tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11584613811755003972024-03-18T19:43:17.713-07:00Rhine BlogJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307213805023157636noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-59012255104136531652016-11-13T11:08:00.001-08:002016-11-13T11:09:58.054-08:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>The Indefinite Embrace</strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: small;">By <em>John G. Kruth, Executive Director - Rhine Research Center<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I was nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So nervous that I didn’t even realize that I
was stammering continuously to anybody who would come near to me, punctuated by
brief moments spent shifting my weight from one foot to the other while surveying
the room for the next wandering soul that I would alternatively want to avoid
completely or latch onto so that I would feel the comfort of a life preserver
in a sea of excitement, fear, and confusion that was the beginning of a new
chapter in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was during one of
these brief interludes of uncomfortable alone time that my eyes were quickly
shifting from one point to another and my mind was racing with a thousand
thoughts including whether I needed a haircut and was wearing the right clothes
for my new role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Who was I to stand here and
present myself as a leader when I was only a few months into this organization
that had so many knowledgeable and important benefactors and supporters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The doubt was beginning to set
in and I felt the urge to melt into a dark corner, when, below my line of
sight, I noticed a small woman who was immediately in my personal space – just
close enough to provide for a private and intimate conversation, but not so
near as to make the interaction uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">With a bubble in her voice she
said, “I am SOO happy to meet you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I had heard this from many
people that night since it was my first opportunity to address the Rhine
community as the new Executive Director, but it was what she said next that
caught my attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just LOVE your
hair!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so long and beautiful, and
it just makes your spirit shine through!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then slowly, “You.. are.. ABSOLUTELY.. GLOWING.. tonight!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It caught me off guard, and I
smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her amazingly sincere
appreciation and joyful enthusiasm knocked me out of my thoughts and into the
moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This was the first time I met
Karen Baumer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Over the next few years I came
to recognize that Karen had this same joy in her voice with each and every
person that she would meet because she truly was overwhelmingly happy to find a
new soul and learn all about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
learn she did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a few minutes of
meeting Karen, nearly everyone would open up, come out of their thoughts, and
share their lives with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, of
course, Karen would also share her thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Typically, her thoughts were about how amazing you were, how interesting
your experiences were, how GLOWING you were, and how you truly had to spend
more time at the Rhine and meet the incredible people there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Karen was involved in nearly
every event or activity that was presented or sponsored by the Rhine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the Psychic Experiences Group, to the
Dream Studies Group, to the regular research meetings, events, and the
fundraising team, Karen would not only attend these meetings, but she would
greet each person with such beauty and enthusiasm that they would immediately
feel like they were part of a family… and an IMPORTANT part of the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">That was the feeling that
Karen left you with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are IMPORTANT
and your thoughts and ideas matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
are a unique person and your special experiences need to be shared with the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are, for those moments with
Karen, the most interesting person in the world, and everyone needs to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When Karen stopped showing up
at meetings at the Rhine in late September, 2016, she was clearly missed, and
everyone noticed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her seat was empty,
and the large bag filled with notebooks, pens, sometimes candy covered almonds,
and always a large, metal water bottle was missing from the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, more than this, missing was the quiet
insight that brought clarity and precision and reminded all of us that our work
and conversations were about people and their experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was what resonated so strongly about our
time at the Rhine - the community that we built together and maintained through
our personal connections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Karen’s illness came quickly,
and she left us within a few short weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This didn’t stop Karen from reaching out to every person that she knew
and letting them know how important they are and how much she appreciated them…
“… more than you can ever know”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In the last days, before she
passed, Karen was in everyone’s thoughts, and her presence was palpable at the
Rhine, at PEG, in the healing groups, and just around the library where we
spent so much time together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">People manage their response
to loss in many different ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Personally, I miss the connection and interactions, but, more than this,
I feel a true joy to know that Karen has moved on and is able to experience the
world and her spirit in a whole new way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though there are many new things that will pull Karen’s attention and
fascinate her spirit, it is my belief that, at least for a brief period, she
will continue to spend time with us at the Rhine and share the loving and
caring connections that she still has with so many of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I will cherish the thoughts
and memories of Karen’s physical life, and in those moments when Karen decides
to enter our hearts and share her joyful spirit with us, we will experience her
bubbly appreciation all over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
that brief moment, we will each be special, important, and the most beautiful
person in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12513617112509756863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-69683212104817166342016-03-14T11:35:00.000-07:002016-03-14T11:35:03.738-07:00Important SciencePeople who study ESP in the remaining few small pockets of parapsychological research will tell you that this PSI ability is distributed within the population pretty much like other traits. As with musical or athletic skill, you probably have some ESP talent. There is much evidence for ESP, you can look over our website , or the Journal of Parapsychology, or at some other resources such as Dean Radin's site. ( Links to these sites are at the end of this blog. ) Though quite a popular topic in movies, television and on the web, you have probably not considered the far reaching potential ESP truly has. While in this information age, technology is quickly giving us the ability to have constant, instant access to all information, that resource pales beside the ability to have access to all information, past and future, from everywhere. Wrap your head around that for a minute, if you can. The internet is a mere fortune cookie next to volitional PSI.<br /><br />So why is it then, that research on a discovery of such world shattering importance is not supported more than it is? Like I mentioned before, the Rhine Research Center is one of the few remaining research facilities exploring this science, most others have closed down due to lack of support. The US Military did fund such research for 20+ years because they recognized its importance. Other organizations around the world are funding its research, but here in the USA not a lot is happening, and that strikes me as strange. Who do you want discovering a know-how that opens the door to all other abilities, and hidden things we haven't yet imagined? Do you want these discoveries taking place in far away countries? In hidden facilities of the military? Who do you want making the greatest technological breakthrough in history, large corporations, the government, the military, a military on the other side of the world? Or would you prefer to put this responsibility in the hands of conscientious scientists who have dedicated themselves to the science of ESP, not to its profitable application or weaponization.<br /><br />When a clear and reliable picture of how this phenomenon functions is achieved, its secrets will be available for application by all of us, if we hear about it. The amazing things uncovered in the continuing research at the Rhine Research Center show up in the press, and receive careful scrutiny in scientific journals. The center remains a place of daily discovery, and it is making good and careful use of the funding it has. But many brilliant and potentially fruitful areas of experimental exploration remain on the shelf because we are not growing to keep up with these possibilities. While the goals of clear understanding of the mechanics of this proven phenomenon remain before us, we know progress is being made. Like other big questions that have confounded science before, this one will be understood. If you want to have access to that information, you need to invest in it. The cost is small, but the inevitable payout is gigantic, world altering. To turn your interest in quality research for a necessary subject, visit this helpful webpage, http://www.rhine.org/contribute/ways-to-give.html.<br /><br /><br />Rhine Research Center (www.rhine.org)<br />Journal of Parapsychology (http://www.parapsych.org/section/17/journal_of_parapsychology.aspx)<br />Dean Radin's Selected Peer-Reviewed Psi Research Publications ( http://deanradin.com/evidence/evidence.htm )<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-71532701629022677842015-03-16T11:23:00.002-07:002015-03-16T11:23:26.960-07:00An interesting case of macro-pkAs the editor of the Rhine Newsletter and a contributor to the Rhine blog, I enjoy reading and hearing the stories of psi events that come our way. I am pleased to share a story sent to us by Anne Cooper about a profound experience she and her friends had back in 1962, one that prompted her to write to J.B. Rhine for advice. What follows is her description of the uncanny summer experience she and her friends had back in 1962 and, at the end of the blog post, a transcription of the correspondence with Dr. Rhine. <br />
Enjoy!<br />
- Jennifer Moore<br />
Jennifer@rhine.org<br />
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<b>Victoria, Texas</b></div>
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Ordinarily the bus ride would have
seemed long and boring but I had my two girl friends by my side. Mary Louise would
be in my high school senior class that fall at St Agnes Academy and her friend
Donna lived down the street from her. Mary Louise was my age (16) and Donna a
little younger. We were on an adventure. My grandmother lived in Victoria, 120
miles south of our homes in Houston. We were on summer break and were going to
spend a week visiting her. It was June and the year was 1962.</div>
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On the bus ride south I prepared
them for my grandmother’s house. This house was childhood fantasies come true.
It was a Victorian mansion built at the end of the nineteenth century by my
great grandfather, a wealthy banker in Victoria. The house had fallen into
disrepair in the century since it was built. It had never been repainted,
shutters hung precariously from their hinges on the upstairs windows. But still
the house was imposing and fabulous. And it was huge. Upstairs there were 6
bedrooms and 2 baths; downstairs were 2 more bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen,
breakfast room, dining room, sitting room and very large foyer that served as
another sitting room. The elegance that once was surely there was still in
evidence; tooled leather, although cracked and dried, on the banister going
upstairs, the front door was cut leaded glass, the family name “Buhler” spelled
out in tiles in the entryway. Three of the six bedrooms upstairs had their own
private screened balconies overlooking the ample yard. Most of the bedrooms had
fireplaces to provide heat. The mantles gracing each fireplace were ornate with
scroll work and tile. Because of the heat in summer, the ceilings were 12 feet
high, making for a comfortable house in the summer, but impossibly cold when
the occasional winter storm came. </div>
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With access through one of the
upstairs bathrooms was the attic. Large
and spacious it contained a centuries worth of clothes, toys, books, magazines,
leather tooled steamer trunk, even an antique baby carriage. Over the years my
siblings and I spent many long hours perusing the attic for its wealth of
treasures. </div>
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I always imagined there to be
secret rooms and chambers in the house. It was a magical space to me and still appears
weekly in my dreams.</div>
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Although not on a hill, but in a
grand old neighborhood, Grandma’s house had that ghostly image of the haunted
house on the hill with lightening striking around it. Its façade was ornate
with turrets and bric-a-brac. The house was surrounded on two sides by a large
sitting porch. In the evenings in the summer when I was a child we used to sit
outside and watch the bats fly out of all the chimneys (which were no longer
used for fear of burning down the house), thus adding to the sense of
spookiness.</div>
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We took a taxi from the bus
station, and as we approached the house Mary Louise and Donna both sat silent
staring in disbelief. It was even more impressive looking than I had been able
to describe. On the way to Victoria I had told them that I knew for certain
that my grandfather had died in the house, not sure if any of the other
relatives that had inhabited the old house had expired there as well. We were
going to have a séance, and for some reason death in the house seemed an
important criterion. </div>
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We had an inordinate fascination
with the paranormal. We were always playing mind games. Once, out of boredom we
decided to see if we could get a card table to levitate. It was rainy and
unpleasant outside so this seemed a fun parlor game to play. Donna dragged out
the card table and we set it up in the living room of her parent’s house. The
three of us set around the table and told jokes and giggled like the school
girls we were. We decided that we’d each lightly place our finger tips on the
table top and start making our demands of the table. We commanded the table to lift
off the floor. Within seconds the table started to quiver and 3 of its legs
levitated. We were not shocked or spooked. We thought that some tiny
involuntary muscles in our fingers were tugging at the table and causing it to
rise so startlingly. We could get that table 18 inches off the ground with 3
legs, but never could make it levitate completely. After that afternoon, we
played this game often, secretly fascinated at our power. We also played mind
reading games. One day Mary Louise was thinking of a movie and it was Donna’s
turn to guess. Mary Louise later described her visualization. She pictured in
her mind a black board and was writing the name <i>Gone with the Wind</i> out on the smooth black slate surface. As she
moved from letter to letter Donna said the letters as Mary Louise wrote them.
