The PK Zone:
A Cross Cultural Guide to Psychokinesis

NOTE: This book was pulled from print at the start of 2009, to prepare for it's replacement by Mind-Matter Interaction.

Introduction

The PK Zone is the end result of a personal quest to understand mind over matter phenomena, which is known as psychokinesis or PK. I was having experiences that science, and my medical training. told me were impossible. Yet they were happening. I wasn't some guru on a mountaintop and I certainly knew I wasn't faking this stuff. I wanted to make sense of why it was happening, how I could do this stuff, and what it all meant.

My journey was a long one. It led to my moving to California to go back to school and getting a doctorate degree in parapsychology. And when it came time to choose my dissertation topic, I thought about it long and hard. And although it was tempting to do anomalous healing research (because of my background as a physician), I realized that wasn't needed. There already were some excellent, triple-blind, controlled studies that were proof enough for anyone with an open mind. I couldn't add anything there. But when I looked at what hadn't been done, I realized that no one had ever done a phenomenological study looking at what the experience of performing psychokinesis was like for those of us who do it. I managed to get eight kind and generous souls to volunteer their experiences, which covered an enormous range of PK--from religious PK, to sports PK, to metal bending, to healing. It was just about you name it.

When it was time to do the literature review for my dissertation, I discovered to my horror that no one had summarized the experimental findings since about 1976 - meaning I had to go through every journal article and book I could find since then and try to summarize them. Moreover, most academic books ignored stories about PK as unscientific, and no one had previously studied what the experience of performing PK is like for those who actually do it. This seemed like a mistake. How can you understand such a complex topic unless you really ground yourself in the material? The answer is simple. You can't. It was not an easy task - nor one I particularly wanted to do - but it had to be done. And what I found was, when I finished putting together all the anecdotal, experimental, and experiential data, that for the first time I felt like I truly understood PK. It was deeply satisfying, but I also wanted to share what I had learned with others.

The next four years were spent rewriting, and updating The PK Zone to take it out of academic double talk and make it more understandable. I was helped in part by simultaneously working on a paranormal romance novel, called Out of Nowhere (still unpublished). What I ended up with was a casual writing style that presents all that we currently know about this intriguing topic. The PK Zone is set up to lead the reader on the same journey that I took. First, it looks at stories of PK from cultures around the world. Next, it reviews the experimental literature and what science has taught us about the phenomena. With this rich backdrop, the reader is then ready to appreciate the final section of the book - the complex, interactive nature of the experience.

I will freely admit that this book is a bit of a monster. I only recommend that people read it cover-to-cover, start-to-finish in order if they are having out-of-control PK experiences. Reading the book in this way will not only help you understand just how NORMAL this stuff is, but also should help you to understand it and (hopefully) gain some control over your abilities. For others, I say read only what interests you. There is a detailed index at the back of the book just to help people find those individual topics they want to read.

The PK Zone was winner of the iUniverse Editor's Choice Award, receiving the maximum points possible. The reviewer wrote, "This book is a tour de force, examining not only the long and controversial history of PK, but ultimately challenging the reader to find out for himself whether every person might not actually have latent PK ability. Since the earliest days of levitating saints to the latest research being done in the PK field, this book covers it all, and is painstakingly documented every step of the way. It's a topic that is both timely and timeless, and the reader is hard pressed to put it down once they've started reading ... The hardest thing is not to sound too enthusiastic, when this may be the best written, researched and told book this reviewer has seen to date!"

Back Cover Blurb
This book is a tour de force, which leads the reader through the long and fascinating history of psychokinesis (mind over matter), in all its facets. From the earliest days of levitating saints and rock throwing poltergeists to the latest research being done in the field, this book covers it all. With degrees in both medicine and parapsychology, Dr. Heath documents her material with painstaking care as she puts together all of the pieces of this intriguing puzzle.

Long a topic of myth and legend, the first section of the text explores stories of miraculous events from a variety cultures around the globe. The second portion of the book shifts from the anecdotal to what science has taught us. Over a hundred years of experimental research are reviewed to examine what has been learned from archival data, field investigations, and formal controlled studies of this controversial field. The third section of the book describes what performers have themselves said about their experiences, in their own words. Finally, the book considers what kinds of things appear to inhibit, or facilitate, performance. By the end, the reader is left with a comprehensive sense of all that is currently understood about PK.

