Emil Knudsen
Encyclopedia
Known as Europe’s most talented mind-reader of the early 20th century, Emil Knudsen (1872–1956) was born and raised in Steinkjer
, Norway. Psychic premonitions befell Emil Knudsen during his early childhood. In 1877, at the age of five, he foresaw the burning of the nearby town of Levanger. His ability to “see” continued to develop through his youth, and he became respected as a kind of hero throughout Nord-Trøndelag
county.
In 1905, Knudsen moved to Trondheim
, where he was hired by a large textile manufacturer to preside over his first official séance. Soon after, he went on tour throughout the world, demonstrating his abilities as a mind-reader. Using his psychic abilities, he helped solve serious crimes and find missing people and things.
However, Knudsen was most known for his mind-reading capabilities, especially during the times when he traveled abroad. He was able to impress with his ability to read people’s thoughts, and he came to be considered the best psychic in Europe. But Knudsen did not just use his abilities for show; he was very much engaged as a psychic, and many sought out his advice, visiting him privately or sending letters, or using the telephone.
An elderly woman once wrote Knudsen to ask which numbers she should play in the lottery. Knudsen replied, “If I knew that, I would personally buy the number, instead of living as a poor man.”
Just after WWII, at the age of 73, Knudsen was stricken with a weakness that left him bedridden for many years. But he still practiced his psychic abilities from his sickbed. A steady flow of customers came to him, and the mail kept on growing on his table. Time and distance meant nothing to him in terms of his ability to do his work.
The last big triumph that he had was when he was 83 years old. As an adviser at Trondheim’s Tyholt Hospital he “saw” a child who had disappeared in the United States and was being sought by a huge search party, including helicopters. Knudsen contacted the search party, and the child was found where Knudsen “saw” him.
Knudsen’s great-nephew is American artist Jeffrey Vallance
.
Steinkjer
is a town and a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Steinkjer, which is also the seat of the county government...
, Norway. Psychic premonitions befell Emil Knudsen during his early childhood. In 1877, at the age of five, he foresaw the burning of the nearby town of Levanger. His ability to “see” continued to develop through his youth, and he became respected as a kind of hero throughout Nord-Trøndelag
Nord-Trøndelag
is a county constituting the northern part of Trøndelag in Norway. As of 2010, the county had 131,555 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-least populated county. The largest municipalities are Stjørdal, Steinkjer—the county seat, Levanger, Namsos and Verdal, all with between 21,000 and...
county.
In 1905, Knudsen moved to Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, where he was hired by a large textile manufacturer to preside over his first official séance. Soon after, he went on tour throughout the world, demonstrating his abilities as a mind-reader. Using his psychic abilities, he helped solve serious crimes and find missing people and things.
However, Knudsen was most known for his mind-reading capabilities, especially during the times when he traveled abroad. He was able to impress with his ability to read people’s thoughts, and he came to be considered the best psychic in Europe. But Knudsen did not just use his abilities for show; he was very much engaged as a psychic, and many sought out his advice, visiting him privately or sending letters, or using the telephone.
An elderly woman once wrote Knudsen to ask which numbers she should play in the lottery. Knudsen replied, “If I knew that, I would personally buy the number, instead of living as a poor man.”
Just after WWII, at the age of 73, Knudsen was stricken with a weakness that left him bedridden for many years. But he still practiced his psychic abilities from his sickbed. A steady flow of customers came to him, and the mail kept on growing on his table. Time and distance meant nothing to him in terms of his ability to do his work.
The last big triumph that he had was when he was 83 years old. As an adviser at Trondheim’s Tyholt Hospital he “saw” a child who had disappeared in the United States and was being sought by a huge search party, including helicopters. Knudsen contacted the search party, and the child was found where Knudsen “saw” him.
Knudsen’s great-nephew is American artist Jeffrey Vallance
Jeffrey Vallance
Jeffrey Karl Reese Vallance is a contemporary artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California....
.
External links
- Emil Knudsen biography at City of Trondheim (Norway) tourist information guide
- Norwegian Spiritual Theory and its Origins
- Norwegian Psychics at NRK Media
- Reference to Accounts and Notes from My Life and My Travel, a book by Emil Knudsen
- Biography at SteinkjerLeksikonet
- History of Norwegian Mediums
- Article at the National Museum of Justice, Norway