Psychic Abilities: Natural or Supernatural

There are different schools of thought when it comes to the source of psychic abilities. Many argue their beliefs and theories, whether it's based on religion or personal beliefs. Is there a definitive answer to the question? Like many other things beyond our current human understanding, this is also shrouded in mystery. It really comes down to personal belief and faith to find the answer that speaks truth to you. I'd like to explore these two concepts, and maybe help those who are impartial to the subject gain some insight.

Supernatural

Those who believe the source of psychic abilities are supernatural, see these abilities as a "gift" from a higher power only given to a select few. The information they receive is seen to come directly from a Divine source, similar to the prophets or various religious texts. The degree in which someone is "gifted" varies, with some having stronger abilities then other and you can only work with what you are given. Why some people are gifted while others are not is not entirely clear, and perceived as simply being the will of the divine. With that being said, the use of one's gift is meant to be used in service to divine, when it comes to this school of thought.

Natural

In contrast, those that believe it is natural, see psychic abilities as something all human beings are capable of through development. Everyone has a "6th sense" to some degree, with some individuals having a stronger natural affinity to consciously gain control of it. This is compared to other natural talents, i.e. sports, singing, playing an instrument, etc. Anyone can learn to hone these skills with time and practice, but for some it just comes more "natural". The source of the information a psychic receives varies depending on beliefs, but some common theories are: being able to read energy, perceiving another plane of existence, or simply use of another part of the brain we are yet to understand.

Evolution

This falls into the natural explanation category, and I find this theory to be very intriguing. Some believe that mankind is continuing to evolve, expanding the use of our brains, increasing our senses, and possibly gaining new ones. Living in modern times, what better ability could mankind develop than being able to access information of the unknown. The evolution theory could also explain why more and more individuals with abilities are surfacing, and why it seems to run in families. I'm not too sure what I think about this theory, but it is interesting indeed.

My purpose in writing this is not to sway anyone's personal beliefs on this matter, as this is really a subject of faith. I simply hoped to enlighten on the two sides of the coin, and let anyone who reads this come to their own conclusion. I personally believe psychic abilities are a gift, in the sense that some are more attune to these abilities than others. I know there is some controversy with using the term "gift" as some see it as pretentious, denoting you possess something beyond what any others have. This simply is not true... For example, what do we call people who have natural talent in sports or music? We call them gifted athletes or gifted musicians. The principal is exactly the same when it comes to psychic ability. Speaking for myself, I see a balance between both natural and supernatural. I believe psychic abilities are something we all have access to and can harness through development, time and practice. As a spiritual person, I feel that it is part of the divine's will (no matter how you see or worship him/her/them) to use the abilities and talents you are given to the best of your ability, and for the greater good.