If a spiritualist can make a table move....is that psychokinesis?

Question

When I was a child...a friend's aunt was what you might call a witch. She could make her table move. Is that the same as psychokinesis? (or telekinesis)

Or...were spirits moving the table?

Answer 1

Since we don't have solid evidence of either psychokinesis or spirits, the only thing that this definitely is, is "unexplained".

It could have been psychokinesis. It could have been a ghost moving the table. It could have been a trick.

There's just no way to tell.

Answer 2

Well, technically psychokinesis is supposed to be movement of an object caused directly by some aspect of the mind, so I think believers would more likely lump this under spirit or poltergeist activity. By the way, regarding your childhood experience you are not considering all the possibilities. I'd say you were being fooled by a simple trick. You don't need special powers to amaze kids with a little flim-flam :)

EDIT: Deenie, there is no known physical mechanism nor neurological structure that would allow for such an extraordinary ability. That is not proof that it does not exist. However, given this and the overwhelming lack of evidence for telekinesis, there is little reason to believe in it. Other explanations for ostensible paranormal activity are far more likely, e.g., your friend's aunt playing a trick on some kids.

Answer 3

No case of telekinesis has ever borne out under controlled conditions. If you want to expend your efforts in something useful, study science or engineering.

Answer 4

If she is using spirits to do the task, it is not psychokinesis, or even technically witchcraft.  She would be a conjurer.

Edit:  There is a distinction between types of magic and their practioners.  By definition one who summons spirits to do their bidding is a conjurer.  This is different than a witch, who usually makes potions and casts spells.  If it is spirits lifting the table, she is not really doing it with her mind, even if she is controlling the spirits.

Answer 5

Yes, if the spiritualist is the one making the table move (by other than physical means) that is psychokinesis (moving objects with your mind).

If spirits were moving the table at the direction or request of a person that is not psychokinesis that would be spiritual (ghostly?) activity of a physical nature.

There are at times cross overs and confusions between the two.

There is a book called

"Conjuring up Philip: An Adventure is Psychokinesis" by Iris Owen and Margaret Sparrow

that details the work of a group in Toronto that created a fictional spirit (Philip) and they were able to manifest activity like table shaking, lifting, etc.

Dr. George Owen believed these results provided evidence that seances weren't spirits but psychokinesis. Others believe that the group actually created an entity they called Philip that would respond to their request.

Answer 6

none of the above because i know a magic trick where i can make a table move without people knowing.

Answer 7

No matter how much your brain can do, it can't violate the laws of physics.  Spiritualists used to make the table move by - get ready for it - kicking it.  Don't trust old people!  They cheat just as much as the rest of us.  

Mary Roach wrote a great book on the spiritualist movement called 'Spook'.  I highly recommend it.

Answer 8

Auntie was probably surreptitiously kicking it.

I thought that spiritualist stuff had been debunked when the Fox Sisters confessed to their dodgy tricks.