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* Agent:
A means by which something is done or caused.
A force or substance that causes a change.

An agent in paranormal research is usually a person who unknowingly causes poltergeist activity (poltergeist activity seems to be between the categories of ghost and psi (the term applied to unusual abilities of human origin such as ESP/psychokinesis/etc.. and investigating "exceptional human experiences" such as out of body and apparitional experiences).

* Alpha Rhythm:
Electrical activity in the brain (about 10 cycles per second) associated with a state of mental relaxation.

* Altered State of Consciousness (ASC)
This is a term referring to any state of consciousness that is different from "normal" states of waking/sleeping. This include hypnosis, trance, ecstasy, psychedelic and meditative experience.

* Animal Psi:
Paranormal abilities exhibited by animals. Also known as "Anpsi". [See "Psi" for more info.]

* Animism:
The belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.

Religious practices based on the belief that all living things and natural objects have their individual spiritual essence or soul.

* Angel:
A typically benevolent celestial being that acts as an intermediary between heaven and earth, especially in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism.

An Angel is a spiritual or celestial being sent to earth to relay a message to a person, serve as a protector or help them in their transition into the afterlife.

* Announcing Dream:
A dream believed to announce an individual's rebirth. [Also see "reincarnation" for more info.]

* Anomalous Experience:
A term referring to unusual experiences that cannot be explained in terms of current scientific knowledge.

* Anomalous Phenomena:
Natural phenomena that cannot be explained in terms of current scientific knowledge. [Also see "Anomaly" and "Fortean Phenomena" for more info.]

* Anomaly/Anomalies:
One that is peculiar, irregular, abnormal, or difficult to classify.

An irregular image that appears on photos, video, or digital media. [See "Orb", "Ectoplasm", Vortex", and "Apparition" for more info.]

* Apparition:
An unusual appearing ghostly figure.
A ghostly figure; a specter.

Spirit energy that is usually seen in the form of the entity that has passed. Some psychics and mediums see them on a regular basis. Catching an apparition on film is what every ghost hunter aspires to do. They show up in a transparent human form and usually wear the clothing of their period. Also note that people have been known to see animal apparitions also.

* Apport/Asport:
Apport is when a physical object has been transported into a closed space or container, suggesting the passage of "matter through matter'. Asport is any object the spirits or medium makes disappear or teleports to another location. [See "Teleportation" for more info.]

* Anpsi:
See "Animal Psi".

* Artefact:
In parapsychology, this is false evidence of paranormal phenomena, due to some extraneous normal influence.

* ASC:
See "Altered State of Consciousness".

* Astral Body:
The "body" a person seems to occupy during an out-of-body experience (OBE).

* Astral Plane:
Believed by some to be a world that exists above the physical world.

* Astral Projection:
An out-of-body experience.

* Aura:
An invisible breath, emanation, or radiation.
A distinctive but intangible quality that seems to surround a person or thing; atmosphere.

It's believed that everything and everyone has an auric field around them. These can often be seen by those who are clairvoyant.

In Kirlian photography when the film is developed, an aura like a halo of colors can be seen around the object or person. The colors in the photographs believe to show several factors such as stress, ill health in living organisms, and the state of your soul. It is analogous to Spiritual Healing which can also be felt but not seen. [Also see "Kirlian Photography" for more info.]

* Authentication:
To establish the authenticity of; prove genuine.

The verification of facts and details surrounding an occurrence of paranormal phenomenon. This can be independent statements from witnesses, written documentation, or other corroborative evidence supporting the report made by the subject concerning their experience and the events to which was apparently related.

* Automatic Writing:
This is when you write something without being aware of the contents. Some people use this method to receive messages from Spirit.

* Automatism:
The theory that the body is a machine whose functions are accompanied but not controlled by consciousness.

Physical activates (e.g., arm movements, writing, drawing, musical performance) that occur without the automatist's conscious control or knowledge. Also known as motor automatism. [Also see "Automatic Writing" and "Dissociation" for more info.]

* Autoscopy:
This is when someone sees their 'double', or when they're looking back at their self from a position outside their body (Out-of-body Experience (OBE)).