‘Psi’, the Greek letter ψ, is the modern term for psychic phenomena. The existence of psi – and the related idea that consciousness is independent of the physical body (and so may survive bodily death) – are disputed, as they seem to violate well-established natural laws. However, researchers are convinced they have evidence for these things, posing a challenge to materialist science. The Psi Encyclopedia presents their reasoning in over 700 signed articles by 86 authors, many of them senior academics. It also provides links to books, articles and videos that are free to view.
Featured
Stephen E Braude
American philosopher and parapsychologist (1945–2026) remembered for his field investigations of apparent psychokinesis.
Meditation and Psi
Traditional Yogic teachings state that a person who attains a higher state of consciousness will manifest psi powers.
Psychedelics and Psi
A gradual easing of restrictions means that psi research with psychedelics, once prevalent, could soon resume.
Psi Research in China
Recent experimental and theoretical work in China includes successful attempts to train ESP abilities in blind children.
Clinical Parapsychology
Therapeutic approach that aims to provide support for people disturbed by anomalous event experiences.
Psi for Financial Gain
Anecdotal accounts and lab tests suggest that psi can at times be used to advantage in gambling and financial speculation.
Coover Telepathy Experiments
Early telepathy experiments, once thought a failure, now considered statistically significant.
Key Topics
Psychology and Parapsychology
Explores the overlap between psychology and parapsychology, such as personality and other variables linked to psi.
Eminent People Interested in Psi
A list of some 200 scientists, thinkers, writers, and artists who took seriously the possibility of psi phenomena.
Remote Viewing
An experimental form of clairvoyance, in which a suitably trained person attempts to visualise the topography of a distant scene.
Near-Death Experience (Overview)
Anomalous mental events reported by people who have survived a near-fatal accident or illness.
Reincarnation: An Introduction
This introductory article covers beliefs in reincarnation, evidence for reincarnation, and sceptical views of the research.
Psychokinesis Research
Overview of experimental research on mind-matter interaction, commonly referred to as psychokinesis (PK).
American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR)
The oldest parapsychological organization in the United States, founded in 1884, now practically defunct.
Animals in Psi Research
Describes informal observations, early tests and modern lab experiments looking at animals' psychic capabilities.
Recent Additions
Brian Laythe
American psychologist and parapsychologist whose research interests include paranormal beliefs and experiences.
Marieta Pehlivanova
Marieta Pehlivanova is a researcher at the University of Virginia, with interests relating to near-death and related experiences.
Ulf Holmberg
Swedish economist who has investigated the potential impact of human consciousness on random physical systems.
Cold Reading
Discusses the psychological strategies that can be used to simulate a mediumistic communication or psychic reading.
Philip J Cozzolino
American researcher who has investigated psychological aspects related to parapsychological phenomena.
Jürgen Kornmeier
German parapsychologist with research interests in perception, altered states and consciousness.
James E Kennedy
American psi researcher specializing in experimental research, methodology and theoretical development.
Metal Bending Research
Survey of research into claims that cutlery and other metal objects can potentially be bent by mind force alone.
Jack Houck
American engineer (1939–2013) noted for his mass demonstrations of psychokinesis at metal bending ‘parties’.
Center for Research on Consciousness and Anomalous Psychology (CERCAP)
Swedish research organization headed by Etzel Cardeña.
Marina Weiler
Marina Weiler is a Brazilian neuroscientist who studies anomalous experiences in terms of neuroscience.
David Acunzo
David Acunzo is a neuroscientist based at the University of Virginia, whose research encompasses topics relevant to parapsychology.
Richard James Lucido
American psychologist whose experiments support the idea that consciousness causes the collapse of the wave function.
Larry Dossey
Larry Dossey is an American physician and author of books about psychic experiences, healing and nonlocal consciousness.
Jon Taylor
Cambridge-trained scientist who has developed physical theories of precognition and intuition, bridging quantum physics and neuroscience.
Jeff Tarrant
American psychologist and neurofeedback specialist who has carried out experiments with psychics, mediums and energy healers.
Helané Wahbeh
Research director at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, pursuing a scientific exploration of consciousness that includes practical applications.
Gabriel Guerrer
Gabriel Guerrer is a Brazilian experimental physicist who has investigated the possible influence of consciousness on matter.
Wilhelm Wundt
German psychologist whose scepticism of psi phenomena was motivated by religious concerns.
Apollonius of Tyana
Itinerant first-century preacher and healer reputed to have performed miracles and supernatural feats.
Explore the Psi Encyclopedia
ESP & Psychokinesis
The term extra-sensory perception (ESP), introduced in the 1930s, comprises telepathy, clairvoyance and precognition, acknowledging that these categories may considerably overlap. Psychokinesis is the direct influence on matter by mind alone, without physical action. All have been successfully tested in the laboratory and studied in real life situations.
Transparent Psi Project
This article describes a failed effort to replicate a famous precognitive effect reported by Bem in 2011.
Experimenter Effects
Parapsychologists have come to believe that experimenters play a major role in influencing the outcome of psi tests.
Psychedelics and Psi
A gradual easing of restrictions means that psi research with psychedelics, once prevalent, could soon resume.
Gifted People
Most people may only experience a psychic event once or twice in their lives, but for a few it’s a natural ability, which some develop as a professional career. Two types feature in the Psi Encyclopedia: those who have demonstrated telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition or psychokinesis in some way, and those who believe themselves to be in communication with the deceased.
