Psychic, spiritual, paranormal and divination traditions use specialized language. Use the search box or A–Z navigation below to find a term quickly. Definitions separate cultural or belief-based meanings from established scientific and psychological concepts.
Absent Sitter
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Example: Emma lives across the country and schedules a tarot reading by video. She may find parts of the interpretation meaningful without assuming distance proves that information was obtained psychically.
Agent
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Example: In a picture-telepathy test, Carlos looks at the target image as the agent while Maya, the percipient, records her impressions in another room.
Akashic Records
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Example: Someone may use an Akashic-style reading to reflect on recurring relationship themes without treating the session as verified access to past lives or future facts.
Alchemy
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Example: Someone may describe working through fear and self-reflection as “inner alchemy,” using transformation as a metaphor rather than a literal chemical process.
Allegorical
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Example: In the tarot deck, “The Fool” is a classic allegory for beginnings, spontaneity, and the courage to embark on new adventures. The card invites us to leap forward despite fears of the unknown.
Altar
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Example: Lisa’s altar holds a small statue of the goddess Kuan Yin, crystals for clarity and healing, and a candle she lights each evening to invite peace into her home.
Altered State of Consciousness
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Example: During meditation, someone may experience vivid imagery and use it for reflection without assuming the images are externally sourced facts.
Amulet
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Example: Someone may wear an amethyst pendant as a personal symbol of calm or protection without treating it as a guaranteed shield from harm.
Angel Cards
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Example: Maria uses her angel cards each morning, asking for guidance about her day. Today’s card, “Courage,” reminds her to stay strong during a challenging work presentation.
Angel Messages
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Example: After a particularly difficult day, Kevin notices a feather on his doorstep and personally interprets it as a comforting reminder that he is not alone, without treating the feather as proof of angelic intervention.
Angel Numbers
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Example: After noticing 11:11 several times, someone might use it as a reminder to reflect on a goal without assuming it predicts a specific event.
Angels
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Example: During a spiritual reflection, Claire may pray to Archangel Raphael for comfort, understanding the practice within her faith rather than as a medically proven healing method.
Animal PSI
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Example: A dog becomes unusually attentive before its owner feels unwell. The behavior may feel intuitive to the owner, but it can also have ordinary sensory or behavioral explanations.
Animal Totem
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Example: Maya may treat repeated hawk imagery as a personal symbol of perspective while avoiding claims that the bird is objectively assigned to her as a supernatural guide.
Ankh
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Example: David may wear an ankh necklace as a symbol of life, heritage or spiritual meaning without assuming the object provides measurable protection.
Anomalous Experience
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Example: Lily dreams about an accident and later learns her sister had a minor crash. The coincidence may feel striking without proving that the dream predicted the event.
Apophenia
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Example: Seeing the same color on three unrelated days may feel significant, but a person can consider chance and attention before treating it as guidance.
Apparition
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Example: A bereaved person briefly sees a familiar figure in a doorway; the experience may feel real and comforting even though its cause cannot be determined from the experience alone.
Apport
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Example: A flower is reported to appear inside a séance room; investigators would document the room, object, participants and chain of custody before considering unusual explanations.
Arcane
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Example: Beth studies traditional interpretations of the Major Arcana as part of learning tarot symbolism.
Astral Body
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Example: Someone may describe a floating dream as movement of an astral body, while a sleep researcher may discuss dream imagery or changes in body awareness.
Astral Plane
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Example: During deep meditation, someone may feel as though they entered a dream-like realm and interpret the imagery through their spiritual beliefs.
Astral Projection
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Example: A meditator may experience a vivid sensation of floating above the body and interpret it spiritually while recognizing that the experience does not prove physical travel to another place.
Astro-Dice
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Example: Jake rolls Saturn, Aries and the 10th house and uses those symbols to reflect on discipline, initiative and career goals rather than as proof that a particular outcome will occur.
Astrology
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Example: Someone with a Leo Sun may use traditional Leo themes such as creativity and self-expression as prompts for reflection rather than as fixed facts about personality.
Astronomy
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Example: Emma may observe Jupiter through a telescope for astronomy while treating astrological interpretations of Jupiter as a separate symbolic tradition.
Astrophysics
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Example: Ravi may find black holes spiritually thought-provoking while understanding that astrophysical research is based on observation and physical models rather than divination.
Atlantis
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Example: Someone may interpret vivid regression imagery as “Atlantean” within a spiritual framework while recognizing that the experience is not historical proof of a past life there.
Augury
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Example: Ron may take seeing an owl as a personal reminder to think carefully about a decision without assuming the sighting predicts what will happen.
Aura
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Example: A reader may describe a blue impression around a client and discuss traditional symbolism associated with blue without treating it as an objective measurement of personality or health.
Aura Colors
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Example: A reader may interpret yellow symbolically as creativity or optimism while treating that meaning as reflective rather than diagnostic.
Aura Reading
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Example: A reader might describe a color or sensation and invite the client to consider whether its traditional symbolism feels relevant to their current emotions.
Automatic Writing
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Example: During a quiet exercise, a person lets the pen move freely and later reviews the page as creative material rather than verified external communication.
Automatism
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Example: John writes rapidly without planning the words and later interprets the material spiritually, while recognizing that subconscious processes are also a possible explanation.
Autoscopy
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Example: After an accident, Lisa reports seeing herself from outside her body and later explores both neurological and spiritual interpretations of the experience.
Balancing
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Example: Someone may describe a Reiki session as helping them feel centered while relying on qualified healthcare for symptoms or treatment decisions.
Barnum Effect / Forer Effect
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Example: “You value independence but sometimes want reassurance” can feel highly personal even though it applies to a large share of people.
Basic Techniques
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Example: A tarot reader may use a short grounding exercise before a session to focus attention and reduce distraction.
Bibliomancy
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Example: A reader opens a poetry book at random and treats the first line noticed as a journaling prompt.
Billet Reading
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Example: During a billet demonstration, a reader may report impressions about a concealed name; the result should be evaluated without assuming that a correct detail proves psychic perception or spirit contact.
