Glossary
117 terms
Terms starting with "O"
117 terms
Oannes
A mythological being from ancient Mesopotamian lore described as an amphibious creature that imparted knowledge to humanity.
Observer Effect (Consciousness Interpretation)
The interpretation, rooted in von Neumann's measurement theory, that a quantum system's range of possibilities only becomes a single actual result when observed by consciousness. Goswami extends this...
Observer Mechanics
A concept explored by Donald Hoffman in his work, focusing on how observations shape reality, originally cited in John Wheeler's 'It From Bit' paper.
Obsession
A concept in Spiritism referring to the detrimental influence of spirits on individuals, often resulting in psychological distress or mental health issues.
Obsession (Spiritist)
The Spiritist belief that a disturbed or vengeful discarnate spirit can attach itself to a living person and cause mental or emotional suffering, often because of conflicts from a past life.
Occult
A term used to describe various mystical, supernatural, and magical beliefs and practices, often hidden or esoteric in nature.
Occult Advisors
Individuals or groups who provide mystical guidance or esoteric knowledge to political figures, often believed to wield hidden influence over important decisions and societal directions.
Occult bargains
Agreements made in secret, often with supernatural implications, where individuals or musicians supposedly trade their souls or integrity for fame and success in the entertainment industry.
Occult Control
The theory that hidden knowledge and esoteric practices are employed by elites to influence and manipulate cultural beliefs and behaviors.
Occult Manipulation
The practice of using mystical or supernatural means to control outcomes, often associated with various esoteric traditions and beliefs in the powers of divination.
Occult Prison
A concept from occult literature in which a practitioner is magically or socially trapped and controlled by rivals. Lynn claims Helena Blavatsky was caught in one.
Occult Rituals
Ceremonies and practices associated with mystical and esoteric traditions, often involving hidden knowledge or supernatural elements, linked to figures like Jack Parsons in rocketry.
Occult Space Rituals
Ceremonies intended to harness supernatural energies or communicate with otherworldly beings, often involving ancient or secret knowledge.
Occult symbolism
A visual language of symbols and signs used in esoteric traditions to convey deeper spiritual truths and connections to the cosmos.
Occult Symbols
Symbols that are considered to hold hidden meanings and powers, often associated with mysticism, magic, or secret knowledge within various esoteric traditions.
Occult systems
A collection of esoteric beliefs and practices often involving hidden knowledge, spirituality, and the supernatural, frequently examined in alternative narratives linking them to political and social...
Occult Technologies
Believed to be hidden or esoteric techniques used for controlling or manipulating natural processes and consciousness, often linked with ancient wisdom and secret societies.
Occult Virtues
The mystical aspects or inherent qualities believed to be possessed by certain plants that are utilized in esoteric practices.
Ocean X
A Swedish deep-sea exploration company founded by Dennis Åsberg, known for its investigations of underwater anomalies and historical wreck sites.
Octavius
A legendary 18th-century ghost ship said to have been discovered in 1775 drifting near Greenland, with its captain frozen at his desk mid-log entry. Supposedly it had been trapped in Arctic ice for 13...
ODNI (Office of the Director of National Intelligence)
The office responsible for overseeing the integration of the U.S. intelligence community, involved in the responses to UAP disclosures, emphasizing risks associated with military whistleblowers.
Off Button Conspiracy
A theory suggesting hidden mechanisms behind everyday technology that could manipulate user behavior or access information covertly.
Off-World Technology Office
A sign whistleblower Randy Anderson claims he saw at a secure underground facility at Naval Support Activity Crane in Indiana. He says it marked a room holding recovered non-human technology.
Offerings
Items or gestures presented to spirits or deities as a sign of respect, gratitude, or request, traditionally done in various spiritual practices.
Office of Naval Intelligence
The intelligence service of the U.S. Navy responsible for collecting and analyzing information related to naval operations; Zabel claims to have been approached by individuals from this office regardi...
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
A United States government office established to oversee and coordinate national intelligence efforts, which recently launched an investigation into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) seeking whistle...
Official Shadow People Archives
A collection documenting sightings and reports of Shadow People, detailing their appearance and behaviors as perceived by witnesses in various paranormal contexts.
Official UFO footage
Videos released by government entities, such as the U.S. military, which purportedly show unidentified flying objects, often sparking public interest and speculation about extraterrestrial life.
OG Vase
The original ancient Egyptian stone vase that has undergone high precision structured light scanning, used as a reference point in the study of ancient craftsmanship.
Ohel
The grave site in Queens, New York, of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The episode notes that Trump-connected figures made pre-elec...
