Cryokinesis: The Secrets of Temperature Control

This power has received a lot of attention lately due to the runaway success of the Disney film Frozen, whose main character Elsa possesses such powers. It’s also been a fairly typical power in the superhero genre. The most notable examples are Iceman from Marvel’s X-Men franchise and one of Batman’s nemeses, Mr. Freeze, who was portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1997 film Batman and Robin.

Naturally, this ability has a wide range of applications, both useful and dangerous. The ability to lower the temperature of things can be extremely helpful for food safety and preservation. Cryokinesis can be convenient for creating ice instantly, especially for drink preparation.

There are people who believe that one can learn these powers with enough practice. It is suggested that one should begin by acclimatizing oneself and decreasing sensitivity to cold temperatures. One way is to bring water very nearly to freezing, then place your finger into the water for increasing periods of time. Be cautious because there is the potential for frostbite.

Much like other psychic powers, the key to cryokinesis is meditation. Bring yourself to a state of relaxation and close your eyes. Focus deeply on the image of molecules and visualize them slowing down until they stop moving. Some even like to imagine frost forming upon them.

The concept of Ki breathing has its roots in Japanese culture and is linked to the notion of ki, which represents life force or vital energy, also known as qi or chi. Most importantly, by focusing the breath in an expansive and introspective way, you are encouraged to merge your personal energy with the universe, so this breathing technique – developed by Tohei Sensei – is a common adjunct to meditation, martial arts, and traditional Chinese medicine. It is believed that by balancing and concentrating energy throughout the body, both mental and physical health can be improved. This, in turn, can foster a sense of unity between body and mind, as well as between the individual and the universe.

This energy, which flows through the body and helps focus and direct ki, is often visualized as light or water and can be used in the practice of cryokinesis. The technique involves holding a specific posture, paying attention to the ki breathing, visualizing water in a form that resonates with the practitioner (such as a circle of waterfalls or a hemisphere of water), and drawing energy from this visualization into the body. The goal is to infuse every part of the body with this energy, ideally several times a day. Some describe the feeling of this energy entering the body as ecstatic.

There is some evidence and stories of Tibeten monks being able to show almost unbelievable abilities of controlling temperature. One study on the meditation techniques they’ve used has concluded that with practice, people can develop the ability to control their own body temperature to a moderate degree. Although this is interesting as suggests the need for further study, this is a far cry from actual cryokinesis.