Air Signs:  Gemini, Libra, & Aquarius; these signs tend to live in the clouds. Good with abstract concepts, communications, reasoning, intellect, and avoiding prejudice in favour of logic, they can be cold and impractical at times
 
Akashic Records:  Memories of all experiences since the beginning of time, believed by some mystical doctrines to be stored permanently in a spiritual substance.
 
Altered State of Consciousness (ASC):
A term used to refer to any state of consciousness that is different from "normal" states of waking or sleeping.  ASC's include hypnosis, trance, ecstasy, psychedelic and meditative experience.  ASC's do not necessarily have paranormal features.
 
Angels:  An angel is a supernatural being found in many religions. In scripture, they typically act as messengers, as held by the three prominent monotheistic faiths, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
 
Animism:  Religious practices based on the belief that all living things and natural objects have their individual spiritual essence or soul.
 
Apparition:  An apparition is an appearance to a human of a ghost.
 
Ascendant:  The ascendant means "rising sign," which is the sign that had just risen over the horizon at the moment of an individual's birth. The ascendant is your public personality - traits, needs, and physical characteristics.
 
Aspect:  An aspect is a relationship between two planets. This relationship generally consists of the geometrical angles between them - some aspects are beneficial while others present challenges.
 
Astral Plane:  An astral plane is a level of awareness in the etheric world. It acts as a double of the earth with a notable exception - everything is neutral. It is a place where soul minds can meet and change forms.
 
Astrologer:  An astrologer studies the relationships and influences of the stars and planets. Using this information, they can prepare astrological charts that can tell intimate details and predictions of people, places, and things.
 
Astrology:  Astrology includes the study of planetary cycles and how their respective energies influence life on earth. Astrology studies the harmony of the universe and relates it to the possibilities of human behavior and experience.
 
Aura:  Everything present in nature has an aura - an envelope of energy that radiates from within. An aura is not visible to the normal eye but generally can be seen by Clairvoyants as a multicolored mist or halo of light.
 
Automatic Writing:  is a free-flowing message sent by an entity in the form of the written word via a person. It is sometimes called 'trance' writing, because it is done quickly and without judgment. The person may appear in a trance-like state, putting down whatever comes to mind. The messages may be in a language foreign to the person's own native tongue and the handwriting can be unrecognizable to the person penning the words. It may also be lacking spaces and punctuation. Pictures or symbols may be part of the writing as well. Automatic writing allows the person access to the entity for guidance. It can also serve to retrieve information from your unconscious and/or provide insight.
 
Birth Chart:  A birth chart is a basic tool of astrology which uses the date, time, and place of an individual's birth to show the positions of the planets in the signs and houses at the time of birth.
 
Bilocation:  Being or appearing to bein two different places at the same time
 
Cardinal Sign:  The Cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Cardinal signs are the initiators of the zodiac who are associated with getting the ball rolling - but also being impulsive.
 
Cartomancy:  Fortune telling using a regular deck of playing cards.  
 
Chakra:  According to Tantric philosophy and Yoga, chakra is the Sanskrit word for 'moving wheel.' The chakras are vortexes of energy present in the energy centers of the body. The chakras are not physical, but they function as pathways for energy to be taken in. There are seven such chakras and each one is associated with a section of the body, as well as assigned emotions, thoughts, and functions within the body. Chakras are assigned a color, which is displayed in a person's aura, and can help to reveal a person's spiritual and physical health, as well as one's karma.
 
Channeler:  A channeler is someone who receives messages of advice and teachings from a spirit guide. The channeler's relationship is a direct, beneficial one.
 
Clairalience: is referred to as "clear smelling."  Sensitive psychics (mediums) can actually smell the odor of a person not of this plane.  They can sometimes smell tobacco, food, perfumes, flowers, etc. 
 
Clairaudience:  is defined as one's inner voice - translated it means 'clear hearing.' This is the power to hear sounds that are not audible to the normal human ear, but exist in the tangible world, or in another dimension.
 
Claircognizance: is the gift of "clear thinking."  This is when you know something without actually knowing HOW you know!
 
Clairknesis: is the ability to feel Angels or Spirit Guides around you (or another person.)  Some have even felt an actual touch or a presence that someone else was in the room.
 
Clairsentience:  means 'clear knowing' or 'clear thinking,' and signifies your inner sensing. Those with this ability can perceive information out of the range of ordinary perception. It is not tied to one specific sense and can manifest as feelings, sensations or smells. It's the subtlest way of receiving psychic messages, and many people may not even be aware it is happening and explain it away as a revelation.
 
Clairvoyance:  This term is often used as a catch-all phrase for psychic ability, but it really describes one's inner vision. Clairvoyance is a French term which translates to 'clear seeing.' It's the ability to 'see' what is not physically in front of you, in the form of an image or event in the past, present or future.
 
