What is Levitation?

Levitation is one of the most mysterious aspects of Extrasensory Phenomena.It is a rare occurence,and many people believe that it is not possible.Others, in contrast spend days,years,and sometimes even a lifetime,attempting to achieve this state

Levitation is the ability to concentrate a prodigious amount of mental energy and express it as a clear and tangible physical force - that causes objects to move through the air,to lift them and to move them without manual contact

However,the most fascinating form of levitation - is the abililty to activate this energy on one's own body

Before the world became scientifically advanced with knowledge, people often believed in strange phenomenons. The ability to “float” or “levitate” has been recognised with great interest throughout the ages. Spectacular stories and even realistic events have been recorded in history. Different classes and races of people have enjoyed the power of levitation, whether it be African tribal leaders, or world famous magicians such
as David Blaine and Copperfield

Monumental religions, including Christianity and Islam have reported extreme magical powers – including levitation. The biblical references often hold fascinating stories behind them. It is believed that in the first century a man named Simon Magnus levitated himself in view of St. Peter as a challenge to prove he possessed magical powers. Levitations were also documented many years before the creation of Christianity, in the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. Levitations during the medieval period were also not rare occurrences, and were often connected with “dastardly practices” such as witchcraft. Had David Blaine performed his levitation during the medieval era, I'm sure he would have been brutalised by the locals

As many centuries passed – the ideas of levitation were not dissolved, and lived on. During the late 19th century Levitations were often connected with poltergeist cases. Spiritualism also helped in promoting the phenomena

Monumental religions, including Christianity and Islam have reported extreme magical powers – including levitation. The biblical references often hold fascinating stories behind them. It is believed that in the first century a man named Simon Magnus levitated himself in view of St. Peter as a challenge to prove he possessed magical powers. Levitations were also documented many years before the creation of Christianity, in the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. Levitations during the medieval period were also not rare occurrences, and were often connected with 'dastardly practices' such as witchcraft

As many centuries passed – the ideas of levitation were not dissolved, and lived on. During the late 19th century Levitations were often connected with poltergeist cases. Spiritualism also helped in promoting the phenomena

In it's rawest form, levitation can supposedly be accomplished through a number of ways. In Buddhism it is believed one can levitate himself through spiritual meditation, which involves a complete focused state of mind

In isolated areas of Asia there are apparently many accounts of this phenomena taking place

Crossing continents to Africa and South America, many members of tribes practice magical acts, such as levitation. Unimaginable feats take place within tribal areas, and records of African inhabitants lifting themselves, along with other physical possessions, such as cows are not rare occurrence

LEVITATION THROUGH THE AGES

1938 - COLIN EVANS - LONDON

The was Colin Evans,who lived in London in the beginning of the 20th century.In the 1930's - he became famous for his mediumistic abilities.In 1938,he took his audience breath away when he appeared in a small London pub.After meditating profoundly for several minutes,his body rose into the air and remained standign in he air for a few long minutes.THe audiense was agitated and perturbed and some people were very afraid.Some of the spectators at the astronishing show rushed to examine the space around Evans floating body,to touch him,to try to see how he had done this amazing 'trick' - but Evans was not hooked up to anything - nor was anything propping him up in the air,other than his incredible mental powers.Evans levitated for about 5min,with his eyes closed and his feet about half a meter from the floor.Photographers who atttended the event hurried to photograph him.About 5min later,Evans slowly descended to the floor and landed with a slight bump.The first sentence he uttered when he opened his eyes was ' now,I know that Daniel was right'

DANIEL HOME

Daniel Home has always been considered one of the most impressive firuges in the world of Extrasensory Phenomena.He operated in London - 2 streets away from the club where Colin Evans performed his levitation. about 70 years before Evans' levetation.In matters of levitation Daniel HOme's name is an inseparable part of this astounding phenomenon

Daniel Home was a medium of Anglo-Scottish origins.He appeared mainly in the US during the second half of the 19th centruy,and became renowned for his marvelous mediumistic powers

His performances attracted thousands of people because he could cause objects to move through the air and dance, he could play a trumpet that was 10 meters away from him without touching it,and he would hold a 'request program' for his audience,in which they asked him to do various things

He made contact with spirits, passed his hand through fire without any subsequent sign of a burn,and once, in a Boston Hotel,he even caused a powerful earthquake that left cracks in the walls of the building

In contrast to many other mediums,Daniel Home fearlessly exposed himself to scrutiny and criticism,thereby proving that his abilities were not sleight of hand.However,above all,he astonished his spectators with his levitational abilities

