Defining the Paranormal
Welcome to Field Notes from the Beyond!
General Paranormal Studies
Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) - Detachment from one’s physical body, often perceived as the soul leaving the body. The individual experiencing it will see or otherwise experience things that they could not have seen from the vantage point of their body. Sometimes these occur while an individual is having a near-death experience (NDE) and the individual will see their own resuscitation.
Ghosts & Hauntings
Static Detection Device - A static electricity sensor that accurately measures electrostatic charge to identify and diagnose locations with static build-up. They can be used to examine sudden changes in environmental electricity.
Cryptids
Pictish Beast - A freshwater monster depicted in rock carvings in Scotland. Pictures resemble both a swimming elephant and a dolphin. It has flippers, a tail with a curved tip, and either an elongated beak or trunk.
Aliens & UFOs
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) - The task force that preceded ARRO from 2020 through 2021 within the Office of Naval Intelligence that was used to standardize collection and reporting of UFO and UAP sightings.
Non-Human Entities
Rakshasas - Powerful shapeshifters in Hindu belief. They originate from the creator Brahma’s breath and are chaotic beings known for consuming humans, disrupting sacrifices and wielding dark magic. They are prominent antagonists in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The female variant is a Rakshasi.
Psychic Abilities
Ceromancy - An ancient form of divination that interprets shapes, symbols, and patterns formed by melting wax and pouring it into cold water. This is used to gain insights into emotional states, predict future events, and interpret spiritual messages from the hardened wax shapes.
Magic
Flower Magic - The use of flowers to attract love and luck. This is often used during Beltane, but is associated with many different traditions.
Coming Up Next
Next in Field Notes from the Beyond:
5/25: This Day in Paranormal History
5/27: Investigating the Paranormal: Some Good Books about Alien Abduction, Part 2: David Jacobs
5/29: Defining the Paranormal
Who are we?
We are a group of scholars interested in understanding paranormal, supernatural, and anomalous phenomena from an academic perspective. We want to document and validate experiences people have and study them in a rigorous way to bring credibility to these phenomena. Join us for our monthly podcast Beyond the Human and follow us on Spotify, Instagram, and Patreon to learn more about who we are, our methods, and what we want to learn!