The psi wheel: the ideal tool for researching psychokinesis
by Steve Randolf, PhD
The psi wheel is an exceptional tool with immense untapped potential for demonstrating, researching, and training psychokinesis. Despite its simplicity and long-standing familiarity, the full range of possibilities offered by the psi wheel has been woefully underutilized. Its ease of assembly and use makes it accessible to both individuals and researchers, while tests conducted with it consistently yield highly deterministic results due to its simple motion mechanics and readily neutralizable external factors. Consequently, it eliminates some challenges traditionally encountered in psychokinesis research, such as subject selection, fraud prevention, and experimenter effect. This determinism also invalidates some interpretations proposed in traditional psychokinetic studies. By highlighting the untapped potential and benefits of this tool, this article aims to shed light on the significant opportunities it offers for further exploration and advancement in the field of psychokinesis.
Introduction
Within the field of mind-over-matter research, significant attention has been devoted to a phenomenon known as micro-psychokinesis (micro PK), which has been the subject of numerous studies (Varvoglis & Bancell, 2015). Micro-PK entails effects that are so subtle that can only be discerned through statistical analysis. Typical micro-PK experiments involve ordinary non-trained individuals using their intention to change the outcome of dice tossing or random-number generators. Meta-analysis studies reveal a slightly above-chance effect, which is of course often dismissed by skeptics as being a consequence of experimental bias or artifacts.
On the contrary, macro psychokinesis, offers a pathway to achieving deterministic observations and measurements. However, it is important to note that the majority of research in this area has primarily focused on exceptionally gifted individuals such as D. D. Home, Eusapia Paladino, and Nina Kulagina, (Watkins, 2015). There is also a less-known body of experimental research performed on experienced qigong practitioners (Randolf, 2023).
However, it appears that popular culture has outpaced scientific advancements adopting a tool that holds great potential for assessing and refining psi skills, enabling anyone to become a skilled psychokinetic practitioner: the psi wheel. The author's research on various social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok has uncovered an unexpected surge in its popularity. Remarkably, hundreds of users worldwide are providing daily demonstrations of its use, attesting to the reality of psychokinesis. What's more, some dedicated enthusiasts, having mastered the art of spinning the psi wheel, progress to the point where they can perform demonstrations with heavier objects, reminiscent of the extraordinary cases mentioned earlier.
Undoubtedly, the act of psychically spinning a psi wheel can be replicated by illusionists through non-psychic methods, and displays of such imitations can be found effortlessly. However, there are multiple videos created by individuals who are not illusionists and seemingly have no ulterior motive to deceive or entertain their viewers. Their main objective is simply to raise awareness about an extraordinary and little-known ability that we all inherently possess, and that can be cultivated through dedicated practice. The author of this article has also joined the ranks of these passionate enthusiasts after receiving selfless guidance from some of these internet personalities.
Interestingly, there is even a commercial device called the Egely Wheel (n.a), marketed as a qi/vitality meter. This device comes in two variations: one features a basic plastic disc delicately balanced on a pin, while the other, similar to the first version, incorporates in addition an electronic circuit. The latter variant is capable of measuring the disk’s spinning velocity, offering users valuable feedback through auditory and visual cues. This innovative tool aims to provide users with an enhanced experience, allowing them to gauge and refine their psi abilities using state-of-the-art technology.
The psi wheel can be a valuable tool for conducting scientific experiments with predictable results and virtually anyone can be an experimental subject, including the experimenter him/herself. This characteristic eliminates the potential influence of the well-known experimenter effect in psi experiments (Palmer & Miller, 2015) and any doubts regarding fraudulent practices. It is important to acknowledge that the majority of scientists hold a natural skepticism toward experiments that involve validation by stage magicians.
The psi wheel does not require very advanced experimental skills to ensure that external factors such as air currents, electrostatic fields, magnetic fields, heat, and vibrations do not interfere with its movement. Designing a simple and noise-free experiment is easily achievable, and the measurements obtained can serve as a robust foundation for theoretical research on psi phenomena. In contrast, micro-PK studies often give rise to various speculations, such as the potential influence of precognition in producing positive results.
