Metzler

Imagine being able to move objects with a mere thought. How your life would change! You wouldnt have to run for the phone, because it could come to you. You could carry more than two cups of coffee at one time or unlock doors without having to put down the heavy load in your arms.

Telekinesis, or psychokinesis, the ability to manipulate matter with the power of ones mind has raged for decades. In that sentence raged is woefully inadequate to describe the postings on news groups and bulletin boards that I have read. For example, an advocate for psionic ability asserts that it exists. End of argument. The skeptic answers, No, it does not exist, you [multiple expletives deleted]! End of argument.

Whether telekinesis (TK) is reality, less controversial is the ability for TK to capture our imaginations in pop culture literature and film. Before Stephen King frightened us with Carrie, Marvel Comics introduced Jean Grey, a mutant/hero in their extraordinary and wildly popular series, The X-Men. George Lucass Jedi Masters tapped into The Force. J. Michael Straczynskis Babylon 5 introduced us to the Psi-Corps, a group of psionic enabled humans (mainly telepaths), formed to police their own people. In later seasons, we find out that the Psi-Corps was formed by the Shadows for ulterior motives, etc. There are many more examples of TKs in pop culture and any omissions here are only for space and not in anyway reflective of the fantastic minds behind those creations, such as Anne McCaffreys Rowan and Pern series.

What I find interesting in just this short list is how unclear the boundary between heroic TK (one who uses their power for good) and the villain TK. Jedi Masters are revered and hailed as keepers of the peace in the galaxy, but they are susceptible to the Dark Side of the Force, in which they turn evil. We witness Anakin Skywalkers descent into the Dark Side, beginning in Attack of the Clones and completing the transformation in Revenge of the Sith. Once becoming a Jedi Master, they seem to be immune to the Dark Side, having faced it to become a master, but this has not been addressed specifically that Im aware of (Star Wars aficionados? A little help here). Jean Grey of the X-Men has been trained by Professor Xavier for using her powers for the benefit of mankind and mutantkind, but she also houses the Dark Phoenix, a terrifying creature that when unleashed becomes a destructive force that threatens the universe. With the important exceptions of Yoda, Obi-wan Kenobi and Mace Windu, it seems that no telekinetic is above being corrupted.

This maybe the result of the creators of these characters have introduced weaknesses or Achilles heels into their abilities or their psyches. Is it to ensure that there will always be some internal conflict on their orientation to the use of their TK? Or does the TK the source of the dissension?

Some creators use the period of time when the TKs realize their powers as the basis for their orientation. According to several of these characters, a psionic begins developing his or her powers around puberty. This is seen in the X-Men series and Babylon 5s Psi-Corps, but also Stephen Kings Carrie White. In his novel, Carries power manifested itself permanently with the onset of her first menstrual period, although she had an episode when she was three years old, that involved pulling meteorites out of the sky and tossing a dining room table through a window. In an episode of The Bionic Woman, Jamie Summers investigated a poltergeist, which turned out to be a young girl (played by Kristi MacNicol) who was still troubled over her mothers death. Her TK ability developed in her subconscious, manifesting itself during her dream state. Since this happened at night, the house she lived in with her father was purportedly haunted.

If we take the authors and producers lead on this, the TK develops their powers at the time of intense growing pains. It seems during this period, the TKs orientation for good or bad is usually established. Carrie had been teased all of her life by her mean schoolmates, because of being reared by her maniacally religious mother. A particularly cruel practical joke at what was supposed to be a magical moment during her high school prom triggered her revenge, causing death and destruction among her classmates and town residents.

Jean Grey fortunately had Professor Xavier to help her with her direction. Jedi apprentices have the Jedi Masters to guide them. Telepaths in the Straczynski universe have the Psi-Corps, although very few possess telekinetic powers. Talia Winters gained her TK from a former lover, who had achieved a phenomenal psi-status from a Psi-Corps experiment. Lyta Alexander also received a boost to her psionic powers after she scanned Ambassador Kosh. Neither woman had exhibited any such power previous to their life-changing experiences.

With a sizeable contingent using puberty as the trigger, what could be the source of psionic power? Stephen King makes a strong case for a TK gene and describes in amazing detail how Carries parents and grandmother carried recessive and latent genes. The joining of her parents with their genetic codes was a disaster waiting to happen. But it leaves us with the question, what would have happened if her mother had not been such a zealous religious fanatic?

X-Men writers emphasize the importance of genetics on mutation, the source of Jean Greys ability, since there are numerous references are made to the mutant gene. However, Marvel leaves the gene as a wild card since no one knows who will be a mutant at birth. If and when the mutant gene is discovered, it is usually not known how the mutation will manifest itself.

Even the mother of Kristi MacNicols character in The Bionic Woman was able to manipulate needles on a recording instrument.

It appears that J. Michael Straczynski subscribes to the hereditary nature of psionic as well. Not much background was given on resident telepaths Talia or Lyta, but it was revealed that Commander Susan Ivanova was a latent telepath (less than a P-1, the lowest level of psi power as established by the Psi-Corps), the daughter of a more telepath, her mother. The decline and subsequent suicide of her mother as a result of injections given to her by the Psi-Corps to squelch her power is the reason Ivanova mistrusted the Corps. This aspect introduces another view on the source of psionic ability. If telepathy can be suppressed by drugs, does this mean it is biochemical?

Gene Roddenberry addressed this viewpoint in an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, Platos Stepchildren. Humans established a colony on a planet, and developed their powers via eating the indigenous plants and food. Not only did telekinesis evolve, but longevity as well. The one person on the planet who did not obtain TK was a dwarf. Mr. Spock concluded that the pituitary gland, which regulated growth, also regulated the propensity for psionic power. It is interesting to note that the denizens of the planet did not exhibit telepathy.

It is apparent now that Luke Skywalker inherited his incredible ability from his father, Anakin. The Force as explained by Yoda flowed through everything in the universe and the Jedis could tap into this omnipresent force. But in The Phantom Menace, Qui-gon Jinn mentions the presence of a substance in young Anakins blood (Sorry again, Star Wars aficionados! Ive only seen the movie 3 times). Unfortunately, Qui-gon does not expand on the substance or its source, yet comments that its presence is paramount in being able to use the Force. Here we see two different requirements for the development of psionic ability.

But there are more variations on this theme. In a completely different approach, Wonder Woman (as portrayed by the beautiful Lynda Carter) did battle with a TK. In this case, the mans body was old, crippled and diseased, but his mind remained sharp and intelligence. Using this amazing intellect, he had his brain and one eye (I suppose so he could see? Gross) removed and placed in a life support tank. Once relieved of the burden of concentrating on bodily functions, the brain was free to develop powers that had been subdued by the every grind of regulating pulse and breathing, data processing and consciousness.

In conclusion, it is apparent to develop TK or any other psionic power, it is best to be born with them. When they finally manifest themselves, one should be in a happy home life (if that is possible with raging hormones) with positive role models to guide them when puberty hits!

I am a mystery writer producing a series of whodunits where the sleuths possess varying degrees of several psionic abilities to solve cases. My first novel, Inside Passage to Murder, takes place on a cruise ship in Alaska, sailing to British Columbia.