The A-Z of Supernatural

Ever wondered what all the complicated words mean ?

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Alchemy

An alchemist tries to find the basic " matter" with which they believe all items are made of . Then once this "matter" is found, they could add things to it which could turn base metal into gold, or into the elixir of life. To this date no one has succeeded in making gold or finding the magic elixir.

Amulet

The word amulet come from the Arabic, meaning to carry. Items were worn or carried in order to protect the wearer from danger and misfortune, rather than attract good fortune. Common amulets are jewels, stones, metal or parchment with magic symbols written on it. Horseshoes, white heather, and St. Christopher being popular ones used to day.

Apportation

This is the word used to describe the unexplained arrival of an item that was not there a moment ago, or an item that was right under your nose that simply disappeared. Some people say this is caused by magnetism, others believe that items travel to the forth dimension. What ever the explanation, it is has been documented at items have moved from one room to another and found to be hot on arrival.

Astral Projection

The Astral body is a shining and luminous spirit copy of a person which goes in search of information. It is joined to the living body, for most of the time, but occasionally travels independently from it. Usually this happens during sleep, operations and hypnotism, however some people have the power to control their Astral body using will power and conscious effort.

Augury

An Augury tells the future by interpreting nature rather than by fortune telling. Thunder and Lightning, Birds and the movement of animals being the most commonly used. Differing patterns in behaviour or unusual happenings are said to be bad omens.

Aura

All living beings have an aura. It is said to be rather like a halo around the heads of saints or holy people. It is thought of as an electro- magnetic life force. Some mediums and clairvoyants claim to be able to see the aura and can tell by its colour what a person is like. A Doctor in the late 1800's developed a screen which was said to show a persons aura. It is believed that the aura is affected by illness and on death disappears altogether.

Automatic Writing / Art /Poetry/ Music

Mediums conducting a séance will often display more artistic talents than they have in ordinary life. The production of automatic writing is caused by the medium having no control over their hand. The writing produced will be very different from their own. Arts and music are often produced in the same way with the medium producing pictures or playing musical pieces.

Banshee

Cabala

This is originally a Jewish magical doctrine, but has now become very much part of occult belief. Cabalists believe there are 10 planes of existence with the human world being the lowest. Before reaching the highest plane the spirit must first climb the tree of life. It is said the Cabala and all of its secrets were passed on to Abraham by God, and now they are passed on from one wise man to another.

Clairaudience /voyance

Meaning clear sound or clear sight. Clairaudience is the ability to hear things that other people do not. This could be because the pitch is so high or low that the average person would not hear it. ( Rather like the silent dog whistle.) Clairvoyance works in the same way, with a person seeing things that other people can not, they can see visions of the past or future. Joan of Arc possessed both of these talents.

Druids

These were Celtic priests, teachers and judges who were skilled in the art of spell casting. It was known that they could walk across burning coals and talk to animals in their own language, as well as changing shape and causing others to change shape also. Today over 400 Druids still exist, however rather than practice supernatural activities they promote language, culture, and the preservation of nature.

Dryads

This is the name given to a tree or plant spirit these die with the plant or tree they inhabit.

Duppy

Voodoo worshipers believe that the Duppy is the ghost that lives on after the death of a body. It can be woken, but as it is no longer human it is capable of evil deeds. All duppy's live and work by night and they must return to the grave before dawn of they will loose power for ever.

Ectoplasm

Some people believe that ectoplasm is evidence of a mediums true power. This is a semi- liquid substance will appear often from the nose or mouth. If touched the medium appears to be in great pain, it will often leave a bruise or wound where it has tried to make an exit. It has been known for mediums to fake ectoplasm often using egg white and regurgitating this when needed.

Extra-sensory Perception

People who have ESP can send and receive information beyond the 5 senses. ESP has been described as direct contact between two minds.

Eyeless Sight

This gift means using the fingers to read or see things. People who have eyeless sight can tell the difference between colours and read news paper under glass, by using the fingers alone.

Familiar

This is the name given to a pet, usually kept by a witch. The witch will use this pet in order to perform magic and cast spells.

Faun

As trees and plants have spirits, so do animals : Faun is the name given to animal spirits.

Fetch

This is a word commonly used by Irish people to describe a person’s “ double” warning of the death of that person who was about to die ( in the same way as crisis spirit).

Flying Ointment / potion

This is a spell or potion ( using mainly poisonous plants) is used by a witch in order to help her fly. The potion is mixed and used on the broomstick and on the body of the witch.

Fourth Dimension

Objects of everyday use have 3 dimensions, length, height and thickness. A ghost from the past would use the forth dimension to travel in time and appear today.

Golem

This is an image in human form, (Frankenstein’s monster is a good example) brought to life by magic. On its head it written the word “ Emeth”, meaning truth or life. In order to destroy it, you must rub out the E to read” Meth” meaning death.

Gris Gris

This is the name of a protective amulet used by African tribesmen, witch doctors and magicians. This name often describes wearer.

Hoodoo

This type of magic is practised by people in Southern USA. It has come to mean “ bad luck “. Charms can be used to give the wearer good luck or do harm to an enemy.

