altered states
a changed condition of awareness, often appearing to transcend reality

biofeedback
learning to control one's biological responses

breathwork
rates and ways of breathing air in and out that can affect the consciousness

cognitive neuroscience
study of how the brain emerges into mind

collective unconscious
primordial memories common to all

complementarity
ability to hold disparate ideas at the same time

consciousness
the 1 or 2% of our brain's activity of which we are aware

creativity
imaginative expression

deja vu
feeling of having previously experienced something newly encountered

desire
to wish, long, or crave for something

distance healing
ability to focus a curative effect on someone from a great distance

dousing
use of a rod or pendulum to locate energies or answer questions

echolocation
sonar-like, high-pitched, reflective sound used by some creatures to locate something

ecstasy
physical and/or mental state of bliss

empathy
ability to sympathetically understand others' feelings

endorphins
neurotransmitters in the brain that affect perception of pain

energy
the capacity or power to produce an effect

expectation
anticipation that something good will occur

extrasensory perception
communication outside of 'normal' senses

faith healing
use of group prayer to heal someone

field
an area of physical influence which has the ability to connect matter and energy

floatation tank
tank filled with Epsom salts and water, used to isolate a person from sensory stimulation

focusing
to concentrate one's thoughts

force
an active power, sometimes capable of altering the state of rest or motion of a body

fractals
small, repeating shapes that create self-similar patterns at any scale

homing
ability of some creatures to return home from a great distance

hope
a positive desire or wish

hypnosis
state of deep relaxation where a person is open to suggestion

imagination
the mind's ability to form concepts, images, or scenarios that have not been experienced

inspiration
apparent, sudden emergence into conscious awareness as a result of unconscious processes

instinct
an impulse or feeling that is innate rather than learned

intention
the body's deliberate ability to bring about effects at a distance

interactionism
a type of dualism where physical events can cause mental events and mental events can cause physical ones

interconnection
reciprocal flows between entities

interdisciplinary
combining two or more areas of study

intuition
internal flash of knowledge, usually not based on reasoning

laying on of hands
a healer places their hands on or near the person to be cured of illness

lucid dreaming
the awareness that one is in, and having their dream

magic
use of supernatural or mysterious powers to cause change

manifestation
intentionally causing, placing, or perceiving a sensation

meditation
a silent, extended introspection

migration
movement of creatures to other regions at certain times of the year

miracle
an extraordinary event or effect

morphic fields
a field that extends beyond an entity, linking it to its environment, and capable of affecting the environment through attention

mystical experience
state of being which allows insights into deep truths

noetic
study or knowing of all aspects of reality: mind, consciousness, spirit

non-local mind
the mind is everywhere, can transcend time and space, and is not limited to the physical body

non-locality
quantum entanglement: quantum entities separated in space seem to influence each other instantaneously

non-material art
human artistic intentionality directed toward a significant experience without a goal of creating an object

osmosis
a subtle or gradual absorption or mingling

out-of-body experience
ability and awareness of temporarily leaving one's physical body

paradigm shift
a dramatic emergence of a new understanding evolving from past ideas

parapsychology
investigation of psychic phenomena

passion
a powerful, compelling desire or interest

peak experience
a powerful, moving event

perception
sensory input brought into conscious awareness

performance art
art form usually combining the artist's body, props, and audience

physics
study of matter, force, energy, and motion

placebo effect
a lessening of ill symptoms due to a person's belief in the efficacy of the treatment; example: sugar pills or physician's expectations

potential
capable of becoming

prayer
a petition or entreaty, often made to a spiritual being

precognition
knowing about something that will occur in the future

premonition
a feeling about something that might happen in the future

psychokinesis
mental ability to move or physically affect matter

quantum theory
a theory of physics based on the notion that there are smallest, discreet units of physical quantities

radio telescope
large dish antennas used to observe radiation from distant objects in the radio wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum

reiki
hands-on or distance healing transmitted through a practitioner’s hands

remote viewing
a person's skill in perceiving objects, people, or events not near them in space or time

ritual
a pattern of behavior performed in a set manner

runner's high
a state of euphoria attained by some long distance runners

shaman
medicine person who works with spirit influences to heal or control events

sixth sense
one's perception about something (without using the accepted five senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell)

spirit art
non-material creation generated in the artist's mind, sometimes through behavior or use of objects, and communicated by mental resonance

spiritual
an ethereal or sacred way of thinking and being wholly

spiritualism
belief that people’s spirits exist after death, and with the help of a medium, can be communicated with

subliminal
thought or sensation existing below conscious awareness

symbiosis
mutually beneficial relationships between beings or entities

synchronicity
a simultaneous, meaningful occurrence between unrelated situations

synergy
an enhanced creative energy experienced when two or more people combine their inventiveness

synesthesia
the physical experience of one of the five senses simultaneously triggering another of the senses

talisman
anything whose presence has a powerful influence on a person's actions or feelings

telepathy
a communication between minds without using the five senses

transcendental
beyond ordinary belief, thought, or experience

trance
induced or spontaneous sleep-like state

transference
communicating emotions or concepts to something or someone else

transpersonal psychology
modern psychology combined with Eastern and Western mystical
experiences

vision quest
Native American wilderness experience involving purification, fasting, and wakefulness in order to gain insight

walkabout
Australian aboriginal journey into the wilderness

wish
to have a desire for something

whirling dervish
a Sufi who purposefully twirls for extended periods of time, achieving an altered state of awareness

yoga
Hindu philosophy advocating a union with the self, and liberation from the material world

Zen Buddhism
Eastern philosophical tradition seeking enlightenment as freedom from contradiction