Page 176 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

Mysteries of the Mind 157

Yoga is used as a form of
relaxation. (THE
GALE GROUP)

likely as old as the first healers in ancient
Extrasensory Perception:
Babylon, Egypt, and Greece, who believed that
The “Sixth Sense”
the evil spirits within the ill could be replaced
by good spirits if the patient concentrated on xtrasensory perception—ESP—is defined
positive images of benevolent entities. New by parapsychologists as the acquisition
Age practitioners believe that in order to Eby a human or animal mind of informa-
achieve a complete healing of body, mind, and tion it could not have received by normal, sen-
spirit, one must counter the negative input sory means. Some researchers, however, take
that the individual has placed in his or her issue with the term “extrasensory perception.”
mind over decades of negative reinforcement. They protest that the phenomena may not be
The individual must fill himself or herself with “perception” at all, as the receiver of this infor-
positive memories and images. Phobias, com- mation does not know if the knowledge is right
pulsions, and unresolved feelings of guilt can or wrong when he or she first perceives it. It
all be removed by relaxation techniques and takes a corroborating incident to convince
healing miracles can be accomplished. anyone that he or she has perceived anything

Generally, the person undergoing the via extrasensory means. Some parapsycholo-
relaxation process lies or sits in a comfortable gists prefer to say “paranormal cognition,” but
position, undergoes a brief breathing exercise, this term is subject to the same sort of criticism
then relaxes further by visualizing a peaceful if the receiver is not instantly certain of the
scene. Once the individual appears to be as validity of the information. Besides, the
relaxed as possible, the practitioner guides researchers insist that the material in their
him or her on a symbolic journey of discovery, field will eventually merge with present-day
in which valuable insights will be acquired. physics, so the adjective “paranormal” may be
considered a misnomer.

M Delving Deeper Contrary to common usage, a parapsychol-
Denning, Melita, and Osborne Phillips. The Llewellyn ogist is not a psychic, a mentalist, an
Practical Guide to Creative Visualization: The astrologer, or one who gives psychic readings.
Dynamic Way to Success, Love, Plenty & Spiritual A parapsychologist is generally a member of
Power. St. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn, 1985. the Parapsychological Association, which was
Gawain, Shakti. Creative Visualization. Mill Valley, founded in 1957 and elected an affiliate of the
Calif.: Whatever Publishing, 1979. American Association for the Advancement
Soothing Yourself, Relaxation Techniques. [Online] of Science in 1969. A parapsychologist is a
http://www.soothingyourself.com/. 18 November scientist who is seriously interested in the
2002. paranormal (or anomalous phenomena),
WildMind. “Guide to Meditation Techniques, Relax- which includes telepathy, clairvoyance, pre-
ation, and Stress Management. [Online] http:// cognition, psychokinesis, hauntings, reincar-
www.wildmind.org/. 18 November 2002. nation, and out-of-body or near-death experi-

The Gale Enc y clopedia of the Unusu al and Unexplained