Bilocation
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Example: During meditation, Mira may feel as though she is both in her room and in a mountain landscape; the vivid sensation can be meaningful without establishing literal presence in two locations.
Biofeedback
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Example: Mark uses biofeedback to track his breathing and heart rate, noticing how calmness improves his focus during clairvoyant sessions.
Birth Chart / Natal Chart
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Example: An astrologer discusses a client’s rising sign and planetary aspects as symbolic themes, not as a medical diagnosis or guaranteed fate.
Blinding (Single-Blind and Double-Blind)
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Example: A remote-viewing judge receives coded images and coded responses without knowing which pairs were intended to match.
Book Test
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Example: A performer may appear to reveal a chosen line from a book; evaluating the demonstration requires considering ordinary mentalism methods as well as any paranormal claim.
Cabalistic
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Example: A tarot reader may reference later occult adaptations of Kabbalistic symbols while clearly distinguishing those adaptations from Jewish Kabbalah and its religious context.
Candles
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Example: Max may light a purple candle as a personal symbol of intuition during meditation without assuming the candle itself enhances extrasensory perception.
Cards
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Example: Tessa consults her oracle cards each week to reflect on themes of self-love and healing, drawing one card each Sunday as a guiding message.
Cartomancy
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Example: A reader interprets three playing cards as themes for communication, change and caution while leaving the final decision to the client.
Cayce, Edgar
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Example: Someone interested in Cayce’s archives may study them as part of spiritual history while taking health concerns to qualified medical professionals.
Celestial
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Example: Olivia may choose a full-moon evening for a reflective ritual because the timing feels meaningful to her, without assuming the Moon objectively strengthens intuition.
Cellular Memory
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Example: Someone may use “cellular memory” as a metaphor for how a past experience still feels embodied, while seeking qualified support for persistent trauma symptoms.
Chakra
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Example: Someone may meditate on the root chakra as a symbol of grounding and stability while treating physical or mental-health concerns through appropriate professional care.
Chamalongo
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Example: A Palo practitioner may cast prepared chamalongo pieces during a religious consultation and interpret the pattern according to the customs of their house or lineage.
Channel Medium
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Example: A channel medium may speak in a different cadence during a session and interpret the material as coming from a guide, while clients treat the content as spiritual interpretation rather than verified external communication.
Channeling
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Example: In a group session, Helen reports impressions she interprets as coming from a spirit guide. Participants may find the material meaningful without treating the claimed source as independently verified.
Chiromancy
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Example: During a chiromancy session, the reader notices a prominent fate line and discusses traditional symbolism around direction, work and change without presenting the marking as a factual prediction of Jordan’s career or life path.
Cipher Test
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Example: A family might leave a sealed phrase for a later mediumship test; any apparent match would need documented controls to rule out prior access, cueing, chance and flexible interpretation.
Circle
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Example: Clara may mark a circle during a full-moon ritual as part of her spiritual practice while still relying on ordinary safety measures in the physical environment.
Clairalience
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Example: Someone smells a relative’s familiar perfume during remembrance and experiences it as meaningful without claiming the scent proves the relative’s presence.
Clairaudience
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Example: During a reading, Anna reports the name “Peter” arising as an internal impression. If the name resonates with the client, that may feel meaningful, but the match alone does not verify where the impression came from.
Claircognizance
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Example: A reader suddenly feels certain that a client needs a career change, then presents the thought as an impression for discussion rather than a fact.
Clairgustance
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Example: A medium reports a brief taste associated with a memory and labels it an impression, not proof of a communicator.
Clairsentience
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Example: A reader may notice a strong feeling of sadness during a session and ask whether that theme resonates, rather than presenting the feeling as verified knowledge about the client.
Clairvoyance
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Example: A reader may describe an image that comes to mind and ask whether its symbolism resonates with the client rather than presenting it as independently verified knowledge.
Clairvoyant
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Example: Sam may describe an image that comes to mind during a reading and ask whether its symbolism feels relevant instead of presenting it as verified knowledge.
Cleromancy
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Example: A person casts marked tokens to choose a theme for journaling while still checking practical facts before acting.
Coffee Grounds
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Example: A heart-like shape may be discussed as a relationship theme rather than as proof that romance is about to occur.
Cold Reading
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Example: During a session, Tom’s reader picks up on his subtle nervousness about career discussions, offering him reassurance and advice without directly referencing his body language.
Collective Unconscious
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Example: A therapist or reader may discuss recurring water imagery through Jungian archetypal symbolism without claiming the dreamer accessed other people’s memories.
Color Therapy
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Example: Someone may choose blue lighting because they find it calming, without treating the color itself as a medical treatment.
Communicator
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Example: A medium describes a communicator who seems connected to the sitter’s family, and the sitter evaluates specific details rather than relying on resemblance alone.
Comparison Astrology
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Example: Zoe may use a synastry reading to reflect on communication themes while evaluating the relationship through actual behavior, trust and shared goals.
Confirmation Bias
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Example: After a reading, someone writes down every statement—not only the accurate-sounding ones—and reviews them later against clear facts.
Contact Mind Reading
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Example: During a contact-mind-reading demonstration, Naomi may use subtle muscular or directional cues to infer where a participant is focusing without presenting the result as telepathy.
Cord Cutting
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Example: After ending a difficult relationship, someone combines a cord-cutting visualization with blocking unwanted contact and seeking support from trusted people.
Cosmic Consciousness
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Example: After meditation, Daniel may feel deeply connected with nature and use the experience to reflect on compassion without treating it as proof of supernatural knowledge.
Cowry Shell Divination
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Example: A shell reading may prompt someone to reflect on work or family priorities while practical financial choices remain based on budgets, contracts and other evidence.
Crop Circles
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Example: A visitor may find a crop-circle design visually or spiritually meaningful while recognizing that meaning does not establish how the pattern was made.
Cross-Correspondence
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Example: Two sealed session transcripts contain different literary references that an investigator later compares for a proposed shared theme.