G-O-N-E ... Mary Louise was shocked as Donna spelled out the movie title in
time with Mary Louise’s visualization. </div>
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There were many other mind games we
played. All of them innocent and provided us with long afternoons of
entertainment. Going to visit my grandmother was merely a continuation of these
games. We also saw the trip as an adventure, an escape from our families. We
were looking forward to this visit. So was my Grandmother.</div>
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Grandma was delighted to see us and
put us up in my Mother’s old bedroom upstairs. It was one of the largest bedrooms
and was comfortable for the 3 of us. We shared the upstairs with a tenant of my
Grandmother’s, Ester Ethyl Edsyl. Saying
her name aloud would send the three of us into gales of giggles. She was a sweet
middle aged woman who had rented a room from Grandma for years. Grandma slept alone
downstairs and rarely made the long trip up to the second floor.</div>
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After several days of walking to downtown
Victoria to the movies, sodas at the drugstore down the street, swimming at the
local pool and secretly practicing smoking in the bathroom upstairs we decided
to try the séance.</div>
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The dining room was gloomy. Its stained
glass windows faced the street, but because of the dense dark green vegetation
outside there was little light from them. At the opposite end of the room was a
fireplace, with an ornate mantle. The dining table was a large oak table under
a tiffany style light, with marbled stained glass in dark tones of blue, green
and red. In the far corner was an antique secretary with shelves on one side
and drawers the other. We decided it was the perfect place to have the séance
and made ourselves comfortable around the table. </div>
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Joining hands I invoked the spirit
of Grandpa, who had died a decade earlier. Our eyes closed as we sat silently
waiting for a sign. At that point I heard my Grandmother in the kitchen, a room
away. Not wanting her to know we were trying to conjure up her dead husband I
went into the kitchen to distract her from coming into the dining room. We
chatted briefly. Mary Louise suddenly appeared in the kitchen looking pale and
startled. As not to alarm Grandma she said as calmly as she could that I should
come back into the dining room. </div>
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In the dining room Mary Louise and
Donna were staring at the antique secretary desk. They silently pointed at the desk and much to
my amazement the top drawer was pulling out. The desk was old, the dark wood
dried and dusty and the drawer was struggling to come out, it was creaking
ominously as it did so. We stood with mouths open, certain that it was Grandpa.</div>
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I was standing next to the dining
room table, where I had my fingers resting lightly. All at once, I felt an
inner vibration in the table, as though a train were passing nearby. At the
same time the lamp over the table started to sway. I had my friends touch the
table to feel its inner life. Then I
realized that we needed a way to communicate with my Grandfather. We asked him to make the table move to the
right. To our delight the table made a dramatic swing to the right, lifting the
rug as it did so. Grandpa was surely with us. </div>
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I then told the table we would ask
yes and no questions and that if the answer was “yes” to make the table swing
to the right and if it was “no” to the left. I then asked “do you understand”
and the table immediately swung to the right. We were on our way. We were still
standing around the table, but at this point each of us was touching it as we
had so many times touched the top of the card table.</div>
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For the rest of our visit we sat
around that table asking many silly teenage girl questions. We wanted to know
who we’d marry, or date. We also asked odd questions: was Hitler in hell? Unfortunately
I can remember very few of our questions. They were mostly mundane, relating to
our young lives, I imagine. To make sure it was not any one of us moving the
table we would periodically stand far from the table with our hands in clear
view and speak to the table. Without fail it would respond whether we were in
contact with it or not.</div>
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The table in the beginning said
that yes indeed it was Grandpa, but as time passed the identity changed to
Jesus and then to the Holy Spirit. We had them all and we were delighted. My
Grandmother must have wondered why we spent so much time in the dining room,
but never questioned us. We brought cards, nail polish, mirrors, tweezers (for
plucking eyebrows), and movie magazines with us to appear as though we were
busy being teenage girls and just found this room the most comfortable. We laughed
and joked among ourselves and would ask the power moving the table if it was
laughing and always it agreed that it was indeed enjoying our silliness. </div>
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One day I noticed that a candle
that was on the mantle was lying beside the candle holder and we asked if the
present spirit had taken it out. It said it had. So we invented another game.
We asked that each time we came into or left the room that the candle would be
in or out depending on where it was when we were there last. Eerily it
complied. Our only fear was seeing some object levitate so we asked that it not
make things levitate while we were watching. It promised not to scare us. There
was a large basket on the floor by the fireplace and we requested that it be
moved from right to left side or vice versa as we came and left the room.
Without fail it was always in its new position.
It was creepy to us knowing that sometime while we were not in the room
the candle quietly floated up or down and the basket drifted, as though caught
in a tide, from one side of the fireplace to the other. Now I wish we had
witnessed those phenomenons. </div>
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Although not frightened in
daylight, we did plead with the spirit not to come to our room at night. It
agreed to stay away once the sun had set. Spookiness in the daylight was one
thing, but night time shenanigans did not appeal to us. Nor did anything happen
in our room in the night. We were grateful for that.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
We thought for awhile that we were
supposed to be teachers of God’s word, as the “spirit” made us believe we had a
calling. That did not appeal to any of us. We were also instructed not to tell
anyone about this experience and we promised. I do remember on our bus trip
back to Houston discussing whether or not we should tell anyone about this
profound encounter. The “spirits” told us not to, but we were adolescents with
no ability to keep such an event contained.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In fact, as soon as I arrived home
I told my father the whole story. I am still amazed that I chose to do that,
but somehow I trusted that he would not ridicule me, or tell me that it was my
imagination. He, from the very beginning, believed me. His first reaction was
to warn me that we could conjure up “evil spirits”, ones that we should not be
playing with. My father was a strict Catholic whose faith informed all his
opinions and actions. I suppose somewhere in the Catholic religion there was an
admonishment to not conjure up the “devil”. I felt certain that he was wrong,
that we were not in touch with anything evil, if nothing else our “spirits”
were benign. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
After thinking about this for a few
days he, being a practical man and interested in science, decided to look up <i>telekinesis</i> in our encyclopedia. <i>Telekinesis</i> is the power to move an
object without touching it. I had told him about moving card tables, mind reading
games etc. How we would often entertain ourselves with these activities. The
article in the encyclopedia was written by JB Rhine at Duke University. Dr.
Rhine had started the Parapsychology department there. My father suggested I
contact Dr. Rhine and see if he could shed any light on this mystery. In the
fall of that year I did just that. For several reasons Mary Louise and I
decided that Donna was the one with the power. Many of the questions were
answered the way Donna would have answered them and Donna had often shown more
skill in mind reading games and other paranormal exercises. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Dr. Rhine responded to my inquiry
and over the course of 6 months we corresponded. He sent me a set of his psi cards, his book
and other information that was relevant to our experience. He was very
interested in what transpired in Victoria and hoped to get his hands on Donna. He
said that many young adolescents were gifted with paranormal powers, but
because of their fear or ignorance chose to ignore them and the powers
disappeared quickly. Of course Donna never would discuss the possibility that
she was the perpetrator of the experience, nor today do I think she necessarily
was. Oddly we never played mind games
again, nor did we move the card table. This may have been a function of circumstance,
however. I finished my senior year and went on to college and Mary Louise got
married. So our lives moved in different directions and we rarely saw one
another after that year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Dr. Rhine hoped to have Mary
Louise’s account of our adventure, but her parents forbade her from
corresponding with him and Donna’s parents would not ever discuss the event,
although they too had been told. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I do not have any idea what
happened in Victoria that June, but it was a profound experience for me. It
made we realize that “reality” has no organized, predictable or neat structure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
It opened my mind to possibility. After that I
never doubted out of hand anything that I heard that was extraordinary. It left
me open to encounter the world as a place of great mystery.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I am now in my 60s. I still have copies of all of Dr. Rhine’s
letters, as well as articles about him and his wife, Louise. They were
eventually forced to close the parapsychology department at Duke, but continued
for the rest of their lives to research paranormal, or psi phenomenon. The
letters were one sided as I did not have copies of my letters to him thus not hearing
my voice in the conversation. I looked Dr
Rhine up on the internet and discovered the Rhine Research Center, which is run
by his daughter, Sally. It is located just off the Duke University Campus in
Durham, NC. I contacted Sally wondering if the Institute wanted his original
letters for their archives. She was delighted to receive them. I asked if they
by chance had my letters to her father. She said that Duke had an archival
library where I could find my letters. As it turned out we were going to North
Carolina and I made arrangements to meet with Sally and also gain access to Dr.
Rhine’s correspondence for the years 1962-1963.
Under close scrutiny by the staff, I perused the files and found all my letters.
They kindly made me copies and I had a missing piece of the puzzle. Where my
memories of this event accurate? What
had I left out? Did I talk about what our questions to the table were?
Unfortunately there was little new information, but my memory was right on. I
had neither embellished nor fabricated anything. It was a fascinating
experience meeting myself as a 16 year old. My father had written to Dr. Rhine blessing
our correspondence. Hearing his voice from the past was an added bonus I had
not expected. (I had to laugh when I read where he tells Dr. Rhine that I am of
“above average” intelligence. My parents were not ones to be effusive about
their children’s gifts or accomplishments.) Sally was happy to have copies of
my letters as well. She and a staff member sat fascinated as I related an
abbreviated version of this story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Off and on over the years Mary
(Louise) and I have stayed in touch and we have exchanged our memories of this incident
to make sure we have it right. We do not
know where Donna is today. My grandmother never had any idea what we were up to
in her dining room and in a <i>Victoria
Advocate</i> newspaper article about our visit that summer the byline under our
photograph read: “Swimming and other activities have been included during their
visit.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
If only they knew.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>November 1, 1962<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Dear Dr. Rhine,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I have heard of your experimental research in the field of Parapsychology at Duke University, and I was wondering if you could send me some information.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A friend of mine has the strange ability of moving objects without touching them. This is not my imagination or a trick for it has been witnessed by several people. This power seems to be sub-conscious because while these objects are moving she is not concentrating consciously. However we do know she has the power, (not one of us), for several reasons. It is necessary for her to be present before the object moves and also the object will move if she is alone in the room. There are other reasons for our belief it is her power but they require long explanations. It is very hard to put down in writing all the strange things she has accomplished.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Could this be some form of psychokinesis?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I’m sure you receive many letters of this sort, some true others hoaxs (sic). We sincerely believe that she has this strange power and would appreciate any information that you could send.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Anne Cooper<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>3226 Rochdale<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Houston 25, Texas<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>Duke University<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Parapsychology Laboratory<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>November 24, 1962<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Miss Anne Cooper<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>3226 Rochdale<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Houston 25<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Texas<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Dear Miss Cooper:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I am very much interested in what you write about your friend. I wish you would tell me more about her and her ability. Especially would I appreciate a number of specific demonstrations, as far as you can recall them.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I will ask a number of questions just to help point up the kind of information needed for a judgment. First, what range of objects are involved; that is, how large and how varied? Or are they all of the same kind? Second, do the objects have to be in a certain position; let us say on a table in front of your friend. If so, does she have to touch the table? Third. Do the objects just move a little - let us say a few inches? Do they tip over? Do they levitate? Do they ever break? If so, do they break by falling or break where they are set? Forth, do they move in good light or does there have to be darkness or dim illuminations? Fifth, how many of you are usually present, or what is the largest number of persons present?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I should like especially to know all about your friend, how long she has had this ability, and what other abilities or unusual character she may have. What kind of person is she? Is she married? Does she have children? What of her age, education, etc? Is this ability well known? Has it been given any publicity? Has there been any scientific study made by anyone?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>From time to time I get to Houston, and it is approaching the time when I must make another visit. Would it be possible for me to visit you and your friend talk over these powers and possibly let something happen if it will?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I am grateful to you for writing me about this and will appreciate all further information you can give me. As I see more about the case I should be glad to make suggestions or recommendation or give whatever interpretation seems most reasonable through our scientific stall here.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Sincerely yours,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>J.B. Rhine<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">19 Jan 63<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">Dear Dr. Rhine:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">I thought it about time I wrote you and gave my approval to the dialogue that you and Anne have been carrying on concerning the strange phenomena Donna ---- has experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">To bring you up to date on all I know about these strange events, I think the first I heard about it was early last summer. I know Anne gave you the background of the experiences in Victoria, Texas.