Have you ever tried to move an object without your hands? Perhaps, you’ve tried to use ‘The Force.’ I am guilty of that, always as a joke, of course.
These days, most of us know it’s not something that is actually possible in the general population, due to no reliable evidence.
But it didn’t use to always be that way. In the 1800 and 1900s, it was an astounding phenomenon in the rise of spiritualism and mediums. And soon enough, many were on the scene trying to claim their telekinetic fame.
Examples include:
Harry Kellar
Prominent magician of the time, Harry Kellar did his own dabbling in levitation, simulating his own mind blowing illusions of telekinesis and captivating those around him. (An advertisement of his levitation is shown in an 1894 poster.)
Eusapia Palladino
To the right, self-proclaimed spiritualist medium, Eusapia Palladino (the left) spoke of how she could move objects during her séances. To the right you’ll find just one example of this. Researcher Alexander Aksakof (the right) bared witness to the levitation to detect fraud. Eventually she was caught and deemed fraudulent, as she used her foot in a different example, which was detected by another magician, Joseph Rinn.
Stanislawa Tomczyk
Another example is that of Stanislawa Tomcyzk (on the left of the article), a self proclaimed master of telekinetic power, often using glass and/or scissors. She claimed to get help from an entity by the name of Little Stasia. Though, eventually she was observed using string by scientists and physical researchers and magician William Marriott showed the world how this was done (to the right).
And these are just a few examples in a sea of many. For years, many mediums have tried to prove the existence of this “hands-off” paranormal phenomenon, though many were simply using fraudulent techniques and magical hijinks, so it’s hard to know what exactly was true from that era. Though that didn’t stop people from trying to find proof in the modern world.
Modern Studies
In recent history, (from 1979 to 1981 to be exact), a series of experiments called Project Alpha, came to be from the McDonnell Laboratory for Physical Research in St. Louis, which reported that two male teenagers could prove the existence of telekinesis. However, the researchers were not then familiar with magical trickery as was the instance here.
And the National Academy of Sciences, formed a panel of researchers in 1984 to further look into telekinesis to perhaps proof its existence. Visits to laboratories that claimed to have positive results of telekinesis, though that was under heavy scrutiny from the panel. Though many believed in the phenomenon, the panel eventually published their conclusion, deeming that there was not scientific evidence to prove the existence of telekinesis. And in 1988, the United States National Research Council came to the same mundane conclusion.
A Possible Explanation?
A widely believed explanation to the existence of telekinesis is cognitive bias, which is the pattern of believing what you want to believe and creating your own reality (to put it simply). This is by far the most believed and accepted theory among researchers and psychologists. And its not just held to telekinesis but all forms of paranormal phenomenon and why its still a prominent study today.
Psychologist Robert Sternberg is a huge believer in the cognitive bias theory:
Some of the worst examples of confirmation bias are in research on parapsychology … Arguably, there is a whole field here with no powerful confirming data at all. But people want to believe, and so they find ways to believe.
But despite the debunking and dissuading studies, today, the Center for Inquiry holds an offer of $250,000, for proof of the paranormal phenomenon. Who knows, maybe someday, we’ll have proof, though that would likely be years and years away.
Though, its refreshing to know that paranormal abilities and hauntings are still being studied in search for the truth, whatever that truth may be.
I do believe in the paranormal but I’ll be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about telekinesis. I can’t say I’ve personally experienced it or witnessed it, unlike other paranormal hauntings and experiences that I have. But I’d love to know your thoughts on it and if you have had an experience to share!
Paranormal Addict 