Crossover Reading
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Example: Andrea may combine tarot and numerology to discuss recurring themes while presenting the reading as reflective guidance rather than a confirmed forecast.
Cryptomnesia
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Example: During a reading, Jim suddenly “knows” facts about his client’s situation that he later realizes were similar to a book he read long ago, experiencing cryptomnesia.
Crystal Ball
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Example: Lana may interpret a path-like image as a prompt to think about direction and choices without treating it as a confirmed prediction.
Crystal Healing
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Example: Someone may hold rose quartz during a self-compassion meditation because of its traditional association with love, while relying on qualified healthcare for medical concerns.
Deathbed Experience
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Example: Grace reports seeing her late husband near her bed; her family may find the experience meaningful without treating it as conclusive evidence of an afterlife.
Decline Effect
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Example: A participant scores above chance early in a card test but returns toward chance later; researchers examine the full data and protocol.
Déjà Vu
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Example: Lily may feel intense familiarity on her first trip to Paris without assuming the sensation proves a past life there.
Development Circle
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Example: Members meet weekly for meditation and practice readings, agreeing not to make medical claims or pressure anyone to accept a message.
Dice Test
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Example: Alex repeatedly tries to roll a chosen number while the results are recorded and compared with chance expectations; isolated successful rolls would not establish psychokinesis.
Direct Mental Interaction with Living Systems (DMILS)
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Example: An agent alternates randomly assigned attention and rest periods while a distant participant’s skin conductance is recorded without either person seeing the schedule.
Direct Voice
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Example: If a distinct voice is heard during a séance, documenting the recording conditions and possible ordinary sources is necessary before treating it as evidence of spirit communication.
Discarnate Entity
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Example: A medium may interpret an impression as a deceased relative, while the client treats that interpretation as spiritual rather than independently verified identification.
Displacement
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Example: If a participant’s description resembles a different image in the target pool, researchers should consider chance, scoring methods and procedural cues before labeling the mismatch “psychic displacement.”
Dissociation
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Example: A person who feels detached from their body during severe stress may describe dissociation; a clinician can help assess the experience if it is recurring or disruptive.
Divination
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Example: Serena may use tarot to explore possible themes and choices while treating the reading as interpretation rather than a guaranteed forecast.
Dowsing
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Example: Tom may try a dowsing rod while searching for water, but locating a well should rely on geological evidence, professional assessment and other dependable methods rather than the rod alone.
Dream
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Example: A golden key in a dream might be used as a personal symbol of opportunity without being treated as a literal prediction.
Dream Interpretation
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Example: Jane recounts a recurring dream of being chased, and her therapist explores whether themes such as stress, avoidance or fear feel relevant to her waking life without assigning one fixed meaning to the dream.
Dream Telepathy
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Example: A dreamer records a dream before seeing the target picture, allowing independent judges to compare the full report rather than a selected detail.
Drop-in Communicator
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Example: An unfamiliar name arises during a sitting; the group preserves the dated transcript before researching whether the person existed.
Earthquake Effect
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Example: A historical séance report might describe unexplained rocking of a room as an “earthquake effect”; modern readers should treat the account as a reported phenomenon that requires ordinary as well as paranormal explanations to be considered.
Ecstasy
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Example: After a meditation retreat, Emily may feel an intense sense of unity and joy without treating that feeling as proof of a paranormal ability.
Ectoplasm
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Example: During a séance, participants may label a misty-looking material or effect as ectoplasm while also considering lighting, fabric, photography and performance methods before drawing conclusions.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
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Example: Researchers may compare EEG patterns during a medium’s trance-like state while evaluating the brain activity separately from claims about the source of the experience.
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)
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Example: During an investigation, the team hears a faint word-like sound on playback and checks the raw recording, background noise and possible interference before considering a paranormal interpretation.
Elongation
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Example: An astrologer may discuss Mars symbolically while the measured elongation remains an astronomical quantity rather than evidence of a personal effect.
Empath
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Example: Someone who quickly notices a friend’s sadness may identify as an empath while recognizing that tone, expression, context and familiarity can all contribute to that perception.
Empathic Dream Interpretation
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Example: A reader may ask whether sadness feels relevant to a dream rather than telling the dreamer that unspoken grief has been psychically detected.
Energetics
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Example: Someone may use an energy-focused meditation as a calming ritual while continuing appropriate medical or mental-health care when needed.
Energy Healing / Psychic Healing
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Example: A client uses a Reiki-style session for relaxation while continuing treatment prescribed by a licensed clinician.
Esoteric
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Example: Dante studies esoteric texts to understand their symbolism and historical ideas without assuming that obscurity makes their claims objectively true.
ESP (Extrasensory Perception)
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Example: A person may interpret an unusually strong hunch as ESP, although coincidence, pattern recognition and ordinary intuition are also possible explanations.
Evocation
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Example: Jack may perform an evocation ritual as part of his spiritual practice while treating any impressions that arise as subjective unless independently supported.
Exorcism
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Example: Maria may seek a religious ritual for comfort after distressing experiences in her home while also considering practical, environmental and health-related explanations where appropriate.
Experimental Parapsychology
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Example: A laboratory might test whether participants score above chance on a randomized task without assuming in advance that any apparent effect is paranormal.
Experimenter Effect
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Example: Two laboratories use the same protocol but obtain different results, prompting checks of instructions, equipment, analysis and researcher-participant interaction.
Extradimensional
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Example: Ray may interpret a meditation experience as contact with an “extradimensional” presence while recognizing that the label reflects his belief rather than verified evidence of another realm.
Extraterrestrial
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Example: A person may interpret a meditation image as an extraterrestrial presence while recognizing that the experience does not verify contact with a being from another planet.
False Awakening
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Example: After thinking she had woken up and gone about her morning routine, Claire realizes it was a false awakening and that she is still in bed, continuing her dream.
Faraday Cage
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Example: A researcher may use electromagnetic shielding as one experimental control while still requiring blinding, replication and statistical analysis before drawing conclusions.
