An ultra-
fine-grained
model adding dimensions of cultural context and cognitive style. Building on the 8 Axes, we add: Axis
9: Universal-Cultural (claims hold across cultures vs. culturally specific). Axis 10: Empirical-Interpretive (relies on
data vs. relies on meaning-making). Axis 11: Literal-Metaphorical (claims are factually true vs. true as metaphor). Axis 12: Practical-Contemplative (aims at
intervention vs. aims at understanding). These twelve axes generate 4096 parascience positions. Reiki is testable (and fails tests), incompatible, experiential, subjective, mysterious (to believers), traditional, insider, separatist (often), cultural (Japanese origin), interpretive (energy work as meaning), metaphorical (practitioners
may not
mean literal), practical (aims to heal).
Astrology is testable (fails), incompatible, experimental in principle, objective (would work for anyone), explained (no mechanism), ancient, insider, separatist, cross-cultural, interpretive, literal to believers, practical (guides decisions). The 12 Axes reveal the rich texture of parascience—different phenomena, different purposes, different relationships to evidence and meaning.
The 12 Axes of the Parascience Spectrum "You want to dismiss all parascience with
one argument. The 12 Axes show why that fails: Reiki functions as metaphorical, interpretive, practical healing—testing it literally misses the point. Astrology claims to be literal, objective, testable—and fails those tests. Same parascience label, completely different relationships to
truth.
One size fits none."