Ohio Valley UFO Flap of 1973
A series of UFO sightings reported in the Ohio Valley, particularly in 1973, where multiple witnesses observed unexplained aerial phenomena.
Ojibwe Traditions
Cultural beliefs of the Ojibwe people, which include the presence of spiritual beings and guardians in the forest, often linked with nature and the supernatural.
Old Gods
A phrase used by Tom DeLonge and others to suggest that ancient deities and divine beings in world mythologies may have been non-human intelligences connected to today's UFO phenomenon.
Old Hag Syndrome
A folk name for sleep paralysis episodes in which a person wakes unable to move, feels pressure on the chest and senses a hostile presence.
Old Kingdom Egypt
A period in ancient Egyptian history (c. 2686–2181 BC) marked by the construction of the pyramids and significant advancements in art and architecture.
Old Money
Refers to families or individuals who have inherited wealth over generations, often associated with elite status and influence in society.
Old soul phenomenon
The belief that some children exhibit wisdom, personality traits, or memories from past lives, suggesting they have lived before.
Old World Secrets
Knowledge or practices from ancient civilizations that are thought to have been suppressed or forgotten, particularly those related to energy manipulation and agriculture.
Oldest Road
An ancient stone pathway in Egypt believed to have been constructed to transport quarried basalt for building projects, with ongoing debates about its origin and function.
Ollantaytambo
An archaeological site in Peru known for its well-preserved Incan structures and massive granite blocks that have sparked debate regarding their construction and transportation.
Olmec Civilization
An ancient Mesoamerican civilization known for its colossal stone heads and regarded as one of the first major civilizations in Mexico, dating back to around 1200 BCE.
Olympic Spirits
A class of spirits cataloged in grimoires, believed to assist in various magical operations, particularly in the Western esoteric tradition, often invoking their powers for specific purposes.
Om (Omkara)
In Hindu tradition, the primordial sound from which all other sounds and creation are said to arise. It is central to chanting and to the spiritual view of music.
On the Origin of the World
A Nag Hammadi cosmological treatise that portrays the serpent as the wisest of creatures and eating the fruit as an act of awakening. Scholars variously label it Sethian, partly Manichaean, or Ophite.
Oneness
A concept in spirituality and philosophy that refers to the interconnectedness of all beings and the universe, often described as a realization that separateness is an illusion.
Ontocalypse
A term for the collapse of humanity's accepted view of reality that would follow confirmed proof of non-human intelligence.
Ontological Crisis
A philosophical and psychological crisis stemming from a loss of meaning or purpose in life, often prompted by rapid technological and sociocultural changes.
ontological shock
A term used to describe the deep, often traumatic disruption of our understanding of reality that can occur upon confronting phenomena like UFOs, which challenge conventional beliefs.
Ontology
A branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being, which in this context pertains to understanding UFOs as representations of fundamental aspects of reality rather than extraterrestrial technol...
Operation Bluebird
A covert CIA program established in the 1950s aimed at developing mind control techniques and psychological manipulation, often involving experiments with drugs and hypnosis.
Operation Gladio
A secret NATO-coordinated 'stay-behind' network set up in Western Europe during the Cold War to run guerrilla resistance in case of a Soviet invasion. It was publicly exposed in Italy in 1990 and has...
Operation Highjump
A United States Navy operation conducted in 1946-1947, led by Admiral Richard Byrd, aimed at establishing a research base in Antarctica but has since been the subject of various conspiracy theories su...
Operation Mockingbird
A Cold War-era CIA program alleged to have recruited journalists to shape the news. The host suggests intelligence-linked podcasters represent a 'Mockingbird 2.0.'
Operation Monarch
A rumored extension of MK Ultra that allegedly focused on the creation of mind-controlled sex slaves and operatives through extreme abuse and trauma.
Operation Paperclip
A CIA program initiated after World War II that brought Nazi scientists to the United States to advance American scientific research, particularly in defense and mind control.
Operation Prato
A secret Brazilian Air Force operation conducted in the late 1970s to investigate UFO sightings and encounters in the Amazon region, particularly in response to the Colares incidents.
Operation Trojan Horse
A seminal book by John Keel that argues that UFOs are not mere technological phenomena but may involve metaphysical entities or forces reflecting a deeper layer of reality.
Operation Trust
A Soviet counterintelligence operation of the 1920s that created a fake anti-Bolshevik resistance group to trap dissidents. Conspiracy researchers use the term for controlled-opposition movements such...