Reviews

The iUniverse Editorial Review
The iUniverse editorial reviewer stated about The PK Zone that: "This book is a tour de force, examining not only the long and controversial history of PK, but ultimately challenging the reader to find out for himself whether every person might not actually have latent PK ability. Since the earliest days of levitating saints to the latest research being done in the PK field, this book covers it all, and is painstakingly documented every step of the way. It’s a topic that is both timely and timeless, and the reader is hard pressed to put it down once they’ve started reading ...

The hardest thing is not to sound too enthusiastic, when this may be the best written, researched and told book this reviewer has seen to date ....

Rarely does someone show the flare for being able to tackle a sometimes technical subject in such a conversational way. She never assumes her readers know more than they do, and patiently makes sure everyone knows what’s going on at all times. It’s a terrific manuscript."

Journal Reviews
Journal of Parapsychology
In the Fall 2004 issue (which came out in January 2006) of the Journal of Parapsychology, Rhea White concluded her review of The PK Zone with this statement: "In my opinion, if one were to buy a book about PK, this is the most important one because Dr. Heath (MD and PsyD) covers all aspects in considerable detail and presents a qualitative approach that can also be quantified. Thus, Heath provides both a novel methodological approach to PK that is applicable to any specific aspect of psi and a wealth of information about the experience of PK that to my knowledge is unparalleled in the literature of parapsychology."

Australian Journal of Parapsychology>
Lance Storm wrote in the June, 2004 issue of The Australian Journal of Parapsychology:  "Part 1 of her book gives a brilliant and comprehensive review of the history of psychokinesis in its myriad forms ....

In Part 2, Heath covers research and theory .... Again as Heath features each area of research, she considers the finer points and criticisms for and against the alleged effects reports in each of them ....

Finally, in Part 3 (the biggest and probably most important of the three parts) Heath presents her phenomenological findings .... There is much overlap amongst various constituents, given the sometimes arbitrary and ambiguous nature of language, and Heath successfully brings these blurry edges into sharper focus ....

The PK Zone quickly brings the novice and the experienced researcher up to speed in regard to PK research and the effects themselves, but the fact that the book implies a coverage of PK only is misleading. There are major sections on ESP throughout the book ... and (as just hinted) Heath addresses the important claim made by a number of theorists and experimenters that PK and ESP may be the same phenomenon ....

As an experimenter and researcher, this reviewer thoroughly recommendsThe PK Zone as an ample source of research possibilities ... the book is an easy read, and it should be no surprise that it finds its way into the hands of lay-persons. Unlike the many overly specific and abstract parapsychological texts currently available, Heath's presentations of PK (and ESP) phenomena will fascinate the reader. Part I has many sections that are particularly absorbing and the encyclopedic nature of this section works well as a handy reference source."

European Journal of Parapsychology
Alan Gauld wrote, "This unusual book is perhaps more likely to stir up interest than to convince readers by force of evidence that the phenomena described do indeed happen; but it could also induce some to read further and to experiment for themselves. May it be so! "

Reader Reviews

BlogSpot
Roy Waidler
Morion Thought reviews The PK Zone on his blog here.

Amazon Reviews (rated 5 stars)
Penny Zingery (Texas)
Penny Zingery wrote: "If you're thinking, 'Hmmm ... I have so many questions about PK, but where do I start?' Or, if you're already familiar with the PK literature, yet are searching for more information -- this is the book for you. I can't say that I've run across another book that covers the subject of PK in more detail. Therefore, I find myself returning to this book time after time as my primary 'reference manual.'"

"Psychokinesis through the Ages: A Historical Cross-Cultural Review of PK Anecdotal Material" covers the history of PK occurrences and the variety of PK performers."

"PK Research and Theory will appeal to both the academic and lay reader alike, as Heath's writing style is neither fluffy nor stuffy. It is, however, extremely well-researched and authoritative. This is a book that you don't want to miss, if you're looking for the most comprehensive overview of what is described in the Foreword as 'this remarkable thing that we call psychokinesis (PK).' It's an extraordinary piece of work."

