Psychic abilites

I thought this might be a good place to post this. I haven't seen any articles yet that touch on the subject of psychic abilities so thought i would put something about it here.

Steps

Meditate(http://www.wikihow.com/Meditate). ~ Experiment with various techniques until you find one that feels right for you. Remember, there is no right way or wrong way to perform meditation. It is only important that you are able to relax and focus your mind. If you continue the practice of meditation for any length of time, you will begin to notice the existence of your own spiritual energy. It is the connection to your spiritual self which provides intuitive information. Strengthening the connection to your spiritual self will result in an increase of your psychic abilities.

Try to be more aware of your surroundings. ~ Upon waking in the morning, make an effort to lie still for a few minutes without opening your eyes. Try to notice as many sounds, textures and smells as possible before you decide to open your eyes. This exercise if carried out for several weeks can greatly help to increase your levels of awareness and intuition.

Listen(http://www.wikihow.com/Listen). ~ The act of listening is important in increasing psychic awareness, after continuing this exercise for some time you will begin to notice an increase in your overall awareness which affects your level of intuition.

Pay attention to random thoughts and feelings. ~ Keep a journal handy at all times and try to write down those thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere. You may notice after a while that patterns tend to emerge. Thoughts that previously seemed completely random and unconnected begin to form themes or recognizable ideas.

Record your dreams in your journal. ~ If you have been following the awareness exercise outlined above you will have noticed that your dreams are much easier to recall. Allowing yourself a few minutes to be still upon waking makes it much easier to remember dreams and with more detail, than if you rush out of bed in the morning and hurry to start the day. Try setting your alarm clock to wake you up ten or fifteen minutes before your normal waking time. Give yourself some time to remember your dreams and make a few quick notes in your journal.


Tips
These simple exercises can have dramatic results if practiced regularly. These steps are just a few of the many techniques available for increasing your psychic ability. There are many other methods to choose from. In your search for information regarding psychic development, it is important to be wary of any methods which declare that psychic abilities are the result of external forces, or any teachings which insist that psychic powers are anything other than a natural human ability.
In order to develop true psychic abilities, you have to believe in your self. You also have to fully believe in the thing itself. Doubt will lead to failure.
Your purpose must be righteous. If you have evil or wrong intentions, you will feel nothing. You need a pure heart and a understanding of things and people.

I have found that using the \"Psi Whee\" is a good method for testing ones strength in the force. Its simple and really easy to make. Take a small square peice of paper with the sides no more than two inches. Then get a needle put it through a eraser or peice of rubber. Fold the piece of paper down the corner so it can be folded into a pyramid shape. Once thats done balance the paper on the needle. Then try to spin it with the force.

to try and eliminate outside influences such as draughts, electrostatic, sound etc energy from moving the wheel, giving false reading, put na plastic or glass bowl over the set up (has to be big enough to allow free movement of the wheel) or even better, an airtight 'tupperware' container

The OP makes good points on raising your awareness and building greater understanding of your surroundings by slowing down and guiding your senses.

However, I'm somewhat unclear on the nature of the 'psychic powers' in question. What is it exactly that you believe that you can do?

Telepathy?
Telekinesis?
Precognition?
Psychic-Healing?


I'm also curious to find out what the stance of the temple is toward these so-called abilities.

Well... having spent a bit of time on various sites for such matters (Psipog and the like), I'm inclined to believe that it is possible - I just haven't had the focus and drive to actually sit down and do any of the exercises. :laugh:

But, regarding abilities...

Telepathy, yes.
Psychokinesis, yes.
Precognition... to a certain extent.
Psychic healing... eh, I'm still up in the air on that one.

There are others, of course. Clairvoyance and clairaudience follow in with telepathy and precognition under the umbrella term ESP (extrasensory perception, basically including anything beyond the five senses that allows for heightened awareness), while pretty much any form of manipulation via Psi, Chi, the Force, or whatever you want to call it, is usually some variation of Psychokinesis.

