The supernatural encompasses supposed phenomena that are not subject to the laws of nature. A supernatural manifestation or event requires a violation of physical law attributed to non-physical entities, such as angels, demons, gods, and spirits. It also includes claimed abilities embodied in or provided by such beings, including magic, telekinesis, levitation, precognition, and extrasensory perception.
Historically, supernatural powers have been invoked to explain phenomena as diverse as lightning, seasons, and the human senses, which today are understood scientifically. The philosophy of naturalism contends that all phenomena are scientifically explicable and nothing exists beyond the natural world, and as such approaches supernatural claims with skepticism.
The supernatural is featured in folklore and religious contexts, but can also feature as an explanation in more secular contexts, as in the cases of superstitions or belief in the paranormal.