Considering the evident advantages and the significant public interest in the psi wheel, it is surprising to observe its limited representation in academic research. A small number of publications on this topic have emerged in recent years, primarily originating from a small non-profit organization called LAPDC (initials standing for the French equivalent of Psychophysics and Cognitive Dissonance Laboratory) (Dullin et al., 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).
These dedicated researchers have invested considerable effort in meticulously measuring the airflow surrounding both confined and unconfined psi wheels, ultimately concluding that its influence is negligible. Furthermore, they have successfully calculated essential parameters such as spinning torque and energy, revealing values on the order of µN.m and µJ respectively for the particular conditions of their tests. It is worth noting that one of their studies (Dulin & Jamet, 2018) also references a handful of older publications contributing to the existing body of knowledge in this field.
The author of the present article has dedicated over a year to conducting extensive tests and measurements on psi wheels, leading him to the firm conviction that conventional physics alone cannot explain their movement. It is important to note that all described tests were conducted under controlled indoor conditions devoid of any vibrations or drafts. The rotors used in these experiments have been made from weakly paramagnetic materials such as paper, plastic, and aluminum foil, with weights ranging from 0.1 to 40 grams.
Subsequently, the article delves into several significant observations and results derived from these experiments. For comprehensive supporting material, the author has made available a repository of all relevant content on his YouTube channel (Randolf, n.a.).
Electric, magnetic, electromagnetic fields and heat
Psi wheels remain largely unaffected by normal-level background fields in an urban environment, including magnetic fields measuring less than 2 mG, electric fields below 3 V/m, and electromagnetic fields below 10 mW/m2 (measured using an EMF meter GQ-EMF390 by GQ Electronics). Even when subjected to much stronger magnetic fields generated by neodymium magnets, which can reach intensities of around 103-104 G at the magnet's surface, rotors weighing about 100 mg remain unaffected.
The same applies to relatively stronger electric fields, particularly when dealing with psi wheels confined within glass containers. To illustrate this, an experiment was conducted using a small aluminum foil weighing a few tens of milligrams, shaped like a tent and delicately balanced on a needle within a sealed glass container measuring 15 cm in diameter.
Remarkably, the foil remains motionless when an object charged to approximately 5 kV (measured using an electrostatic field meter FMX-003 by SIMCO) is brought close to or moved around the container. However, by simply directing intention and augmenting it by placing a hand near the glass container, the spinning motion of the foil is effortlessly initiated. It is worth noting that the electrostatic field meter, with a detection limit of 50 V, does not detect any electric potential on the hand. Furthermore, no induced electric field could be measured within the rotor itself. With practice, the author has even achieved the ability to induce movement in the foil from a distance without the need to place hands near the container.
Strong sources of light, including sunlight and laser light, do not exhibit any noticeable effect on psi wheels, as the radiation pressure exerted by them is negligible. Measuring the mechanical impact of radiation pressure requires a specifically designed optomechanical system, typically in the form of an extraordinarily sensitive torsion balance positioned in a vacuum.
Conversely, exposing psi wheels to intense heat sources such as flames or hot surfaces in close proximity fails to induce spinning motion. This can be attributed both to the fact that IR radiation does not produce any force due to the above-explained reason and that heat convection cannot generate a steady and appropriately oriented force. This observation holds true for both confined and non-confined psi wheels.
It is worth noting that even a sensitive Crookes radiometer does not respond to the mere presence of a hand nearby (even touching the device usually has minimal or no impact). This low-pressure device is highly sensitive to electromagnetic radiation due to its distinctive design, featuring a set of vanes that are blackened on one side and balanced on a needle within a partially vacuumed glass bulb.
Although Crookes initially attributed the spinning of the vanes to radiation pressure, it is now widely accepted that this mechanism does not play any role in its operation. Instead, the prevailing explanation revolves around the thermal diffusion of gas molecules away from the blackened surfaces, resulting from their heating by absorption (Gimelshein, 2011). This thermal diffusion mechanism allows for spinning in only one direction. However, it is remarkable to note that trained individuals (Dries, 2016; Shen, 2015) possess the ability to psychokinetically induce spinning motion in such radiometers in both directions, thus challenging conventional physics.
