ESP
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
In the first volume of The Equinox students are encouraged to test their ability at physical clairvoyance.
I'm wondering, based on everyone's experiences, if there are some general rules to be derived on how exactly this works. The passage recommends cards used by some one who knew the proper correspondences. That and the "physical" aspect of the exercise seem to indicate that there is some "stuff" left on the card that can be perceived by those so inclined.
I've noticed that there are also quite a few computer esp tests online these days (hopefully) working off of random number generators. I've even written a couple of my own to be sure.
The thing is, I get BETTER results with a random number generator than actual cards.
Even more confounding is the fact that my results seem to be even better if I place my feet physically on the CPU.
Should results be better with something tangible, like cards, or do people just differ in regard to this phenomenon? Surely changing bits cannot hold the same "stuff" as a card, can they?
Love is the law, love under will.
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I'd like to point out, that random number generators aren't really random. A computer has little to no such ability.
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Technically, they're not completely random since they base off of the system clock but for all intents and purposes, they are random.
Pet peeve of mine: CPU is not a term for a computer. It is the central processing unit, ie the brain microprocessor installed onto the motherboard. PC and/or tower is the appropriate terms
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My point about the randomness is, if something were truely random, it would become easier to psychicly influence said object. When something is operating within any kind of a framework, to change that is to interfere to some extent, requiring a greater degree of energy. Also, that if something is simply following a command, it may be easier to receive information about the next step in that command process.
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@Techpries said
"My point about the randomness is, if something were truely random, it would become easier to psychicly influence said object."
Actually that is not so. Even if something is probabilistic yet still ultimately random, it has nothing to do with how easily one may psychicly influence objects.
" When something is operating within any kind of a framework, to change that is to interfere to some extent, requiring a greater degree of energy. "
So? If you Will it.... you are a source of a great amount of energy, no? (Let's take advantage of our relatively low state of entropy)"Thou hast no right but to do thy will. Do that, and no other shall say nay." (Liber AL I:42-43)
IAO131
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@Techpries said
"My point about the randomness is, if something were truely random, it would become easier to psychicly influence said object."
This brings up the thorny issue of whether a person correctly guessing events hidden from the senses has influenced those events or is just perceiving them. In the latter case, it wouldn't matter whether the events were pseudo-random or truly non-deterministic.
By the way, it is a shame we have become sidetracked from jlpugh's original question, which was a good one. Unfortunately, I have little light to shed on it.
AC seems to have believed that there was indeed some sort of astral "stuff" attached to the cards that the fledgeling psychic could tune in to. The question is how to go about confirming or refuting that hypothesis. The fact that you get better results with the computer tests is a data point against. Keep up the good work, take careful notes, and let us know how things turn out!
(By the way yet again, the observation that you get better results with your feet physically touching the cabinet that houses the CPU is very nice
).Robert Westmoreland
We do not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. -- Carl Jung
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Sorry about the CPU comment. I know better.
Here is another interesting thing: You can either have the computer choose a series of random numbers, so they are all established when you begin, or have it choose one just before you guess. However, either way you can sometimes be "ahead," that is perpetually guessing correctly the one after the next one.
I was concerned about the line between clairvoyance and willed psychokinesis as well. However, there is a website that attempts to "test" your ability to alter events by dropping a virtual ball through a series of pegs (like the old Price is Right game PLINKO) At each peg the ball has a 50% chance of going either way, and so you should end up with a standard distribution at the bottom. The object, of course is to try to get all of the balls to go to the left or right.
Since I have some skill at guessing the next card, but absolutely no skill at this psychokinesis test, I have assured myself that there is a difference. Also, it "feels" different, for whatever that is worth.
The website is admittedly cheesy, and I should really write my own code for something like this to be sure there is no funny stuff going on. Nonetheless, here it is if anyone wants to try it:
www.milliondollarpsychics.com/pk.html
Love is the law, love under will.
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@gmugmble said
"AC seems to have believed that there was indeed some sort of astral "stuff" attached to the cards that the fledgeling psychic could tune in to. The question is how to go about confirming or refuting that hypothesis.The fact that you get better results with the computer tests is a data point against. Keep up the good work, take careful notes, and let us know how things turn out!"
In my experience, and that of some people with whom I've worked, the very best effects are produced by using an old, well-used Tarot deck that has been long-employed by someone who really knows what they're doing.
That does imply that there is something "on" the cards that is detectable - probably explaining the title "physical clairvoyance" for the particular exercise.