Dictionary of Magic & Occultism O - P

Old Testament The first of the two main divisions
of the Christian Bible that corresponds
to the Hebrew scriptures.
omen A prophetic sign, phenomenon, or happening
supposed to foreshadow good or
evil or indicate how someone or something
will fare in the future—an indication
of the course of future events.
oracle Either someone or something that is
the source of wisdom, knowledge or
prophecy. Can also refer to the place
where the prophetic word would be given.
Via French from the Latin oraculum, from
orare to speak.
paleoanthropology The study of humanlike
creatures or early human beings more
primitive that Homo Sapiens, usually done
through fossil evidence.
paleontology The study of ancient forms of
life in geologic or prehistoric times, using
such evidence as fossils, plants, animals,
and other organisms.
Pan In Greek mythology the god of nature or
of the woods, fields, pastures, forests, and
flocks. Is described as having the torso and
head of a human, but the legs, ears, and
horns of a goat.
paranormal Events or phenomena that are
beyond the range of normal experience
and not understood or explained in terms
of current scientific knowledge.
parapsychologist One who studies mental
phenomena, such as telepathy or extrasensory
perception, the mind/body connection,
and other psi or paranormal factors
that cannot be explained by known scientific
principles.
parapsychology The study or exploration of
mental phenomena that does not have a
scientific explanation in the known psychological
principles.
Passover The seven or eight days of a Jewish
festival that begins on the fourteenth day
of Nissan and commemorates the exodus
of the Hebrews from their captivity in
Egypt. From the Hebrew word pesa, meaning
to pass without affecting.
pharaoh From the Hebrew par’oh, Egyptian
pr-’o, and Latin and Greek Pharao, meaning
literally “great house.” An ancient
Egyptian title for the ruler or king of
Egypt, often considered a tyrant and one
who expected unquestioning obedience.
pharmacologist The study of or science of
drugs in all their aspects, including
sources, chemistry, production, their use in
treating ailments and disease, as well as
any known side effects.
phenomena Strange, extraordinary, unusual,
even miraculous events, or happenings to
persons or things. From the Greek phainomenon,
that which appears, from the past
participle of phainein, to bring to light.
philanthropist Someone who is benevolent or
generous in his or her desire or activities to
improve the social, spiritual or material
welfare of humankind. From the late
Latin, ultimately, Greek philanthropos,
humane; philos; loving and anthropos,
human being.
philanthropy From the Greek philanthropos,
meaning “humane,” and from philos,
meaning “loving.” An affection or desire
to help improve the spiritual, social, or
material welfare of humanity through acts
of charity or benevolence.
physiognomy From phusis meaning “nature,
character” and gnomon, “to judge.” The art
of judging a person’s character or temperament
by their physical features, especially
facial features.
physiology The study of the functioning and
internal workings of living things, such as
metabolism, respiration, reproduction and
the like. From the Latin word physiologia
and the Greek phusiologia, and phusis
meaning nature.
precognition The ability to foresee what is
going to happen in the future, especially if
this perception is gained through other
than the normal human senses or
extrasensory.
predator Any organism or animal that hunts,
kills, and eats other animals. Can refer to a
ruthless person who is extremely aggressive
in harming another. From the Latin
praedator and praedari, meaning to seize as
plunder.
psi The factor or factors responsible for parapsychological
phenomena. Derived from
the Greek letter psi which is used to denote
the unknown factor in an equation.
psyche The soul or human spirit or can refer
to the mental characteristics of a person or
group or nation. Via Latin from Greek
psukhe meaning breath, soul, mind and
from psukhein to breathe.
psychiatrist A doctor who is trained to treat
people with psychiatric disorders.
psychoanalysis The system of analysis regarding
the relationship of conscious and
unconscious psychological aspects and their
treatment in mental or psycho neurosis.
psychoanalyst One who uses the therapeutic
methods of psychiatric analysis, such as
dream analysis and free association, as
developed by Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)
to treat patients in order to gain awareness
of suppressed subconscious experiences or
memories that might be causing psychological
blocks.
psychokinesis The ability to make objects
move or to in some way affect them without
using anything but mental powers.
pulsar A star generally believed to be a neutron
star and that appears to pulse as it
briefly emits bursts of visible radiation
such as radio waves and x-rays.
putrefy Causing something to decay, usually
indicating a foul odor. From the Latin
stem, putr, meaning rotten, plus facere, to
make.