The Parapsychological Association

Stephan A. Schwartz is a Distinguished Consulting Faculty of Saybrook University. He is the columnist for the journal Explore, and editor of the daily web publication Schwartzreport.net in both of which he covers trends that are affecting the future. His other academic and research appointments include: Senior Fellow for Brain, Mind and Healing of the Samueli Institute; founder and Research Director of the Mobius laboratory. Government appointments include Special Assistant for Research and Analysis to the Chief of Naval Operations. Schwartz was the principal researcher studying the use of Remote Viewing in archaeology. Using Remote Viewing he discovered Cleopatra's Palace, Marc Antony's Timonium, ruins of the Lighthouse of Pharos, and sunken ships along the California coast, and in the Bahamas. He is the author of more than 130 technical reports and papers. He has written The Secret Vaults of Time, The Alexandria Project, Mind Rover, Opening to the Infinite, and The 8 Laws of Change.

Here he describes the uncanny experiences that drew him to explore the realm of the paranormal, and the Edgar Cayce in particular. He determined that there were many instances in which Cayce was able to access information that could not have been known through normal means – particularly with reference to the Essenes, about whom little was known prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. As a result, he spent five years immersing himself in the Cayce readings and the parapsychology literature. This was essential preparation for his later career as a researcher in parapsychology, archeology, healing, and anthropology.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also past-president of the non-profit Intuition Network, an organization dedicated to creating a world in which all people are encouraged to cultivate and apply their inner, intuitive abilities.

(Recorded on February 4, 2017)

Edwin C. May, PhD, was involved in the military intelligence psychic spying program, popularly referred to as Stargate, for over twenty years. During the last decade, he was the director of research for that program. In this context, he produced over a hundred scientific publications. His academic training was in experimental nuclear physics. He is coauthor of ESP Wars: East and West and also Anomalous Cognition: Remote Viewing Research and Theory. He is the coeditor of a two volume anthology titled Extrasensory Perception: Support, Skepticism, and Science.

Here he acknowledges that expectations for future successful applications in parapsychology may be too high. Because there have been some dramatic successes in remote viewing, people sometimes fail to appreciate how difficult this work can be. In the future, the best chance for success will come from well-funded, multi-disciplinary teams that are staffed by young scientists. Of particular interest will be neurophysiological studies. He also expressed his hope that joint projects could be initiated with Russian researchers who are also experienced in the applications of remote viewing. Such efforts could be relatively safe and inexpensive and could, potentially, be of use in combating terrorism.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). 

(Recorded on June 18, 2016) 

Charles T. Tart, PhD, is emeritus professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, as well as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. He is a past-president of the Parapsychological Association. He has published over 100 scientific papers in parapsychology. He is editor of several anthologies including Altered States of Consciousness, Transpersonal Psychologies, Mind at Large, and Body Mind Spirit: Exploring the Parapsychology of Spirituality. Books that he has authored include Psi: Scientific Studies in the Psychic Realm, States of Consciousness, The End of Materialism, Learning to Use Extrasensory Perception, On Being Stoned, Waking Up: Overcoming the Obstacles to Human Potential, and Open Mind – Discriminating Mind.

Here he notes that academic positions in parapsychology are extremely rare; and young people hoping or planning for a career in parapsychology will face many obstacles. Essentially, he maintains that parapsychology is the study of our spiritual, or non-physical, nature. Not all parapsychologists accept this view, which is not in tune with the mainstream materialistic paradigm of contemporary science. His advice for people wishing to pursue a career in parapsychology is to make sure that they also cultivate some mainstream interests -- so that they will, ultimately, be able to support themselves (unless they are independently wealthy or have an entrepreneurial spirit).

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980).

