Hellsehen

Hellsehen is the German term for the alleged ability to obtain information about people, places, events, or times without using ordinary senses. In English, the term clairvoyance is commonly used, and it is treated as a form of extrasensory perception (ESP), sometimes including precognition (foreknowledge of future events) and retrocognition (perception of past events).

The word literally means "clear seeing," and in German-language discourse it covers a range of claims about hidden or distant knowledge beyond normal perception. In parapsychology, hellsehen is studied as part of the broader investigation into ESP, alongside other phenomena such as telepathy and remote viewing.

Historical accounts of purported clairvoyant abilities appear across cultures and eras. In modern times, spiritualist movements and psychical research sought to test such claims under controlled conditions, using methods like symbol testing (e.g., Zener cards) and attempts at remote perception. Government-funded programs, notably remote viewing initiatives during the late 20th century, further popularized the topic but remained controversial.

Scientific evaluation is skeptical: the mainstream view is that there is no robust, reproducible evidence for reliable hellsehen. Critics cite methodological flaws, biases, and alternative explanations such as chance, memory distortions, and cold reading. Proponents argue that some studies report effects beyond chance, but these findings are not widely accepted.

In culture, clairvoyant abilities are common in folklore, literature, and media, where they are depicted as either genuine powers or as deceptive performances.

See also: clairvoyance; precognition; parapsychology; remote viewing.