Fate Line
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Example: A prominent fate line may be discussed symbolically in a palm reading rather than as evidence of a predetermined career path.
Feng Shui
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Example: Susan arranges her bedroom according to Feng Shui principles because the layout feels calmer and more intentional to her, without treating the arrangement as a proven way to improve sleep or health.
Focal Person
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Example: If unusual noises or object movements seem to occur around one household member, that pattern can be documented without assuming the person is unconsciously producing psychic energy.
Forced Choice Test
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Example: In a forced-choice test, Daniel guesses symbols on concealed cards and researchers compare the full set of results with chance expectations rather than assuming correct guesses demonstrate precognition.
Foretelling
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Example: A reader may suggest that a job opportunity could become relevant soon while the client continues to make career decisions from actual openings, qualifications and circumstances.
Fortean Phenomena
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Example: Reports of animals falling from the sky may be cataloged as Fortean while investigators still look for meteorological or other physical explanations.
Fortune Telling
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Example: A reader may discuss the possibility of new relationship opportunities while making clear that timing and outcomes are uncertain and depend on real-world circumstances.
Free Response Test
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Example: Alan describes whatever images come to mind while a target is hidden, and researchers later compare his responses with the target under predefined scoring procedures.
Ganzfeld
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Example: In a Ganzfeld study, Sarah reports whatever impressions arise while researchers later compare them with a hidden target under controlled conditions.
General Extrasensory Perception (GESP)
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Example: Jack may experience a strong feeling of familiarity in an unfamiliar town and wonder about ESP while also considering memory, coincidence and ordinary perception.
Geomancy
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Example: Ava may use a traditional geomantic pattern to reflect on a question while treating the reading as guidance rather than a verified message from a supernatural source.
Ghost
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Example: Footsteps in an old building may feel ghostly to visitors while investigators also check structural noises, animals, acoustics and other ordinary causes.
Glossolalia
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Example: During worship, a participant may produce rhythmic speech-like sounds understood within their faith as speaking in tongues, without the sounds necessarily forming a documented foreign language.
Goat
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Example: Greg considers himself a “goat” and is skeptical of psychic abilities, dismissing his friend’s ESP stories as imagination.
God Consciousness
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Example: During a retreat, Isabelle may feel profound unity and compassion and describe that state through her spiritual beliefs.
Graphology
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Example: A graphologist may offer a symbolic interpretation of handwriting, but the result should not be treated as a psychological assessment or evidence about someone’s character.
Grounding
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Example: Before a reading, someone notices five things they can see, slows their breathing and feels their feet on the floor.
Guide
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Example: Leah may imagine advice from a guiding presence while meditating and use it as a reflective prompt rather than certain external instruction.
Guided Imagery
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Example: During guided imagery, Mark envisions a peaceful beach, allowing his mind to relax and gain clarity on a recent issue.
Hallucination
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Example: If someone repeatedly sees or hears things that cause distress or affect daily life, seeking qualified medical or mental-health guidance is more appropriate than assuming a paranormal cause.
Hands
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Example: A practitioner may hold their hands near a client’s shoulder during a relaxation session while avoiding claims that the technique can diagnose or cure a physical problem.
Handwriting
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Example: A reader may discuss the visual style of a handwriting sample as a reflective prompt without claiming it reveals self-esteem, trauma or hidden personality traits.
Haunting
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Example: Visitors to an old inn may describe unexplained footsteps as a haunting while investigators also check acoustics, plumbing, animals and other ordinary causes.
Head Line
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Example: A palm reader may discuss Gina’s curved head line as traditional symbolism associated with imagination or creativity without treating the feature as a factual personality measurement.
Heart Line
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Example: A palm reader may interpret Alex’s curved heart line symbolically as passion or emotional intensity without treating the hand feature as a psychological measurement.
Hellstromism
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Example: During a session, Marc uses subtle body cues to understand what his client might be hiding, creating an impression of deep psychic insight.
Higher Self
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Example: Lily may use meditation to consider what her “higher self” would advise while still weighing evidence, consequences and other perspectives in real decisions.
Holistic
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Example: A clinician may take a holistic approach by considering sleep, stress, relationships and physical symptoms while still using evidence-based assessment and treatment.
Horoscope
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Example: Ella reads a monthly horoscope suggesting introspection and career reevaluation and uses it as a journaling prompt while making any job decision from her actual goals, opportunities and circumstances.
Hot Reading
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Example: By looking at social media profiles beforehand, a fraudulent psychic might appear to “know” surprising facts about a client, which they actually researched.
Hyperesthesia
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Example: A person who becomes unusually sensitive to sound may describe the experience as hyperesthesia; the term itself does not imply paranormal perception.
Hypnagogic Imagery
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Example: Just before falling asleep, Clara sees vivid colors and symbols and may reflect on them personally while recognizing them as a normal sleep-transition experience.
Hypnopompic Imagery
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Example: Upon waking, Aaron briefly hears a familiar song although no music is playing; he may find the experience meaningful while recognizing that hypnopompic sounds can occur during waking from sleep.
Hypnosis
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Example: A clinician may use hypnosis as one tool for relaxation or symptom management while treating recalled imagery cautiously rather than assuming it is a literal memory.
Hypnotic Trance
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Example: During hypnosis, Neil experiences vivid imagery he interprets through a past-life framework while treating the material as subjective rather than verified memory.
I Ching
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Example: Someone considering a relationship decision may use a hexagram to reflect on patience or change while making the decision from communication and real-world circumstances.
Ideomotor Effect
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Example: A pendulum begins to swing toward an expected answer although the holder does not consciously intend to move it.
Imagery
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Example: Visualizing a peaceful beach may help someone relax without implying that the image contains supernatural information.
Incantation
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Example: Marcus may repeat a traditional protection phrase during a ritual as an expression of belief while relying on ordinary safety measures for real-world risks.