I do not profess to be an expert on the subject, I only know it in theory... but if I can actually manage to meditate for more than two minutes, I'd love to build up the concentration do work on these things.

It's interesting to me as well but from a skeptical viewpoint.

I'm just wondering if there has been any Jedi here who makes claim that they have such abilities and can demonstrate them or if they are largely symbolic in nature.

Well, yes, I've always had what I call a \"scientific mindset.\" I like to keep an open mind, and a healthy skepticism. :laugh:

I'd love to see some demonstrations too.

While I do not normally exhibit any abilities I did experience a pronounced ‘lousy’ feeling yesterday as I was sitting down at my desk to have lunch. It as accompanied with a clear thought of the Temples' forum page in my mind’s eye…thus I logged on and behold, there was something going on… :side:

Garm wrote:

While I do not normally exhibit any abilities I did experience a pronounced ‘lousy’ feeling yesterday as I was sitting down at my desk to have lunch. It as accompanied with a clear thought of the Temples' forum page in my mind’s eye…thus I logged on and behold, there was something going on… :side:

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or legititmately are trying to describe a 'psychic' experience.


Assuming you are being sincere I would say that this is just chance or coincidence. More or less as you are a regular on this forum you think about the forum. More or less things bad and good have happened in the past. So, today they sync'd up for you. That's hardly a supernatural event. Your sour stomach could have just been the need to eat.

Nothing to see here folks.

I would, really like it though if we could see some true expamples of measurable phoenomena if it claim of the Jedi Religion that they exist.

Nowhere in our Doctrine do we speak of these types of powers one way or the other. As for personal experiences it's a good topic.

As brother john it is not part of jediism as such... as with many things, measurable phenomenon requires a 100% bullet proof scientific environment to measure so even things like utube vids etc always be discounted.

I for one with apprentices tell them form the outset 'force powers' (for want of a better term) are not something I can or will try to teach as I firmly believe these are things either already present or not to the individual concern and I also feel that those with any 'powers' (again what ever term you wish to use) will be aware of them to some degree before they stumble across Jediism.

Jediism is not about 'force powers' and 'zapping bad guys with lightning' etc or lightsabres for that matter. In the case of this topic on this forum it is/was just somewhere to talk about it. having a cookery section does not make us Chefs either.

Also, there is no denying instinctive feeling/behaviour in any animals (and yes folks we too are merely animals just with over inflated ego's) so perhaps any abilities are merely varying degrees of this between individuals.

We all have skills etc that others do not have why should this be any different?

MTFBWY - A

Kana Seiko Haruki wrote:

As brother john it is not part of jediism as such... as with many things, measurable phenomenon requires a 100% bullet proof scientific environment to measure so even things like utube vids etc always be discounted.

I for one with apprentices tell them form the outset 'force powers' (for want of a better term) are not something I can or will try to teach as I firmly believe these are things either already present or not to the individual concern and I also feel that those with any 'powers' (again what ever term you wish to use) will be aware of them to some degree before they stumble across Jediism.

Jediism is not about 'force powers' and 'zapping bad guys with lightning' etc or lightsabres for that matter. In the case of this topic on this forum it is/was just somewhere to talk about it. having a cookery section does not make us Chefs either.

Also, there is no denying instinctive feeling/behaviour in any animals (and yes folks we too are merely animals just with over inflated ego's) so perhaps any abilities are merely varying degrees of this between individuals.

We all have skills etc that others do not have why should this be any different?

MTFBWY - A

Thanks for the clarification on the point of 'superpowers' and trying to develop psychokinesis.

As far as training to enhance your awareness of your surroundings and sharpening your senses that is definitely worthwhile.
I identify with the tenets set out in the basis of jedism I guess I just cringe from fringe and I'm glad to hear that you folks are based on a solidly reaslistic and moralistic worldview!

Meditation, learning to control breathing, training your body through martial arts (which can help to heighten and train your reflexes - nothing superhuman mind you but amazing nonetheless!) and working toward perfecting your mind and training it in a moral code is commendable!