Psychological effects and psi wheel spinning dynamics
Numerous demonstrations on the internet suggest that anyone can successfully make a psi wheel spin, as exemplified by McNamara's videos (2018). The present author has personally witnessed five random individuals effortlessly spinning a psi wheel after receiving only a brief instruction.
Based on the author's own experience, doubt and negative thoughts appear to hinder the movement of psi wheels. Factors such as weight, friction, and obstacles seem to act as mental blocks too, but they can be overcome with practice. Initially, spinning a confined psi wheel may pose a challenge due to the mental barrier created by the surrounding wall. However, with time and perseverance, it becomes easier, as also demonstrated by numerous practitioners.
As confidence is gained through practice, the weight and friction of the wheel can be gradually increased. The author, for instance, managed to rotate a cardboard-on-a-needle psi wheel weighing around 40 grams after only a couple of weeks of practice. Karl Dries (2017), a psychokinetic from LAPDC, has even achieved the feat of spinning a 720-gram psi wheel.
The experiences of fellow psychokinetic practitioners highlight the significant progress that can be achieved through dedicated training. However, the author's personal progress over the course of approximately one year of training can largely be attributed to growing confidence.
Another intriguing observation is that certain test modalities that may initially prove unsuccessful can become viable with reflection, observing other practitioners, or practice. This has been personally experienced by the author when starting to work with covered, paper and straw-on-a-ball psi wheels, as well as when attempting to induce vertical movement in tent-like psi-wheels.
While the use of hands does not appear to be indispensable, it does seem to assist in shaping and focusing one's intention. For instance, controlling the spinning direction becomes more challenging when no hands are used, and the motion often becomes whimsical and continues without conscious effort from the psychokinetic practitioner. However, when using hands, one can switch between left and right hand and cw and ccw direction as well as use a single hand for both pushing and pulling with no significant delay upon shift between modalities. Performance can vary significantly from day to day, regardless of consistent ambient conditions, and some days, one hand or the other may not produce the desired response.
The distance at which a hand is placed from the psi wheel seems to influence the speed, but this effect is more psychological than physical. It is unrelated to Coulomb's law for electrostatic attraction. When practicing, it becomes obvious that the same effect can be achieved by placing a hand at a distance of 1 cm or 10 cm from the psi wheel. Over time, practitioners learn to separate their hands without significantly affecting the speed of rotation. The author, for instance, has been able to spin psi wheels without using hands from various distances, such as 1 m, 5 m, 400 km, and even 6000 km.
When a hand is placed in close proximity to a tent-like psi wheel, remaining motionless while intending to attract it, the rotor exhibits a gradual and steady movement toward the hand. This behavior stands in stark contrast to the effect observed when a charged object is brought near the wheel, where the movement of the rotor accelerates exponentially.
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Angular velocity vs. time for psi wheel movement caused by electric field (red) and psychokinesis
Uninterrupted, steady-speed unidirectional spinning of both confined and non-confined psi wheels, can be sustained for an extended time with or without the use of hands. Notably, during a specific experiment, the author successfully maintained a continuous, unidirectional spinning motion of a psi wheel for 10 minutes while keeping his hand completely still. This observation suggests that the movement is generated by a nearly constant torque, akin to the one exerted by the spinning magnetic field in an electric motor's stator. The consistent speed throughout the experiment further indicates that external influences of typically variable intensity, such as air drafts play negligible influence in the particular conditions observed.
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Illustration of angular velocity stability after the first two minutes of a 10-minutes-long
psi-wheel-PK-spinning test
Conclusions
In conclusion, the psi wheel emerges as an invaluable tool for scientists seeking to conduct scientifically robust psychokinetic experiments. Its accessibility to anyone and its deterministic nature address concerns regarding fraud and the experimenter effect, thereby establishing a solid foundation for more rigorous theoretical and experimental research of psi phenomena. The compelling evidence presented in this study significantly challenges conventional simplistic explanations of psi wheel spinning based on aerodynamics, electrostatics, and radiative energy transfer, and highlights the essential role of the human mind. Furthermore, the sustained and unidirectional rotation observed bears a striking resemblance to the rotary fields in electric motors, thus providing evidence for the dynamic behavior of psi. Ultimately, this study paves the way for further exploration and investigation in this captivating and promising field of study, opening doors to new avenues of research.
References
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Published: 2023-08-08