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">The day that Anne and her friends came back from her grandmother’s house (my mother-in-law) she was visibly shaken. She told her story and I suppose that my wife and I were a little taken aback to say the least. Anne thought that spirits or something had been present. This was a natural thought for a person who had not heard of psi or Dr. Rhine. I believed Anne’s account so I dug out your article in the Encyclopedia Americans and had her read it. She decided to write you after reading the article. We have every confidence in her veracity. She is a fine, above average in intelligence, girl.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">I might mention that I am a sales engineer for the Humble Oil & Refining Co. and we have two other children. Our son, who is 19, is a third classman at the Air Force Academy and our other daughter is a sophomore in high school. My wife teaches the fourth grade in a Catholic grade school. She is a graduate of Rice University and I graduated form Michigan State U. You have our complete approval and if we can help anyway call on us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.3333358764648px;">Bromley F. Cooper</span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307213805023157636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-2324573816827804492014-10-09T13:27:00.000-07:002014-10-09T13:27:03.163-07:00Cold War Correspondence - Eugene Kovalenko and J.B. Rhine<span style="background-color: white; color: #634320;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have asked Eugene Kovalenko*, Ph.D., to be a guest author on the Rhine blog. After a series of synchronistic email exchanges, he and Sally Rhine Feather, Ph.D., Executive Director Emeritus, realized they were uncovering a fascinating, untold story about J.B. Rhine and the history of the Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man. Here, in Kovalenko's words, is his description of his first meeting with Professor J.B. Rhine:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #634320;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #634320;">In searching for "hard information" re the <a href="http://orthodoxodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/01/warning.html" style="color: #bf4e27; font-weight: bold;"><b><span style="color: blue;">psi-war warning</span></b></a> idea of June 1964, I became aware of the work of Professor J.B. Rhine at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Rhine was considered the "Father of Parapsychology" and was clearly the most credible researcher in this often confusing and suspect field. </span><span style="color: #634320;">I wrote him a letter in October 1964, which he answered with an invitation to visit him at the university. As luck would have it, the trip to Durham was made possible by having been invited to present a scientific paper at an international conference on materials science being held at that time in Raleigh, N.C., just 25 miles away!</span><span style="color: #634320;">After presenting my paper, I visited Rhine in an afternoon before catching a flight home to California later that evening. My purpose was simple. After telling him my idea I naively asked, "Am I crazy?" </span><span style="color: #634320;">Rhine replied by showing me his private library and giving me from it a recent book published by Soviet scientist L.L. Vasiliev called <i>Experiments in Mental Suggestion</i>. With obvious enthusiasm he then declared, "Not only are you not crazy, but your idea is urgent! We have been waiting years for a man with your background. Here's the phone, call your wife and tell her you are coming to work with me in our new Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man!"</span><span style="color: #634320;">Flattered, but taken aback, I responded, "I can't make such a decision at such a moment. I've barely begun a new career."</span><span style="color: #634320;">"All right", he replied, "but please stay the night at our expense and then attend a meeting at our laboratory in the morning." To that I agreed.</span><span style="color: #634320;">Arriving at his laboratory apprehensive, I was greatly relieved to encounter the lab personnel had become excited by a visit of two</span><span style="color: #634320;"> unexpected</span><span style="color: #634320;"> celebrities</span><span style="color: #634320;">: TV star Eddie Albert and his buddy, folk song singer and actor Burl Ives. I was to learn that this kind of surprise was not unusual for Rhine and he graciously invited the visitors to attend the meeting. I was pleased to have the pressure off and content to silently watch the proceedings from a corner in the back of the room. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #634320;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #634320;"><i>Editor's note: What happened next is best described in the e-mail exhange between Dr. Kovalenko and Dr. Feather. Here it is, as delineated by Kovalenko:</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #634320;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #634320;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Introduction</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b><span style="color: windowtext;">Having discovered the existence of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rhine</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Research</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> in summer 2013, I
subscribed to its monthly newsletter. In the December issue, an article titled </span><em><span style="color: blue;">The Science
Behind Your Beliefs</span></em><span style="color: windowtext;"> by Executive Director
John Kruth caught my attention.</span><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span><b><span style="color: windowtext;">On
Monday, 12/30/2013, I wrote the following email:</span></b><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span>Dear
John,<br />Is
there anyone in your organization who would be interested in my story about
meeting J.B. Rhine in late November 1964 and the project we agreed to work on
together? Does your archival history contain any of our correspondence? If not,
would you be interested in having a copy?<br /><br />Is
there any record of the unannounced and unexpected visit of actors Eddie Albert
and Burl Ives, who were there at the same time? (A week or so before that meeting
writer Pearl Buck had also been an unexpected visitor. J.B. told me back then
that this was not an unusual happening at his laboratory.)<br /><br />Eugene
Kovalenko<br /><br /><b>The next day, Tuesday, December 31,
2013, I received the following letter from Sally Feather, Emeritus Executive
Director:</b><br /><span style="color: #1f497d;">Dear Eugene,</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I am taking the liberty of
responding to your inquiry below as I am the person who deals with much of the
archival matters of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rhine</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place>. And in fact I
recall that I just happened to be visiting at the Duke Parapsychology Lab
during the visit from Burl Ives and Eddie Albert at the regular coffee hour
that you note in 1964. That is the kind of occurrence that stands out, as
not too common although there were often other celebrities, but especially for
me as I had always been a great fan of Burl Ives. I recall my
disappointment that he deferred a request to sing because there was a visiting
young singer whom he encouraged to sing instead. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">But yes I would be interested
in the account of your meeting with JB, and your project. As for finding
an account of that visit here, one would have to check through JB’s
correspondences that are preserved in the Special Collections of the Duke
University Library on the Duke Campus several miles away. From
my downloaded index of the Parapsychology Lab Records, I see that for the
year 1964 there would Boxes 264-273 alphabetically arranged- maybe
Box 269 that is Ka-Mar (8 folders) would be the place to start for your
correspondence. I will be getting over to the Library in late January and
could perhaps help with that limited search if you want to pursue that further.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Thanks for your interest in
this matter.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Sally Feather</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><b><span style="color: windowtext;">Later
on Tuesday 12/31/2013 I responded:</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span>Dear
Sally,<br /><br />What
a surprisingly wonderful and synchronistic response!<br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I was that young singer!</span> So, you were there in the lab
audience at that time! It shocked me to be asked by JB to sing the
"Song of the Volga Boatmen." I didn't know he knew I sang, let alone
that particular song!, but it was a never-to-be-forgotten experience.<br /><o:p></o:p><br />I
had come to see JB at his invitation to discuss an idea that I'd had the
previous summer, which had nothing to do with my then career as a nuclear
materials scientist. In fact, it had military implications and my question to
him was, "Am I crazy?" During that first meeting he said something
like, "Not only are you not crazy, but the issue you describe is urgent!
Clearly you have a calling. We have been waiting years for someone with your
background. Here is the phone, call your wife and tell her you are coming to
work with me." And then he gave me two books by Russian authors: L.L.
Vasiliev and Nikolai Khokhlov, both of which profoundly changed my life. When I
told him I'd only just started my scientific career and couldn't make such an
abrupt new decision, he invited me to stay overnight at his home and then
attend his laboratory the next morning. When we arrived at his lab that
following day I was relieved to see that the lab personnel were preoccupied
with Ives and Albert and that the spotlight pressure was now off me. I could
simply be an observer in the back of the room. Do you remember Burl's words
after I'd sung and JB then asked him to sing? "Are you kidding? Not after
that guy!" I'll never forget how Burl helped me pull the boats while
he bounced up and down, pretending tugging gestures as I sang…. :) Ives
and Albert then took me to lunch for another memorable experience.<br /><br />Although
I could not make the decision JB wanted at the moment, I was afterwards so
emotionally affected in ways I'd never before experienced that I discovered the
process of writing poetry: a rational way of giving structure and expression to
overpowering and unexpected emotions. The poem had made a decision before it
became clear to me. I sent the words through "…plunge!" to JB and he
replied with a congratulatory telegram [see attached] urging us to move
forward. He and I met again at his invitation the following January in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Carmel</st1:place></st1:city>, CA. [See: <a href="http://orthodoxodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/01/pilgrim-my-first-poem.html">http://orthodoxodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/01/pilgrim-my-first-poem.html</a>
and <a href="http://orthodoxodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/01/challenge-on-carmel-beach.html">http://orthodoxodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/01/challenge-on-carmel-beach.html</a>.]<br /><o:p> </o:p>I look forward to continuing this correspondence.<br /><o:p> </o:p>Eugene Kovalenko<br /><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><b><span style="color: windowtext;">Sally
replied within minutes.</span></b><br /><span style="color: #1f497d;">Dear Eugene,</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I’m delighted to get your
response. You know, I almost asked if you were that young singer---but
thought that just too far out. JB was appropriately non-disclosing about
who you were or why you were there, but now I hope that the whole story can be
told. We look forward to hearing much more of it from you.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Your poem is very moving and
significant for me as mountain ranges were always meaningful to JB. Even the
title of my mom’s last book <i>Something
Hidden</i> came from Kipling’s poem about “something hidden beyond the ranges,
go and find it” that as found among JB’s notes when he died. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Well, so glad that you opened
this door----</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Warm regards,</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Sally Feather</span><br /><b>On New Year’s
Day at 2:46 PM, I wrote to Sally:</b><br />Dear
Sally,<br /><br />HAPPY
NEW YEAR!!!<br /><br />I
have a hunch our correspondence will be loaded with more interesting
surprises!--and do not believe this mutual discovery is mere happenstance.<br /><br />After
JB sent his November '64 telegram, he sent me two Kipling poems, one of which
you allude to below. I've always treasured that gesture. They were: <i>"IF"</i>
and <i>"The Explorer".</i> In doing a Google search for your mother's
book, I was surprised to learn that that title is claimed by Louisa E. Rhine!??
Is Louisa your mother and therefore JB your dad?!! Perhaps this could yet be
the "GREAT DAY", JB referred to?<br /><br />If
you have opened the second blog link re the 'Carmel Beach Challenge' that I
sent earlier, you will know that our project did not mature. There were at
least two reasons for this. The most important was a "Mormon
complication" [see attached 2nd poem <i>Night</i> + commentary for my
oldest son]. The other was an impasse in JB's and my correspondence. He systematically
sent me all his books so that I could be up to date on his background and
latest thinking. I was willing to get this under my belt, but with misgivings.
The most critical was his refusal to answer, let alone acknowledge, my specific
question about the Zener Card approach to studying psy. JB insisted that I
experiment with my young family (wife and 5 children) using the Zener Cards.
But, I was reluctant to do this when I learned that this technique seemed
lethal to above-chance performance. I asked several times if there was any
evidence of talented persons recovering their statistically above-chance
performance once they lost it. If there was no such evidence, I was unwilling
to risk involving my family. One of my colleagues later explained that I'd focused
on the Achilles Heel of that technique and <st1:place w:st="on">Rhine</st1:place>
could not risk losing my cooperation by answering it truthfully. I was never to
learn the truth of this assertion.<br /><br />My
last contact with JB was in spring 1978, while working on a solicited USAF
proposal with the Eyring Research Institute in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Provo</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Utah</st1:state></st1:place>.
I was asked to re-contact JB to refresh his memory of my original idea and to
invite him on board the project. He didn't remember my name, but did ask
"Are you the singer?"<br /><br />Two
last items before closing this message. It may not mean anything to you out of
the larger context, but here is one more blog link that belongs between the two
links sent earlier: <a href="http://orthodoxodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/01/23-dec-64-dream-from-todays-perspective.html">http://orthodoxodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/01/23-dec-64-dream-from-todays-perspective.html</a>.
On the subject of dreams, I had
only begun remembering and recording my dreams just two or so weeks before
meeting JB in late November 1964. This was the result of reading Hugh Lynn
Cayce's newly published <i>"Venture Inward",</i> which contained
suggestions for recalling and processing dreams…. This was something JB and I
never discussed.<br /><o:p></o:p><br />The
last item was a military experience I was not at liberty to explicitly mention
to JB. This was my clandestine experience in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berlin</st1:place></st1:state> less than a decade earlier. You may
be interested my Amazon review of the print documentary by British historian
David Stafford called <i>Spies Beneath <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Berlin</st1:state></st1:place>.</i>
This review soon flushed out others who contacted me personally. Instead of a
second addition, which Prof. Stafford asked me to contribute to (since I was
the first person he'd met that was actually at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Berlin</st1:state></st1:place> site), it eventually morphed into a
2011 British TV film documentary by the same name. If this is of any interest
to you, I would be pleased to send you a post-production copy of the
complementary DVD.<br /><br />Thank
you for allowing me to walk through your door after so many years! I earnestly
hope you will not regret it…<br /><br /><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Eugene</st1:place></st1:city><br />PS.