Incorporeal
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Example: Someone who feels an unexplained presence may describe it as incorporeal within their spiritual framework while also considering ordinary environmental or psychological explanations.
Incorruptibility
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Example: A preserved saint’s body may carry deep religious meaning while historians and conservators also examine how it was prepared and maintained.
Indirect Voice
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Example: During a séance, a medium may speak words they interpret as coming from a deceased person; participants may find the message meaningful without treating it as independently established spirit communication.
Insight
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Example: Sam has a strong impression that a friend may be worried and chooses to check in directly rather than assuming the impression reveals the friend’s private thoughts.
Instrumental Transcommunication (ITC)
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Example: Investigators preserve the original audio, equipment settings and control recordings before interpreting a faint sound as a voice.
Intuitive
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Example: Emma feels uncomfortable in an unfamiliar building and later learns about difficult events associated with the site. The coincidence may feel meaningful without proving that she psychically sensed its history.
Invocation
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Example: Before meditation, Leah may offer an invocation to a spiritual guide as part of her faith while treating later impressions as personal unless independently supported.
Kabbalah
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Example: Someone studying the Tree of Life can distinguish traditional Jewish Kabbalistic sources from later Hermetic or occult adaptations.
Karma
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Example: Mara may use karma within her spiritual tradition to reflect on intentional actions and responsibility while avoiding the claim that illness, abuse, loss or other hardship was deserved or caused by someone’s moral failings.
Karmic Relationship
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Example: Someone can reflect on what a difficult relationship taught them while still setting firm boundaries and leaving an unsafe situation.
Kirlian Photography
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Example: A Kirlian image may show a colorful glow around a fingertip, but the effect should not be used to infer personality, health or spiritual condition.
Kola Nut Reading
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Example: A practitioner may interpret a cast symbolically as a reason for caution while practical business decisions remain based on evidence and planning.
Kundalini
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Example: A meditator may understand a strong sensation through kundalini symbolism while seeking medical guidance if unusual physical symptoms are persistent or concerning.
Law of Attraction
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Example: A person visualizes finding work, then pairs the exercise with applications, networking and skill-building.
Lenormand Cards
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Example: A reader combines the Letter and Ship cards as a prompt to discuss news connected with travel or distance.
Levitation
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Example: In deep meditation, a person may feel unusually light or floating without assuming that the body actually rose without physical support.
Life Line
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Example: A palm reader may describe Carlos’s deep life line symbolically as strength or continuity without presenting it as evidence about his health or longevity.
Life Path Number
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Example: Someone calculates a life path number of 7 and uses its traditional themes as journaling prompts rather than limits on career or relationships.
Life Review
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Example: Someone who recalls vivid memories during a medical crisis may later use the experience to reflect on relationships and priorities without treating it as scientific proof of an afterlife.
Lucid Dreaming
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Example: Realizing she is dreaming, Sarah chooses to approach a feared situation in the dream and later reflects on the experience without treating it as a substitute for trauma treatment.
Lucidity
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Example: A reader may feel unusually clear during a session while still presenting impressions as interpretations that can be checked rather than as verified facts.
Luminous Phenomena
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Example: A glow photographed near a statue may feel spiritually significant to observers while still requiring ordinary optical and environmental explanations to be considered.
Lycanthropy
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Example: Werewolf legends are examples of folkloric lycanthropy; a distressing literal belief about bodily transformation calls for professional mental-health evaluation.
Macro PK (Psychokinesis)
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Example: During a demonstration, a well-known psychic claims to demonstrate macro PK by bending a spoon through sheer concentration.
Major Arcana
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Example: Drawing The Tower may prompt reflection on disruption or change without meaning that a crisis is guaranteed.
Manifestation
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Example: A person makes a vision board for a move and also builds a budget, researches neighborhoods and submits applications.
Materialization
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Example: A séance photograph appears to show a face; investigators examine lighting, props, negatives and witness conditions before drawing conclusions.
Medium
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Example: During a reading, a medium may share an impression that reminds a client of a deceased relative; the emotional resonance is personal and does not by itself establish the source of the impression.
Medium via Guides
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Example: Tracy may describe a guiding presence as helping her organize impressions during a reading while presenting the material as spiritual interpretation rather than verified spirit communication.
Mediumship
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Example: A medium shares impressions during a bereavement reading while clearly labeling them as interpretations rather than verified facts.
Mental Mediumship
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Example: A medium describes an inner image and asks the sitter to accept, reject or set it aside without pressure.
Mentalism
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Example: A performer reveals a spectator’s chosen word through a concealed method presented as entertainment.
Mesmerism
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Example: Historical mesmerists attributed relaxation and other effects to “animal magnetism,” while modern explanations focus on suggestion, attention and the later development of hypnosis.
Metamorphosis
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Example: After years of meditation, Gabriel feels he has undergone a personal metamorphosis, emerging with a clearer purpose.
Metaphoric
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Example: In a dream, Anna sees herself climbing a mountain—a metaphor her psychic interprets as a representation of her life’s challenges and resilience.
Metaphysics
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Example: Liam’s interest in metaphysics leads him to compare philosophical questions about mind and reality with modern spiritual ideas, while keeping philosophical inquiry separate from scientific evidence.
Micro PK
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Example: In a lab test, participants attempt to influence random outcomes and researchers compare the full results with chance expectations; the setup tests a micro-PK claim rather than demonstrating that the ability exists.
Mind Reading
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Example: Two close friends may feel they knew what the other was thinking, but that experience alone does not establish telepathic communication.
Minor Arcana
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Example: The Seven of Cups may be discussed as a symbol of many options or uncertainty rather than proof that a specific decision or outcome is predetermined.
Mnemonist
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Example: Known for her incredible recall, Marie impresses clients by remembering the details of readings months after they take place.
Morphic Resonance
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Example: Michael may use morphic resonance as a speculative way to think about family patterns while recognizing that genetics, learning, culture and shared environment provide established explanations for musical interests and abilities.
Muscle Reading
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Example: While lightly holding a volunteer’s wrist, a performer detects subtle resistance changes when walking closer to a hidden key.