Imitative Magic

This form of witchcraft describes the way in which a voodoo doll works. (A figure resembling the person , and containing personal items like hair or nails. Is used to do harm to him or her by sticking pins in it.) Also bewitching a familiar and sending it to touch the person you wish to cast a spell on, is also a form of imitative magic.

Ju-ju

Many kinds of African magic are called Ju-ju. It works in a similar way to Voodoo and Hoodoo. Spells are cast by people in costumes and devil masks. This superior type of magic can bewitch whole villages, exorcise spirits and subdue other magic spells. It can also be performed by imitative magic.

Lamia

This female version of a ghoul lives in Churchyards and feeds on human flesh. She is unable to talk, and can only hiss like a snake. She is known to show herself in the form of an attractive woman, and her aim is to lure men to their death.

Levitation

This word means to float or rise. It is used to describe an object which rises into the air contrary to the laws of gravity. Holy men and mediums are said to have the power of levitation. An item will also levitate in the presents of a poltergeist.

Materialisation

A great deal of evidence has been produced to prove that items have appeared out of thin air. How ever most of these items will dematerialise without trace. This word can be used to describe a spirit, an object or Ectoplasm during a séance.

Medium

A medium is usually made and not born. A person who can communicate with spirits of the dead is called a medium. The Spiritualist Religion maintains the belief that the powers of medium are in all of us and these talents must be discovered and developed. Mediums have been known to change personality , produce writing and talk in different languages during a séance.

Necromancy

A magician who performs necromancy must have an assistant well versed with the secrets of magic. And must never perform it alone. During this ritual the magician must make a pact with the devil and it is possible that the dead spirit may attempt to take the magicians life force from him.

Obeah

This is practised mainly in the West Indies, and was once used to harm others. Today it is used to help and heal rather than harm or hex. Obeahmen are now well respected for their powers to do good.

Ouija Board

This is a board filled with letters of the alphabet and some words such as yes, no, good, hello, goodbye and bad. A pointer or Planchette is used to contact the dead who will move it around the board of its own accord and spell out words or messages for the living.

Poltergeist

This word comes from the German, meaning “ Noise” and “ Ghost”. Poltergeists are usually very mischievous, and will throw and break things in order to get attention. Poltergeists usually show themselves to animals and children rather than adults. If left alone poltergeists activities will cease.

Possession

People who are possessed have no control over their actions, due to an evil spirit inhabiting their body. Exorcism is the only cure for this, and is often performed by a priest.

Precognition / Prediction / Premonition

These all deal with knowing some something before it has happened, and is often described as a kind of ESP or sixth sense.

Psychokinesis

(PK) is often known as “mind over matter”. It is the ability to move objects using will power alone.

Reincarnation

Many people believe that when the living person had died the soul will go on to inhabit a new born baby . It is said to take up to 50 years for the soul to move forward from one life to a new life.

Revenant

This is the name given to a spirit who has been sent back to earth to right a wrong, revenge their death or to pass on information to a loved one.

Sabat

These are the names given to the most important festivals of witchcraft. These are held at midnight until dawn.

Scrying

This is the ancient method of fortune telling and is also called crystal gazing. The crystal can take the form of a glass, ball however polished Quartz is said to be more effective. The ball maybe used by anyone, but it must only be lifted or carried by its owner as this will destroy its power.

Séance

This is word is French and it means “Sitting” or meeting . It has become to be used to describe any meeting at which the dead are contacted.

Spirit Photography

This pastime was common in the late 19th century. When people tried to take photographs to show spirits and other beings present in the room. Needless to say much of this was fake and did not stand up to investigation. Several photographs have been taken in the past and shown an “Extra”, and these have stood up to investigation, proving no tampering or double exposure had taken place.

Standing Stones

Cromlechs or standing stones are often thought to be the site of witches’ sabats. Many strange stories are connected with these stones, most of them being associated with the devil or some kind of Witchcraft.

Stigmata

These are said to be the wounds of Christ which people suffer for no apparent reason. They are thought to be caused by meditation and deep thoughts of Christ’s suffering.

Sylph

These are spirits of air. Just as salamanders are spirits of fire.

Sympathetic Magic

When two similar happenings occur many miles apart, one is said to be caused through sympathetic magic. Another form of sympathetic magic is the use of voodoo dolls.

Telekinesis

This is another form of “mind over matter” It is the ability to break an ornament or stop a clock at the precise moment that its owner dies.

Telepathy

Telepathy is the ability to read and transfer thoughts from one mind to another.

Thoughtography

This is the ability to transfer a thought image on to photographic film.

Voodoo

This word means to look into the unknown. It is an African cult devoted to the worship of gods. Moses and his teachings are important to voodoo magicians and followers.

Walpurgisnacht

This night and Halloween are particularly good for spell casting and making magic. These are the too nights when evil forces rule and gather together for rituals.

Will o’ the wisp

These lights are fire spirits seen over marshland and are caused by gas or methane rising from the ground. Many people have drowned thinking that they are following a travellers lantern up ahead.

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