Anima Mundi

A psi-boosted alternate Earth

Overview: By the 21st century, psi-tech occupies the same utilitarian niche that genetics and electronics does. Early successes in the field of psychical research gave what would become parapsychology a significant early boost, with the development of standardized testing for psychic ability serving as one of the first such results. Largely limited to clairvoyance, psychic powers serve as a useful adjunct to technological tools, and have spawned a minor but thriving industry of psychic training, information acquisition, and pharmaceutical development. Though stymied by the need to verbally relate acquired information, the necessity of concentration, and general inefficiency, psi finds a niche in its ability to provide results when the boundaries of space and time would otherwise preclude them. Psi has developed alongside a host of other advances as a new era dawns upon the Earth. Whether caught in heady wonder or disassociative surreality, the soul of the world is wakening.

Timeline

Psi-Tech: The most obvious development of psychic ability has manifested in clairvoyance. ESP is routinely used by the state and populace alike, whether it be in the form of corporate espionage, extrasensory intuition, psychical scouting, or the classic psychic spying. The success of this method derives from the effort invested in clairvoyant training during the early 20th century, with the manufacturing of psi-drugs adding to this effect. Though uncommon, it is possible to acquire a job position based on one's psychic skills, and several costly institutes offer training in the development of extrasensory ability. Mileage can vary depending on one's genetics, but even latents can find the occasional psychic insight useful. Individuals look forward to the development of telepathy in the future, which has already found some utility in the mind-reading sense. Even further afield, experiments with computing systems, intelligence, and psi are speculated upon, with the first attempts at genetic psi-therapies giving far-off hopes for psychokinesis.

Psychical Sensitivity Index: The Psychical Sensitivity Index was first officially designed in 1912. It divides psychic ability into three broad categories, though there are significantly varying degrees within each block. Each level has a name, along with a rough numerical indicator that varies depending on the individual. The actual value is determined in a more complex manner, but a rough approximation is hinted at by the decimal place, which gives the individual's p-value significance (humor won out on this front). The rating system is muddled somewhat by its inability to separate natural ability from the training of an individual. For this reason, interested persons often take one test before psychic training and another one after.

Commentary: I developed the idea for this setting out of a few passing thoughts I've had over the years. This actually had more to do with regressive predilections than anything else, as I have found that most contemporary settings leave too few outlets for the supernatural, which I feel no childhood is complete without. It was conceived of as largely a matter of technical progress for that reason, as I was interested in a depiction of psi as it is in real-life, simply prevalent enough for people to be more actively involved. It most clearly leans into science-fiction in the aspect of potential advancements in psi-drugs and greater remote viewing success rates, though I still consider it more of an alternate history than anything else. As a fun tidbit, imagining a field trip or other such visit from youth to a psi institute is how I got this document rolling. The beleagured staff of the place trying to amuse kids with knowledge of what's in their pockets, a tour a tad bit verbose for children expecting to see wizards, etc. I'm pretty glad that outside of that it also worked as a setting in general. Having thus explained this niche, I hope you can find something in it.