Chapter One

Supernormal Powers

Almost all of us know what supernatural powers are and we can probably start listing examples such as levitating, mind reading, healing others with a touch, and moving things with our mind. Most of us also consider that supernatural powers are great and we would like to have one or two (at least to impress our friends). The concept of supernormal[1] or superhuman powers is, however, a different matter. In this day of Liberal standards, supernormal powers are denied by extremists, and any claim to having any would be perceived as politically incorrect. We are very hesitant to tell of personal experiences that could be interpreted as being based on any claim of special powers such as time standing still for us or that we had supernormal insight, strength, and powers to cope with some demanding situation.

Supernormal powers are generally not discussed anywhere and are noticeably missing from popular modern scientific and religious books. Science is primarily interested only in what can be considered as normal, and although deviations from the normal are also studied, the bulk of the effort is still with the normal. Religious institutions, in comparison, are built upon supernatural powers related to an external God that become the basis for administering to the laity. However, religious institutions generally dismiss the idea of supernormal powers within the laity and are generally reluctant to accept special powers even within their own clergy. On the other hand, supernatural powers can be readily found in the popular modern writings of the occult or of the psychics, but these are not supernormal since they violate the laws associated with the normal. For example, levitation is a common religious, occult or psychic subject, yet completely without any scientific support and hence outside of the laws of nature and any consideration as being supernormal. The early Church did have references to supernormal powers exemplified perhaps by some individuals credited with having secret and hidden powers, yet historians are unable to give examples of these other than vague implications that they had strange powers over others.

Supernormal powers are, however, in very plain sight and reported upon quite commonly in newspapers and newscasts. For a beginning example, we read in our newspaper about a small secretary who while walking to her bus, sees a child starting to fall out of a fourth floor window in an apartment house. She then vaults over a fence, races across a garden and miraculously catches the child who is unharmed. There are also the stories of a small woman who performs an incredible feat of strength such as lifting a car to free a pinned child. Or we read in our history book about how Alfred Nobel was playing with nitroglycerine and accidentally dropped it. Instead of blowing up as expected, it landed safely in some packing material. From that accident Nobel discovered dynamite and made a fortune and funded the yearly awards for the great contributors to our society. We are also familiar with someone approaching us with a problem, begging for advice. Generally the advice is perfect and both of us are amazed at the depth of wisdom that came forth. Another instance is the person who may be considered to be on his deathbed when suddenly someone else requires help, and he instantly arises and performs tasks that may have even been impossible for him when he was in good health. In some cases the dying person actually recovers as well. There exists another class of examples that relate to medical emergencies. A person who is untrained in medical first aid finds himself using the perfect lifesaving methods which save an accident victim’s life. Both the physician and the untrained good Samaritan are amazed at the perfection of the methods that were used to save the injured person.

The interesting aspect of the powers reported in the above stories is that they are seldom mentioned and almost never explained. Further, we have been conditioned throughout our life to ignore them and even to deny them, even though stories of supernormal feats stimulate and excite us and are frequently used by the news media and the entertainment industry. Popular movies and magazines love to tell sensational true stories of supernormal activities of the common person doing the impossible.

In general, supernormal powers within individuals are usually passed over in Western culture as being related to luck, subconscious feelings, just a spurt of extreme effort, or momentary madness. In the Eastern cultures they may be attributed to an outside power such as a talisman, god, goddess, or holy leader which is separate again from the individual. Nevertheless, we tend to be a bit in awe of someone who seems to have this perceived consistent luck or power. The mystery of this power continues to be hidden, however, because those who consistently demonstrate these special feats continue to publicly deny their true source of power. They may attribute these special feats to something outside of themselves such as an inspiration from above, their run of luck, or payback time for their hard work. Furthermore, it is kept under lock and key because if our heroes claimed that the power came from within themselves, from a secret reserve which they could call forth, they would probably become the subject of ridicule or scorn at least by their detractors.

One aspect of the onset of supernormal powers that is commonly mentioned is that of unusual feelings in the lower abdominal region, commonly called gut feelings. Many people report the gut as the center or receptor of the strange powers. However, this center is seldom related to something that one has any control over, since it does not appear to be related to the head or thinking process. It is generally only associated with external stimulation. Many of the creative individuals, however, do point to or sense the existence of an inner control.