Mike Wilson (Michigan)
Mike Wilson wrote "For the person who is interested in learning about PK, this book is a comprehensive tome that will meet many needs. The book is divided into three parts: a historical cross-cultural review of PK anecdotal material, research and theory, and the experiential approach."

"For the person who wants a complete overview, Part 1 covers the history, and cultural interplay that is associated with the phenomena. Some of the chapters include: Religious and Spiritual PK, Levitation, Teleportation, Bilocation, and more."

"For the person who wants accurate, no-nonsense, and comprehensive material, Part II covers PK Research and Theory. Some of the chapter headings include Spontaneous PK Cases, Early Research and Mediums, Dice and Sphere Experiments, Random Number Generators, Biological System Research, Macro-PK, Metal Bending, Performance Factors, PK Training, and PK Models and Theories. For the researcher, experimenter or parapsychologist, here is your golden nugget of information all in one section of a book. "

"Lastly, the person who is wanting to explore where it is going will not be disappointed. "Part III: The PK Matrix: Experimental Research" covers the phenomenology. Each section of the chapter is subdivided into 'What the Literature Says,' 'Aspects of _____' (whatever the chapter is about), 'How it Relates to Other Constituents,' and a summary. Some of the chapter headings included are Altered States of Consciousness, Sense of Connection, Dissociation from the Individual Ego Identity, Suspension of Intellect, PK Inhibitors and about 20 other chapters. This is highly recommended for the person who wants to learn how to practice and learn how to manipulate PK."

"In summary, this book will meet the needs of the curious onlooker who wants a well-rounded view, for the scientist who needs to be up-to-date on the research and theory, and will be a practical guide for those that wish to experiment with how much they can produce. "

Richard Webster (Auckland, New Zealand)
Richard Webster, well-known author of books on Feng Shui, Angels, and other New Age Topics wrote "This is by far the most comprehensive study of psychokinesis that I have come across. The author, despite being an academic, writes in an easy manner that makes the book a joy to read. The book starts with PK through the ages, covering such areas as levitation, stigmata, teleportation, bilocation, fire immunity, mediumship, psychic healing and poltergeists. She provides a wealth of examples, all of which are fully referenced. The first section covers anecdotal evidence. The second section covers the research that has been done in these areas over the last century, and the theory behind psychokinesis. The third section covers experiential research which is intended to explain the significance of PK. What I particularly liked about this section is that each topic is divided into three subsections: what the literature says, how it relates to the other constituents, and a summary. I found it helpful to read the summary first, as this gave me a clear idea as to what was going to be covered under the specific topic. The book contains a comprehensive glossary, references, and index.

"I wishThe PK Zone had been written twenty years ago, as it would have saved me an incredible amount of time and energy. Virtually everything that anyone would want to know about the subject is in this book. I recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in the subject. Beginners will gain a comprehensive picture of psychokinesis, and more knowledgeable readers will learn much that is new to them."

Loyd Auerbach (California)
Loyd Auerbach, author of many books on ghosts and the paranormal wrote: "The PK Zone is an amazing work of research and investigation into mind over matter (psychokinesis). Never has a book gone as deeply into both the research and experience of a psychic ability as this one. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants any kind of understanding of how the mind can reach out and interact with the world around us .... Buy this book if you're at all interested in the paranormal and psychic abilities (and of course, psychokinesis specifically).

Heather Blome (Minnesota)
Heather Blome wrote: "I have read this book and I salute this author for her ambitious and remarkable undertaking. As far as I know, no one else has ever attempted or succeeded in writing or publishing such a comprehensive and scientific compilation of what is known about psychokinesis. This is no fluff-bunny book, but a serious work that is both easy to read and worth your time. It belongs on the shelves of all who really wonder about the mysteries of this world and are tired of just a collection of second or third hand stories. After reading this volume I look forward to the next subject this author tackles. Buy it."

Dorothy O'Donnell (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Dorothy O'Donnell, webmaster of the New Zealand Ghosts website wrote: "Dr Heath's book The PK Zone is a great read, it's a definitive guide on (PK) psychokinesis for the novice and professional alike. The writer takes you step by step through the history of psychokinesis. From floating Saints to stone throwing poltergeists, spinning cards and the bending of spoons and so much more. The PK Zone is enjoyable and informative. No student of psi should be without this book, it is a valuable reference guide in any paranormal library."