For most of us, being born with paranormal abilities sounds like a lot of fun. However, people who have to live with this inexplicable set of “skills”, it can be a very frightening experience. Abnormal psychic abilities have been frowned upon for centuries and until recently they have been considered evil and dangerous.
But, do they exist? Skeptics consider that people who claim they have paranormal abilities are nothing more than frauds trying to take advantage of the gullible. On the other hand, the discoveries in quantum physics, the studies on the effects of cognition and emotion on the body and environment as well as the zero point field bring evidence to support the authenticity of supernatural powers. Let's review a top 10 of the paranormal abilities found across the globe today:
1. Telekinesis
Telekinesis refers to the ability to move and manipulate objects with the power of one's mind and it is by far the most desirable ability. Perhaps it is due to the numerous sham books trying to teach people how to develop telekinesis, but science today does not classify this as paranormal and it is generally viewed as an attempt to scam people. According to psychologists, such books present an even more dangerous effect: because exercising to develop telekinesis gives a certain illusion of control, many begin believing they actually posses such powers.
2. Telepathy
Telepathy is a gift that benefits from a lot of attention from the media and Hollywood producers. Because it implies communicating with others using only the mind, many consider telepathy as a form of extra sensory perception. The ability of people to communicate with other people through this channel can take on many forms, from receiving a call just as you were about to call that exact person to becoming aware that your loved ones experience a critical situation and feeling compelled to change your current course of action.
3. Psychometry
In spite of the fact that it is controversial, some police departments sometimes appeal to practitioners of psychometry to find out more details about a missing person. Essentially, psychometry refers to the ability to read information from objects that belonged to a person, such as handkerchief, watch, scarf, etc. On a side note, psychometry is also used in stage acting when participants offer one of their personal object and get a "reading" from a psychic or medium.
4. Precognition
Precognition is the ability to predict the future and it is considered a form of extrasensory perception that allows a person to foresee turns of events that would have been impossible to predict with the available information otherwise. Granted, there is an abundance of cases when people with precognitive powers predicted future event. However, science is still reluctant to accept this ability, particularly because it is impossible to obtain a demonstration on demand. One of the famous modern times cases of precognition is that of Jeane Dixon, who is assumed to have foretold the assassination of president Kennedy as well as envision that president Nixon would be the winner of the 1960 elections.
5. Postcognition
As you might have guessed from the name, postcognition is the opposite process of precognition and refers to seeing events that have occurred. Along with psychometry, this paranormal gift is also utilized in modern times by police departments whenever they need additional help with very difficult cases. Even though a significant number of cases have been resolved by employing the help of individuals with postcognitive abilities, skeptics still consider it a hoax that can be pulled by a person who is familiar with some of the details associated with the investigation.
6. Bilocation
Because it implies a person can be in two places at the same time, bilocation is generally viewed with skepticism even in the parapsychology field. The advocates of this gift claim that bilocation is actually an ancient phenomenon that has been practiced and experienced by many prophets, priests, mystics, monks, saints, ecstatic and other magical adepts. Furthermore, supporters of bilocation suggest that this is the explanation to why people sometimes appear to their loved ones, prior to their death.
7. Astral projection
Astral projection is an incredible psyche ability that refers to the ability to separate your spirit from your body and travel vast distances using only your mind. Given the nature of this paranormal power and the fact that the evidence gathered is based exclusively on the testimony of the person experiencing it, astral projection is rather contested. However, it is necessary to mention that there have been several interesting cases when people coming out of a coma described objects located on the top of the hospital or other buildings in the vicinity of the clinic.
8. Clairvoyance
Similar to telepathy, clairvoyance implies communicating with others without using the primary sense, yet without exchanging information. Maybe the reason why this paranormal ability has so many opponents resides in the fact that clairvoyants pretend the get their information from the spirit world. Nonetheless, there have been numerous cases of clairvoyants revealing info to their clients that only they and the deceased person knew.
9. Extra sensory perception
ESP refers to the capacity of some people to gather information without using their five basic senses. The shroud of doubt surrounding this talent comes from the method utilized by in testing it, namely the infamous Zenar cards. Therefore, the person presumed to have extra sensory perception needs to guess the cards that the other person is holding using nothing but the power of his mind. Skeptics consider that correctly guessing the patterns of the Zenar cards is nothing supernatural, but a simple calculation of 1 to 5 odds.
10. Pyrokinesis
Pyrokinesis refers to the ability to start and extinguish fires at will and it is believed to be one of the most plausible explanations regarding the mysterious spontaneous human combustions. Although most see the ability to control fire as pure fiction, there are numerous cases suggesting pyrokinesis might be real. A noteworthy case was that of a 3 year old girl from the Philippines who incinerated her pillows while witnesses watched on in disbelief.
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