Coincidence:  The occurrence, within a short space of time, of two or more meaningfully related events and without any apparent causal connection between them.  Coincidences are sometimes bizarre and extraordinarily improbable.
 
Conjunct:  Two planets are conjunct when they occupy the same degree of the birth chart.
 
Crystal Gazing:  Staring into a reflecting surface (e.g., mirror, glass, crystal, liquid) in order to obtain paranormal information. Also known as scrying. See also divination.
 
Curse:  Words spoken or written in order to influence others paranormally, causing them harm. See also spell, hex.
 
Cusp:  the imaginary boundaries between zodiac signs and the houses.
 
Deja Vu:  A person's feeling that current events have been experienced before.
 
Divination:  an attempt to communicate with the Divine or the supernatural in an effort to foretell the future and seek answers to questions or mysteries. Divination has traditionally been the chore of Shamans, oracles, priests, prophets, or psychics by a variety of methods such as the use of the Tarot, Astrology,  runes, etc.
 
Dowsing:  The paranormal detection of underground water or mineral deposits (or lost persons and objects) using a divining rod or pendulum.
 
Dream Interpretation:  is the process of interpreting the universal symbols and archetypes seen in your dreams and unconscious state to understand how they relate to your waking life.
 
Earth Signs:  The three earth signs include Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth signs are sensual and love luxury. They are industrious and get the job done.
 
Elements:  Also known as triplicity, the elements are Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. The twelve signs of the zodiac are divided amongst the elements: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are Fire; Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo are Earth; Libra, Aquarius and Gemini are Air; Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are Water.
 
Empath:  are very susceptible to the feelings of suffering and distress picked up from others. They tune in on an intuitive or psychic level to the emotions, moods, and attitudes of a person, group of people, or animals.
 
Entity:  something that has a distinct, separate, existence.
 
Ephemeris:  A book used by astrologers to find the exact location of any given heavenly body on any given day.
 
Equinox:  Equinox means a time of equal day and night. There are two equinox per year usually occurring around March 21 and September 23 - when the sun crosses the equator.
 
Esoteric (Esotericism):  refers to the doctrines or practices of esoteric knowledge, or otherwise the quality or state of being described as esoteric, or obscure. Esoteric knowledge is that which is specialised or advanced in nature, available only to a narrow circle of "enlightened", "initiated", or highly educated people. In contrast, exoteric knowledge is knowledge that is well-known or public.
 
ESP:   Extra Sensory Perception.  A paranormal ability to see things without using ordinary senses.
 
Fire Signs:  The three fire signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Fire signs are known for their explosive, energetic nature - and fickle tendencies.
 
Fixed Signs:  The fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Fixed signs are concerned with maintaining the status quo - and are known for perseverance and strength.
 
Feng Shui:  is a physical way to bring a sense of harmony and well being into one's space by arranging furniture and structures to be one with the occupant. It uses all of the elements - earth, wind, fire, and water as well as compass points to achieve a sense of peace and tranquility.
 
Ghost:  is a non-corporeal manifestation of the spirit or soul of a dead person which has remained on Earth after death.
 
Guardian Angel:  protects from harm and guides a particular person.
 
Horoscope:  In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth.
 
Houses:  Like the signs of the zodiac, the sky is divided into 12 houses. Each house encompasses a specific area of life such as love, career, and health.
 
Hypnosis:  Psychological condition of altered state of consciousness in which some people may be induced to show various differences in behavior and thinking, like heightened suggestibility and receptivity to direction.
 
I Ching: The 5,000-year-old I Ching is otherwise known as the book of changes.  It is used as an aid to making decisions, predicting the future, etc. 
 
Intuition:  is "knowing" without conscious reasoning. It draws on knowledge gained from past experience that has been stored in the subconscious mind.
 
Kabbalah:  is a form of Jewish mysticism and is actually a Hebrew word meaning "received knowledge" or "tradition." Though its origins are debated, most believe Kabbalah to be as old as the Torah, while others maintain it did not rise until the 13th Century. Traditional Kabbalah was passed down orally and is an esoteric belief that every accent, letter, word and number in the Torah contains keys to understanding the nature of the human soul, and by extension, the universe.
 
Karma:  The explanation of Karma varies slightly per tradition or philosophy, but the basic principle remains the same: "You reap what you sow" ... "what goes around, comes around" ... or (if you prefer) "an eye for an eye." Karmic philosophy may have its roots in religion and spirituality, but even the most scientific mind cannot dispute that, "every action causes an equal and opposite reaction" - in other words, the purpose of Karma is actually to restore balance.
 
