The power of the mind to influence the physical world has long been debated, debunked, studied for military applications, and used in science fiction. This historical and theoretical study of mind-matter interaction, or MMI, explores the phenomena of levitation, stigmata, inedia, paranormal activity, bilocation, fire immunity, luminosity, and the teleportation of matter. The results of more than a century of formal experimental research are discussed, as are resultant training techniques, theories, and controlled experiments used to test or bolster psychokinetic abilities.

Pamela Rae Heath, M.D., PsyD., has written widely about such topics as experiential research, place memory, the afterlife and mind-matter interaction. She is a member of the Parapsychological Association, the Society for Psychical Research and the Society for Scientific Exploration. She lives in South Carolina.

Pamela Rae Heath, M.D.
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 319
Bibliographic Info: 3 photos, 3 charts, glossary, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4971-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5668-0
Imprint: McFarland

Abbreviations      ix
Preface      1
Introduction      3

PART I: A HISTORICAL CROSS-CULTURAL REVIEW OF ANECDOTAL MATERIAL THROUGH THE AGES: RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL      7
Levitation      10
Stigmata      19
Inedia      27
Teleportation      28
Bilocation      30
Fire-Immunity      33
Luminosity      38
Materialization/Transformation of Matter      41
Hemography      43
Deliberately Caused Bodily Damage Phenomenon      44
Weather MMI      46
Physical Mediums      47
Anomalous Healers      55
Martial Artists and Athletes      62
Poltergeists      65
The Wild Card: Spontaneous Nonrecurrent MMI      68
Summary      73

PART II: MMI RESEARCH AND THEORY      75
Poltergeist Research      78
Early Research with Physical Mediums      86
Dice and Sphere Experiments      89
Random Generator Research      91
Biological System Research      96
Macro-MMI Research      110
Metal-Bending Research      117
Instrumental Transcommunication Research      121
Anomalous Photography      130
Other Areas of Research      132
Performance Factors      134
MMI Facilitation and Training      141
What Learning Theories Suggest about MMI      150
MMI Models and Theories      153

PART III: THE MMI MATRIX: EXPERIENTIAL RESEARCH      163
Phenomenology      164
Altered State of Consciousness      166
Connection      177
Dissociation from the Individual
Ego Identity      184
Suspension of the Intellect      187
Playfulness or Peak Emotion      190
Sense of Energy      198
The Physical State      207
Focused Awareness (Attention)      211
Trust in the Process      216
Investment      223
Openness to the Experience      225
“Knowing”      231
Guiding the Process      234
Impact      237
ESP and MMI Overlap      239
MMI Facilitation and Inhibition      248

Conclusions      255
Glossary      259
Notes      263
Bibliography      279
Index      291

• “A very welcome compilation and review of the wide range of so-called psychokinetic type of human experiences that puzzle laymen, experiencers and scientists alike. It is a real treasure to have all in one book such a collection of the types of spontaneous case experiences, a sensible summary of the long history of experimental research, theoretical considerations, some modern applications of mind-matter interaction, as well as a summary of training techniques to improve such ability”—Sally R. Feather, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Rhine Research Center, Durham, North Carolina
• “One of the most insightful and important sources on the experience of being psychic and developing psychic abilities out there, with the added much-needed focus of addressing the oft-neglected inherent ability we all have, psychokinesis”—Loyd Auerbach, M.S., adjunct professor at JFK University in California and Atlantic University in Virginia Beach