Michael Schmicker's Blog - Posts Tagged "levitation"
A Genuine Table Levitation?
In “Alessandra Queen of Spirits,” my upcoming novel, the heroine levitates a table during a séance.
Fantasy?
Perhaps not.
I uncovered credible scientific evidence for this baffling phenomenon while researching my first book, “Best Evidence.” Italian Spiritualist medium Eusapia Palladino (1854-1918), whose amazing, real-life story inspired my new novel, repeatedly performed unexplainable levitations of tables and movements of furniture and objects under tightly controlled scientific conditions.
The curious and the skeptical can examine for themselves the available scientific evidence (check out my bookshelf “paranormal-Eusapia Palladino”).
Veteran parapsychological researcher Prof. Stephen Braude of the University of Maryland has written extensively on the topic of psychokinesis (abbreviated PK). His ground-breaking book, “The Limits of Influence: Psychokinesis and the Philosophy of Science,” is considered a classic.
Under the "Videos" link found on this page, I've posted an interesting one I came across today on YouTube. Over ten days, Professor Braude and U.S. film-maker Robert Narholz visited the Felix Circle (Felix Experimental Group) and observed medium K.M. during a classic “cabinet séance.” Braude writes about the levitation shown in the video: “...we had five, clear, table levitations, three of which occurred in red light sufficient to see hands on the table and legs beneath (on the floor). In the latter, we were able to record a brief levitation with infrared video. Although it can't be regarded as strictly evidential (because not all sitters or hands were visible from the single camera angle), I consider it a valuable document of an event I'm convinced was authentic.”
What do YOU think?
Assuming it’s real, who or what levitated the table?
Alessandra believes spirits of the dead help her perform her levitations. Parapsychologists believe PK is a natural but poorly understood power of the human mind.
Fantasy?
Perhaps not.
I uncovered credible scientific evidence for this baffling phenomenon while researching my first book, “Best Evidence.” Italian Spiritualist medium Eusapia Palladino (1854-1918), whose amazing, real-life story inspired my new novel, repeatedly performed unexplainable levitations of tables and movements of furniture and objects under tightly controlled scientific conditions.
The curious and the skeptical can examine for themselves the available scientific evidence (check out my bookshelf “paranormal-Eusapia Palladino”).
Veteran parapsychological researcher Prof. Stephen Braude of the University of Maryland has written extensively on the topic of psychokinesis (abbreviated PK). His ground-breaking book, “The Limits of Influence: Psychokinesis and the Philosophy of Science,” is considered a classic.
Under the "Videos" link found on this page, I've posted an interesting one I came across today on YouTube. Over ten days, Professor Braude and U.S. film-maker Robert Narholz visited the Felix Circle (Felix Experimental Group) and observed medium K.M. during a classic “cabinet séance.” Braude writes about the levitation shown in the video: “...we had five, clear, table levitations, three of which occurred in red light sufficient to see hands on the table and legs beneath (on the floor). In the latter, we were able to record a brief levitation with infrared video. Although it can't be regarded as strictly evidential (because not all sitters or hands were visible from the single camera angle), I consider it a valuable document of an event I'm convinced was authentic.”
What do YOU think?
Assuming it’s real, who or what levitated the table?
Alessandra believes spirits of the dead help her perform her levitations. Parapsychologists believe PK is a natural but poorly understood power of the human mind.
Sequel to "The Witch of Napoli"?
Decision time. Do I go for it?
A few weeks back, an enthusiastic reader named Denny posted a question for me:
"I really enjoyed The Witch of Napoli. Is there any chance you're going to develop a series around Tommaso Labella? He's a great character with a lot of potential. I'd love to see him investigate Nigel Huxley's misdeeds and bring him to justice. I felt kind of cheated after Elsa's disappearance from the story shortly after her disclosure to Tommaso of Huxley's abuses. Take care, be well, and happy reading!"
