Notes on Telekinesis

1. Definitions

A. Parapsychology- is a controversial discipline that seeks to investigate the existence and causes of psychic abilities.

(1) Telekinesis comes from Greek, tele meaning ‘distant’ and kinesis meaning ‘motion’

(2) Psychokinesis also comes from Greek, psycho meaning ‘mind’ and kinesis meaning ‘motion’

2. Famous individuals claiming to have these abilities

A. Uri Geller

(1) Used Psychokinesis (PK) demonstrations to convince individuals and governments in the 70’s he had the ability to manipulate small objects using the power of his mind. Exposed by the great James Randi in his book, 'The Truth about Uri Geller'

B. Nina Kulagina

(1) Alleged Soviet psychic of the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was apparently successful in repeating psychokinetic phenomena under controlled conditions of the soviet government

C. Felicia Parise

(1) an American medical laboratory technician who allegedly was able to repeatedly demonstrate telekinetic movement of small objects beginning in the 1970s, in the first reported instance spontaneously, and then with practice by intense conscious intention.

D. James Hydrick

(1) an American self-described psychic. Hydrick claimed to be able to perform acts of telekinesis, such as his trademark trick involving the movement of a pencil resting at the edge of a table. Following a nationally televised demonstration of his abilities, he was unable to prove his supernatural abilities, and Hydrick subsequently confessed the fraud to an investigative reporter. Also exposed by the great James Randi on television

E. Eusapia Palladino

(1) An Italian medium who allegedly could cause objects to move during seances in the early 1900s.

3. Common Methods

A. Invisible thread (what I use on the car in the above video)

(1) A very thin string, usually elastic, is attached to the performer and allows apparent distant control of small items. The thread is stretched between the hands, attached to the clothing, or even the eyeglasses of the performer

(a) Expected technique used by Nina Kulagina and Felicia Parise to manipulate small objects

B. Magnets (what I use on the cigarette pack in the above video)

(1) A magnet is attached to the performer and when brought close to the object, the attraction or repulsion of the magnet has an effect on the prepared item. Magnets are generally attached to the performers thumb via false finger tip, the wrist, or the knee.

(a) Technique used by Uri Geller to manipulate the dial of a compass

C. Manipulating the Surface (what I use on the bottle cap in the above video)

(1) The working surface on which the objects is on is manipulated. This can be achieved by moving or lifting the table, or sliding the table cloth

(a) Expected technique used by Eusapia Palladino

D. Air Current (what I use on the pencil in the above video)

(1) The object(s) is positioned in such a way, or is light enough in weight, to where the human breath or current of air can cause otherwise unexplained movement

(a) Technique used by James Hydrick

E. Other (what I use on the pen in the above video)

1. Some other, naturally occurring scientific event is taking place

(a) Convection

(1) The movement of molecules within liquids, gases and rheids (as in a Psi Wheel demonstration)

(b) Static Electricity

(2) The buildup of electric charge on the surface of objects