Ophites
Early Gnostic sect that revered the serpent of Eden as a bringer of divine knowledge.
Ophiuchus
The 'serpent bearer' constellation that the sun's path crosses between Scorpio and Sagittarius. It is sometimes promoted as a controversial 13th zodiac sign.
Oral Tradition
The practice of passing down stories, history, and cultural practices through speech rather than written texts, essential in preserving ancient narratives and legends.
Oral Traditions
Cultural stories and legends passed down through generations, often encompassing historical experiences, moral lessons, and community beliefs.
Orang Pendak
A cryptid from Sumatra, purported to resemble a small human or ape-like creature, often described in local folklore and rumored to inhabit the jungles of Indonesia.
orb encounter
A phenomenon reported by witnesses where spherical objects are observed performing maneuvers or hovering, often associated with sightings of UAPs.
Orbs
Spherical or luminous objects often reported in paranormal contexts; they are sometimes interpreted as manifestations of spirits or non-human entities.
Orch-OR (Quantum Consciousness)
The Orchestrated Objective Reduction theory of anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff and physicist Roger Penrose. It proposes that consciousness arises from quantum processes inside microtubules within bra...
Order of Nine Angles
A neo-Nazi occult group founded in the UK in the 1970s, known for promoting extreme ideologies and practices linked to Satanism and fascism.
Order of the Fire Fountain
An esoteric organization founded by Łukasz Grochocki, focused on the development and practice of personal magical systems and engagement with spiritual entities.
Order of the White Oak
An organization focusing on Druidic practices and teachings, founded to promote and revitalize ancient Druidic traditions.
Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO)
An occult fraternal order associated with Aleister Crowley. Grady McMurtry revived it in California in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Organ harvesting
The illegal practice of removing organs from living individuals, often without consent, for the purpose of selling them to others needing transplants.
Organ Kundabuffer
Concept from G.I. Gurdjieff's book Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson describing an organ implanted in humanity that cut people off from objective perception. Strieber links it to a lost 'earth energy'...
Organ transplant
A medical procedure where an organ from a donor is surgically placed into a recipient to replace a damaged or failing organ, often raising questions about identity and memory.
organized skepticism
A coordinated approach to challenging and dismissing claims regarding UFO sightings, often involving scientific and academic communities.
Orgone Accumulator
A box made of alternating organic and inorganic layers, invented by psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich in the 1940s, which he claimed concentrated a life energy he called 'orgone.' Silva compares the layered...
Orgone Energy
Wilhelm Reich's proposed life-force energy, which he claimed could be gathered with accumulators and cloudbusters. Reich was imprisoned and his work was destroyed in the 1950s.
Orgonite
A mix of resin, metal shavings, and crystals inspired by Wilhelm Reich's theory of 'orgone' life energy. Users claim it neutralizes harmful energy and EMFs.
Orichalcum
A legendary reddish-gold metal that Plato says covered the central pillar inscribed with Poseidon's laws in Atlantis. The name means 'mountain bronze.'
Original Instructions
A concept drawn from indigenous traditions holding that every being is born with innate knowledge of its purpose and place in the Earth community.
Original Thinking
A philosophical framework developed by Glenn Aparicio Parry that seeks to integrate ancient wisdom and modern insights to foster a deeper understanding of time, humanity, and nature.
Origins of the Gods
Various theories surrounding the historical and cultural roots of deities, including the exploration of how ancient civilizations perceived and interacted with divine beings.
Orion
A prominent constellation named after a hunter in Greek mythology, often associated with various ancient structures and alignments in archaeology.
Orion Correlation Theory
The idea, popularized by Robert Bauval in the 1990s, that the three main Giza pyramids are laid out to mirror the stars of Orion's Belt.
Orphan Trains / Repopulation Theory
The historical orphan trains (1854 to 1929) sent about 200,000 children from eastern U.S. cities to the Midwest. Conspiracy theorists claim they distributed artificially produced children to repopulat...
Orphans' Court
A real probate court in states like Pennsylvania that also issues marriage licenses. Sovereign-citizen theorists claim it shows citizens are legally treated as wards of the state.
Orphism
An ancient Greek mystery religion, flourishing by the 6th century BCE and centered on the mythic poet Orpheus. It taught that the soul is divine and trapped in a cycle of bodily rebirth as a kind of p...
OSAP
The Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program, a Defense Intelligence Agency program from about 2008 to 2010. It commissioned technical papers called DIRDs on topics such as anti-gravity a...
OSAP (Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program)
A secret Pentagon/Defense Intelligence Agency program launched around 2007-2008 with backing from Senator Harry Reid and contracted to Robert Bigelow's company. It quietly studied UAP-related science...
