Metaphysical levitation is a name given to the paranormal phenomenon of levitation occurring without any scientific explanation (such as electromagnetism or air pressure). Of course, as with all paranormal events, cases of levitation are hotly disputed; traditionally the scientific and empiricist communities attribute such incidents to trickery, illusion, auto-suggestion, unseen natural causes, or most frequently simply deny the existence of any such phenomenon. On the other hand, spiritualists and religious communities tend to interpret metaphysical levitation as the supernatural action of the Holy Spirit, a god, a poltergeist, psychokinesis, or some other being or force within their own belief system. Spiritualists however almost always claim that metaphysical levitation occurs during altered state, such as mysticism rapture or ecstasy, demonic possession, trance or channeling. Anomalous phenomena are phenomena which are observed and for which there are no suitable explanations in the context of a specific body of scientific knowledge, e. ... Levitation is the process by which an object is suspended against gravity, in a stable position, by a force without physical contact. ... Electromagnetism is the physics of the electromagnetic field: a field, encompassing all of space, which exerts a force on those particles that possess a property known as electric charge, and is in turn affected by the presence and motion of such particles. ... Atmospheric pressure is the pressure caused by the weight of air above any area in the Earths atmosphere. ... For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... Empiricism is generally regarded as being at the heart of the modern scientific method, that our theories should be based on our observations of the world rather than on intuition or faith; that is, empirical research and a posteriori inductive reasoning rather than purely deductive logic. ... An illusion is a distortion of a sensory perception. ... Autosuggestion is a process by which an individual trains the subconscious mind to believe something, or systematically schematizes the persons own mental associations, usually for a given purpose. ... Spiritualism is a religion in which contact with the spirits of the dead through a medium is central. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... The supernatural (Latin: super- exceeding + nature) refers to forces and phenomena which are beyond the current scientific understanding and concept of nature, and which may actually directly contradict conventional scientific understandings. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being ascribed by monotheistic religions to be the creator, ruler and/or the sum total of, existence. ... A poltergeist (German for noisy ghost) is widely believed to be an invisible ghost that interacts with others by moving and influencing inanimate objects. ... Psychokinesis (literally mind-movement) or PK is the more commonly used term today for what in the past was known as telekinesis (literally distant-movement). It refers to the psi ability to influence the behavior of matter by mental intention (or possibly some other aspect of mental activity) alone. ... The phrase altered state of consciousness was coined in the 1970s and describes induced changes in ones mental state, almost always temporary. ... Mysticism (ancient Greek mysticon = secret) is meditation, prayer, or theology focused on the direct experience of union with divinity, God, or Ultimate Reality, or the belief that such experience is a genuine and important source of knowledge. ... Demonic possession is a form of spiritual possession; specifically, the act of one or more demons entering a living or dead human or animal body or an object with the intention of using it for a purpose, normally evil but sometimes instead as a punishment or test. ... Trance is an altered state of consciousness. ... Channeling can refer to Channeling (physics) Channeling (mediumistic), a term used in reference to the process of receiving messages or inspiration from invisible beings or spirits This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The lack of respect for paranormal science among the empiricist scientific world means that controlled-condition testing of the phenomenon is extremely limited, further perpetuating the controversy. There is no compelling evidence to suggest that it is a real phenomenon, but for some isolated cases, such as that of Daniel Dunglas Home, contemporary observers found no uncontroversial naturalistic explanations. The fact that it seems to be a very pervasive belief around the world, occurring in almost all major world religions and shamanic religions does neither add or detract to the case for its existence. Daniel Dunglas Home (March 20, 1833 - June 21, 1886), Scottish spiritualist, was born near Edinburgh, his father being said to be a natural son of the 10th earl of Home, and his mother a member of a family credited with second sight. ... Naturalism is any of several philosophical stances, typically those descended from materialism and pragmatism, that reject the validity of explanations or theories making use of entities inaccessible to natural science. ... Specifically, Shaman (saman) is a term in Evenk, Manchu and other Manchu-Tungus languages for an intellectual and spiritual figure; who usually possess power and influence on other peoples in the tribe and performs several functions, one of which is analogous to the function of a healer in other cultures. ...

Mystical Levitation in Christianity: Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the stories it teaches about the life, and actions of Jesus Christ according to the Christians book of faith, the New Testiment. ...