Mystic
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Example: A person may pursue contemplation to deepen their sense of connection or meaning without claiming that every insight received is an objective fact.
Mysticism
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Example: Nina may use contemplative practice to explore meaning and interconnectedness without treating every inner experience as an objective fact.
Near-Death Experience (NDE)
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Example: A person may find an NDE life-changing and interpret it spiritually while recognizing that its ultimate cause and meaning are not scientifically settled.
Newspaper Test
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Example: A prediction about a public event is recorded in advance and later scored using predefined criteria rather than interpreted after the outcome is known.
Numbers
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Example: Someone may use 11:11 as a personal reminder to pause and reflect without assuming the time is an external message or prediction.
Numerology
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Example: Sam may use the traditional symbolism of life path number 7 as a prompt to reflect on introspection or spirituality without treating the number as a fixed personality assessment.
Numinous
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Example: Walking alone in the forest, Anna may feel profound awe and sacredness and describe the experience as numinous.
Occam’s Razor
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Example: If a strange sound can be explained by plumbing, that explanation should be tested before concluding that a spirit caused it.
Occultism
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Example: Jasmine may study occult texts for their symbolism, history and spiritual ideas without assuming that every claimed unseen force has been objectively demonstrated.
Omen
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Example: Vera may treat seeing a raven as a symbolic reminder to think carefully about a decision without assuming the bird predicts what will happen.
Omen (Bad Luck)
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Example: Someone may remember a family superstition about black cats without assuming the animal changes the probability of an accident or other bad outcome.
Omen (Good Luck)
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Example: Finding a four-leaf clover may feel encouraging before an interview without changing the practical factors that determine the result.
One Ahead Principle
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Example: Using the One Ahead Principle, the magician seems to know details about audience members that he shouldn’t, adding a layer of mystery to his performance.
Oneiromancy
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Example: Someone records a storm dream and explores what it symbolizes emotionally without treating it as a weather prediction.
Oracle
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Example: Someone may draw an oracle card as a prompt for reflection without treating it as a command from an external supernatural source.
Oracle Cards
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Example: A person draws an oracle card about patience and uses it as a prompt to slow down before making a decision.
Orphic
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Example: Fascinated by Greek mythology, Daniel delves into Orphic texts, intrigued by their insights on life’s mysteries and the soul’s eternal journey.
Other Side
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Example: A medium may describe an impression as coming from “the Other Side,” while the client understands that description as spiritual interpretation rather than verified geography of an afterlife.
Ouija Board / Spirit Board
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Example: Participants ask a question and the planchette moves; recording hand positions and expectations can help show how unconscious movement contributes.
Out of Body Experience (OBE)
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Example: During a meditation retreat, Jim feels a sudden weightlessness, experiencing what he later describes as an out-of-body experience.
Palmistry
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Example: Nora may interpret a long heart line symbolically as a relationship theme while avoiding claims that the marking objectively measures emotion, compatibility or intuition.
Paranormal
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Example: Someone investigating a reportedly haunted location may document unusual sounds while also checking for environmental, technical and psychological explanations.
Parapsychology
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Example: A parapsychology study may test whether participants identify concealed targets above chance under blinded conditions.
Pareidolia
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Example: A face seems visible in a dark window photograph, but the pattern may come from reflections and the brain’s sensitivity to face-like shapes.
Past Lives
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Example: During regression, Lisa may experience imagery of ancient Egypt and treat it as personally meaningful without assuming it is a verified memory of a previous life.
Pendulum
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Example: Maria may use a pendulum as a reflective ritual while making a career decision from actual opportunities, finances and practical circumstances.
Percipient
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Example: The percipient describes impressions of a concealed picture before the target is revealed.
Pet Psychic
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Example: An owner may use an animal-communication session for reflection while taking behavioral or health concerns to a veterinarian or qualified trainer.
Phenomenology
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Example: Studying phenomenology, Sarah explores how different cultures perceive and interpret supernatural experiences.
Phrenology
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Example: Although outdated, phrenology influenced early psychological theories on behavior, linking physical traits to personality.
Physical Medium
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Example: If an object moves during a séance, observers may record what happened and consider ordinary mechanical or environmental explanations before drawing a paranormal conclusion.
Plant PSI
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Example: A plant changing growth or electrical activity after an environmental change should first be explained through known plant physiology rather than assumed to reflect human emotion or psychic communication.
Poltergeist
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Example: Repeated unexplained knocks may be documented as a poltergeist report while investigators check plumbing, building movement, animals and human activity.
Possession
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Example: A family may understand unusual behavior through a spiritual tradition while also seeking qualified clinical help to rule out health or safety concerns.
Precognition
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Example: A dated, specific prediction is compared with the eventual outcome, including details that failed—not only the apparent matches.
Prediction
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Example: A reader might describe a possible career opportunity as a theme to consider, while the client bases real employment decisions on evidence, circumstances and practical planning.
Preexistence
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Example: Maria’s belief in the soul’s preexistence comforts her, as she feels her life is part of a larger, eternal journey.
Premonition
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Example: Oliver records an unexplained sense of dread before a trip and later compares the feeling with what actually happened, while considering coincidence, weather information he may have noticed unconsciously, and selective memory before calling it a premonition.
Presage
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Example: Sarah may interpret seeing an owl as a symbolic warning to be cautious without assuming that the sighting predicts a specific event.
Prescient
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Example: Someone may call an earlier warning “prescient” after events unfold, without assuming that the person literally perceived the future.
Presence
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Example: Eva may feel as though her grandmother is nearby in the old family home while recognizing that memory, grief and atmosphere can also shape the experience.
Presentiment
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Example: A study measures skin conductance before randomly chosen pictures and tests whether activity differs before emotional images.
Prognosticate
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Example: Predicting rain from her observation of clouds, Lena’s prognostication aligns with the local weather forecast.
Prophecy
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Example: A community may regard a leader’s environmental warning as prophetic while evaluating any claimed accuracy against the original wording and the full record of predictions made.