It occurs to tell you that one of the reasons why JB was eager for my
participation at the FRNM was that I work with N. E. Khokhlov, who wanted to
study under JB. However, because of my subsequent correspondence with Khokhlov,
JB never allowed him to come to Duke or FRNM. (This is hinted at in the last
stanza of "Pilgrim", which was written after JB's telegram.) Khokhlov
eventually became a professor of psychology at a college in <st1:place w:st="on">Southern
California</st1:place> before his death in 2007. There is more to this story
only if you are interested.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "more" to the story will continue here on the Rhine blog. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay tuned!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<span style="text-align: center;">Brief bio of</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; text-align: center;">Eugene</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">N. Kovalenko, Ph.D.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having been born in Los Angeles in 1933 and raised in the Phoenix, Arizona Mormon society and culture, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">Eugene</span>'s conscious life began in 1953 during the Korean War, when he joined the US Army to learn Russian, his Ukraine-born father's native tongue. For <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">Eugene</span>, that military experience began his life work in learning to become human: soldier, interpreter, singer, intelligence agent, student, engineer, scientist, seeker, poet, writer, inventor, manager, entrepreneur, teacher, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, conversationalist, traveler, actor, visionary, wanderer, wonderer, believer, skeptic, philosopher, dreamer and dream worker. <u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See: <a href="http://www.eugenenkovalenkophd.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>eugenenkovalenkophd.com/</a> [Lower RH corner] for facts concerning family, education and professional activities.</span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307213805023157636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-1618947208693390422014-03-08T17:21:00.001-08:002014-03-08T17:21:15.699-08:00On Lucid Dreaming....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The unusual and powerful event of a lucid dream was brought
much closer to me today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to hear
author Robert Waggoner discuss this topic, lucid dreaming, and it was
absolutely amazing how much practical and inspiring information he provided us
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Waggoner is helping us
celebrate “Dreamy March”, a month chocked full of fun and fascinating events on
the topic of dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His book “Lucid
Dreaming: A gateway to the inner self” continues to grow in popularity and with
good reason, it is a must read if you are interested in the topic and
especially if you want to experience a lucid dream regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Friday night presentation, which Rhine
members can access on our webpage, and in his Saturday workshop, he discussed
the history and growth of the study of lucid dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He noted significant scientific studies, and
shared many accounts from lucid dreamers that gave us a good feel for the
phenomenon, and really enticed us to have a lucid dream of our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a good thing because he discussed
techniques to encourage lucid dreaming, and ways to work within the lucid
state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consciously examining the
dreamscape is very different from passively recalling a dream the next day, so
the dynamics of exploration are very important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did a thorough job of
explaining what experienced lucid dreamers have discovered about the
exploration process, and how a lucid dreamer can apply this knowledge to answer
questions that they bring to the dream state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The knowledge he brought us was entertaining and very useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are more great presentations to come this month, so
check out our events page and make plans to attend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these events are free and all of them
are fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a human
being, you are a dreamer, so all these events pertain to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do yourself a favor and check them out.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-15787737916577690292013-05-05T11:14:00.001-07:002013-05-05T11:14:23.760-07:00Is this a good idea?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVvY3rqmtvLuN7kucLUH4Y0IhoibuiTZJ3HoZ6Ig0HZX2wnPmlChO9OdGhGw3XbyUXGYTRsV5CoCOSHQIBPMeSMzKbbt1Y7N9pMgyIud4tVT4E6pJabQGhBiHe3gwQ9MWg5UaWMtNIRM/s1600/higgboson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="higgs boson" border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVvY3rqmtvLuN7kucLUH4Y0IhoibuiTZJ3HoZ6Ig0HZX2wnPmlChO9OdGhGw3XbyUXGYTRsV5CoCOSHQIBPMeSMzKbbt1Y7N9pMgyIud4tVT4E6pJabQGhBiHe3gwQ9MWg5UaWMtNIRM/s320/higgboson.jpg" title="higgs boson particle" width="320" /></a></div>
Is finding out how ESP works a good idea? There continues to be mounting evidence that the phenomenon exists, that the human mind has access to non-local information, though the mechanics for the most part remain undiscovered. You are welcome to scoff and write parapsychology off as nonsense, such dismissive behavior is natural and not-unprecedented. It was Lord Kelvin, a respected engineer of his time, who said "Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible." so even the brightest people can make a bad call. But evidence to the contrary showed him shortly the errors in his prediction.<br /><br />If you want to see the growing body of evidence for the existence of PSI, check out Dean Radin's website here: http://www.deanradin.com/evidence/evidence.htm. We seem to have crossed the line as to whether it exists, and now we are facing the question of what to do about it. <br /><br />The applications for use of PSI are so incredible it’s hard to put your head around it. Similar considerations are given to other burgeoning technologies such as nanotech, genome decoding, and AI where the good and bad applications demand great care as we move forward. PSI mechanic applications seem to dwarf these other technologies in the far-reaching changes they would introduce, so I am drawn back to my original question, is this a good idea?<br /><br />One of the things that fascinates me to no end is how people just shrug their shoulders to this question. This would seem an explainable response if the evidence for PSI were dismissible, but that reason fades more each day. When we learn how ESP works, and can apply it, and each and every person can apply it, then what do you imagine will become of our world? I guess it’s just too much to even ponder, so we don't. <br /><br />But the US military and intelligence organizations cared enough to look into it, and ran the Stargate Program from the 1970s to the 1990s. The same people we depend on to safeguard western civilization, they were working on ESP research. Research around the world continues on these mysteries, and as sure as the human genome has been mapped, and the Higgs-Boson particle is created, and those impossible "heavier-than-air flying machines" are filling up our skies every second of every day, you can be sure that how PSI works will be discovered.<br /><br />What happens then? <br /><br />I have to trust that the people working on these discoveries are good and conscientious people. That doesn't mean it will make that technology 100% safe, and less-than-good people will one day access these technologies, too. But I want to give the good guys a head start. I want the good guys to be out in front of this. That is one of the reasons I volunteer at the Rhine Research Center. That is why I am a member there, and why I make donations to the Rhine Research Center. They are an organization of good people, dedicated scientists and educators, who have been doing this for 80+ years, and are on the cutting edge of PSI research right now.<br /><br />And this is more than a feel-good appeal for the RRC. This question of what to do with these technologies, how to live in a world with them, needs to be addressed. To stay alive in this changing environment, we must adapt, we must be responsible. If you as an individual, or we as a species are to make it, we must change to work with the reality of possessing technologies that any person could use to end the species. That shoulder shrug response we give to the question isn't an adequate adaptation to the new world growing up around us. I don't have any profound answers on this, but I do know I want the question answered by folks who have been working with these issues, both the scientific and the human side, for generations.<br /><br />Whether or not learning how ESP works is a “good idea” won’t stop it from happening, just like we can’t stop any of the other developing technologies out there that hold unprecedented risk. The best thing we can do is make sure responsible people are getting this done, and continue to work ourselves to make responsible decisions for all these new advancements.<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-66562034434691888022013-02-27T10:33:00.000-08:002013-02-27T10:33:00.838-08:00The people part of ParapsychologyThe human being is designed from millions of years of natural selection to be function as an interpersonal animal. Two news stories caught my eye this week and point out the biological foundations of our spiritual and technological advancement. One is the news that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's policy change for employees to be at work with each other, and the other is from Sheila M. Eldred's blog regarding love and the paranormal (http://news.discovery.com/human/life/love-telepathy-is-it-real-120212.htm).<br /><br />Now you find yourself as an average person and you have probably experienced some ESP type of event, maybe deja vu, some synchronicity, seen a ghost, had a precognitive dream, the list could go on of events that mainstream science dismisses as some illusion or imagination. And more than likely, these strange occurrences involved people close to you, a good friend, a family member. They involved a relationship, someone important in your life. <br /><br />Many people debating Marissa Mayer's decision to change the Yahoo policy point out how valuable interpersonal interaction is to successful enterprises. We have to agree that its a fact that human beings are interpersonal animals. There is no human being alone, we evolved and currently flourish in a world that requires one-on-relationships, its a one-on-one universe we live in. Our economy, our society exist because our subconscious minds are working on relationships. The very definition of human, of economy, of society, is about relationships. How you think, what you think about, how you measure yourself and your world, is done amidst an environment that requires relationships. So your brain and your mind are designed for relationships, for one-in-one co-creation of civilization and your survival with it. The human mind has evolved in the environment of relationships. <br /><br />So of course we can expect actual interaction to help creativity, work dynamics, and initiative. All the cues, all the environmental variables that humans have adapted to, are put into action in the interpersonal event. Even in our high tech, information age, most of the talk is about social media. We reach out and try to find new tools to improve our surviving and thriving, but we still have to work with the full set of shared, human traits that brought us here, which is the face-to-face relationship. <br /><br />Access to PSI information is an evolved trait in animals, just as are the interpersonal social structures in the human subconscious. Your mind is constantly searching for and utilizing subliminal information, some of which are PSI obtained. Normally, your unconscious is picking up on sensory cues and sending out information unconsciously that benefit from and contribute to the interpersonal environment, and some of that information is PSI info. <br /><br />And of course we would expect love and romance and friendship to receive the bulk of PSI help, they are the primary interpersonal relationship that natural selection has to work with. So if the human, interpersonal environment has evolved in humans, then we would expect PSI information would first show up to improve and involve those most instrumental to our survival. The literature is chocked full of examples of the importance of relationships in PSI events. The experimenter effect, sheep/goats effect, the decline of success in PSI testing, and many other phenomenon show the importance of the interpersonal in PSI events. Even Dr. Bem's recent studies that found that sexual content of the targets had a strong effect on successful PSI make this clear. This is just what you'd expect to see if PSI perception is about relationships, as sexual interaction is quite interpersonal and often factors strongly in the process of natural selection.<br /><br />Both news stories bring us back to the recognition that we are not just social animals, but interpersonal, relationship animals, and that is how our minds work. Whether we are running a successful organization, or working to scientifically understand the functioning of the unconscious mind processes that allow our human lives to exist, we are doing it with the strongly evolved traits of a human, relationship based creature.<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-67257270286331829222013-02-01T03:46:00.000-08:002013-02-01T03:46:57.857-08:00Function and processing of ESP data in the brainIn an earlier blog I discussed the importance of carefully discerning the elements of "parapsychological" events so they can more clearly be understood and studied. I have recently been using evolutionary psychology to take a new (for me anyway) perspective on parapsychological events, and it has been helpful in teasing out aspects of certain phenomena that could be accounted for as brain mechanics, so that the anomalous cognition parts can be more clearly described. I do not see this new viewpoint as clearing up the mystery, nor is it necessarily superior to other perspectives, but to the extent Charles Darwin has some contribution to make to science, I think it can find some place in the study of parapsychology.<br /><br />One of the many wonderful things about evolutionary parapsychology is that you are bound by the rules inherent in natural selection. That means I cannot make up brain processes that make perfect sense and would work great, but aren't part of the available range of variables present in the current structure. For example, wheels are great mechanical devices for locomotion but you just don't see any animals with them. This is why we can run into such trouble when trying to develop a model for understanding PSI processes. Like in other areas of reasoning, we are helped when we create a model that has some explaining power for our present mystery. Parapsychology has tried to explain what is going on by saying it is like radio, or electromagnetism, or atomic rays, or quantum mechanics, and today we encouraged that we will soon discover that the brain is like a computer. This comparison bothers people, and should to the extent the model overtakes the facts. A computer is not a mind and a mind is not a computer. <br /><br />But... (and you knew there was going to be a "but") when it comes to information processing, in that regard both computers and minds are constrained by the rules of natural selection. The act of "recognizing a thing" requires a process that is trying to achieve the same thing in the same environment, so you can expect convergent evolution with the animal brain and the computer brain. This is wonderfully explored in the book I am currently reading, "How to Create a Mind" by Ray Kurzweil. In this book he is describing how AI in machines and the human brain can be better understood by noting how they both go about their functions. This book is talking about how information is processed, and along with Dr. Carpenter's recent book "First Sight" and an older book by Dr. Christine Hardy "Networks of Meaning", you start to get a pretty solid picture of how PSI data is processed.<br /><br />Stir into that mix the ideas presented in earlier blogs here, that natural selection demands PSI not be consciously controlled, then you can start to see that the PSI dampening structures are probably built into the neural networks, and evolved by necessity as perception and memory was evolving in animals, long before homo sapiens came along. The brain is processing PSI data, as Dr. Carpenter's book describes, though unconsciously. It is probably the case that PSI data is processed at the level that basic sensory input would be, but the input is by design shut off as soon as that data is moved to the next level of perceptual and functional processing (as Kurzweil describes so well). We see this phenomenon in Remote Viewing, where the act of "naming" or "recognizing" breaks the flow of PSI data. The basic sensory level of the data provided by PSI is well described by the telepathy drawing experiments done by Ingo Swann, Mary Craig Sinclair and Rene Warcollier. It looks like PSI is feeding data into the perceptual process but at a level not accessible directly by consciousness.<br /><br />Again, the laws of natural selection require that the PSI data, or any sensory data, is not too successful, it is only to give a slight advantage to the organism in the current environmental situation. If the natural neural process is to shut off PSI data once a slight survival advantage is given, what would happen the little bit of PSI data does NOT fix the problem? Along with PSI, the human mind has lots of processes to keep us safe. These include memory, sensory data, reflexes, social mores, emotional attachments and others. We are complex. All those things work together, and evolved in our species, to keep us alive and reproduce our DNA. We know in other processes, that when one survival mechanism breaks down, others usually on the back burner are by necessity pushed to the fore. So we would expect to see PSI phenomenon such as poltergeist activity in households where the social and interpersonal processes that are supposed create security are not working. Likewise we see more PSI in folks who had rough family situations as kids, and we see more reports of PSI events in individuals who have dissociative episodes, again, the normal processes are not working, so PSI data keeps coming until the required result is reached. And in cases where DNA survival seems unlikely, brain processes would throw out all the stops and PSI data would likewise be unchained, and this is what you see in a near death experience so well cataloged in the literature. <br /><br />Again, trends in parapsychology research are toward unconscious behaviors, and this makes sense when seen through the eyes of evolutionary parapsychology. I am looking forward to seeing how research results reflect on the natural processes of which PSI data access is an evolved part. I am finding as I read book after book on current research on the mind and other biological processes, how PSI events fit right in. <br /><br />The content of these blog entries I have been posting is not necessarily the view of the RRC, but instead that of a humble board member. I am emphasizing the the important and impressive work done by the Rhine Research Center scientists and staff by noting where it fits into more widely publicized and less "controversial" science going on out there (as described by Kurzweil) or foundational as in the case of Darwin's ideas. The website www.rhinecenter.org is chocked full of great information on the research they are doing, and I hope these few blog entries show how the phenomena studied by parapsychology are an integrated part of our evolving understanding of the human experience.<br /><br />-Benton R. Bogle<br />
