Editing TheStarsAreRight:EllisMailingIntro (section)

==Discussion of psi energy==
  Psi energy, or psi flux, is a form of energy generated by, 
  and contained in, living things.  It also exists under certain 
  circumstances in forms not associated with living things.  These
  will be discussed later. (Chaz note; there is a lot of math in 
  here.  I'm leaving out the numbers, as I'm adding the details
  during lunch at work.  If anyone ever needs them I can dig them 
  up from old documents at home.)

its radiation from the body
  A living body generates and contains a certain amount of psi 
  energy.  This energy bleeds off into the surrounding environment
  at all times, and is replenished by the body's normal processes.
  The body thus gives off a radiant "aura" of psi flux which can 
  be detected and measured.  A typical person's aura radiates at
  about one-tenth the energy level contained by that person's body.

its sensitivity to 'events'
  One notable property of psi flux is that it is sensitive to, and 
  tropic towards, certain external events.  Such events include
  the presence of other concentrations of psi energy, as well as 
  certain high-energy transitions of other sorts such as rapidly 
  alternating electric currents, intense thermal or chemical 
  reactions, etc.  Psi flux therefore tends to concentrate around 
  such events.  Its range of sensitivity is quite short, however
  that range increases as the charge accumulates.  As a result, 
  smaller charges accumulate readily, while larger ones are sensitive 
  to more and more remote events and tend to behave less predictably.

its normal behavior when not influenced
  If released into free space, psi flux moves in straight lines at
  high speed. It remains in one place only when "attracted" there 
  by a flux "charge" or other event (see above.)  Moving flux 
  travels at a very high rate of speed; variants of the Michelson/
  Morley experiment conducted with flux could not measure its velocity, 
  indicating it is much higher than that of light, if it is measurable
  at all.

  Free flux can, however, be directed using its affinities.  A concen-
  trated charge tends to be self-defining; the psi flux is attracted
  itself and readily builds charges and moves in streams, until the 
  overall charge gets large.  Flux therefore can be constrained to 
  move in predictable ways.

* motion through lines and circles
  Psi flux tends to travel in straight lines, however it can be bent
  into circles using suitable conduits.  The degree to which a flux
  will bend depends upon its charge and upon the conduit used. Flux
  will not usually traverse a sharp corner, radiating outwards instead.
  Radially symmetric patterns of corners are an exception; the state
  change from constrained to unconstrained is enough to maintain an 
  aggregate charge in some cases.

* affinity for silver (copper, gold)
  Psi flux has an affinity for elemental metals in the IB column of 
  the periodic table, and these materials serve as good conduits for
  flux.  Silver shows the strongest affinity, gold is next, and 
  copper is weakest.  Shapes constructed of these materials can be 
  formed to constrain low flux charges.

  Note that silver may get quite warm when conducting psi flux; an 
  unexpected change in the temperature of a silver object is often 
  a useful way to tell when one encounters a high flux charge.

* disruptive properties of iron (ruthenium, osmium)
  Elemental metals in the VIIB column are antithetic to psi flux.
  These metals tend to disrupt psi charges and block flux passage.
  Iron and osmium both show this behavior; this writer has not had
  the opportunity to experiment on ruthenium.

  Note that, like silver, iron gets very hot when disrupting flux.
  Sometimes other effects are visible. These vary widely and can be 
  unexpectedly large or violent.

* disruptive properties of rapidly varying electric fields
  Rapidly varying electromagnetic fields have an effect on free flux
  similar to that of iron sheeting.  The effect becomes measurable
  at frequencies above 20 Hz; above 120 Hz the blockage is nearly 
  total.  The flux in this case behaves as if it had hit an iron sheet, 
  and may cause random effects as above.

its ability to accept and retain 'commands' and 'impressions' both of physical and mental environments, especially in cases of extreme emotion or stress
  Psi flux is more complex than electricity, in that the energy 
  exhibits the ability to take with it some qualities or "memories"
  of the environment through which it passes.  The energy radiated 
  from an individual, for instance, carries a unique signature or
  psychic "scent" distinct to that person.  That signature mixes
  with the general ambient until it is eventually lost to entropy.
  
  Psi flux can therefore be used to carry information in many 
  useful ways.  People, for instance, do this naturally; at 
  moments of great stress their radiated energy carries something
  of their thoughts and emotions into the ambient, which can be
  detected later by sensitive individuals.  Impression of such
  memories on a place is one cause of "ghosts."

the means by which these impressions may propagate widely from place to place and person to person
  When two "particles" of psi flux touch or pass through one 
  another, they each take away something of the signature and 
  content carried by the other. information thus spreads widely 
  over time, in less and less distinct form.  Sensitive people
  can read and interpret this information.

the sensitivity of certain people to reading those impressions, and ways in which that sensitivity can manifest (clairvoyants, psychometrists, psychics and telepaths, etc.)
  Some people, by virtue of some accident of birth or birthright, 
  are naturally able to sense and interpret the psi flux.  Abilities
  and strengths vary widely.

  As the ambient level of psi energy in the world continues to rise, 
  individuals may notice impressions or discover abilities they did
  not previously possess.

* how 'legitimate' sensitives reacting to psi impressions in this way can often be identified by the strength and variation of their psi aura while they work, using tools described in a later section
  Regular exercise of abilities using psi flux seems to increase the
  level and flexibility of the user's energies.  As their innate 
  charge increases, so does the user's radiant aura.  This can be 
  measured.  Such measurement is not 100% effective however, as 
  some practitioners can learn to deliberately lower or mask their
  aura.
** experimental details
   (Chaz note -- I wish I had time to write this up!)

* how some other animals such as dogs are well known for their sensitivity, and can be shown experimentally to be more sensitive to psi radiations than most people
** experimental details

how stronger concentrations of the energy can result in phenomena detectable by anyone
* memory "ghosts" 
* hot spots, cold spots, sourceless emotions and the like
* "psi poisoning" or symptoms of sickness caused by over-exposure to the psi flux

how these concentrations may be measured, dispersed or disrupted mechanically, and the consequences of same
* measuring devices (a simple 'psychogalvanometer' is described, with the note that these and similar devices are patented in the US and UK and available for sale over the counter in England)
* decanting or drawing off of flux using silver conduits
* mechanical disruption using iron-mesh "fly-swatters" or solid iron sheets/walls/objects
* electromagnetic disruption using rapid alternating currents (examples include protective suit and electric cages)
* side-effects, discussing photographic fogging, metal heating and random manifestations (the heating is easily explained as electromagnetic interaction, while the random effects are attributed to a 'mechanism that is not well understood and must be properly researched.')  It is noted that in the majority of cases, these effects are limited in size and duration, and usually harmless

how psi energy is more present in densely inhabited places, but also gathers  naturally in 'hot spots' and 'ley lines'.
* these locations may be used to experiment with the energy and/or to power the simple devices described
* these locations, and other spots with high levels of energy, are more likely to exhibit 'weird psychic' phenomena such as the stuff so oft in the papers of late -- so reports on or near the lines are more likely to have some measurable validity
* a copy of part of Carl's ley line map of northern Illinois is provided, along with instructions on how to use a psychogalvanometer to find the leys
* the level of psi energy, both at hot spots and in general, can be shown to be rising slowly nationwide.  One possible cause, then, of the increased number of supernatural sightings in recent months may be related to this rise

some specific cases to illustrate the point, including
* Henry Peavey's ghost in Los Angeles, and how it can be detected/measured
* Photographic film fogging at a selected hot-spot or two
* similar things from the Houdini archives, interpreted in the light of psi  

and lastly, importantly, how psi phenomena cannot be expected to explain everything.