• St Joseph of Cupertino (Mystic, born 17 June, 1603; died at Osimo 18 September, 1663; feast, 18 September.) reportedly levitated high in the air, for extended periods of more than an hour, on many occasions.
• St Teresa of Avila (born in Avila, Spain, March 28, 1515.She died in Alba, October 4, 1582.) claimed to have levitated at a height of about a foot and a half for an extended period somewhat less than an hour, in a state of mystical rapture. She called the experience a 'spiritual visitation'.
• Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), levitation in states of ecstasy.
• Hadewijch of Antwerp Flemish catholic mystica (first half 13th century) is said to have levitated in state of trance.
• Saint Philip of Neri (Born at Florence, Italy, 22 July, 1515; died 27 May, 1595.) went up several yards during prayer, even to the ceiling on occasion.
• Ignatius Loyola(Born in 1491 at the castle of Loyola above Azpeitia in Guipuscoa; died at Rome, 31 July, 1556.) not only raised several feet but became luminous in the process.
• Saint Robert de Palentin levitated eighteen or twenty inches.
• Saint Dunstan (Probably his birth dates from about the earliest years of the tenth century.) rose off the ground a little bit just before his death.
• St. John of the Cross (b. at Hontoveros, Old Castile, 24 June, 1542; d. at Ubeda, Andalusia, 14 Dec., 1591)
• And, at the beginning of the twentieth century Gemma Galgani, a Passionist nun, reported levitating during rapture.

Demonic Levitation in Christianity: ... Saint Teresa of Avila (known in religion as Teresa de Jesús, baptised as Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada) was a Spanish Roman Catholic mystic and monastic reformer; born at Avila (53 miles north-west of Madrid), Old Castile, March 28, 1515; died at Alba de Tormes October 15, 1582. ... St. ... Ignatius of Loyola Saint Ignatius of Loyola (December 24, 1491? – July 31, 1556), baptized Íñigo López de Loyola, was the founder of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order commonly known as the Jesuits that was established to strengthen the Church, initially against Protestantism. ... Dunstan is also a village in Northumberland, and a lake in New Zealand Dunstan shoeing the Devils hoof, as illustrated by George Cruikshank Dunstan (909 - May 19, 988) was an Archbishop of Canterbury (961 - 980) who was later canonized as a saint. ... Saint John of the Cross (Juan de la Cruz) was a Spanish Carmelite friar, born on June 24, 1542 at Fontiveros, a small village near Avila. ...

• Simon Magus reportedly had the ability to levitate, along with many other magical powers. As a dissenter from the orthodox Christianity of the time, this was branded as evil magic and attributed to demonic powers.
• Clara Germana Cele, a young South African girl, in 1906 reportedly levitated in a rigid position. The effect was apparently only reversed by the application of Holy Water, leading to belief that it was caused by demonic possession.
• Magdalena de la Cruz (1487-1560), a Franciscan nun of Cordova.
• Girolamo Savonarola, sentenced to death, rose off the floor of his cell into midair and remained there for some time.

Mystical Levitation in Hinduism The death of Simon Magus. ... The ancient symbol of the pentagram is often used as a symbol for magic. ... Separate articles treat Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Orthodox Judaism. ... The baptismal font at St. ... Magdalena de la Cruz (1487-1560) was a Franciscan nun of Cordova, who for many years was honoured as a saint. ... Girolamo Savonarola by Fra Bartolomeo, ca 1498 Girolamo Savonarola (Ferrara, then Duchy of Ferrara, September 21, 1452 – Florence, May 23, 1498), also translated as Jerome Savonarola or Hieronymous Savonarola, was a Italian Dominican priest and, briefly, ruler of Florence, who was known for religious reformation and anti-Renaissance preaching and...

• Hindu Fakirs and Brahmans have a history of metaphysical levitation, which is active, rather than passive as in Christian mysticism. It is performed with the aid of a staff, though this does not have to touch the ground, and in a lotus position.

Louis Jacolliot wrote in 'Occult Sciences in India and Among the Ancients' (1884): A Hindu (archaic Hindoo) is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, also known as Sanatan (सनातन) Dharma or Vedic Dharma. ... According to Herbert Ponting, who took this photograph in 1907, this is a fakir in Benares (Varanasi), India. ... Here the underlined vowels carry the Vedic Sanskrit udātta pitch accent. ... You may be looking for information on: Look up staff on Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Louis Jacolliot (*1837 in Charolles, † 1890 in Saint Thibault des Vignes) was a french author. ...