2/1/13<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-20776053741684261572012-12-20T18:41:00.000-08:002012-12-20T18:41:27.795-08:00PSI events and evolutionary psychologyIn an earlier blog I asked the reader to consider the idea that we can better understand the PSI event by putting it in the context of natural selection. I am not dismissing the research on PSI that looks at the phenomenon as it relates to question of physics, pharmacology, religion or psychology. Those disciplines bring to the study their individual tool bags of studied and documented structures and processes that can be applied to similar traits found in parapsychological events. My point is that biological processes can also shine some new light on examples of PK, telepathy or precognition. It would be very enlightening to thoughtfully apply an evolutionary psychology perspective to anomalous cognition events.<br /><br />I believe anomalous cognition occurs, that ESP is happening. I am not here to debunk or explain away parapsychological phenomenon. I do want to understand it better, and examining some of the strange events with the light of biological processes can be very helpful. For example, when the mind disassociates, and local sensory and memory data is not longer getting the job done, PSI data becomes much more valuable and will be perceived. Other mental processes also occur, these are evolved adaptations that occur along side the increased perception of PSI data, and because they are both unusual, and are occurring at the same time, they are commonly thought of as one thing. Experientially, because the weird event has no other associations (that's why we say its weird) then in the mind all the stuff happening gets lumped together. Unfortunately, when I go to examine the processes involved in the PSI perception it gets all mixed together with the dissociation processes of the brain, and that is a problem. I want to see the PSI process more clearly, and to do that, I need to see the basic biological, natural selection processes of the human mind more clearly.<br /><br />My overall goal is answer the big questions, but I am happy if I simply get some discussion going regarding what Natural Selection can tell us about how PSI works. I am not a trained biologist so I am happy to hear from anyone if my ideas about Natural Selection are wrong. The statements I make about biological processes are very simple and basic biology 101 stuff, not controversial. The basic rules of Natural selection are simple. The process of natural selection needs 1) Gene heritability, 2) Reproduction that passes on genes, and 3) Gene variability.<br /><br />Your experiences are mediated by your physical parts, and those physical parts with their sensory structures got here via natural selection. It is known that there are psychological processes that you are born with, that are built into your DNA such as the ability to use language or walking. One such evolved trait in humans is a mental world where you create a virtual simulation of life. This allows you to make plans, to remember events, to solve problems and practice real-world activities in a virtual setting. The process of natural selection also takes place in this virtual world. The mind is constantly taking in new pieces of information and testing them against problems that you can expect to encounter. This seems to be the primary evolved function of dreaming. Because we have these adapted structures, just like our physical adaptations, our mental adaptations also have a structure in place through learning. Your mental landscape is not a tabula rasa when you enter it every time, there are default frameworks in place to work with, just as your hands and fingers are there when you wake up each day. <br /><br />Another built in brain trait is self-identification. For obvious survival reasons, its useful to be able to identify what in your sensory environment is you and what is not you. The brain is constantly filtering for this. It mainly uses local incoming sensory data and compares it with stored identity info. This is why you often hear people describe how sensory deprivation or drug induced brain changes also make them feel "expanded" or disassociated from their normal identification of self. Strong self-identity is correlated to environmental stability. <br /><br />As humans have evolved a social environment along with their material one, many brain adaptations have developed along with it. We seem to have built in mental processes for identifying other entities, such as our specialized brain functions for perceiving faces. We have evolved a reflex to anthropomorphize, just like we evolved a reflex to self identify, its a built-in, default setting for our mind. Its easy to see how adapting strong social skills would benefit an organism's reproductive potential. Again, it makes sense that a basic perceptual structure exists in our minds, in our brains, to allow us to quickly identify a set of environmental stimuli as a person, and work from there. As much as I dislike the use of the simplified model "human brain is like a computer", it does make sense that using basic frameworks, as is done in computer virtualization software, would make sense for mind processing as well. It's a good example of convergent evolution.<br /><br />These are just two mental processes that shed some light on some parapsychological phenomena. There seems to be default experiential frameworks the mind uses to form experience, and they are in basic framework shared as humans, just as our environment that shapes them is shared, but are individualized by individual experience. Jung's archetypes can be seen as evolved conceptual structures. The "others" that Jacques Vallee discusses in his book Dimensions are probably basic mind frameworks, default settings for "other" that the normal waking mind use as a basic framework of perception. This basic framework has evolved along with people's social environment. As the range variety of what makes up "other entity" has expanded, the default setting in the brain has had to regress to include the new variety. When some disassociating event occurs, when things can't "make sense", the mind defaults back to the most basic framework, and people see little gray people, or floating bodies, or religious icons. Now these default perceptual entities may start providing PSI information, just like people in my dreams tell me how to fly, the default mental environment will take information and try it out. Sometimes the information available to be worked into dreams or dissociated states is PSI information.<br /><br />It is logical to assume that solutions to problems are more likely to be found if a basic framework is presented to consciousness, instead of no experience of anything. We can say dreamers do better than non-dreamers just like we understand memory priming improves performance, so we would expect human minds with a basic virtual landscape to survive better than those without. Priming exists. Dreams exist. <br /><br />So by examining paranormal phenomenon within the constraints of biology/natural selection we can perhaps more clearly discern what is happening in some disassociative events. My point here is that the experience of entities, such as aliens or ghosts or saints, can be separated from anomalous cognition for study. And if you add in, from my previous blog, the requirement that PSI be capricious and unavailable for intentional use, then it may be true that PSI events are biologically programmed to be connected with associative events to make sure they stay out of reach of conscious application. If that is the case, we would do well to look for PSI correlations in behaviors that are not consciously controlled such as autonomic events. Fortunately, that is exactly the direction much of parapsychological research is going.<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-61943192150938031052012-10-04T07:11:00.000-07:002012-10-04T11:38:26.887-07:00<h2>
Sex and the Single Psychic </h2>
This blog is not a discussion on how to use your psychic powers to get a mate. I apologize if the title misled you, but it as you'll see it is not inappropriate, just easily misinterpreted. A more descriptive title would be " How the process of natural selection selects against the ability to consciously use PSI information". I want to point out how biology explains a lot of the phenomena we find in the study of PSI, and to encourage more exploration in this area. I am not a professional biologist but the principles I will discuss are very simple, the most basic fundamentals of the process of natural selection. In this day and age of mapping genomes and with all the ethical questions and biological potentialities that demand our attention, there is more information being presented every day that can be applied to our understanding of the mechanics of PSI. There are many different branches of science that can shed light on the mystery of how PSI happens, and biology is one of them.<br />
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Your perceptive hardware, your five senses, are the result of your DNA. Your consciousness is structured by your interactions with the material world. In other words, your DNA gave you the equipment to act in this world to propagate itself, and your reality is largely defined by your five senses (and associated neurons) that your DNA gives you. <br />
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PSI has been shown to exist in numerous studies, but though statistically significant, it is almost always barely significant. And it is well known for being hard to reproduce, capricious, and almost always uncontrollable. I think these attributes can be explained by natural selection. As a matter of fact, nature requires PSI work this way.<br />
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The process of natural selection requires variability in the gene pool. Without variability, there is nothing for nature to select from. Variability comes from mutation, and mutations that severely limit variability would lead to disaster for a species and are eliminated through the process of natural selection. Without variability, given the inevitability of environmental change, a species could not adapt to that change. There is of course much more to natural selection than a requirement of variability in the gene-pool but for my point here, that's all I am going into. <br />
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So any trait in an individual (that got there from a mutation) that is overwhelmingly powerful would in short order severely limit the variability in the gene-pool. For example, if a person did have the ability to use their psychic powers to get a mate, they could also use those powers to give them and theirs every advantage. Soon, those with the PSI ability would control all the resources, and with each generation of self-selection, the variability of the gene-pool is reduced. <br />
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One may posit that through some higher moral or rational route human beings could think their way around this problem, but keep in mind PSI perception didn't just start with humans, it came into the process early on. While biology was evolving processes to utilize sound, smells, light and other types of information in the environment, so too would evolve the ability to obtain PSI data. The built-in brakes to consciously utilizing PSI data has been evolving right along with the other traits we have. <br />
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It is the process of natural selection that explains why PSI is often difficult to reproduce in the lab. It explains why it is not naturally consciously controllable. It is by nature just slightly significant, to give a small advantage but not a overwhelming one, to the individual who is getting PSI information. It is by nature unpredictable, and PSI data is not discernible and therefore capricious in its occurrence. It can even be argued that it is natural to be afraid of it, to doubt it and marginalizes it, because volitional PSI has been by nature self-destructive. We have other hard-wired fears, natural fears, and a fear of PSI may be one of them. And it doesn't have to be one trait that clamps down on PSI, most functions in humans have multiple genes that control them. The restriction of volitional PSI doubtless reaches across many biological systems, be they endocrinal, neurological, or whatever is required to maintain variability. Because PSI would be such a huge advantage, it has to be severely restricted.<br />
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The implications for this way of viewing the function of PSI are too vast to go into here. I do think it may shed some light on the mechanics of the PSI process to explore it from a biological viewpoint. Again, given the explosion our knowledge of genetics, and our growing ability to apply that knowledge, the biological basis to PSI will be explored, hopefully from a rational and moral foundation.<br />
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You comments are invited.<br />
-Benton R. Bogle<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-54111962990166756232012-07-22T18:16:00.005-07:002012-07-22T18:16:56.215-07:00<h3>
Arlan Andrews and Sci-Fi Writers in SIGMA Think Tank Help World Leaders Imagine Better Futures</h3>
<a href="http://micheleberger.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/arlan-andrews-and-sci-fi-writers-in-sigma-think-tank-help-world-leaders-imagine-better-futures/">http://micheleberger.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/arlan-andrews-and-sci-fi-writers-in-sigma-think-tank-help-world-leaders-imagine-better-futures/</a> <br />
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Although for the past ten years I’ve lived less than an hour away from the well-known <a href="http://rhinecenter.org/who-we-are/about-us.html">Rhine Center</a>,
in Durham, last week was the first time that I had a chance to attend
one of their programs. The Rhine Center has a long history in research
on parapsychology and human consciousness and is composed of a research
center and an education center. The Rhine Education Center “provides
professional education in parapsychology and public events at the Rhine
explore psychic abilities, experiences, techniques, and the culture of
ESP throughout the world” (Rhine Center website). On Friday, July 13,
they were featuring a science fiction writer that I didn’t know—<a href="http://www.sigmaforum.org/members.html#andrews" target="_blank">Arlan Andrews</a>
and his talk ‘Science Fiction and the Future of the Paranormal’ caught
my eye. The novel I am writing examines the effects of uncontrolled
‘psi’ outbreaks, so I thought Andrews’s talk created a good reason to
make the trip.<br />
Dr. Andrews is an engineer, science fiction writer, and author of
hundreds of articles, stories and columns on the paranormal, science
fiction, futurism, ancient civilizations, future technology and
politics.<br />
His began by discussing how he got interested in science fiction, and
his experiences investigating paranormal activity with his wife (a
noted psychic). His talk was chock-full of intriguing concepts, great
stories and photos of him, Ray Bradbury and other science fiction
writers at conferences during the 1980s and 1990s. But, what I found the
most fascinating was how he founded <a href="http://www.sigmaforum.org/home.php" target="_blank">SIGMA</a>,
a think tank of professional science fiction, fantasy and game writers
who provide pro bono futurist talks to the U.S. government (and paid
consulting for corporations). He developed this think tank after working
as a Fellow in the White House Science Office in 1992-1993. Given
science fiction’s enormous role in shaping and imagining technology and
the future, he wanted to bring the expertise of the science fiction
community to inform challenging public policy issues. He started SIGMA,
in 1993, with a modest group of nine PhDs (he stressed that in the
beginning, he had to have people with doctorates to get over the ‘giggle
factor’ by Washington officials), and has grown it to 40 plus members.<br />
What? A group of distinguished science fiction writers (many of whom
are scientists and engineers) giving talks to U.S. government officials
and world leaders on how to stretch their thinking to solve global
dilemmas and imagine a better future? Sign me up!! How do I join? How do
I get invited? Well, I’ve probably got a bit more publishing to do
before I get invited (and hmm maybe a doctorate in a science field
wouldn’t hurt either)…but hey, I’ll put getting invited to SIGMA on my
bucket list!<br />
SIGMA has spoken to the U.S. government, over the years, on national
security issues, evolutionary technologies and futurism. He showed us
pictures from some of these meetings on ‘science fictional thinking’ in
which they stress the importance of imaginative and associative
thinking, and turning problems upside down in order to generate
innovative ideas. My creativity coach’s heart pumped three times harder
as I learned about SIGMA (and was surprised that I’d never heard of
them before). The talent of the SIGMA group is extraordinary and
includes many writers you know: Elizabeth Moon, Nancy Cress, Greg Bear,
Dr. Yoji Kondo, Michael Swanwick, S.M. Sterling, and Dr. Larry Niven to
name a few.<br />
Earlier this year, as invited guests, SIGMA presented a panel on <a href="http://www.sigmaforum.org/news.php" target="_blank">“Disruptive Technologies”</a>
at the Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This
panel generated great buzz. The conversation inspired computer engineer
Yasser Bahjatt to create a TEDx talk about how Arab science fiction
could dream a better future and he’s created an open platform to support
artistic expression and a new culture of science fiction writing. Check
out the inspiring <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdWPM_Vy-Zw" target="_blank">video</a> and his vision.<br />
Arlan Andrews didn’t look tired after giving a rousing two-hour talk.
I’m glad that I went (thanks to my partner, Tim for finding out about
this event and buying tickets!) and learned so much. I’m sure that my
future will include more visits to the Rhine Center. I talked with Dr.
Andrews about a possible interview exploring his ideas about creativity.