Psi
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Example: Marcus may participate in a psi experiment designed to test whether results exceed chance rather than assuming in advance that psychic ability is present.
Psi-Hitting and Psi-Missing
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Example: A participant identifies fewer targets than chance predicts, and researchers test whether the result is reliably below chance rather than a normal fluctuation.
Psyche
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Example: A recurring dream may prompt someone to reflect on emotions or memories without assuming the dream reveals a hidden supernatural truth.
Psychic
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Example: Someone may consult a psychic while thinking through a life transition, using the reading as one perspective rather than as a source of certain predictions.
Psychic Surgery
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Example: A person may encounter claims that a practitioner can remove illness through psychic surgery; medical conditions should instead be assessed and treated by qualified healthcare professionals.
Psychical Research
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Example: An investigator gathers original witness statements, dates, documents and alternative explanations for an apparition report.
Psychokinesis (PK)
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Example: A laboratory test asks whether intention changes the output distribution of a random event generator compared with control periods.
Psychometry
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Example: After holding her grandmother’s necklace, Clara may notice vivid memories or emotions and interpret them spiritually while recognizing that association, memory and expectation can also shape the experience.
Radiesthesia
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Example: A person may use a pendulum as a reflective ritual, but it should not be relied on to identify illness or make medical decisions.
Radionics
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Example: Someone interested in radionics may explore it as a belief-based practice while relying on licensed healthcare professionals for symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Random
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Example: To eliminate any biases, the ESP test’s answers were presented in a random sequence, making it difficult to rely on guesses alone.
Random Event / Number Generator (REG or RNG)
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Example: A study records millions of binary outputs during intention and control periods, with the analysis plan set before data collection.
Raudive Voices
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Example: Emily may hear a faint word-like sound in a recording while comparing it with raw audio and ordinary sources before assigning a paranormal explanation.
Reading
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Example: Ashley may use a tarot reading to think through career priorities while making the actual decision from evidence, opportunities and practical planning.
Rebirthing
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Example: Someone may use gentle breathwork for relaxation without treating emotional reactions during the session as proof of recovered trauma or past-life events.
Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis (RSPK)
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Example: Objects repeatedly fall in one household, so investigators use cameras, environmental checks and witness logs before considering an anomalous explanation.
Regression
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Example: A person may find regression imagery personally meaningful while treating it as subjective experience rather than verified memory.
Reiki
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Example: Someone may choose Reiki as a relaxation practice alongside, rather than instead of, appropriate professional care.
Reincarnation
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Example: Someone may explore reincarnation as part of their religious or spiritual worldview without treating a vivid image as verified evidence of a particular historical past life.
Remote Viewing
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Example: A practitioner may compare impressions with a target afterward as an exercise, while avoiding claims that an apparent match proves dependable extrasensory perception.
Retroactive / Retrocognitive Claim
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Example: A reader who describes a building’s history would need the details recorded in advance and independently checked before the result could meaningfully be evaluated as a retrocognitive claim.
Retrocognition
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Example: If Mark reports a battle-like image while visiting an old castle, the details would need to be recorded first and checked independently before any paranormal interpretation could be evaluated.
Runes
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Example: A traveler may use a rune draw to reflect on uncertainty while making actual plans from schedules, costs and safety information.
Scrying
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Example: A practitioner gazes into a dark mirror and journals emerging images as metaphors rather than verified scenes at a distance.
Séance
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Example: Participants may find a séance emotionally meaningful while still considering suggestion, expectation, acoustics and performance methods when evaluating unusual effects.
Second Sight
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Example: A family story describes an ancestor who foresaw a visitor; historians would distinguish the oral tradition from contemporaneous evidence.
Seer
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Example: Anne may offer an intuitive impression about a friend’s business prospects while the actual outcome depends on evidence, decisions and circumstances rather than the prediction itself.
Selenology
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Example: Someone can study lunar geology scientifically while separately engaging with full-moon symbolism as a personal or cultural practice.
Sensitive
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Example: Ellie may identify as a sensitive because she notices subtle changes in tone, expression and atmosphere while avoiding assumptions that she can directly access another person’s unspoken feelings.
Sensory Deprivation
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Example: Tom may experience vivid imagery in a low-stimulation setting without assuming that the imagery demonstrates enhanced intuition or extrasensory perception.
Sensory Leakage
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Example: A supposedly concealed card has a faint reflection in a window, giving the participant normal access to the target.
Shadow Work
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Example: Someone journals about a strong reaction and discusses recurring trauma with a licensed therapist rather than trying to process it entirely alone.
Shaman
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Example: When describing a specific tradition, using that community’s own title for its practitioner is more accurate than assuming “shaman” is universal.
Shamanism
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Example: A researcher may discuss shamanic traditions comparatively while still identifying each community’s specific practices and terminology.
Shape Shifting
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Example: In dreams, shape-shifting into a wolf helps Sarah feel connected to her intuition and primal instincts.
Sheep
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Example: A study may compare participants’ prior beliefs with their test results while still evaluating whether any apparent effect is reproducible and greater than chance.
Sheep-Goat Effect
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Example: A study measures participants’ prior beliefs, records their task scores and tests the relationship using a predeclared analysis.
Shell Divination
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Example: A practitioner may interpret a cast according to the rules of their tradition while a client keeps practical decisions grounded in real-world evidence.
Silver Thread
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Example: During an out-of-body-style experience, Maya may imagine a shimmering cord connecting her to her body and understand it through spiritual symbolism rather than as a literal anatomical structure.
Simultaneous Dream
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Example: Mia and her sister may discover similar beach imagery in dreams from the same night; the overlap can feel striking without establishing that the dreams were shared telepathically.
Sitting
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Example: A client books a 30-minute mediumship sitting and agrees in advance that the reader will not provide medical or legal instructions.
Sixth Sense
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Example: A person may have a strong hunch about a situation while recognizing that subtle social or environmental cues can contribute to intuition.