(Recorded on November 10, 2016)

Charles T. Tart, PhD, is emeritus professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, as well as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. He is a past-president of the Parapsychological Association. He has published over 100 scientific papers in parapsychology. He is editor of several anthologies including Altered States of Consciousness, Transpersonal Psychologies, Mind at Large, and Body Mind Spirit: Exploring the Parapsychology of Spirituality. Books that he has authored include Psi: Scientific Studies in the Psychic Realm, States of Consciousness, The End of Materialism, Learning to Use Extrasensory Perception, On Being Stoned, Waking Up: Overcoming the Obstacles to Human Potential, and Open Mind – Discriminating Mind.

Here he discusses the career and work of the early twentieth century mystical teacher, George Ivanovich Gurdjieff. He particular stresses the notion that, according to Gurdjieff, human beings typically go through life in a mechanical state akin to sleep. Such a life is not worth living. Various exercises help unify the divergent bodily, emotional, and intellectual centers of consciousness. In particular, it is important that we gain consciousness of the ways that we respond automatically to various situations. This process involves real work and can be quite difficult.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series.

(Recorded on November 9, 2016) 

Vernon Neppe, MD, PhD, FRSSAf, is a neuropsychiatrist and head of the Pacific Neuropsychiatric Institute in Seattle. He is author, with physicist Edward Close, of Reality Begins with Consciousness: A Paradigm Shift that Works. He is also author of Déjà Vu Revisited, Déjà Vu: A Second Look, Déjà Vu: Glossary and Library, Cry the Beloved Mind: A Voyage of Hope, and Innovative Psychopharmacotherapy. His professional publications number over 700. Dr Neppe has amplified many of his concepts in two of the websites linked with his work. On www.Brainvoyage.com, his books are amplified. www.VernonNeppe.org is his gateway and includes more information on the Neppe-Close model of the Triadic Distinction Vortical Paradigm.

Here, Dr. Neppe describes his work with Dr. Close in developing a new paradigm that could account for consciousness and psi phenomena within a mathematical and physical framework. His approach is one in which space, time, and consciousness are tethered together. He calls this unified monism. His model also entails nine mathematical dimensions.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series.

(Recorded on April 17, 2016)

Paul H. Smith, PhD, serves as president of the International Remote Viewing Association an organization of which he is a founder. A former Army intelligence officer, he served for seven years as part of the military’s top-secret remote viewing program. He is author of Reading the Enemy’s Mind and The Essential Guide to Remote Viewing. He currently serves as president and chief trainer for Remote Viewing Instructional Services.

Here he notes that physicalism is the current term for what was once known as materialism. It has somewhat broader implications, so that it includes phenomena that have originated in the physical world. It is a metaphysical philosophy and can be thought of as the dominant paradigm within the scientific and academic communities. Smith raises the question of whether physicalism will be able to accommodate all of the empirical observations that have been reported in the parapsychological literature over the past 150 years. Until an explanation has been offered for these phenomena, they are likely to remain on the fringes of mainstream thought.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980).

(Recorded June 15, 2016) 

Vernon Neppe, MD, PhD, FRSSAf, is a neuropsychiatrist and head of the Pacific Neuropsychiatric Institute in Seattle. He is author, with physicist Edward Close, of Reality Begins with Consciousness: A Paradigm Shift that Works. He is also author of Déjà Vu Revisited, Déjà Vu: A Second Look, Déjà Vu: Glossary and Library, Cry the Beloved Mind: A Voyage of Hope, and Innovative Psychopharmacotherapy. His professional publications number over 700. Dr Neppe has amplified many of his concepts in two of the websites linked with his work. On www.Brainvoyage.com, his books are amplified. www.VernonNeppe.org is his gateway and includes more information on the Neppe-Close model of the Triadic Distinction Vortical Paradigm.

Here, Dr. Neppe describes his criteria for a theory that can explain consciousness in terms of modern science. He challenges the skeptical, or naturalist, position that the a priori probability of psychic phenomena is close to zero. Instead, he maintains that a true theory of everything must include what parapsychologists call psi. He also claims that theories of consciousness must include the infinite. He draws upon infinity as a way of resolving the incompleteness theorem of Kurt Friedrich Gödel. He also differentiates between feasibility and falsification regarding theories of everything.