Upon close examination of all of the above incidents involving supernormal powers, one common observation is that all of the “heroes” had an inner source of power related to a prior strong dedication and need in life[2]. The first two women were dedicated to children and their wellbeing and were horrified at seeing a child in danger. The need of the child became an external driving force to their own need to preserve the child. Indeed, many similar great feats have been performed by people who explain that they were thinking of their own children at the time of the crisis. In looking deeper into Nobel’s story, it can be found that he had lost his younger brother to an earlier explosion of nitroglycerine at a work site and was dedicated to making its usage safe for others. The third case concerning inspired advice describes those who have a strong dedication to other people and their needs as they “give themselves up” to others’ problems. The next case is familiar to those who have viewed people dying. Even in dying, some people are still concerned with making life easier for others and will, if they can, make their death useful to others. The physical output in dying to help others is the basis for many of the stories of heroes in war, who in dying save their buddies. The last case involving a medical emergency is no doubt an indication of how our ancestors survived before medicine. Before the advent of complex diagnostic equipment and high technology drugs etc., the diagnoses and treatments could only come from experience and some deep knowing of the needs of the patient.

All of the examples of supernormal powers and feats mentioned so far are a result of unexpected traumas or emergency situations. However, supernormal powers can also be controlled on a day-to-day basis. One common example of controlling supernormal powers is exemplified by a technique used by some salesmen whose income is dependent upon the amount of their sales. The technique is quite simple. When they have to increase their sales they will spend all of their money and place themselves in debt so that they have a powerful need to sell. Then they sell! Many salesmen attest to this odd yet effective technique. Another example that is commonly equated to procrastination but works very well is with some individuals who when faced with delivering some idea, proposal or answer find that they must wait until the last moment to find their proposal. They do not sense an answer until the need really becomes stressful, and then the idea appears. Some even find that the idea only unfolds as they speak to the group. Generally these same people have struggled initially to solve their problems without avail.

Almost everyone is familiar with the growth that occurs when someone assumes responsibility. Perhaps the most common is the tremendous growth that occurs in parenting children. Similarly, we observe friends who assume some position of authority and responsibility and note how they seem to grow and are able to do the job (even if we thought they would fail). In the examples in the above paragraph, the supernormal deeds were all done following a pressing and specific need. The early Mystics would state that facing a need is the stimulation for production of a supernormal energy that fuels the necessary change. This need is referenced in the common saying “Necessity is the mother of invention.” When the great contributors to society are questioned about how they got their insights, powers, or strength, they generally respond with some statement about how it just came from nowhere to answer a pressing need.

Needs appear without our apparent effort and result from our personal dedication(s) as we open to the outer world but never from the reverse of attempting to decide what the world needs. It is also observed that people who attempt to force some specific idea of theirs upon the outer world almost always fail. We all became aware of this as we recall our efforts to make some desire or thought of ours to become accepted or manifested. Typically, the harder we try, the more confused things tend to become. As a result of attempting to control our world or powers we become self-centered, egocentric, and miserable. The problem is that our inner and outer generated “needs” are in direct opposition to each other as will be discussed.

Supernormal powers can be briefly explained as those powers that are evidenced in meeting an outer demand or need in our world. All of these supernormal powers start with the special insight of knowing what had to be done and the visualization of its happening. In this knowing, there is no confusion, no doubt, no questioning, and no uncertainty. This knowing is without conscious mental effort and instantly appears in completeness and totality. As an example, the secretary above saw the situation of the child, what was going to happen, as well as what her actions to save the child would be in one brief instant with complete clarity and realism. Her resulting actions could almost be considered as anticlimactic and foreordained. We have all found, on a personal level, that when we are dedicated to meeting some need of another person we are able to find that place wherein we do not think. The words or actions simply tumble out without effort as we have a complete insight and knowledge of the other person and their need. This knowledge includes seeing through their eyes and feeling what they feel as well as the perception of their perfect world. As will be elaborated upon later, any change in the self or outer world must be superseded with a clear and complete vision of that world.

The ancient religious writings were almost universal in stating that this process of change results in a higher state of ecstasy. Ecstasy enriches any moment of life as the ego disappears and the inner self finds union with higher states of the mind, with others and with the outer world. Unfortunately, however, the individual who reports experiencing ecstasy is immediately suspect in our modern materialistic society. At best it is tolerated during limited religious activities even though its reality is still questioned.

1. Supernormal means that it is beyond the average person, but it is not contrary to the laws of nature.

2. Need will be discussed in detail in the next chapter.

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