pocketjournal

I think it's basically that on the Island, when a normal person thinks about something intensely - casts their mind along a path - the Island manifests the thought materially. The extent to which you can manifest your thoughts depends on the individual. Some people resonate with the Island in a particular way and their thoughts and desires can be powerfully made manifest. Like Locke. People who have paranormal abilities in the regular world, like Walt, are especially powerful on the Island. This is why Richard told Ben to THINK about joining the Others.