(Recorded on April 17, 2016) 

Edwin C. May, PhD, was involved in the military intelligence psychic spying program, popularly referred to as Stargate, for over twenty years. During the last decade, he was the director of research for that program. In this context, he produced over a hundred scientific publications. His academic training was in experimental nuclear physics. He is coauthor of ESP Wars: East and West and also Anomalous Cognition: Remote Viewing Research and Theory. He is the coeditor of a two volume anthology titled Extrasensory Perception: Support, Skepticism, and Science.

Here he maintains that the materialist or physicalist position regarding the mind-body problem could, in principle, be falsified – if evidence for post-mortem survival or reincarnation can be produced that significantly overcomes the alternative explanation of living agent psi. He points out that the dualist position suffers from the problem of explaining how anything non-material can interact with the brain. Even physical particles such as neutrinos do not interact with the brain at all. As something of a digression, he explains how research on Decision Augmentation Theory has shown that purported experiments on micro-PK actually offer evidence of precognition.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980).

(Recorded on June 17, 2016) 

Charles T. Tart, PhD, is emeritus professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, as well as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. He is a past-president of the Parapsychological Association. He has published over 100 scientific papers in parapsychology. He is editor of several anthologies including Altered States of Consciousness, Transpersonal Psychologies, Mind at Large, and Body Mind Spirit: Exploring the Parapsychology of Spirituality. Books that he has authored include Psi: Scientific Studies in the Psychic Realm, States of Consciousness, The End of Materialism, Learning to Use Extrasensory Perception, On Being Stoned, Waking Up, and Open Mind – Discriminating Mind.

Here he observes that, in previous generations, people suspected of using psi abilities for harmful purposes (i.e., witches) were burned at the stake. Fear of psi is akin to religious fear of the devil. It is also akin to what scoffers refer to as their fear of the “rising tide of superstition”. Many in academia fear that, if their interest in parapsychology were to become public, their colleagues would view them with disdain. This can affect research funding and tenure; it is a legitimate fear. Others who experience psi sometimes express the fear that they might be going insane; or that they will become overwhelmed by unwanted psi-related imagery.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is past-vice-president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology, and is the recipient of the Pathfinder Award from that association for his contributions to the study of consciousness. He is also past-president of the non-profit Intuition Network, an organization dedicated to creating a world in which all people are encouraged to cultivate and apply their inner, intuitive abilities.

(Recorded on November 9, 2016) 

Charles T. Tart, PhD, is emeritus professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, as well as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. He is a past-president of the Parapsychological Association. He has published over 100 scientific papers in parapsychology. He is editor of several anthologies including Altered States of Consciousness, Transpersonal Psychologies, Mind at Large, and Body Mind Spirit: Exploring the Parapsychology of Spirituality. Books that he has authored include Psi: Scientific Studies in the Psychic Realm, States of Consciousness, The End of Materialism, Learning to Use Extrasensory Perception, On Being Stoned, Waking Up, and Open Mind – Discriminating Mind.

Here he discusses the events that took place during his year long work as a consultant to the remote viewing program of Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ at SRI International, funded by the U.S. military intelligence community. He describes the unique psychological conditions at SRI that seemed to be extremely conducive to psi functioning. He notes that judging remote viewing transcripts is just as important as the viewing itself; and he offers details regarding different judging protocols. He also points out the care to which the researchers took to improve their work when methodological criticisms were offered.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in "parapsychology" ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is past-vice-president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology, and is the recipient of the Pathfinder Award from that association for his contributions to the study of consciousness. He is also past-president of the non-profit Intuition Network, an organization dedicated to creating a world in which all people are encouraged to cultivate and apply their inner, intuitive abilities.

(Recorded on November 9, 2016)