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In the New Age movement, channeling is the claimed receipt of information or commands by a person functioning as a medium or channel for an unknown or divine source, much as a radio receives a signal from a transmitter. Although the term was coined in the 20th century, the concept is quite old and widespread.
Channeling often means spiritual possession, where a spiritual being takes control of the receiving person's body. This mode is central to Spiritualist religions, such as Kardecism. It may also refer to other psychic phenomena where the patient loses only part of his control on his body, as in certain forms of dowsing, or merely acquires new information or ability, as in clairvoyance and telepathy.
Notable examples
Books and texts which allegedly resulted from channeling include:
Brazilian psychic surgeons, such as José Arigó, claim to work as channels for deceased surgeons.
Channeling in fiction
In fantasy literature, the term channeling is sometimes used in other ways, particularly to describe a person's ability to draw on some form of magical power. For example, the Wheel of Time series uses the term extensively (although it is by no means the only work to do so).
Reference
- Klimo, John (1987). Channeling: Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources. St. Martins Press. ISBN 0874774314.
External links
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