I’m expecting that will be a blast, too!<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-46784450867003461662012-05-17T16:39:00.001-07:002012-05-17T16:39:53.462-07:00Remote Viewing GroupAmazing results from the Remote Viewing group that met last Wednesday night. We had a good crowd, a few new faces and as usual everyone seemed to have a good time. We certainly saw some impressive remote viewing, with 9 of the 12 viewers picking the right target, and 2 more folks getting clear information on the wrong target (psi-missing). We did something a bit uncomfortable tonight, as if sitting around trying to be psychic isn't unusual enough, and the participants worked with the process pretty well. We like to try new "techniques" of getting intuitive info, so at this meeting one of the group led us in a process where we did what the most famous of seers did, we uttered spontaneous poetry/song, in the manner of the Oracle of Delphi. Now as you are sitting there reading this, you are welcome to try it yourself to see just how uncomfortable it is. Then imagine doing this sitting across from another person you do not know very well or just met, and you can see that its no simple feat. But the idea is that by free-associating or "thought streaming" in verse and/or music, you get around the conscious mind that is distracting you from the PSI data available related to the task, which in our cases was an unknown photo sealed in an envelope. Honestly, I and others there did not find spontaneous singing something we could do. I think it's going to take practice. <br /><br />People who know me will tell you that public displays of spontaneous art don't happen with me very often... uh.. never. But the effort did educate me on how the brain processes spontaneous singing. The music aspect seems to work with a different part of the brain than just the talking part, or the effort to create meter or rhyme, and the process is different still if its done just in one's mind. And just letting words flow out in rhythm is another experience as well. Again, it's going to take repeated effort to make it effortless.<br /><br />Another level of difficulty which I touched on already is the comfort level between participants. In my experience, working with a monitor who writes down my intuitively gathered information is much more successful if I am very comfortable with that person. It really reduces the performance anxiety and lets me concentrate on the process and not on the social context stuff. I was impressed with our high rate of correct sessions despite this. <br /><br />Our process was pretty typical. We had our usual sitting around chatting, then formally started the group meeting by introducing ourselves and discussing Remote Viewing issues just to allow us more time getting used to talking with each other. I am a strong believer that the interpersonal relationships are valuable for Remote Viewing, so I want to nurture that. If you've attended our meetings and think I am just being slack when we sit around talking all over the place and not immediately "getting down to business" , its actually done intentionally. Then we talked about how we were going to make like the Oracle of Delphi, and discussed our schedule for the session we were about to do, and they were given their task. We broke up in pairs, so we could take turns writing down what the other person sang/versed in their session. We took about 15 minutes per person, and they would write down the poetry they created spontaneously. Then we got back together and I gave each person two sealed envelopes, each envelope contained a unique photograph. They were to open up the envelopes and place the photos beside each other and compare the photos with their session data, then choose which photo they think was the target photo they were to get PSI information on. While they were making this choice, I stood over in a far corner and flipped a coin to pick which of the 2 photos for each viewer was their tasked photo. Then after they had decided on the photo they thought was the target, I told them which one was actually their target photo, and 9 out of 12 had picked the correct photo. There was a bit of high-fiving, and lots of discussion. Yes, there are methodological problems with this process but I was primarily interested in the experience and education factor, not in proving anything or publishing our results. <br /><br />And it was an educational experience. I invite you to our next meeting, and I encourage you to join the Rhine Research Center or make a donation to help real scientists doing real science, and to provide the opportunity for fun educational pursuits like ours to flourish. The fact is that real, careful and thorough science like that done by the researchers at the RRC is by necessity and design slow going. One of the many good things about our lay-person pursuits such as the Remote Viewing group is that we may reveal new variables for future consideration by the scientists. Its accessible, its fun, and I hope you will give it a try.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-35630797084157811252012-03-04T10:04:00.000-08:002012-03-04T10:04:22.405-08:00Here is a fascinating article on some recent research.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=18761">"Those who trust their feelings can predict future events more accurately"</a><br /><br />The researchers call this phenomenon the emotional oracle effect. Across a number of studies, they compared a person's reliance on their feelings to make predictions, and the later accuracy of those predictions. Give the article a read.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Bentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11751842195728784317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-47630083790572317052012-01-21T18:54:00.001-08:002012-01-21T18:54:43.140-08:00Discovery | Through the Wormhole -- S02E05 - Is there a Sixth Sense ?<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1CYf2Wy78ys" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-60623756459613572262012-01-10T12:03:00.000-08:002012-01-10T12:03:11.467-08:00William Roll<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Yesterday on January 10th we heard of the passing of our dear friend Bill Roll, a long-time member of the Rhine Center Advisory Board. Bill was a true giant in the halls of parapsychological investigators and for decades until his death was the undisputed leader and expert on the field investigation of hauntings and poltergeists. I first met Bill back in the 1950's at the Duke Parapsychology Lab when we were both young staff members and occasionally enjoyed classy dinners at the classy house that he and his first wife built on the edge of Durham. He went on to various positions and accomplishments best described in the write-up below from our website but he always remained close friends of my father JB Rhine and the Rhine Center as it is known today.</span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">In his last appearance here several years ago Bill was our invited guest at a PRF reunion we assembled in his honor where he delivered his typical speech combining equal parts humor and wisdom. About 30 of his earlier PRF colleagues were able to attend, three of whom (Pamela St. John, Debi Pratt and Steve Barrell) have continued on as active volunteers in the Rhine community. We remember him with great fondness for his passionate interest and many contributions to the field of parapsychology and for his many human qualities that made him especially endearing. </span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Sally Rhine Feather</span></b> <br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Executive Director Emeritus</span></b> <br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Rhine Research Center</span></b> <o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Dr. William Roll</span></b> <o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyaxiVGxjBzKCWK3tv4RcqbJgFgPgGKP9-bW6cgEqhfv3UchL5FObaEOvKs7my1QwGSpSFwjXAoc3MOXDVmxEDVYYXYVyrXW9GVpscRO6zSzjAqrcaSly3XqsWyVCXZuWdQhsWvYGK_g/s1600/williamroll.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyaxiVGxjBzKCWK3tv4RcqbJgFgPgGKP9-bW6cgEqhfv3UchL5FObaEOvKs7my1QwGSpSFwjXAoc3MOXDVmxEDVYYXYVyrXW9GVpscRO6zSzjAqrcaSly3XqsWyVCXZuWdQhsWvYGK_g/s1600/williamroll.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Dr. William Roll obtained a BA from the University of Berkeley, a B.Litt. and M. Litt. from Oxford University (under Prof. H.H. Price) and a Ph.D. from Lund University (under Prof. Martin Johnson) with a thesis on the examination of the parapsychological findings suggestive of the survival of human personality after death. Dr. Roll then worked with Dr. J.B.Rhine at the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory for a 7-year-period during which time he made his first poltergeist investigation. In 1961 Dr. Rhine appointed Dr. Roll project director of the Psychical Research Foundation which was set up to explore the question of survival after death. After the dissolution of the Duke Lab in 1964, The PRF became a sponsored program at the Duke Department of Electrical Engineering, expanded the staff, and participated in poltergeist research, now termed RSPK for recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis. The best-known PRF experiments were the OBE tests of Keith Harary and the EEG-ESP experiments with Sean Harribance, both of which had the involvement of the late Professor Bob Morris who later held the Koestler chair in parapsychology at the University of Edinburgh. In 1986, Dr. Roll was appointed Professor of Psychology and Psychical Research at what is now West Georgia University. He has retired from teaching but continues to write and do research as a member of the faculty. Dr. Roll has written numerous papers, book chapters and four books, the most recent entitled <i>Unleashed: Of Poltergeists and Murder</i>; <i>the Strange Story of Tina Resch</i> (with Valerie Storey). He has received the Outstanding Career Award from the Parapsychological Association and the Tim Dinsdale Memorial Award from the Society for Scientific Exploration.</span><o:p></o:p><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-85510498195461453142012-01-05T08:14:00.000-08:002012-01-05T08:22:35.222-08:00Top Ten Myths About 2012<em>Or why you shouldn't stop contributing to your 401k plan.</em><br />
The ancient Mayan people, whose empire extended across much of Central America from late-antiquity to the 1500s, maintained a complex system of calendars -- which, oddly enough, ended with this year, 2012. This anomaly in Mayan timekeeping has caused many today to wonder whether the great calendar-makers foresaw an apocalypse in our era. The truth is more complex. Here are today's top 10 myths about 2012. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mitch-horowitz/top-10-myths-about-2012_b_1181778.html">Read the whole article at Huffington Post</a><br />
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Robert Sitler will be giving a talk on <i><strong>the Maya and 2012</strong> <b></b></i>at the Steadman Auditorium on the Duke Center for Living Campus on January 27, 2012. <a href="http://www.rhine.org/events.htm" target="_blank">See website for tickets</a>.<br />
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Mitch Horowitz serves on the Board of Directors for the<a href="http://www.rhine.org/" target="_blank"> Rhine Research Center</a> and is a contributing instructor at the <a href="http://www.rhineeducationcenter.org/" target="_blank">Rhine Education Center</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-57825960578982000522011-11-11T07:27:00.000-08:002011-11-11T07:37:35.380-08:00Sally Rhine on The State of Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBf_aG-pAujmPAT6nsNLrx36-dsb_Tugymla2uzsfqL__oTq1c6puRGzK98S0T5csjPILlKZ2SmByyVYy_E5h2gs1-6zfewJSKhWIkxOwb1olewIelQfmqSNrwJ77CmQHxseqMTp8ZbI/s1600/sallyrhinefeather.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBf_aG-pAujmPAT6nsNLrx36-dsb_Tugymla2uzsfqL__oTq1c6puRGzK98S0T5csjPILlKZ2SmByyVYy_E5h2gs1-6zfewJSKhWIkxOwb1olewIelQfmqSNrwJ77CmQHxseqMTp8ZbI/s1600/sallyrhinefeather.gif" /></a></div>Tonight ghosts, goblins, gremlins and all manner of imaginary monsters may knock on your door. But while Halloween is all about make believe, for some people the business of paranormal phenomenon is serious. Sally Rhine Feather is one of them. She is executive director emeritus of the <span class="link-external"><a href="http://www.rhine.org/"><span style="color: #0065a4;">Rhine Research Center</span></a></span> in Durham. The center, founded by Feather’s father, J.B. Rhine, has been around in one form or another for 70 years. In that time, it has investigated such unexplained experiences as telepathy, clairvoyance and life after death. Host Frank Stasio talks to Feather about her work and her family’s history as researchers of the paranormal.<br />
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<embed src="http://www.rhine.org/media/audio/Meet_Sally_Rhine_Feather.mp3" width="144" height="74" type="audio/mpeg" autostart="false" loop="true" bgcolor="#ffffff"><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-31954536471253400072011-11-07T06:13:00.000-08:002011-11-11T07:18:23.212-08:00Durham's Home for Paranormal Activity<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/82pLSn8kUhM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">By </span><a href="http://dukechronicle.com/users/ashley-mooney" title="View user profile."><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Ashley Mooney</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">October 27, 2011 </span></span><br />
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Some things just cannot be explained, except perhaps through the paranormal. </div>
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Located off West Campus, the Rhine Research Center stands as testament to Duke’s historic connection to parapsychology research, which is the study of psychic phenomena like hypnosis and telepathy. Although the center is no longer associated with the University, a number of Duke graduates and professors are involved with the center’s board of directors and advisory board. Using scientific methods as the basis for their studies, Rhine researchers seek to make sense of the unexplainable. Over the years, though, the center has dealt with criticism and doubt surrounding the credibility and legitimacy of the field of parapsychology. <br />
“We admit that we can’t explain everything,” Executive Director John Kruth said. “We are scientists. We’re trying to improve on the science as we move along, just like any science.”<br />
The Rhine Research Center aims to educate the public about parapsychology, build community around the field and provide research based on modern engineering and technological advances, Kruth said. In addition to running a museum and library, the center offers online education classes on parapsychology, brings in speakers—including former astronauts and government officials—biweekly and holds Psychic Experiences Group meetings monthly.<br />
“We study what is called ‘psi’ phenomenon, and psi is consistent with what was previously called extrasensory perception, or ESP,” Kruth said.<br />
He noted that psi consists of four different phenomena—telepathy, psychokinesis or healing, precognition and clairvoyance, also called remote viewing.<br />
Although parapsychologists focus mainly on ESP and psychokinesis studies, they also research survival cases, which are in-depth studies of individuals who have had close encounters with death, Kruth said.<br />
“We’re talking about everything from near death experiences—people who have experiences when they’re clinically dead—to reincarnation research,” Kruth said. “This is also where spirits, haunting and ghosts fit in.”<br />
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<b>A pioneer in the paranormal</b><br />
Parapsychology has a long history with Duke. <br />
Following Stanford University, Duke became the first major institution to study the field in an academic setting. Three years after the University was established, founding scientists Joseph and Louisa Rhine joined William McDougall to research psychical studies. At the time, psychical research primarily questioned the existence of an afterlife and relied heavily on spirits and mediums. The Rhines and McDougall took a more quantitative approach, using special cards and dice machines and soliciting undergraduate students to be test subjects for experiments. <br />
“In a sense they functioned pretty much as normal scientists,” said Seymour Mauskopf, professor emeritus of the history department and member of the Rhine Research Center advisory board.<br />
In the 1930s, the center—then called the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory—was established to support the budding science of parapsychology. Joseph Rhine also created the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke and the Journal of Parapsychology. Still, the field of study remained contentious. <br />
