August Remote Viewing News

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  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.  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.

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 benton@rhine.org.  I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope to see you at our next get-together.
-- Benton Bogle

Can Consciousness Comprehend Its Own Mechanics?

I wrote previously about the difficulty of studying a phenomenon with the phenomenon itself, in other words, "Can consciousness comprehend its own mechanics?".

We have to say "Yes" or else pull up stakes and move on to some other subject, but otherwise we really have to get a handle on how we work with the limitations inherent in this subject. My point in my last blog was that our ego-mind is designed to do one thing, and it is not naturally going to adapt to a multi-consciousness model of how perception works.

But from what I have seen, and many parapsychologists agree, along with most psychologists, that there are multiple consciousnesses at work in each of us. I have come to understand that the other consciousness seems to have different senses, what JB Rhine would describe as an Extra Sense. And again, we lump all these PSI phenomenon together as perhaps manifestations of one "Superpower of the Biomind" as Ingo Swann would call it, but in fact there may be multiple other senses in use by these other consciousness. So you are probably rolling your eyes at this point but that is precisely my point from the last blog, even suggesting such a mechanical structure for your mind is absurd, because the ego-consciousness cannot tolerate the idea. And that's as far as such speculation gets in most people.

Keeping in mind of course it could be a stupid notion, too. These blog entries of mine do not reflect the opinion of the RRC, and if you have any insight or concern you wish to provide regarding what I have written, please drop me an email at bbogle@triad.rr.com.

I could be barking up the wrong tree regarding sensory modalities for other consciousnesses. Take a look at the evidence, then place it in a multi-consciousness model, and see how it fits. Please resist the temptation to take the "black box" of Parapsychology and try to fit in it black boxes from other sciences, all that does is make a bigger black box. We will be having a guest speaker at our next Remote Viewing meeting on October 15th at 7pm. This person has been developing a data gathering website for PSI testing, and will be presenting the findings as well as the ideas that the evidence has suggested. This will be a great example of studying PSI with the data of the phenomenon, and I hope you can all be there.
-- Benton Bogle

Remote Viewing Group Update - Judith Morse Teaches Meditation Skills

The remote viewing group was excited about our guest on Wednesday night. Judith Morse dropped by to teach us about Meditation. If you have done much remote viewing, or been to any of the workshops of folks like Joe McMoneagle or Russell Targ, you know regular meditation is something that can really benefit a remote viewer. Both skills require practice, patience, and learning to control your attention. The same skills that make a good meditator make a good remote viewer. So Judith described some of the important types of meditation, she walked us through what we would experience, and then she helped us do some meditation there at the meeting. Meditation is at the same time simple and very involved, and Judith did a great job of explaining the fundamental process and the great potential this simple skill provides.

We had a pretty good crowd there, and from the discussion after the meditation training, it was clear that Judith's teaching had a real impact. Most of us had some experience with Meditation in the past, to others it was new, but all the comments were positive, and we had a great conversation as a group on how to work with our attention, how to quiet some of the mental noise that interferes with Remote Viewing, and of course the many benefits of Meditation. Though this meeting was unusual for us, I can see that we will need to bring Judith back periodically because of the value these skills have for people serious about remote viewing. Like all of our meetings, it was fun to see people learning new things, sharing their exciting experiences, and leaving the meeting with a sense of adventure.

As promised, at our next meeting we will be doing an outbounder session, as one of our group will be vacationing in Peru and will act as our outbounder "sender". If you aren't familiar with Remote Viewing jargon, an outbounder session was one of the first types of Remote Viewing developed by the early SRI/Military researchers. It involves a sender/outbounder and viewer (in our case, viewers). The outbounder goes out to a location that the viewers have no knowledge of, and at a certain time, the viewers do a session to get information on the location/experience of the outbounder person at that time. Normally, the viewer would later visit the same location that was viewed, but its doubtful we will fly the entire group to Peru (translated: ain't gonna happen). But our outbounder will take lots of notes and photos, and present this data to us later for feedback. In any case, it should be a lot of fun.

We will be meeting on May 12th in the library of the Rhine Research Center at 7pm, do not be late.

