A radionics expert once stated that radionics is part of ceremonial magic. He considers the tuner a solidified thought form and the rates representing agreements with the subtle nature spirits.
I can agree with such an animistic approach. In the old times, people thought of lightning being a “god.” In fact, they considered practically all natural phenomena, even the planetary energies, as being anthropomorphic gods, i.e., gods that look somewhat like humans. Still in our days most people have a concept of a gaseous mammal above the clouds, usually bearded and of the male sex who “made it all” with “his” hands.
Witch's Well 