I wrote him back:
"Aloha Denny: Thanks for the question. A sequel is tempting. I had a lot of fun creating the novel’s narrator, Tomaso. He’s me when I was just starting my own journalism career. He’s cocky, curious; handy with a camera and pen; determined to see the world. And of course, it would be great to pursure Huxley for his misdeeds -- and the hundred pounds he owes Alessandra after her Naples sitting.
That said, I'm not a natural fiction writer; I primarily write non-fiction, and it's equally tempting to say I've had my fling with fiction.The time commitment to writing a second novel is scary. .A novel is a nightmare for the amateur, and a challenge even for a pro. It requires playing with a Rubik’s cube of characters, plot, subplots, pacing, dialogue, style, emotional arc – pieces which the writer must move in a certain sequence, and at the proper moment, to propel the tale forward, hold the fickle reader’s attention, and arrive at a successful denouement. Historical fiction raises the complexity another level. Where do you find information in the cost of a plate of pasta in 19th century Napoli? How much history should be included? When and where do you drop it in? How do you share it without slowing the story and boring readers? It took me 18 months to write THe Witch of Napoli; I can write a non-fiction book in half the time, and I've got a long list of possible book ideas in my head.
And yet... it's so tempting to resurrect Tommaso. He would be in his early 40s, in Rome, editor of the Messaggero, with Doffo still working for him. Mussolini has taken power in Italy; the Fascists and Nazi movements are sweeping Europe; the British aristocracy (including Huxley) and the Catholic Church are sympathetically cheering their rise to power. Everyone is nervous about the future of their family, their business, their country, and a shadowy, Italian woman psychic everyone calls "the witch of Roma" claims to have the answers.
Tempting...
Thanks for your kind comments about the Witch of Napoli, and I'll let you know if I do decide to take a crack at it!"
Last week I started seriously playing with ideas for a sequel. I'm getting hooked.
Let's see where this leads...
A few weeks back, an enthusiastic reader named Denny posted a question for me:
"I really enjoyed The Witch of Napoli. Is there any chance you're going to develop a series around Tommaso Labella? He's a great character with a lot of potential. I'd love to see him investigate Nigel Huxley's misdeeds and bring him to justice. I felt kind of cheated after Elsa's disappearance from the story shortly after her disclosure to Tommaso of Huxley's abuses. Take care, be well, and happy reading!"
I wrote him back:
"Aloha Denny: Thanks for the question. A sequel is tempting. I had a lot of fun creating the novel’s narrator, Tomaso. He’s me when I was just starting my own journalism career. He’s cocky, curious; handy with a camera and pen; determined to see the world. And of course, it would be great to pursure Huxley for his misdeeds -- and the hundred pounds he owes Alessandra after her Naples sitting.
That said, I'm not a natural fiction writer; I primarily write non-fiction, and it's equally tempting to say I've had my fling with fiction.The time commitment to writing a second novel is scary. .A novel is a nightmare for the amateur, and a challenge even for a pro. It requires playing with a Rubik’s cube of characters, plot, subplots, pacing, dialogue, style, emotional arc – pieces which the writer must move in a certain sequence, and at the proper moment, to propel the tale forward, hold the fickle reader’s attention, and arrive at a successful denouement. Historical fiction raises the complexity another level. Where do you find information in the cost of a plate of pasta in 19th century Napoli? How much history should be included? When and where do you drop it in? How do you share it without slowing the story and boring readers? It took me 18 months to write THe Witch of Napoli; I can write a non-fiction book in half the time, and I've got a long list of possible book ideas in my head.
And yet... it's so tempting to resurrect Tommaso. He would be in his early 40s, in Rome, editor of the Messaggero, with Doffo still working for him. Mussolini has taken power in Italy; the Fascists and Nazi movements are sweeping Europe; the British aristocracy (including Huxley) and the Catholic Church are sympathetically cheering their rise to power. Everyone is nervous about the future of their family, their business, their country, and a shadowy, Italian woman psychic everyone calls "the witch of Roma" claims to have the answers.
Tempting...
Thanks for your kind comments about the Witch of Napoli, and I'll let you know if I do decide to take a crack at it!"
Last week I started seriously playing with ideas for a sequel. I'm getting hooked.
Let's see where this leads...
