Electrokinesis

What Is Electrokinesis?

Electrokinesis is an uncommon form of psi ability that involves the manipulation of electricity using the power of the mind.

Electrokinesis is common in fiction, especially genres involving aliens and/or super heros and villains. In these stories the power is often strong and spectacular - shooting lightning bolts, causing power stations to explode, etc.

The visual spectacle of a lightning bolt probably explains the popularity of electrokinesis in movies and in TV shows. The connection with lightning and storms often sees the ability classed as a form of weather manipulation (atmokinesis), as is the case in Charmed. The idea of being able to harness the lightning and use the natural electricity of nature has obvious appeal.

Outside of such fiction, electrokinesis is usually much subtler. Very often it is simply a matter of causing a slight change in an existing electrical field. Note that electrokinesis involves no direct physical interaction - it should not be confused with the mainstream scientific phenomenon of biofeedback.

How Does It Work?

It's interesting to speculate on the nature of electrokinesis and its possible relationship with other psi abilities.

Given the links between the basic forces such as electricity, magnetism and gravity, could real electrokinesis be a "raw" form of the power behind such feats as telekinesis? And since the human brain works on tiny electrical currents, could electrokinesis have a part to play in telepathy? Is the small natural electrical charge in the human brain somehow capable of acting as a sort of "transistor" to switch on the much greater electrical power of the planet? If so then it might be possible for anyone to learn how to do it and master the techniques through training.

Unfortunately electrokinesis appears to be extremely rare in the real world and remains largely restricted to fiction. Successful experiments are unlikely to be performed and day soon.