Keep up the good work guys.
Sorry if I seem like I'm testing you out a bit but this is my first exposure here and I wasn't sure what I was getting into.

Garm wrote:

While I do not normally exhibit any abilities I did experience a pronounced ‘lousy’ feeling yesterday as I was sitting down at my desk to have lunch. It as accompanied with a clear thought of the Temples' forum page in my mind’s eye…thus I logged on and behold, there was something going on… :side:

I can relate to that Brother. Very often I have had particular feelings which have led me to take final decisions in every day life. And very often were the right ones. I don`t think it is really of any relevance whether it can be proved, is realistic, or others believe it, you just know. Thanks. MTFSYW

Well, yes, good reflexes and awareness are good... particularly for a Jedi, because although we are not necessarily supernatural, we still have a duty to uphold, to defend those who cannot defend themselves... which is obviously difficult without martial arts or good reflexes.

Even so (this doesn't really have to do with being a Jedi, it's just always been there), I've wanted to move things with my mind since I was a kid, and I doubt I'll ever give up on that dream.

But yes, you folks right, simple awareness and instinct, even on a basic animal level, is better than nothing.

Sauron wrote:

Garm wrote:

While I do not normally exhibit any abilities I did experience a pronounced ‘lousy’ feeling yesterday as I was sitting down at my desk to have lunch. It as accompanied with a clear thought of the Temples' forum page in my mind’s eye…thus I logged on and behold, there was something going on… :side:

I can relate to that Brother. Very often I have had particular feelings which have led me to take final decisions in every day life. And very often were the right ones. I don`t think it is really of any relevance whether it can be proved, is realistic, or others believe it, you just know. Thanks. MTFSYW

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Besides, acting on instinct or recognition of paradigm or experience is nothing which requires a 'supernatural' explanation.

I disagree with you completely though. Whether or not it can be proved is very relevant if you want to be taken seriously or dismissed as a fringe group of movie fanatics or as a serious religion.

White Crane wrote:

I disagree with you completely though. Whether or not it can be proved is very relevant if you want to be taken seriously or dismissed as a fringe group of movie fanatics or as a serious religion.

Ok, I am not picking on you personally by quoting you, its just an excellent example of what i am about to say so bear with me...

If we were for example, a Staunch Christian forum here, and one or several members said something like they had heard God speak to them or saw any number of the associated holy people (Mary, Jesus etc) no one would really question them or slate the entire faith for the beliefs of a few.

Entire economies are developed around such claims, Lourdes in France is one of many, and all faiths have such places of pilgrimage (except for Jediism I believe).

The term supernatural is a term that kind of irritates me, once again it is a term made by humans to cover their own backs and keep face. What we really mean is that it is beyond true human understanding and comprehension, and we cannot come up with a good explanation for it. The simple truth and fact of the matter is even if everyone could and did demonstrate these things, people would always find an argument to refute them so what is the point of even trying. Like with any religions etc, everyone has their own opinions and ideas, why is it necessary to argue about them? surly isn't an attitude of 'each to their own' a much easier and non confrontational way? I/we have our beliefs, you and others have yours, for crying out loud, wars are fought over such 'differences of opinion' and that is the ultimate in futile acts.

Again, using the Christian ideas as an example (I was raised a Christian so feel kinda qualified to use it as example) If someone popped up now saying 'I am the son of God' or 'The world as we know it was created in 7 days' at best they'd be laughed at, more likely taken away by men in white coats and drugged up.

As with many things, misunderstanding leads to fear and we all know the rest of the line. I am no 'Star Wars Geek' I appreciate the movies sure but my Jedist beliefs are separate from the SW universe. Dismissed or not, my beliefs remain that... MINE and I happen to share them with others not only on this site but others too. You too are welcome to yours, but I have not asked you to 'prove' anything. We could counter you and tell you to disprove our beliefs. frankly, most here are used to and resound to being viewed as somewhat whacko, but in truth, if any religious beliefs, were to be micro analyses... all could be 'mocked' in one way or another.