OSAP / AATIP
Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, a secret Pentagon UFO study effort funded through the Defense Intelligence Agency. It was revealed by The New York Times and Politico in December 2017...
OSAP / AAWSAP
The Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program, a DIA-funded UFO study (roughly 2008-2010) carried out by Bigelow's BAASS contractor under DIA program manager James Lacatski. OSAP refers to...
Osireion
An ancient Egyptian temple complex located near Abydos, thought to be linked with the god Osiris, featuring monumental architecture and intended as a burial site for pharaohs.
Osirian Mystery
A collection of ancient Egyptian rituals and beliefs surrounding the god Osiris, which involves themes of resurrection and the afterlife, potentially linked to sound and resonance.
Osirion
A sunken megalithic structure behind the Seti I temple at Abydos, built of massive granite blocks. Alternative researchers claim it predates the pharaohs and may have been an energy-generating device.
Osiris
An ancient Egyptian god of the afterlife, resurrection, and agriculture, associated with the cycle of life and death and often linked to the theme of immortality.
Osiris Myth
An ancient Egyptian myth centered around Osiris, the god of the afterlife, which explains the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, highlighting themes of resurrection and the continuation of civilizatio...
Osiris Shaft
A subterranean structure located near the Giza Plateau believed by some to be connected to the ancient Egyptian deity Osiris. It has been the subject of various archaeological explorations and claims...
Otoe-Missouria Tribe
A Native American tribe located in Oklahoma, known for its rich history and cultural traditions, including oral storytelling.
Ouija board
A flat board marked with letters, numbers, and other symbols that is used in seances to supposedly communicate with spirits, where participants place their hands on a pointer that moves to spell out m...
Oumuamua
An interstellar object detected in 2017, which raised questions about its origins, with some researchers suggesting it could be an artificial construct based on its unusual characteristics.
Ourang Medan
A ship said to have sent a distress call in the late 1940s in Indonesian waters claiming all officers and crew were dead. Rescuers reportedly found the crew dead with terrified expressions before the...
Ouroboros
An ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, representing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Out of Body Experiences
Phenomena where an individual perceives the world from a location outside their physical body, often reported during near-death experiences or deep meditation.
Out of Place Artifacts
Objects found in unusual contexts that challenge established historical narratives, suggesting advanced technology or civilizations previously unknown to mainstream archaeology.
Out of the Shadows
Book by Jay Stratton recounting his work investigating UAPs inside the US government. It reportedly describes military encounters and warnings he received about probing secret legacy programs.
Out on a Limb
Shirley MacLaine's 1983 memoir, later a TV miniseries, describing her explorations of past lives, trance channelers, and contact with extraterrestrials, including an entity called Mayan.
Out-of-body experience
A phenomenon where individuals feel as though they have left their physical body, often associated with near-death experiences or meditation practices.
Out-of-Body Experience (OBE)
A phenomenon in which a person perceives the world from a location outside their physical body, often reported as a journey through different dimensions or timelines.
Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs)
Phenomena where individuals feel they have left their physical body, often associated with near-death experiences or altered states of consciousness.
Outburst floods
Massive floods that occur when water built up behind a glacial dam is suddenly released, often causing dramatic erosion and landscape changes.
Over Unity
The claim that a device can put out more energy than is put into it. Proponents prefer this term to 'free energy,' and mainstream physics rejects such claims as violating conservation of energy.
overclassification
The practice of classifying information to keep it secret, often criticized when it obstructs necessary disclosure regarding governmental accountability and public knowledge about UFOs.
Oversoul
Ralph Waldo Emerson's concept of a universal spiritual essence that all individual souls share. Its roots lie largely in Platonism.
Owlman
A cryptid described as a large, humanoid creature with owl-like features, often associated with sightings in Cornwall, UK, and noted for its eerie presence.
Owls and UFO encounters
A phenomenon where individuals report sightings of owls in conjunction with experiences related to UFO sightings or alien abductions, suggesting a symbolic or thematic connection.
Oxytocin
A hormone associated with social bonding and emotional regulation, often referred to as the 'love hormone.'
Oz Factor
A term coined by UFO researcher Jenny Randles for the trance-like, isolated state witnesses report during encounters. It matches the paralysis and daze described in this case, though the episode does...
Ozark Atlantis
Kevin Sterling's theory and book claiming that survivors of a sunken Caribbean civilization fled the Younger Dryas floods and built a hidden, knowledge-focused society in the caves and bluffs of the O...