Levitation is “the act of rising and floating in the air without any physical support.”
In paranormal phenomena, levitation is defined as “the rising of a human body and other objects into the air by mystical means or meditation.”
“Some parapsychology and religious believers interpret alleged instances of levitation as the result of supernatural action of psychic power or spiritual energy.”
In the annals of the Catholic Church, there are examples of saints and holy men who have been recorded to have levitated. Levitation in this context is regarded as a sign of sanctity.
The scientific community does not recognize levitation, and regards all claims of levitation as a product of either trickery, illusion or mass hallucination, despite a lot of anecdotal evidence of people having levitated and witnessed by the public.
The power of Jesus Christ to levitate is seen in the Gospel of Matthew (14:22-32), when he walked on water.
“Immediately he (Jesus) made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.
“When evening came, he was there alone but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning, he came walking toward them on the sea. They were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
‘You of little faith’
“Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened and began to sink, and he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
“Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”
In the history of the Catholic Church, there were many saints who levitated, as witnessed by a lot of people. The most famous of these was St. Joseph of Cupertino in Italy. The story is told that that he had to be tied to a table or post because he would float when in religious ecstasy.
But Cupertino was not the only saint of the Catholic Church who was known to levitate. The following are only a dozen other saints who levitated: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. John The Wonder Worker, St. Martin de Porres of Lima, Peru, Padre Pio, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Joseph of the Cross, St. Marie of the Passion, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Rita of Cascia, and St. Mary, an Arabian Carmelite nun.
Levitating holy men and women are not limited to the Catholic Church. Buddhist Lamas or monks in Tibet have also been seen levitating. They would run and jump from the mountain peak to another without falling.
In England, a modern British medium named Daniel D. Home had been seen levitating many times. Even the famous Swiss psychologist, Dr. Carl Jung, wrote that he had seen Home levitate in front of him several times.
Levitation then is not a miracle. It is one of the natural psychic powers of man. I define levitation as the mental power or ability to reverse the polarity of one’s magnetism in relation to earth, and thereby rising.
St. Augustine pointed out, “Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know of nature.”
The next Basic ESP Seminar will be held April 13-14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Makati. E-mail [email protected], tel. 8107245, 0998-9886292.