Skeptic
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Example: As a skeptic, Jake challenged the psychic’s predictions, seeking logical explanations.
Soulmate
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Example: Two people may call each other soulmates while still building trust through communication, consent and shared choices.
Spirit
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Example: Someone may interpret a comforting sense of a deceased relative’s presence spiritually while recognizing that grief, memory and emotion can also shape such experiences.
Spirit Guide
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Example: During meditation, someone may imagine advice from a trusted guiding figure and use it as a prompt for reflection rather than as certain external instruction.
Spirit Photography
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Example: A pale shape appears behind a person in a photo; checking the original image, lens, lighting and nearby reflective surfaces comes before a paranormal interpretation.
Spiritual Advisor
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Example: Someone may speak with a spiritual advisor about values or purpose while taking health, legal or financial questions to appropriately licensed professionals.
Spiritual Astrologer
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Example: A spiritual astrologer may discuss a chart as a symbolic prompt for reflection rather than as proof of a fixed life path.
Spiritual Cleansing
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Example: Someone opens windows, tidies a room and uses a personally meaningful prayer while following fire and ventilation safety.
Spiritualism
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Example: A Spiritualist service may include mediumship as part of worship or community practice, with participants interpreting messages through their religious beliefs.
Super ESP Hypothesis
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Example: Researchers discussing a mediumistic claim may compare survival-of-consciousness explanations with alternatives such as fraud, cueing, coincidence, memory effects or the speculative Super-ESP hypothesis.
Supernatural
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Example: Maria may describe an unexplained apparition as supernatural while still considering lighting, perception, sleep-related and environmental explanations.
Superstition
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Example: Emma may carry an amulet because it feels reassuring before an important event without assuming it changes the probability of success.
Survival
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Example: Researchers may study mediumship or near-death reports as possible evidence relevant to survival while also considering psychological, methodological and ordinary explanations.
Synastry
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Example: An astrologer discusses contrasting communication styles in two charts while emphasizing that the couple’s actual choices matter most.
Synchronicities
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Example: Repeatedly noticing the same animal symbol may prompt reflection, while selective attention and coincidence are also possible explanations.
Table-Tilting / Table-Turning
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Example: Participants lightly touch a table and it begins to rock; controls can test whether visual cues and unconscious pressure guide the movement.
Target
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Example: A computer randomly selects one image after the response is locked, preventing anyone from cueing the participant.
Tarot
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Example: Someone considering a career change may use a tarot spread to explore hopes, concerns and possible choices while making the final decision from practical information and circumstances.
Tarot Card Reader
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Example: A reader might use a three-card spread to help a client consider different aspects of a relationship without claiming the cards determine what another person will do.
Tarot Spread
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Example: A reader may use a career tarot spread to reflect on growth, uncertainty and possible opportunities while basing actual career decisions on evidence and circumstances.
Tasseography / Tasseomancy
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Example: A reader sees a bird-like shape in tea leaves and discusses themes of news or movement without promising a specific event.
Tea Leaves
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Example: A reader may interpret a heart-like shape as a relationship theme to consider rather than as a guaranteed sign of upcoming romance.
Telekinesis
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Example: John may try to move a small object by concentration as a personal experiment without assuming that any movement demonstrates a psychic force.
Telepathy
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Example: Close friends or twins may sometimes feel they knew what the other was thinking, but coincidence, familiarity and ordinary cues can also explain such experiences.
Teleportation
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Example: Folklore may describe a mystic appearing far away instantly, but such stories are not evidence that physical human teleportation is possible.
Theosophy
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Example: A reader researching the history of the Akashic Records encounters Theosophical writings and distinguishes their teachings from ancient scientific records.
Therianthropy
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Example: A legend may describe a hero becoming a wolf symbolically or magically, while literal human-to-animal transformation is not scientifically established.
Third Eye
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Example: Someone uses a third-eye meditation to reflect on intuition while seeking medical care for persistent flashes or vision changes.
Thought Reading
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Example: Someone may correctly anticipate a friend’s response because they know the person well; that does not by itself demonstrate telepathy.
Thoughtography
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Example: If an unusual image appears during a thoughtography demonstration, camera effects, manipulation and experimental controls should be examined before attributing it to mental projection.
Trance
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Example: A person in a deeply absorbed meditative state may report vivid impressions and interpret them spiritually while recognizing that altered attention can also shape perception and memory.
Transcendental
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Example: A meditator may describe a powerful feeling of unity as transcendental while treating the interpretation as personal rather than as a scientific conclusion.
Trumpet
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Example: If a trumpet appears to move or produce a voice during a séance, observers should document the conditions rather than treating the effect automatically as spirit activity.
Twin Flame
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Example: A person may find the metaphor meaningful while still respecting a former partner’s boundaries and accepting that the relationship has ended.
Vatic
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Example: An ancient text may be described as vatic because it contains prophecy, regardless of whether later readers believe the prophecy was divinely inspired.
Veridical
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Example: If a reader describes a detail that later appears accurate, the claim is stronger when the detail was recorded beforehand and could not reasonably have been learned through ordinary means.
Vision
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Example: Someone may reflect on a vivid image that arose during meditation while waiting for real-world evidence before acting on it as a prediction.
Visionary
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Example: A designer who anticipates a future trend may be called visionary because of imagination and judgment, not because they literally saw the future.
White Noise
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Example: An investigator reviewing a noisy recording should compare repeated listens, raw audio and ordinary sources before interpreting a faint sound as a voice.
Wicca
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Example: A Wiccan practitioner may celebrate seasonal festivals and use ritual as part of their religious or spiritual life.
Xenoglossy
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Example: If someone produces unfamiliar phrases under hypnosis, researchers would need independent language analysis and a detailed history of possible prior exposure before drawing extraordinary conclusions.
Zener Cards
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Example: In a Zener-card exercise, a participant records guesses across many trials and compares the overall result with what chance would predict.
Zodiac
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Example: Someone may read about their zodiac sign for reflection or entertainment without treating the description as a fixed psychological profile.