Kirlian photography:  refers to a form of contact print photography, theoretically associated with high-voltage. It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is connected to a source of high voltage, small corona discharges (created by the strong electric field at the edges of the object) create an image on the plate.
 
Kundalini:  according to various teachings is believed to be a type of "corporeal energy". Kundalini is envisioned as a serpent coiled at the base of the spine. According to Hindu tradition, through specific meditative exercises, Kundalini rises from the root chakra up through the spinal channel, called sushumna, and it is believed to activate each chakra it goes through.
 
Laying on of Hands:  A healing practice, in which the healer's hands are placed on or near the body of the sick person.
 
Levitation:  The paranormal raising or suspension of an object or person
 
Manifesting:  is a term often used in New Thought and New Age circles to refer to the belief that one can by force of will, desire, and focused energy, make something come true on the physical level.
 
Mantra:   is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of "creating transformation."
 
Meditation:  has been around for centuries and is a focal point of many religions. It incorporates deep thinking, contemplation, and engaging in a deep mental exercise in an effort to achieve a heightened level of Spiritual awareness.
 
Medium:  someone who can contact loved ones who have passed from this Earth. This special ability allows him or her to communicate with the deceased individual in another realm or dimension. The death of a family member or friend can result in unresolved emotions and questions for those left behind - a psychic medium can help bring them peace.
 
Metaphysics:  the branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the ultimate nature of reality, being, and the world. More recently, the term "metaphysics" has also been used more loosely to refer to "subjects that are beyond the physical world".
 
Mutable Sign:  Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces are the mutable signs of the zodiac. These signs are versatile and capable of prospering in any environment.
 
Mysticism:  the pursuit of achieving communion or identity with, or conscious awareness of, ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight; and the belief that such experience is one's destiny, purpose, or an important source of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
 
Natal Chart:  a basic tool of astrology which uses the date, time, and place of an individual's birth to show the positions of the planets in the signs and houses at the time of birth.
 
Near Death Experience:  A near death experience occurs when an individual is physically deceased yet returns to life with a memory of what happened to them.  Many have recounted stories of seeing their physical body beneath them and traveling toward a white light or tunnel where they are greeted by friends and relatives.
 
Numerology:  Like Astrology or the Tarot, Numerology is a means of divination. Through the use of numbers, Numerology tells us about the human condition and about our journey through life.
 
Opposition Aspect:  is an arc of 180°. This means that planets are opposite each other if they are six star signs apart. An opposition can be indicative of tension.
 
Palmistry:  The art of assessing a person's character and forecasting life events by examining features of the hand.
 
Paranormal:  Beside or beyond the normal.  Inexplicable in terms of our ordinary understanding or current scientific knowledge.
 
Parapsychology:  the study of seeming mental awareness of or influence upon external objects, without any physical or energetic means of causation which scientists currently understand. Most objects of study fall within the realm of "mind-to-mind" influence (such as extra-sensory perception and telepathy), "mind-to-environment" influence (such as psychokinesis) and "environment-to-mind" (such as hauntings). Collectively, these abilities are often referred to as "psionics". Another definition of parapsychology is the scientific study of paranormal phenomena.
 
Past life regression (therapy):  a technique used by some hypnotherapists to try to get clients to remember their past lives.  Implicit in this procedure is the spiritual belief that souls exist and come back many times, living in different times and places, experiencing different genders, races, social classes, and so forth in an attempt to learn.
 
Pendulum:  any object suspended freely from a string or chain. The universal vibrations received by the dangling object provide knowledge to the holder of the pendulum usually in the form of simple yes or no answers to the questions asked.
 
Portal:  A doorway, entrance, or gate between two worlds, the physical and the spiritual.
 
Premonition:  Premonition refers to a situation when future events are foreknown or forecast. Premonitions are usually treated as a result of paranormal or supernatural feat. However, it is possible that the human mind is capable of forecasting an accurate view of the future.
 
Prophecy:  in a broad sense, is the prediction of future events or the speaking of divine words (divine Revelation) through chosen human messengers (prophets).
 
Psychic:  Often called a Clairvoyant, a Psychic has the ability to draw knowledge from the universal consciousness. They know without conscious reasoning and are highly intuitive. Some psychics use tools such as the Tarot, Astrology, or runes to help answer questions and divine the future.
 
Psychokinesis (telekinesis):  Paranormal ability of the mind to influence matter, time, space, or energy without the use of any currently known type of physical means. Various psychokinetic abilities ares aerokinesis (wind), atmokinesis (atmosphere), atmoskinesis (four elemental elements), biokinesis (human body), chronokinesis (time), cyrokinesis (ice), electrokinesis (electricity), hydrokinesis (water), magnokinesis (metal), photokinesis (light), pyrokinesis (fire), telekinesis (objects).
 