"Taking an ironwood cane which I had brought from Ceylon, he leaned heavily upon it, resting his right hand upon the handle with his eyes fixed upon the ground. He the proceeded to utter the appropriate incantations...[and] rose gradually about two feet from the ground. His legs were crossed beneath him, and he made no change in his position, which was very like that of those bronze statues of Buddha...For more than twenty minutes I tried to see how (he) could thus fly in the face and eyes of all known laws of gravity...the stick gave him no visible support, and there was no apparent contact between that and his body, except through his right hand." A stone image of the Buddha. ... It has been suggested that gravitation be merged into this article or section. ...

Levitation by Mediums In spirituality, a medium or spirit medium (plural mediums) is an individual who claims the ability to receive messages from spirits, ghosts, or other discorporate entities, or claims that he or she can channel such entities -- that is, write or speak in the voice of these entities rather than in...

• Many mediums have levitated during séances, especially in the 19th century in Britain and America, however, almost all have been proved to be frauds using wires and stage magic tricks.
• Daniel Dunglas Home, the most prolific and well documented levitator of himself and other objects was said to repeatedly defy gravity over a career of forty years. He was reputedly observed levitating out of a building through a third story window and back into the building via a different window. He could also cause tables and chairs to raise feet into the air, and was never demonstrated to be a fraud by hundreds of purportedly sceptical witnesses and tests. He remained in full consciousness throughout these feats, and attributed them to the action of some kind of magical energy.

Yogic Levitation or Flying by Meditation A séance (pronounced: ) is, on its most basic level, an attempt to communicate with the dead. ... Magician redirects here. ... Daniel Dunglas Home (March 20, 1833 - June 21, 1886), Scottish spiritualist, was born near Edinburgh, his father being said to be a natural son of the 10th earl of Home, and his mother a member of a family credited with second sight. ... Wooden kitchen table and chairs For other uses, see table (disambiguation). ... Look up chair in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Occams Razor non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem or plurality should not be posited without necessity is a central tenet of skeptical thought. ...

• Yogi Subbayah Pullavar, was reported to have levitated into the air for four minutes in front of a crowd of 150 witnesses, June 6th, 1936. He was seen suspended horizontally several feet above the ground, in a trance, lightly resting his hand on top of a cloth covered stick. Pullavar's arms and legs could not be bent from their locked position once on the ground.

• Yogi Milarepa was rumored to have possessed a range of additional abilities during levitation, such as the ability to walk, rest and sleep, however such were deemed as occult powers.

Above, Yogi Pullavar executing his June 6th, 1936 levitation. ... Jetsun Milarepa (Wylie: Rje-btsun Mi-la-ras-pa), 1052-1135 (approx) was one of one of Tibets most famous yogis and poets, a student of Marpa Lotsawa, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu (Bka-brgyud) school of Tibetan Buddhism. ...

Controlled experiments into levitation

The only very compelling and thorough case of controlled scientific tests recently was that of Nina Kulagina, a Russian 'psychokinetic', in the 1960s. She demonstrated the power to levitate small objects repeatedly in conditions which satisfied Russian, Czech and American scientists, although she never levitated herself. She levitated objects such as table tennis balls, wine glasses and matches, in conditions engineered to make the use of hidden magnets, wires and such like impossible. However, both that these feats are commonly reproduced onstage by illusionists, and that scientists can be fooled by the tricks of skillful magicians, as was proven by James Randi's Project Alpha in 1979. Kulagina was photographed using a stick, which was called "ectoplasma" by parapsychologists who didn't want to believe her a fraud. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Psychokinesis (literally mind-movement) or PK is the more commonly used term today for what in the past was known as telekinesis (literally distant-movement). It refers to the psi ability to influence the behavior of matter by mental intention (or possibly some other aspect of mental activity) alone. ... Professional level table tennis rally, showing table, net, and player Wang Liqin winning a forehand drive against Jorg Rosskopf. ... A ball is a round object that is used most often in sports and games. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... burning match This article refers to the implement used to create a flame. ... Magnetic lines of force of a bar magnet shown by iron filings on paper A magnet is an object that has a magnetic field. ... A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, elongated strand of drawn metal. ... Magician redirects here. ... James Randi James Randi (born Randall James Hamilton Zwinge, August 7, 1928 in Toronto, Canada), more often known as The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician, a skeptic, and an opponent of pseudoscience. ... Project Alpha was a famous hoax played on the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research, orchestrated by famous magician and skeptic James Randi. ...

See also

• Psychokinesis
• Metaphysics
• Anomalous phenomenon
• Yogic flying