Apollonius of Tyana
Itinerant first-century preacher and healer reputed to have performed miracles and supernatural feats.
Alex Tanous
Alex Tanous (1926–1990) was a noted New England psychic and parapsychologist, who contributed to out-of-body research.
Joe McMoneagle
Former US Army soldier who played a leading role as a remote viewer in the Star Gate psychic spying program run by American military.
Mind & Body
This category contains articles that treat consciousness in relation to the body. Major topics covered include healing and psychotherapy; dreams and dreaming; and out-of-body experiences, end-of-life experiences, and near-death experiences, all of which suggest that consciousness may have an existence independent of the physical body.
Psychoanalysis and Psi
Psychoanalysts have often reported instances of psi occurring between patient and practitioner.
Thoughtforms
Describes the concept of an entity created directly and exclusively by the mind, whether unconsciously or consciously.
Psychomanteum (Mirror-Gazing)
Describes explorations by Raymond Moody with a mirror-gazing technique for therapeutic purposes.
Survival of Death
Life continued in a spiritual or purely mental form after bodily death is a staple of religious beliefs worldwide, and likely is as old as humanity. The question of evidence for it has been central to the Society for Psychical Research since its founding in 1882. This category includes articles on mediumship as well as general topics related to the survival question. Other survival-related topics appear under other category headings.
The Glastonbury Scripts
Communications through a medium, seemingly in an attempt to help an archaeologist with his excavations.
Larry Dossey
Larry Dossey is an American physician and author of books about psychic experiences, healing and nonlocal consciousness.
Encounters With the Deceased
Describes types and characteristics of encounters with deceased loved ones in dreams and elsewhere.
Reincarnation
Reincarnation beliefs are widespread in the world and in recent decades researchers have found what they believe is evidence of them through the study of people (mainly children) who claim to have lived before. This category includes case studies and overviews of phenomena that appear regularly in the cases. Some articles deal with past life regression as well.
Wijeratne Hami (reincarnation case)
This Sri Lankan boy born with serious physical defects believed they were inflicted on him as karmic punishment.
Duminda Ratnayake (reincarnation case)
Sri Lankan boy who recalled being a Buddhist monk, behaved like one and chanted in Pali.
Kemal Atasoy (reincarnation case)
Case of a Turkish Alevi boy who recalled being an Armenian man who resided 500 miles away in Istanbul.
Haunting
Location-based hauntings have been relatively little studied by parapsychologists, but the frequent incidence of apparitional episodes (the appearance of a deceased family member) attracted the attention of early researchers. Much interest has also centred on so-called ‘poltergeist’ episodes, of powerful domestic disturbances now often attributed to involuntary psychokinetic effects by living agents.
Borley Rectory
Until its destruction by fire in 1939, Borley Rectory was the focus of persistent claims of poltergeist disturbances and haunting phenomena.
Angelique Cottin
French girl who was the centre of psychokinetic disturbances that made an international sensation.
General Topics
This section lists articles on a variety of topics that are not found in any of the main categories, from brain research and altered states of consciousness to dowsing, crop circles and other anomalistic phenomena.
Infrasound
Infrasound (audio frequencies below normal human hearing) has been suggested as the cause of paranormal-seeming effects.
Kirlian Photography
Photographic technique pioneered in Russia that reveals light radiating from living organisms and other objects.
Eyewitness Testimony (Analysis)
This article discusses the reliability of eyewitness testimony about paranormal events.
Scientists & Authors
Here can be found some 300 biographical profiles of key figures who have been involved in psi research and parapsychology as field investigators, experimentalists, theorists and commentators. Many have scientific and academic backgrounds – in psychology, physics, biology, philosophy, engineering and other disciplines.
Wilhelm Tenhaeff
Dutch psychologist and parapsychologist (1894–1981), known for his research and writings about the Dutch psychic Gerard Croiset.
Hugh Dowding
Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding (1882–1970), head of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, who became a Spiritualist.
Eberhard Bauer
German psychologist and parapsychologist, whose research interests include cultural and historical aspects of psychical research in Germany.
Organizations
The oldest organizations devoted to parapsychology were member organizations like the Society for Psychical Research, established in London in 1882. Since JB Rhine founded the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University in 1930, there have been university-based units as well. This category comprises both historical and contemporary bodies concerned with research and education in parapsychology.
Rhine Research Center
Successor to the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University, dedicated to psi research, education and community activities.
Bial Foundation
Foundation set up by Portuguese pharmaceutical giant to support research in neuroscience, psychophysiology and parapsychology.
College of Psychic Studies
British Spiritualist organization, offering mediumship training and courses related to consciousness, healing and the psychic arts.
Scepticism
Sceptics argue that psychics and mediums achieve their effects by trickery, that psychic experience is an illusory effect caused by a combination of brain misperceptions and confirmation bias, and that evidence of psi in laboratory tests can be attributed to poor methodology. This category includes biographies of leading sceptics as well as general articles discussing their allegations.
Martin Gardner
American critic of parapsychology and paranormal claims (1914–2010), a founding member of the modern sceptical movement.
The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge
Prize offered until 2015 by the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) but never awarded.
Michael Shermer
American author, media personality and career sceptic, founder of the Skeptics Society and its magazine Skeptic.