‘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.

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Key Topics

photograph of JB Rhine, one of the first to explore psychological variables underlying psi

Psychology and Parapsychology

Explores the overlap between psychology and parapsychology, such as personality and other variables linked to psi.

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Eminent People Interested in Psi (list)

A list of some 200 scientists, thinkers, writers, and artists who took seriously the possibility of psi.

Ingo Swann, one of the first remote viewers

Remote Viewing

An experimental form of clairvoyance, in which a suitably trained person attempts to visualise the topography of a distant scene.

Tunnel in Near-Death Experience

Near-Death Experience (Overview)

This article describes anomalous mental events reported by people who have survived a near-fatal accident or illness.

Early reincarnation beliefs in the West are associated with the Greek philosopher Pythagoras in the sixth century BCE

Reincarnation: An Introduction

This introductory article covers beliefs in reincarnation, evidence for reincarnation, and sceptical views of the research.

image of dice being thrown

Psychokinesis Research

Overview of experimental research on mind-matter interaction, commonly referred to as psychokinesis (PK).

Psychologist Gardner Murphy led the ASPR during its heyday in the 1960s.

American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR)

The oldest parapsychological organization in the United States, founded in 1884, now practically defunct.

photo of N'kisi, an African Grey parrot involved in ESP experiments

Animals in Psi Research

Describes informal observations, early tests and modern lab experiments looking at animals' psychic capabilities.

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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.

Eleanor Sidgwick, an early investigator of precognition

Precognition

Surveys the research literature on precognition, giving examples of reported cases and the conclusions of researchers.

Eiffel Tower - Psi Encyclopedia

Psi Research in France

This article discusses psi research in France, from nineteenth century ‘animal magnetism’ to the present day.

photograph of Edinburgh University

Experimental Parapsychology in the UK

The UK arguably leads psi research in Europe, having active centres in at least eight universities.

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.

Miguel

Miguel Alberto Mantilla

Mexican boy (b 1904) with a remarkable ability to calculate calendar dates at high speed, rarely making mistakes.

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Charles Bailey

Charles Bailey (1870–1947) was an Australian medium known for an ability to produce ‘apports’ of great variety.

Ted Serios

Ted Serios

Ted Serios (1918–2006) was an adept in the rare phenomenon of ‘thoughtography’ (an ability to 'think' images onto photographic film).

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.

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Out-of-Body Experience (OBE)

Reviews research on OBEs, the sense of having separated from the body and of viewing it from the outside.

The French philosopher Émile Boirac was a leading representative of the neo-mesmeric movement

Neo-Mesmeric Movement

Modern version of early hypnotism, or animal magnetism, which attributed trance states to physical agents.

Obstetrician Florence Elizabeth Barrett, whose observations of dying women seeing visions were recorded by her husband William Barrett

Deathbed Visions Research

Describes research into the phenomenon of deathbed visions by psi investigators Karlis Osis and Erlendur Haraldsson.

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.

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The Glastonbury Scripts

Communications through a medium, seemingly in an attempt to help an archaeologist with his excavations.

Tuscon, Arizona

Windbridge Research Center

Non-profit research institute based in Tucson, Arizona, dedicated to the rigorous study of mental mediums.

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Queen Victoria and Spiritualism

Queen Victoria took an interest in Spiritualism, particularly after the death of her mother and Prince Albert.

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.

photograph of Omm Sety at an Egyptian archaeological site

Dorothy Eady/Omm Sety (reincarnation case)

British woman who as a child was obsessed with ancient Egypt and became an Egyptologist.

photograph of an old-fashioned olive press in an olive grove

Suleyman Andary (reincarnation case)

Lebanese case in which the child talked about the previous life unusually late, between ages 11 and 13.

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Past-Life Memory Research with Children

Research has concentrated on claims to recall past lives spontaneously, without the aid of hypnosis.

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.

The Petit Trianon, Versailles

Versailles ‘Time-Slip’

An experience in the gardens of Versailles, described by two Englishwomen in their 1911 book An Adventure.

Andover, a market town in Hampshire, UK

Andover Poltergeist

Poltergeist disturbances in a household in Andover, southern England, in 1974.

English Credulity or the Invisible Ghost (1762). Contemporary drawing by unknown artist.

Cock Lane Ghost

Notorious 1762 haunting episode, in which disturbances in a London house became the cause of heated public controversy.

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.

albert einstein2

Eminent People Interested in Psi (list)

A list of some 200 scientists, thinkers, writers, and artists who took seriously the possibility of psi.

photograph of hands holding dowsing rods

Dowsing

Traditional method of locating underground water or minerals by the movement of a pair of metal rods, a forked stick or a pendulum.


Psychische Studien (journal)

Early German psychical research journal (1874–1925) that contained reports of experiences and investigations.

Scientists & Authors

Here can be found more than 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.


Marilyn Schlitz

American social anthropologist and psi researcher, studying distant intentionality, healing and special gifted populations.

Celia Green

Celia Green

British philosopher and psychologist (b 1935) who has published extensively on lucid dreams, ESP and the out-of-body experience.

Dani Caputi

Dani Caputi

American atmospheric scientist who has examined consciousness effects on micro-meteorological processes.

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.

Waterside Campus, University of Northampton

Exceptional Experience and Consciousness Studies (EECS)

Based at the University of Northampton, this is the largest centre for parapsychological research in the world.

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Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS)

American research institute co-founded in 1973 by astronaut Edgar Mitchell to research human potential using scientific methods.

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.

photograph of James Randi

The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge

Prize offered until 2015 by the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) but never awarded.

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Blackmore-Sargent Controversy – A Reconsideration

This article presents a new analysis of cheating accusations made by Susan Blackmore.

Susan Blackmore

Susan J Blackmore

British psychologist, consciousness researcher and psi sceptic, who has frequently appeared in the media promoting her views.

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