Levitation is a psychokinetic (PK) phenomenon in which objects, people and animals are lifted into the air without any obvious physical means and float or spin around. It is said to occur among mediums and shamans, in trances, in mystical rapture and in states of possession. Such cases of levitation appear to be spontaneous, whereas spiritual or magical adepts are said to be able to control their levitation consciously.
Levitation has several characteristic features. The phenomenon can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. It generally requires a great deal of concentration or a state of trance. A physical medium who is touched while levitating usually falls to the ground. The levitation of saints is usually accompanied by a glowing fire around the body (meaning the aura).
Numerous cases of levitation have been recorded in Christianity and in Islam. One of the first was Simon Magus in the first century AD. Other cases cited among Roman Catholic saints include that of Joseph of Cupertino (1603–1663), the most famous of all, who is said to have levitated frequently. It was also reported that he could stay aloft for more than two hours, often letting out a quiet moan as he rose.
Saint Teresa of Ávila was another well-regarded saint who levitated. She spoke of experiencing it during states of rapture. One witness, Sister Anne, said that Saint Teresa rose a foot above the ground and remained there for more than half an hour.
Saint Teresa wrote of one of her experiences: “It seemed to me, when I tried to make some resistance, as if a great force beneath my feet lifted me up. I know of nothing with which to compare it, but it was much more violent than other spiritual visitations, and I was as though ground to pieces.” (Evelyn Underhill, “Mysticism”, 1955)
Saint Teresa said she was very frightened by it but could do nothing to control it. She did not lose consciousness but knew that she was being lifted.
At the beginning of the twentieth century Gemma Galgani, a Passionist nun, levitated and floated in the air.
Such events have also been described in Hinduism and Buddhism. Milarepa, the great Tibetan yogi (traditionally dated to the eleventh–twelfth century), is said to have possessed many occult powers, such as the ability to levitate during sleep.
Similar feats are said to have been performed by the Brahmins and fakirs of India. The ninja of Japan reputedly shared similar abilities.
Levitation in Eastern culture:
Levitation is achieved through secret breathing and visualisation techniques. These techniques involve activating the universal life force, which goes by various names, such as prana, chi and ki. Louis Jacolliot, a nineteenth-century French judge, travelled across the East and wrote about his occult experiences in “Occult Science in India and Among the Ancients” (1884, 1971), in which he describes the levitation of a fakir.
You might ask whether the practice of levitation is caused by good or by evil. It seems to depend on the person who levitates. Simon Magus was judged in a harsh era and was therefore regarded as someone who used satanic powers to levitate, whereas Saint Teresa was seen in a good light because she levitated in states of rapture and sanctification by the Holy Spirit. In the Middle Ages levitation was thought to be a manifestation of evil. Such extraordinary phenomena were said to be produced by witchcraft, fairies, spirits or demons.
Even in present-day cases, levitation is sometimes believed to be caused by demonic forces (possession by Satan): the levitating person must be possessed by an evil spirit, which manifests its presence in this way. It moves beds, tables, chairs and other objects, which rise and fly up into the air – often aimed at the exorcist or his assistant.
In 1906 the case of Clara Germana Cele was described: a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl in South Africa was said to be possessed by a demon. She levitated five feet into the air, sometimes vertically and sometimes horizontally. When she was sprinkled with holy water, the demon left her. This was considered very credible proof that the girl had been possessed by Satan.
The most famous medium of all is Daniel Dunglas Home. In 1868, in a house in front of witnesses, he was seen to float out through one window into the open air and back into the same building through another. He was in a trance but aware, and later described his feelings during the experience of levitation.
He once described an “electric thrill” sensation in his feet. His arms became rigid and were raised above his head, as if he were grasping an invisible force that was lifting him up. He also levitated furniture and other objects.
The Catholic Church excommunicated him and regarded him as a sorcerer. Yet unlike other mediums, who used wires and other devices to levitate objects, he was never caught cheating.
The Italian Amedee Zuccarini was photographed levitating twenty feet above a table.
Controlled experiments involving levitation are very rare. In the 1960s and 1970s researchers succeeded in levitating tables under controlled conditions. The Russian Nina Kulagina was photographed levitating small objects between her hands.
Sceptics have put forward several theories to explain levitation: hallucination, hypnosis or fraud. These theories do not account for every case. The most plausible and satisfying explanation is the Eastern theory of a force belonging to another, non-material reality that manifests itself in the material world.
The technique of “yogic flying”, which consists of low hops made in the lotus position, has been achieved by practitioners of Transcendental Meditation (TM). It received worldwide publicity. It is claimed, however, that such lifting is produced by muscle power and has nothing to do with true levitation.
First published (Polish original): 8 January 2009. Written by astrologers and esoteric specialists working with our editorial team; edited and translated for HOROSCOP.SPACE. © All rights reserved.