Reading:  A consultation with a specialist gifted with extra sensorial talents in order to provide insight and guidance.
 
Remote Viewing (RV):  An ESP procedure in which a percipient attempts to become aware psychically of the experience of an agent who is at a distant, unknown, target location.
 
Retrograde:  Planets in retrograde look like they are moving backwards. The energy from a retrograde can cause communication mishaps such as when Mercury is Retrograde, or can derail love when Venus is in retrograde.
 
Runes:  a divination tool used by some psychics in much the same way that astrology or the Tarot is used. They generally consist of clay tiles or coins with an inscription from the Runic alphabet.
 
Scrying:  You've probably heard of crystal balls - scrying is a fancy name for concentrating intensely on a shiny surface to induce Clairvoyance.
 
Serendipity:  Otherwise known as a "happy accident."  There is NO such thing as coincidence.
 
Shaman:  A member of society (priest, magician, spiritual healer, medicine man, etc.) that acts as a medium or negotiator between the physical world and the spirit world using ritual-like practices and chanting for the purpose of healing, predicting or controlling natural events.
 
Soul:  the immaterial part of you that dictates your mind and personality. Depending on your particular beliefs, the soul can live on through many incarnations or exist on different ethereal planes.  Soul to many is synonymous with Spirit.
 
Soulmate:  someone you have experienced many lifetimes, learned life's lessons, bonded with, and loved. Some believe your soulmate is literally the person who carries and completes the other half of your soul.
 
Spirit Guides:  non-physical entities which tend to be either highly evolved beings or the spirit of the dead. The purpose of these entities generally includes protecting an individual, assisting in spiritual development or as a source of inspiration. Many psychics utilize the help of spirit guides in their readings.
 
Spiritual Healing:  Use of spiritual means in treating disease. Spiritual healing can also refer to the self-empowerment or self-actualization process or steps within those processes that often occurs with individuals seeking enlightenment or meaning in their lives.
 
Sun Sign:  As the Earth follows an elliptical path around the Sun, it passes through 12 constellations known collectively as the Zodiac. Your Sun Sign indicates in which constellation the Sun was positioned when you were born.  It is sometimes referred to as your Birth Sign.
 
Supernatural:  The supernatural refers to forces and phenomena which are not observed in nature, and therefore beyond verifiable measurement.
 
Synchronicity:  The belief that everything and everyone in the universe is connected by a universal force and therefore there is no coincidence. The famous Swiss Psychoanalyst, Carl Jung referred to synchronicity as "meaningful coincidence."
 
Tarot:  A form of divination using a deck of 78 cards that depict images and symbols based on the Universal knowledge of humanity, including personality types, life cycles, and experiences.  It uses archetypal behavior patterns and the laws of synchronicity to reveal to the past, present, and probable future of a particular situation.
 
Telekinesis:  Paranormal movement of objects.
 
Telepathy:  Paranormal awareness of another person's experience (thoughts, feelings, etc.).  In practice it is difficult to distinguish between telepathy and clairvoyance.  See also ESP.
 
Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol):  a funerary text that describes the experiences of the consciousness after death during the interval known as bardo between death and rebirth. The Bardo Thodol is recited by lamas over a dying or recently deceased person, or sometimes over an effigy of the deceased.
 
Totem:  A totem is any entity which watches over or assists a group of people, such as a family, clan or tribe. Totems support larger groups than the individual person.  In kinship and descent, if the apical ancestor of a clan is nonhuman, it is called a totem. Normally this belief is accompanied by a totemic myth.
 
Trance Medium:  A person who enters a state of trance in order to produce mediumistic phenomena.
 
Universal Consciousness:  The combined memory and inborn knowledge of all human experience. Carl Jung categorized it into recognizable archetypes, personalities, situations, images, and metaphors that recur consistently throughout mankind's existence. He was fascinated with the Tarot because of it's depiction of human nature and it's use of synchronicity to divine the future.
 
Water Signs:  The Water Signs include Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Those with lot's of water in their chart are said to be highly sensitive, empathetic and emotional.
 
Yin and Yang:  The dual concepts of yin and yang originate in ancient Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, which describe two primal opposing but complementary principles or cosmic forces said to be found in all non-static objects and processes in the universe.  The concept is the cornerstone for Taoism and traditional Chinese medicine.
 
Yoga:  A spiritual discipline for achieving a state of perfect insight and tranquility through focused concentration, meditation, postures, and controlled breathing. The liberation from suffering through enlightenment is a common goal of all branches.
 
Zener Cards:  Set of 25 cards (5 each of circle, square, Greek cross, five-pointed star, three wavy lines) designed by the perceptual psychologist Karl Zener for use in card-guessing tests of ESP.  Also known as ESP cards.