We the Jedi however believe in freedom of thoughts n speech and beliefs, you only have to look at the various Rites to see this in action, and lets be honest here, no one really knows the whole truth for sure, and when we find the answers for ourselves, we are unlikely to be able to communicate with those we leave behind. On the off chance we do manage this, those we communicate with, will only be subjected to taunts etc.

All these things come down to simple faith. It is yet another example of a pointless discussion really as its like two dogs chasing each others tails ad infinitum. This topic was originally started for people to post what they BELIEVE to be 'intervention' supernatural, force or otherwise (I would hereby like to apologise to the topic starter for their perfectly reasonable thread being taken over like this). I for one am interested in others example, hell, it isnt like anyone has claimed to to get an X-Wing fighter out of a swamp or shoot lightning from their fingers.

Anyway... that's enough, I need to go and raise the titanic through will power alone now :huh: :ohmy:

:woohoo: :silly:

White Crane wrote:

Sauron wrote:

Garm wrote:

While I do not normally exhibit any abilities I did experience a pronounced ‘lousy’ feeling yesterday as I was sitting down at my desk to have lunch. It as accompanied with a clear thought of the Temples' forum page in my mind’s eye…thus I logged on and behold, there was something going on… :side:

I can relate to that Brother. Very often I have had particular feelings which have led me to take final decisions in every day life. And very often were the right ones. I don`t think it is really of any relevance whether it can be proved, is realistic, or others believe it, you just know. Thanks. MTFSYW

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Besides, acting on instinct or recognition of paradigm or experience is nothing which requires a 'supernatural' explanation.

I disagree with you completely though. Whether or not it can be proved is very relevant if you want to be taken seriously or dismissed as a fringe group of movie fanatics or as a serious religion.

That`s fine. We differ maybe because public opinion as far as my personal experiences are concerned are not important.

White Crane wrote:


I disagree with you completely though. Whether or not it can be proved is very relevant if you want to be taken seriously or dismissed as a fringe group of movie fanatics or as a serious religion.

I also do not want to pick on you, but have you not ever had a feeling that told you to do or not to do? Intuition one might call it, but for many of us here a way of life which we call the Force.

azrel wrote:

White Crane wrote:


I disagree with you completely though. Whether or not it can be proved is very relevant if you want to be taken seriously or dismissed as a fringe group of movie fanatics or as a serious religion.

I also do not want to pick on you, but have you not ever had a feeling that told you to do or not to do? Intuition one might call it, but for many of us here a way of life which we call the Force.

ALL: Don't worry about picking on me I can take criticism and counter-argument so long as it doesn't become ad-hominem.


I hold christianity with equal skepticism. Sometimes it's laughable really like the 'miracle' trade and so forth really. When one person believes in a delusional belief it's called insanity. When a billion believe in it it's called faith.

I rule nothing out. I am a seeker and I'm probably what you'd call agnostic and have a 'non-exist' base position. Therefore I want proof of something before believing it. Faith is not enough for me.

In any case, many people call many things by different names of the same thing. I might call those feelings intuition or subconsciuos paradigm recognition... you call it the force. TomAto, Tomato...

I just like to challenge ideas and hopefully people in the discussion including myself gain a better perspective on the whole from it.

I like this site a lot. Keep the thoughts flowing.

All my thought are mine and not views of temple (have to put this, the down side of being admin)

We as Jedi are sometimes a little defensive/jumpy as we are (like any 'new' or 'different' group regularly targeted for jibes etc so please always bear this in mind whne you post to anything on this or other forums.

We too like to learn other viewpoints and encourage the expressions of these views. As long as no one is insulting or rude etc, anyone is welcome to participate in our temple, we have many members who are not actively practising Jedist.

My personal take of the 'name' issue is this, I think my nearest other name for what we call The Force, is Mother Nature... does this cast any new light on the subject for you?