At the request of the audience,he would levitate,rise up to the ceiling,turn around,and turn left or right according to the spectators's instructions.Sometimes he would perform a somersault in the air.The rumours about his amazing abilities,proved various criticisms and he was asked to prove his levitational ability in front of a kind of test committee composed of journalists,researchers,religious figures,lawyers, scientists,illustrators and two people from the British Royal Establishment

The day he performed his fantastic levitation in the presence of all these astute critics signaled an important landmark in he annals of the History of the Extrasensory

Everybody assembled in a large room,devoid of furniture and rather dark and gloomy.Home asked them to assemble next to one of the walls and to try and maintain absolute silence.He approached the broad window,which was covered with a curtain,drew the curtain,and opened the window wide.Daylight penetrated the room and illuminated its gloom slightly.Home looked down briefly from the window of his home on the 3rd floor of the apartment block.The spectators had a hard time containing their curiosity.They knew that Home put on marvelous performances.But to gather the creme de la creme,of the lay and the scientific community,no doubt what they were going to see would be even more amazing and stunning than his usual performances

Home returned to the center of the room and stared at the wall.The spectators waited in silence.Suddenly with astonishing slowness,almost motionlessly,his feet detached themselves from the floor and he began to rise,his body erect and tense.It rose slowly upward until his head touched the ceiling and bumped against it lightly.It moved slightly downward ad if seeking the appropriate angle of movement and preparing itself for another occuraence,and then turned around and began to levitate toward thewide-open window.Home went out the window,his heels scraping the window sill lightly.Several stunned spectators rushed over to the window and looked down,upset and frightened.They expected to see his crushed body on the sidewalk,but all they saw was their waiting carriages next to the sidewalk.When they looked to both sides,amazed,they saw Home's body going through the next window,which was also open - the window of one of the other rooms in his apartment.Moments later,Home entered the large room,a triumphant smile on his lips.THe reliable spectators could do no more than admit that Home had succeeded in doing the impossible - Overcoming the limitations of gravity - of one of the most clear cut physical laws,and of the human body

Daniel Home wrote his memoirs in a series of books in which he himself attempted to comprehend the secret of his special and mysterious power.The numerous contemporary accounts according to which he actually performed all these marvelous feats,including levitations,are important documents in the research and proof of Extrasensory Phenomena

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Daniel Home & Colin Evans, were not the only ones who succeeded in performing genuine levitation,however.Stories of religious figures and saints who managed to levitate,such as the wonderful story of the Lord Jesus Christ walking on water - also a kind of levitation - were common throughout the world

MIRACULOUS ABRIDGEMENT OF A JOURNEY

In Hebrew writings - as well as in Biblical interpretation and Kabbalistic writings, a similar matter called 'a miraculous abridgement of a journey' is mentioned

In one of the interpretations,the rapid arrival of Eliezer, Abraham's slave, at the well where Abrahan met Rebecca,Isaac's future wife,is described as 'a miraculous abridgement of a journey' as the arrival at a particular place without walking in the usual time-consuming way

The 'miraculous abridgement of a journey' is attributed to several Hebrew religious figures,and is described in Kabbalistic books as being possible,especially when Angel's names and various spells are used

17TH CENTURY

CHRISTIAN SAINT

JOSEPH COPERTINO

One of the famous stories about the levitation of saints tells about the Christian saint,Joseph Copertino,who lived in the 17th century. Copertino lived a life of Asceticism,Abstinence and prayer.Several strange occurrences are attributed to him,such as an ability to eat food that was inedible to other human beings..It is told that he would mix a bitter powder into his food.When several monks in his monastery tasted his food,they all became desperately ill from the powder,while Copertino ate it every day without any ill effects.It is further told about him that he would crush pebbles between his teeth while praying and flagellate himself until until he drew blood.Suddenly one day, while praying,Joseph Copertino's body began to rise up in the air.Several agitated monks rushed to grab hold of his body,and immediately rose up as well as a result of their grasp on his ascending body.From that day on,Copertino would levitate on a daily basis

TIBETAN MONKS

A 19th century European traveler wrote about a fantastic vision he had seen in Tibet in his travel journal.The Tibetan monks were in the habit of performing levitation - sometimes to great heights,which was called long gom - walking while in a trance.This technique of levitation was learned - and may still be learned and applied - in special Tibetan monasteries

This is what the European traveler wrote upon seeing the levitation of the Tibetan monks for himself

' Two novices sat in the lotus position that is familiar to Yoga practitioners.They took slow breaths,and it was possible to see their chests rising and falling like a bellows.Suddenly without changing their sitting position,their bodies began to rise up into the air,and they began to move away from us,the spectators,towards the mountain-peak

*****

info sources:

www.levitation.org

All about The Sixth Sense - Tom Pearson