The experience of the empty chair

Can be defined simply as "psychokinesis" by the influence that exercise the mind over matter. A notion that appeals to many novels or science fiction movies and skeptical many of our contemporaries. However, as in other fields of research, rigorous studies have been performed worldwide. Their findings leave no doubt: in certain conditions, some people, sometimes unknowingly, seem to exert their influence physical environment. Witness this case, famous in the parapsychological community (1), presented by Hans Bender, professor of parapsychology (now deceased) for many years at the Faculty of Fribours Germany. Our psyche can leave "footprints" material?

"Research on the PSI indicate clearly our participation at all intimate. They suggest that reality is woven a web of interconnections. Our thoughts and our actions, our desires and expectations, our beliefs and our fears, our intentions and values, all these facets of human beings affect the world around us and are affected by it. "

Varvoglis Mario, Ph.D. in experimental psychology, wrote these lines after many years studying in several countries, parapsychology. His book "The rationality of the irrational" refers to many specialists. Its findings echo those of many researchers worldwide.

Unlike an unqualified opinion, parapsychology, like many other research on unexplained phenomena, has received the support of many scientists, some Nobel Prize. The results obtained in laboratories with many volunteers do not leave any doubt about the ability of potential human impact on the area simply by psyche.

Such observations are not established only in laboratories. Phenomena as eloquent as "poltergeists" have been reported worldwide. Illustration:

"In late November 1967, inexplicable events took place in a study of the city of Rosenheim in Bavaria, and were reported in the press. Of neon lights attached to a ceiling height of 50 m 2 were going out from time to time, the electricians found unscrewed about 90 °. There were reports of severe beatings; automatic fuses had blown without cause the liquid to develop photocopiers had overturned several times. Telephone interferences were observed in summer, the four phones were ringing often at the same time, the conversation was cut. The telephone bills amounted to unusual amounts. Calls that had never been made appeared to have been recorded. "(2)

A thorough investigation was conducted by the technical staff on site, without explanation. The observations of strange phenomena multiplied, confirmed by video recordings made by Professor Bender. Of telephone technicians constatèrent with the same helpless disturbances telephone (number of times talking clock was made four or five times in a minute). Tables could be rotated 360 ° about their nail.

All these phenomena occurred when a girl's school, Anne-Marie, was near. A well-known model of parapsychological circles, defined by the German term "poltergeist". He was repeatedly found in the world this type of phenomenon, usually associated with the presence of a teenager during puberty. By what means scientifically explainable, some young people are capable of triggering material phenomena blatant unconsciously?

Professor Bender concludes:

"The case of" poltergeist "Rosenheim has in common with other cases of" poltergeist "phenomena that are apparently dependent on the circumstances of crisis and tension of a young person and relate to the attitudes of the observers. The specific situation in the study, especially when too enthusiastic interest that the lawyer (an observer) was the phenomena associated with the transfer that Miss Sch (Anne-Marie) was postponed on its head, producing the affective field necessary for the conduct phenomenon of Psi. "

(1) We have the presentation of this case to Dr. Hubert Larcher, former Director of the International Psychic Institute, and who gave us an extract from No. 17 to the psychic journal (1971/1972), which includes three full articles around this issue