Remote Viewing Group Update

One of our group regulars, Scott, gave a great presentation on the relationship between Local Sidereal Time and Remote Viewing at our recent meeting. He presented the studies that have occurred over the years regarding the phenomenon and related issues, and Scott also discussed some of the theories as to why the relationship between the stars in the sky and our ESP on the ground occurs. It was fascinating, and of course initiated a great deal of discussion within the group. We also did a remote viewing session for a target Scott provided, and we had a good time discussing the processes we use to get target data.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday March 10th at 7pm in the Tanous Library there at the RRC. This will be mere days before the center hosts Russell Targ, one of pioneers in the Remote Viewing research and applications field. Both events will be a thrill to anyone interested in Remote Viewing.

Remote Viewer's Group Report from Benton Bogle

Last night's Remote Viewer's meeting was once again a thrill. I arrived good and early, and after a brief altercation with the security system, I plopped down my equipment to get ready for the meeting. I had brought along a target for Remote Viewing practice. We like to try at least one target per meeting. The Remote Viewing meetings usually consist of a short presentation on one of a wide range of topics, some discussion about the topic, a remote viewing session, and then reflections and observations on our experiences in the session. It's extremely helpful and fun to be able to sit with other viewers and share insights, knowledge and experience regarding our Remote Viewing.

Anyway, before anyone arrived, I placed the target ( a small box containing one of my work gloves) on top of some other boxes there in the library where we have the meeting, out of sight of the meeting area. Then I went back over to the table and set up the laptop, projector and screen. I greeted folks and chatted with them as they entered, and at the designated time we started the meeting. The presentation was on "Relating to the Subconscious" and I talked about many things I had learned about relating and interacting with the subconscious, and we all shared strategies and ideas about this topic. Then we did our Remote Viewing session. Keep in mind no one there knew what or where the target was. Earlier things we had remote viewed at other meetings included vacations, photos of famous events, objects there in the building, a wide range of targets. We took about 20 minutes to do our session, and when we finished everyone put down their pens and paper and I retrieved the box. I opened it and poured out the glove onto the table in front of the group. The participant to my right gasped and held up the session notes. The first two words on the page: Box, Glove. The next participant to the right started their session with Appaloosa horse, and embossed on the back of the workglove was a horse. The other participants got bits and pieces of the information on the target, and everyone was excited about the results. And of course, it was a lot of fun.

I am very much looking forward to our next meeting on February 10th at 7pm in the Alex Tanous Library there at the RRC. I hope to see you there.

The Remote Viewing Group meets on the second Wednesday of every month. It is open to the public.

Remote Viewer's Group Report from Benton Bogle

We had a relatively small turnout at the Remote Viewer's group last night due to the holiday season, but it turned out to be a good thing since we were able to each share our perspectives and styles of Remote Viewing with each other. Having a group meet and being in the same room together is really turning out to be a great boon to our individual efforts to learn and develop our Remote Viewing.

Normally at meetings we will have some sort of short presentation, do a remote viewing session and then set aside some time to talk with each other about our experiences, but last night's meeting was dedicated soley to talking about our processes and our "theories" on what is going on with RV. As always, the energy in the room was amazing, and the feedback and insights the various viewers had to share, as well as the encouragement, was extremely helpful to all of us. We got into the nitty-gritty of the way we access and handle information, and shared ideas about how to improve our sessions and our attitude toward the experience. Being able to get feedback and suggestions from other people face-to-face really can't be replaced, and I found the evening to be a strong boost to my efforts, and the other folks there said the same thing.

I've been learning and practicing RV for years, have read dozens of books, been to countless workshops and presentation, and done lots and lots of sessions, but getting immediate feedback with new ideas and perspectives, being reminded of useful techniques, having some of my assumptions and habits questioned and examined was unbelievably helpful. Being in a safe and sympathetic environment and learning from the wide-range of experiences of like-minded people makes a huge difference. Can you tell I thought the meeting went well?

If you are interested in Remote Viewing, you will do yourself a favor in the new year by attending our next Remote Viewing group meeting the 2nd Wednesday in January.