Dictionary of Paranormal Terms - P

Paranormal
A general term which refers to anything that cannot be explained scientifically, i.e. that which can not be understood in terms of current scientific knowledge.

Phantom
Another word for Ghost. It is often used to describe something that is Ghostly, i.e. Phantom Drummer.

Phantom Drummer of Tidworth
An early Poltergeist case around 1666, that was recorded by the Reverend Joseph Glanvill, who lived in a house at the present site of the Zouch Manor in Wiltshire. Two girls were occupying a bedroom from which they could hear a "strange drumming". It was thought that the sound was coming from "behind the bolster", though some believed the girls themselves were the cause. They were later cleared of speculation however, and the Reverend noted that he could find no "trick, contrivance or common cause" to explain it.

Philadelphia Experiment
An alleged experiment that took place in Philadelphia in 1943. A Destroyer Class ship, the USS Eldbridge, was thought to have been the subject of a radical experiment involving force fields. Witnesses who were at the actual event reported that the experiment had succeeded in turning the ship completely invisible for a period of time. It was also reported that during this period the ship had actually physically teleported to Norfolk, Virginia, before returning to Philadelphia. During the experiment, it was said that some of the people on board the vessel exhibited strange phenomena. Many of the crew became ill and died shortly afterwards, some had become 'embedded' in the ship itself, while others were able to 'walk through walls'. To date the experiment has remained a very controversial story - if it were true, then it would mean that Teleportation technology was in the hands of the US Military as early as the 1940's.

Plain of Jars
A plateau in Northern Laos, Asia, on which can be found over one thousand mysterious stone jars, some of them weighing up to 6 tons. Having survived the 1960's 'secret war' with the USA, the Jars remain one of Asia's most significant archaelogical wonders. It is believed that the Jars would have been used to contain the bodies of the deceased until decomposition, after which the remains would have been removed and buried or cremated. The practice of 'second burial' is still practiced to this day in the region.

Pleiadians
The Extraterrestrial race that Swiss man Billy Meier claimed he was in contact with starting back in 1975. Over the years Meier produced many photographs of apparant Pleidian craft. It is commonly believed that Meier's story is a hoax.

Pluto
Furthest known planet in our solar system, at a mean distance of 5.9 billion km from the Sun. It was discovered in 1905, and has never been visited by a spacecraft. It's orbit is highly eccentric, so much so that at times it is closer to the Sun than Neptune. Pluto is only known to have one moon, Charon.

Pullavar, Yogi
An Indian man who on 6th June 1936 was reported to have Levitated into the air for four minutes in front of a crowd of 150 witnesses. During his feat, Pullavar was said to have been in a deep trance like state, and once back on the ground his limbs were found to be locked in place and could not be unbent.

Pyrokinesis
Rare Psychic ability in which an individual is able to set fire to an object without touching or making any phsyical contact with it. It is usually customary to say 'goodbye' to the Spirit once the session is complete.