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“By the time I came to Duke, which was in the mid-1960s, there were people who felt that Duke was being given a bad name by the association of parapsychology,” Mauskopf said, adding that he is unsure whether the laboratory’s reputation played a role in its disassociation from Duke. <br />
When Rhine retired in 1965, parapsychology studies became disassociated from the University through a mutual agreement. The new independent institution became known as the Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man. <br />
Some of the center’s largest successes include the creation of ESP cards, which were used in place of decks of cards in telepathy and precognition experiments, Kruth said. The experiments today, however, are conducted with computers or physical targets.<br />
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<b>Situated in science</b><br />
Several experiments are currently underway at the center. <br />
Using a light lab—a darkroom with low intensity light detectors for infrared and ultraviolet light—Kruth said Rhine researchers measure the energy emitted from healers and long-term meditation practitioners.<br />
“Normally most people would go in this room, and our gauges register pretty much a flat line,” he said. “But when we put someone who is a healer in there… you get huge spikes and huge light emissions... indicating a release of energy.”<br />
Kruth added that as far as he knows, the light lab is the only experiment of its type where researchers are using electrical engineering technology to detect human energy.<br />
Another experiment relates to electronic voice phenomena, which are recordings of voice or voice-like sounds that are not decipherable to the human ear. When the recordings are played back, some believe they can hear phrases of words. In the experiment, Rhine researchers have participants listen to 12 recordings and note what they think they are hearing, Kruth said.<br />
John Palmer, editor of the Journal of Parapsychology and a member of the Rhine Center’s board of directors, studies motor automatism—during which bodily functions or movements occur without being consciously controlled. Palmer cited Ouija boards as an example. <br />
“[In the experiment,] we set up an analog of an Ouija board,” Palmer said. “Basically the person moves a pen around a grid… and has to stop at the location on the grid where their hand is, telling them that [a] randomly selected target is located.”<br />
Palmer added that in order to surpass the limitations of a conscious, rational mind, he tells participants to clear their minds, as they would do in meditation, or Palmer distracts participants by making them read quotations on a screen while doing the test.<br />
The Ouija board experiment is not meant to conjure spirits but rather is a scientific analysis, Palmer added.<br />
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<b>Building a community</b><br />
The Rhine Research Center also serves as a hub for people who believe in the paranormal.<br />
Kruth said the center catalogues personal accounts of people who have experienced paranormal activity via a submission form on the center’s website. Although the accounts are not used as evidence for paranormal events, they are collected and classified at the center, he said. <br />
In addition, the monthly Psychic Experiences Group meetings give people who experience psychic phenomena at chance to share in an open, judgment-free forum, events coordinator Susan Freeman said.<br />
“We’ve had people that have experiences that they don’t understand, and it frightens them,” Freeman said. “Somehow when they find out that there are other people who have actually had these experiences and feelings, it helps them gain a better perspective.”<br />
<i>Want to hear more about the paranormal? </i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-64652819912573029652011-10-05T06:18:00.000-07:002011-10-05T06:20:40.550-07:00After the Bell Tolls, Then What? ---The Amazing Saga of Dr Eben Alexander IIIThe question of what happens to us at the time of bodily death has been widely debated by theologians, philosophers, and scientists throughout the ages. While some hold that we have a soul or a spirit that survives, others have a more mechanistic view. They believe that our consciousness is simply the result of brain function, the firing of neurons. Thus, when the brain dies, that is the end of us. But, in truth, this is all hypothetical. No one really knows---or do they? Dr. Eben Alexander thinks he has the answer.<br />
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Dr Alexander is a seasoned neurosurgeon who was trained at Duke and Harvard. In spite of a religious upbringing, his scientific background coupled with his life experiences, had led to him to be a religious nonbeliever. He had no expectation of an afterlife. And then something happened that dramatically changed all that. Dr. Alexander had a near death experience!<br />
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He woke up one morning several years ago with a debilitating headache and backache. Within a short period of time he was in a coma, suffering from a rare strain of bacterial meningitis. In the hospital, his doctors were not hopeful regarding his chances of survival, much less recovery. He remained in that coma for seven days, hovering between life and death. And then, remarkably, he woke up, dazed and confused, but with vivid memories of what had occurred while in the comatose state. Amazingly he suffered no neurological damage whatsoever. As he pondered all that he remembered and the fact that he had emerged unscathed, he attempted to find scientific reasons to explain it all. Could he have had hallucinations as a result of the disease? Was the lack of adequate blood flow, and thus lack of sufficient oxygen to his brain an explanation? In the end, he had to abandon looking to science for answers, and accepted the conclusion that he couldn't at first believe. His consciousness had left his body!<br />
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Last month, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Alexander when he was here as one of the keynote speakers at the IANDS yearly conference.(International Association for Near Death Studies) Although I had seen him make a short appearance on "Through the Wormhole" on the SCI channel, I knew little about him and had no idea what to expect. When I encountered him in person, the presentation I had seen on TV paled in comparison to the dynamic, personable individual that I met. Eben Alexander is excited about what happened to him. He is enthusiastic to get his message out. And that message is emphatically, "There is an afterlife. I know. I've been there!"<br />
When he spoke at the conference, he had all who attended hanging on to his every word. Most were brought to tears by his narrative. Even the strongest skeptics had to be left with some doubt! I'm not going to give away the details of his story because Dr Alexander will be a guest of the Rhine this Friday night, Oct 7th, at the Stedman Auditorium. So if possible, anyone who can, should hear this in person. If not, he is in the process of writing a book which will reveal all. I will only remark again that he is convinced that there is life after death, that he experienced it, and that it is good!<br />
<br />
The survival question is not often addressed at the Rhine, not because we don't find it of interest or importance. In fact, J.B. Rhine considered it to be the tacit issue that underlied much of his research. He recognized though that life after death did not lend itself well to the scientific method! The possibility of nonlocal consciousness, however, is often cited as a reasonable explanation for the paranormal phenomena that we do research. While, at this point, we can demonstrate that certain PSI events do occur, the underlying mechanism by which they occur, remains a mystery.<br />
So, what really does happen when we die? Is, in fact, the mind separate from the body, having it's own eternal existence? For some, Eben Alexander's account of his journey into another dimension, in spite of a nonfunctional brain, will just give further credence to their already held belief that an afterlife is a reality. For others, skepticism will remain, or perhaps there will be absolute disbelief. However, as difficult as it may be to fully grasp this concept, sooner or later, each and every one of us are inevitably going to find out! Until then, we will probably just have to wonder!<br />
<br />
-- Cynthia Nigro Ph.D.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-31264368739107057412011-09-27T13:33:00.000-07:002011-09-27T14:36:35.275-07:00The PSI of Solving Crimes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIJZA3UOQJhKkuV5CafDH1MUBWuixZmjx90bF9tekgONUJAVV8UvYXtjZIllbKUnz-7oJn6mSEdebF6mGDgJaHdHvBg1FnKeqomr2VkZm1y1Kn6MhAAztXYB7lQyx1BBUTDi8ps03BJI/s1600/noreenrenier.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="192" width="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIJZA3UOQJhKkuV5CafDH1MUBWuixZmjx90bF9tekgONUJAVV8UvYXtjZIllbKUnz-7oJn6mSEdebF6mGDgJaHdHvBg1FnKeqomr2VkZm1y1Kn6MhAAztXYB7lQyx1BBUTDi8ps03BJI/s400/noreenrenier.gif" /></a></div><br />
Last Friday, one of the world's most well known psychic detectives was a guest speaker at the Stedman Auditorium. Noreen Renier started out years ago as a single mother working in public relations and advertising, with no interest in the paranormal. She was totally unaware that she might have any special abilities. And then, quite unexpectedly, one night while visiting friends, she claims that she "connected" with one of their deceased grandmothers!<br />
<br />
This was the remarkable beginning to her unconventional career as a psychic! And although there are not an abundance of real world applications for work in this area (not yet,anyway!) Noreen began working with law inforcement helping them to solve crimes. By her report, she has now been involved in more than four hundred cases in the United States and six foreign countries. She has been featured in numerous television programs, and has authored two books.<br />
<br />
In person, Noreen appears to be about as open and down to earth as a person can be. She says she is as astonished by the dimension of her capabilities as are the clients who utilize her services. While apparently she has located missing persons, and led police and FBI agents to criminals they were seeking, she admits that, left to her own devices, she can hardly find her way around the supermarket!<br />
<br />
In her talk, Noreen intrigued the audience when she presented cases and discussed various aspects of her work. While she omitted many of the more graphic and disturbing details, it is clear that what she does is quite serious and involves situations that fortunately most of us will never have to deal with. These include murder, abduction, tragic accidents, and mysterious disappearances. <br />
<br />
The method she uses to obtain her knowledge is known as Psychometry. This involves her holding an object, such as a piece of jewelry, or an article of clothing , belonging to someone and accessing information. For reasons we don't entirely understand, these revelations come to her through visions or impressions. While this is happening, she often goes into a trance state, and when finished, often has no recollection of what she said.<br />
<br />
While there are a known number of people who appear to have this gift---of being what is called a psychometrist----Noreen feels that anyone is capable of it. When recounting her first experiences, which as stated, were quite a shock to her, she then made an effort to develop her skills by learning different techniques, and ongoing practice.<br />
<br />
Now, in addition to her forensic work, Noreen gives courses and workshops to help others develop their own psychic abilities. It is her belief that one's sixth sense can be trained ,just as any of the other five senses, to evolve to greater levels of mastery. She recounts that her students have been able to produce amazing results.<br />
<br />
As with all areas of PSI, the underlying mechanisms of psychometry, need to be subjected to much more scientific research. At the Rhine, we are planning to commence controlled studies with many gifted individuals to assess their abilities. We hope that in doing so, we might not only illuminate the mysterious capabilities of the mind, but also put an end to the ongoing controversies in the scientific world with regard to the paranormal.<br />
-- Cynthia Nigro, Ph.D.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-18537215451539619902011-09-19T10:14:00.000-07:002011-09-19T10:14:30.874-07:00REALITY AND THE EXTENDED MIND Part 1<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RrKVQVr3p04" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-64793777810232457732011-09-05T11:15:00.000-07:002011-09-05T11:15:56.734-07:00A Letter From Hubert E. PearceHere below is an excerpt from a letter to my father JB Rhine from Rev. Hubert Pearce written in 1956 on Pearce's stationery as Minister of First Methodist Church in Wynne, Arkansas. I stumbled across this letter by accident when searching in the Duke Special Collections Library for JB's correspondence with Norman Vincent Peale, a well-known religious figure of bygone days with whom JB corresponded. (In fact Peale prints a fascinating article about JB's work and it's importance for religion in his Guidepost publication in 1958).<br />
<br />
<strong>Background:</strong> Hubert E. Pearce was the one of most outstanding high-scoring subjects of the early 1930's Duke card-calling tests, particularly important for his role as subject in the Pearce-Pratt experimental series that is generally considered the definitive experiment for ESP in those early days in terms of tight conditions conducted with two experimenters at a distance across the Duke University campus. Hubert also correctly guessed 25 cards correct in an informal test that JB conducted with him after a challenge to test his ability. <br />
<br />
But in 9/27/56 my father receives this message from Hubert that refers back to the Pearce-Pratt work of 20 years earlier, as follows, <br />
<br />
"Just before we moved into our new church in Bentonville, I received a letter from a Martin Gardner in New York who was evidently writing a critique of Parapsychology. My office was moved into the new building while I was out of the city and the letter was lost. When I returned from our trip (in which he visited JB in North Carolina), I had another letter in which he asked if it hadn't been long enough that my conscience was bothering me to where I was ready to confess that the work there was not well controlled etc. etc. I am enclosing my reply to him."----Hubert E. Pearce<br />
<br />
Hubert's reply to Martin Gardner reads as follows: <br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Gardner: <br />
<br />
Upon my return from a trip to Durham and Washington I found your interesting letter. I will have to admit that it is a new approach and I wish that I might have had it to send to Dr. Rhine. Of course, you realize that it isn't deserving of a respectable reply. There are a lot of things that might be said to express my opinion of it--and probably of you.<br />
<br />
May I say simply that I am as much interested in the project now as I was when I was in the University and the longer I live the more I become convinced of its reality. <br />
<br />
Those of us who have worked with Dr. Rhine have never once doubted his ability as a scientist and research director, his devotion to the Truth, his brilliance, or his integrity.<br />
You are simply beating again the path that was beat by Experts in the 1930's. <br />
<br />
The day will come when Dr. Rhine's name will be among the Immortals -- and the name of his critics forgotten. <br />
<br />
Sincerely, <br />
Hubert E. Pearce. <br />
<br />
