The scientific community declares human levitation is not possible-yet. Many reports, videos and photos of shamans and monks have been disproven over the years, yet ancient Vedic texts tell of flying monks. So is levitation possible and science just hasn't caught up yet? Consider these stories and theories as you decide.
Levitation in Altered States of Consciousness
The theory of Altered State of Consciousness (ASC) is perhaps the most popular explanation for human levitation. This theory has been used to explain the historical case of Saint Joseph of Copertino (1603-1663). The priest was said to have such a spiritual connection with the divine that his altered state allowed him to fly. Could this well-documented case of human levitation be a case-in-point of the potential of humans, albeit perhaps a latent ability rarely realized?
According to The Epoch Times, Dr. Michael Grosso believes the case of St. Joseph may very well be true. In his book, The Man Who Could Fly: St. Joseph of Copertino and the Mystery of Levitation, Dr. Grosso discusses the many eyewitnesses to the priest's air shows.
Dr. Grosso explains how the Saint often simply hovered slightly above the ground while other times, he soared over crowds throughout Italy for over 35 years. In fact, The Epoch Times clarifies the Church moved the priest from one church to another due to causing such a stir in the towns. He was reprimanded, but apparently couldn't control his flying. The Epoch Times states that some of the eyewitnesses included several cardinals, an unnamed pope, and the inquisitors sent to investigate the priest for canonization.
Paranormal Claims of Spontaneous Levitation
There are several explanations for what are known as spontaneous levitation. It's believed that most instances of levitation are spontaneous. Some causes include spirit possession as seen in poltergeist activity (usually inanimate objects).
Levitation in Shamanism
Reports of shamans levitating during ceremonies, healings and Tungus seances have existed ever since there have been shamans. In Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, Mircea Eliade writes, "The shaman becomes 'light' and can spring into the air…"
Possession and Levitation
The reality of spirit or demon possession and levitation are both controversial topics. So far, no one has filmed a possessed person actually levitating.
The Christian Post featured psychiatrist Dr. Richard Gallagher's account of a 39-year-old woman called Julia who levitated during an exorcism. Julia floated six inches in the air over the bed for nearly 30 minutes.
Qigong Master Controls Chi Energy
A qigong master is believed to have mastered chi energies and can control and manipulate energies, even at a distance. Aside from being an astral projection expert, a qigong master is believed to have the ability to manipulate chi energy. This ability also give the qigong master the ability to levitate at will.
Transcendental Meditation Yogic Flying
The ultimate goal of transcendental meditation is to unify the mind and body by increasing the level of brain waves. Transcendental meditation practices what's commonly called Yogic Flying. Buddhist monks have long been reputed to levitate during meditation.
Vedic texts, the Yoga Sutras of Maharishi Pantanjali, give a detailed account of the three stages of learning to fly. The first stage that most people have witnessed resembles cross-legged hopping. The second stage is defined as momentary hovering while the third stage is the ability to fly at will through the sky.
Tibetan Flying Mystics
According to the Museum at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, Marco Polo reportedly was an eyewitness to Tibetan lamas levitating. The mysticism and ability to fly was so profound that Tibetan art depicted the flying/levitating events.
Levitation Hoaxes
Whether it is a lack of ability or simply a wish to perpetuate the mysticism of levitating monks, street magicians that are supposedly monks have been seen in the streets of India for decades. The trickery is easily debunked once you know what to look for. The sage always has a cane or bamboo stick that he uses to anchor his crossed legged body to prevent him from floating away.
In truth, the cane is secured to the ground and thanks to the flowing monk-like garb, the control post that crooks out from the cane is concealed. This post travels the length of the monk's arm and descends his side to a narrow thin platform that supports the monk in his cross-legged sitting pose.
Science on Levitation
While scientists state there is no evidence that humans can levitate, the scientific industry is working on diamagnetic levitation technology. For example, scientists have successfully levitated a small ball using air and sound waves to achieve scientific acoustic levitation. They have also managed to levitate a small frog using the diamagnetic levitation technology. The small frog is levitated using air and sound technology.
The theory of diamagnetic levitation states with a magnetic field strong enough, the technology would be able to levitate humans. The theory is based on the same one that was proved by levitating the frog.
Is Human Levitation Possible?
Human levitation (paranormal) is at best anecdotal stories until there is documented proof. This would require video footage and scientific experimentation that could duplicate and repeat the phenomenon. The various eyewitness reports of levitation describe spontaneous events that so far haven't been captured by video.
