, traumatic events that occurred in someother time, repeating themselves over and over. Usually these spirits do not interact with those who see them.  This could simply be a state of mind that some call "hell," being trapped by one's own mind in darkness or lack of understanding. Sort of reliving of an event perhaps through fear, guilt or condemnation until that spirit finds truth and freedom.

SHADOW PEOPLE/DARK SHADOWS - Unexplainable dark shadows in photos and video which sometimes may be seen with the naked eye. Many believe these to be demons, but we believe they are departed spirits who are in a state of depression or another low energy state. That is not to say they are bad people, but simply people who are still attached or have some unresolved issues.

SPIRITS - Spirits are those that have moved on that sometimes visit us, keep in mind that spirits may also choose to become guides or experience more lifetimes. They do so to gain in knowledge and wisdom, which becomes innate during lifetimes until tapped into. After all, you didn't think that we sit around on clouds and play harps for eternity did you?.

THERMAL SCANNERS/THERMOMETERS - Used to detect cold or hot spots which can indicate paranormal activity.

VORTEX OR VORTICES - A long streak across a photo that may be caused by energy, some believe vortices are a gateway between both realms (physical and spirit realms). They are usually white in color and may appear as a funnel-shape. Camera straps, human hair, a tree branch,etc., right in front of the camera lens during exposures have been notoriously mistaken for a vortex. It is important to make sure anything that may interfere with your photo is removed from view.