-- submitted by Sally Rhine Feather<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-6942371812168114902011-08-25T08:27:00.000-07:002011-08-25T08:27:44.208-07:00August Remote Viewing News <span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;">August's Remote Viewing group meeting was unusually amazing. One of the things that fascinates me is how, despite years of "unbelievable" experiences in my work with the Rhine Research Center, I continue to be surprised when something unexpected occurs. You'd think I'd get used to it, but fortunately I don't, I still get impressed. Last night was one of those events. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;">At our monthly meetings we try to mix it up and experience the many facets of the Remote Viewing experience. We do this by trying out various modes of intuitive information gatherings such as dowsing, or we practice different flavors of RV such as ERV, WRV, CRV, etc. We also try different data gathering scenarios with outbounder targets, picture targets, experiential targets, multiple sensory targets, things like that. In other words, each RV group meeting is a new experience and never boring, always educational and fun. So last evening we decided to try again some Remote Viewing and analysis of our sessions. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;">Analyzing information from viewers is a whole different kettle of fish from gathering the data, but it is just as essential, and some would argue much more important to the RV process than the raw data. In doing the analysis of the information, it provides viewers with a new and useful perspective on the quality and value of the data they gather as remote viewers. I also wanted us to have the chance to quantify our sessions, to be able to say "This data applies to that tasking", so we did sessions that did just that.</span> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;">We divided ourselves into groups of 3 members, and gave each of our groups a name. Before the meeting I had put together some target sets, 4 envelopes per set with a photograph inside each envelope. In each group of envelopes there would be one chosen as the tasked envelope. I did not look at the photos in the envelopes, I just randomly chose them from a box full of envelopes before the meeting. I asked each group, while holding up their set of envelopes, to describe on paper the photograph/event depicted in the target envelope. Again, each group gets its own set of 4 randomly chosen, unknown to any of us, envelopes. One of those envelopes is the tasked target for them to Remote View. They do not get to touch the envelopes until AFTER the sessions and analysis and feedback are provided. They go off, each group to a separate room to do their RV session however they see fit to do that. I hang back with the sets of envelopes, and while they are silently doing their sessions, I flip a coin twice to chose the one envelope from the set of four. Two coin flips provides 4 possible options. </span><span style="color: black;">I then write down the envelope number for each set and put that piece of paper in my notebook where it won't be seen. Then the groups come back at a certain time and I give the pack of envelopes, still closed up, and the paperwork of the viewers sessions for that target, to a different group for analysis. What I ask them to do is to open the envelopes and lay the photos out on a table, then take the writing and drawings done by the viewers and rank each of the 4 photos from closest match to the data to least match to the photo. So each group analyzes another group's work, deciding which of the potential targets is most accurately described by the remote viewing session data. They write down their ranking of most described (#1) to least described (#4) and we all get back together. Then I shuffle the now closed envelopes in each set, and pull out the envelope that was the tasked target for each set, and I compare that number with the ranking numbers the analysis groups provided. </span><span style="color: black;"> Of the 3 groups of viewers, we had 2 #1's and 1 #2. In other words, two of the groups hit the nail on the head, and the other group was off by one. We did this same type of viewing/analysis/ranking many months ago and did not have such stunning results. This time was different, their success surprised me. This was not a controlled experiment, but you have to be impressed with their work.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;">What "caused" the group to do so well? Was it my exciting and informative Powerpoint presentation at the beginning of the meeting discussing the Remote Viewing experience? Probably not.... Was it our review of the many different CRV courses/process that have evolved since the Government RV program was declassified? Doubtful. I think a lot has to do with the group dynamic that has been evolving over the many meetings, where we are getting to know and trust and rely on each other as we share our experiences and our knowledge. Its an environment that is as laid-back as it is serious about what we are up to, whether or not we had success in our RV sessions, we still had a valuable time at the meeting for a dozen other reasons. If this is something you want to participate in, I hope you will join us at the next meeting on September 21st. If you want to be on the Remote Viewing mailing list, drop me a line a </span><a href="mailto:benton@rhine.org"><span style="color: black;">benton@rhine.org</span></a><span style="color: black;">. I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope to see you at our next get-together.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">-- Benton Bogle</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-6354939305571787952011-07-14T10:41:00.000-07:002011-07-14T10:41:15.896-07:00BELIEVING IMPOSSIBLE THINGS BEFORE BREAKFAST (OR ANYTIME!)By Cynthia Nigro, PhD<br />
<br />
Daryl Bem likes to use quotes from Lewis Carroll’s, Through The Looking Glass. One of his favorites which is said to Alice by the White Queen is this, “….sometimes, I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” So, does Daryl Bem believe impossible things himself? Well, a large part of the scientific community thinks he does.<br />
<br />
In March, Dr. Bem rocked the scientific world, when he published an article in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, one of the most renowned and respected journals in the field, entitled, FEELING THE FUTURE: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FOR THE ANOMOLOUS RETROACTIVE INFLUENCES ON COGNITION AND AFFECT. What was so unusual about this paper was that it indicated evidence for the existence of PSI, a topic which was never considered valid in a mainstream journal before. Why? Because the term PSI is now used to describe that which is paranormal, and to the mainstream, that means irrational, and unbelievable In Dr. Bem’s words, “ PSI denotes anomalous processes of information or energy transfer that are currently unexplained in terms of known physical or biological mechanisms.” <br />
<br />
Bem conducted a series of experiments in which he asked students to choose between two curtains presented on a computer screen. Behind one, was a picture, behind the other, a blank wall. They were asked which one they thought hid the picture. Findings were that the students were able to pick the one with the photo behind it with a frequency statistically greater than chance. And, that frequency increased if the picture was pornographic!<br />
<br />
Next, he had students look at some words, and then asked them to write down any they remembered. After that, he had them more deliberately study half the words. His findings indicated that the students better “remembered” the words they had studied after the test. That’s right---not a misprint!!! They remembered the words better that they had studied AFTER the test! And this was also statistically significant.<br />
<br />
The overall reaction to these findings was one of disbelief, and created a global debate on how these “impossible” results" could have occurred. In fact, the criticisms and scrutinizing began even before the article was actually published. When the results of Bem’s studies first leaked out in 2010, the internet began buzzing with discussions and hypotheses of what he “must’” have done wrong.<br />
<br />
The world could hardly attack Dr. Bem himself. His reputation as a researcher was lengthy, stellar, and impeccable. So, they began to find fault with his methods, his statistical analyses, and anything else they could think of. Several replications were begun. Different statistical methods were applied. There seemed to be a frantic rush to somehow demonstrate that this couldn’t be so.<br />
The media picked up on all of this, which resulted in magazine and newspaper articles being written, including one in the New York Times, and prompted interviews with Dr. Bem on television and radio, including his much discussed appearance on the Colbert Report.<br />
As Dr. Larry Dossey expressed in his journal article by the same name, WHY ARE SCIENTISTS AFRAID OF DARYL BEM? Why are these findings creating such a fuss? Unfortunately, it seems PSI has no credibility in the world of science. IF it did, many of the underlying assumptions by which we live, and which scientists hold to be immutable truths, would have to be modified. (And, of course, some great egos would have to admit that they were wrong!!)<br />
This is not the first time in history that someone has had the audacity to question the supposed truths of a scientific community. Remember, it was once accepted that the earth was the center of the universe! Enter Galileo-----and that poor man ended up accused of heresy, and under lifetime arrest, for daring to propose the ludicrous and “impossible to believe” idea that the earth revolved around the sun. Alas, it was later determined that he was right, and the concept was incorporated into a new world view.<br />
On Friday, July 7th, the person behind all this present controversy, Daryl Bem, was our guest at the Rhine. (I had seen him only the night before on the Science Network in a prerecorded episode of Through the Wormhole). He gave a private presentation to our research team, and then later, gave a public presentation at the Steadman Auditorium. <br />
Daryl Bem is a down to earth, unassuming, extremely likable individual. He is obviously brilliant, and communicates what he knows with ease. After listening to him, one is amazed by the amount of knowledge he has imparted in such a short amount of time. He intersperses his dialogue with humorous comments, personal quips, and interesting tidbits of related information.<br />
We at the Rhine Center have no problem accepting the credibility of Bem’s findings. We deal with issues that are considered by many as “unbelievable” and “impossible” every day. For us, his research is just a natural extension of the work begun by J.B. Rhine in the Duke Parapsychology Lab so many years ago. We applaud him for having the courage to pursue this line of inquiry. We hope his work will become the first crack in the rigid tenets of modern science, and may even lead to a serious fracture!!!<br />
Of course, we don’t expect this to happen overnight, and the debate will rage on. The implications of all of this are as yet unclear, but it’s a start. So, we don’t suggest that college students now begin studying for their exams after they’ve taken them!!! We do however suggest that orthodox scientists begin studying findings such as these, and re-evaluating their concept of what is indisputably not possible. In the end, they might just find that embracing the idea of “believing in impossible things” is the ultimate triumph after all!<br />
_____________________________________________________________________________________<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwongZTv4vJuBq_a824joCooQ4yW3GrE8orDPM6jeuXNbmB-h5fGbA2MBBegtySYaZiTukhuC27ysaf4qwsHHAvNvHOYOAa9wyxFFtvUMsdsyk8EKymSkISECj3ncuwNbvwEECnMVG9g/s1600/darylbem.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwongZTv4vJuBq_a824joCooQ4yW3GrE8orDPM6jeuXNbmB-h5fGbA2MBBegtySYaZiTukhuC27ysaf4qwsHHAvNvHOYOAa9wyxFFtvUMsdsyk8EKymSkISECj3ncuwNbvwEECnMVG9g/s1600/darylbem.gif" /></a></div>Daryl Bem is a social psychologist and Professor Emeritus at Cornell University.<br />
<br />
Links:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dbem.ws/">Daryl Bem’s Home Page </a><br />
<a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/372474/january-27-2011/time-traveling-porn---daryl-bem">Appearance on the Colbert Report </a><br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/science/11esp.html">Article in the New York Times</a><br />
<a href="http://deanradin.blogspot.com/2011/04/psi-debate-at-harvard.html">Harvard Debate with Daryl Bem </a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.rhine.org</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1158461381175500397.post-60292795798989429572011-07-12T10:06:00.000-07:002011-07-12T10:09:36.226-07:00DEBATING PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE: HUMAN POTENTIAL OR HUMAN ILLUSION?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfD7__CQuCwCJ9npX9B53wgqVlYs8pZix5qodAde-MLmvb77q-vnx8vU0H_oAQnNtfZgAjyXymWdlL0lWgBTlzH8-B9ynoPflUYw3VDa9vwQt-Aj7CejRqCCnoyosL7HmEeQTQWP4Fbg/s1600/jpcover+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfD7__CQuCwCJ9npX9B53wgqVlYs8pZix5qodAde-MLmvb77q-vnx8vU0H_oAQnNtfZgAjyXymWdlL0lWgBTlzH8-B9ynoPflUYw3VDa9vwQt-Aj7CejRqCCnoyosL7HmEeQTQWP4Fbg/s1600/jpcover+copy.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">From the upcoming <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Journal of Parapsychology:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
DEBATING PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE: HUMAN POTENTIAL OR HUMAN ILLUSION? edited by Stanley Krippner and Harris L. Friedman. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 2010. $44.95 (hardback). Pp. 236. ISBN 978-0-31339-261-0<br />
<br />
<br />
Whatever your prior view of the debate over psi, this book is an absolute requirement if you wish to be kept updated. The current status of differing views on scientific arguments for and against the existence of psychic phenomena is debated in this volume. The only risk is that it is easy to choose whom to believe and thereby find your own personal biases confirmed. On the other hand, should you be open-minded and hoping for a resolution, you may at first be disappointed with the stagnation. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the seeds for synthesis are actually there, although hard to find. Debates are actually not the best way of encouraging progress in a controversial subject. Inevitably, even without our biases, it is the most persuasive and eloquent debaters who are deemed the winners, whereas in this case the only winner should be science. It becomes then this reviewer’s difficult task to try to bring fairness back to the forefront, but ultimately in a case like this impartiality is an ambitious goal. Even so, I prefer to think that I share the attitude of most serious researchers in this area: If I am being fooled, I want the critic to tell me how.<br />
<br />
The book contains chapters written by some of the most vocal experts in this field. Dean Radin and Chris Carter are the proponents presenting the case for psi having now been established, while the critics Ray Hyman, Jim Alcock, and Christopher French take the opposing view. I am going to allow my own bias to immediately discount the chapter by Michael Shermer, the editor of The Skeptic, on the grounds that it is not science; rather, it is based mainly on his personal experiences with tarot readings, accompanied by tales provided to him by the maverick English journalist Jon Ronsson (producer of the film The Men Who Stare at Goats). The chapter does fulfill a function—as a shop-window example of what the proponents in the book complain about: arrogance, in this case assuming psychical researchers know nothing about cold reading.<br />
<br />
I shall not attempt a summary and evaluation of each chapter, because this is more than adequately provided by the editors in the form of their own introduction. Instead, I will look at the main issues per se. Harvard psychiatrist Ruth Richards provides a fair-minded introduction to the topic, after which the major contributors present their cases. The contributors then all come back for round two, rebuttals in which they evaluate their opponents’ chapters. Finally, epilogues are provided by the critic Richard Wiseman, the proponent Stephan Schwartz, and the editors themselves. <br />
<br />
The confrontation gets heated and personal at times. Frustrated at the lack of appreciation for the enormous effort they expend to fulfill the critic’s demands with the limited support available, the proponents begin to see the critics as outmoded die-hard believers in materialism. They are seen as being left behind by recent developments in quantum physics and consciousness studies. Consequently, several of the proponents label the critics now as “psi deniers,” in much the same class as consciousness deniers and climate change deniers. Whatever one thinks about this labeling, it needs to be said that while much has been written on the psychology of belief in the paranormal, very little is known about the opposing polarized disbelief. Even if it causes some offence, it is therefore of value that Carter contributes a section of his chapter under the rubric Psychology of the Dogmatic Critic (p. 96). <br />
<br />
And offence it does cause. Hyman claims he has always, in his role as a member of the Committee for Scientific Inquiry and through his papers in the Skeptical Inquirer, made a distinction between his treatment of parapsychology and other paranormal claims, recognizing that the former are based on scientific procedures. He is clearly offended by the allegations of unfair treatment made particularly by Carter and Schwartz. Likewise, Alcock recoils against this treatment as “ad hominem attacks” and “reviling the messenger.” <br />
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