Authors of the Impossible

1. The Paranormal as a Meaningful Narrative

The literature of fantasy and the fantastic, especially in science fiction, is much in demand, but we still do not know its intimate relationship with the different occult traditions.

Paranormal events are not isolated incidents. They are embedded within larger cultural narratives and belief systems. Understanding these narratives is crucial to interpreting the meaning and significance of paranormal experiences. The success of science fiction, fantasy, and related genres points to a deep cultural fascination with the impossible.

Occulture shapes our understanding. Western culture has a hidden, often rejected underbelly of esoteric beliefs and practices. This "occulture" influences popular culture and provides a framework for understanding the paranormal. The paranormal is not just about strange events; it's about how we make sense of them through stories and cultural lenses.

The fantastic as a key to the paranormal. Fantastic literature, with its blend of the real and the unreal, offers a unique lens for exploring the paranormal. The fantastic narrative of Western occulture provides a framework for understanding the paranormal as a living story or mythology.

2. The Psychical: Science and the Sacred Intertwined

I believe that we live after earthly death; and that some of those who read these posthumous confidences may be among my companions in an unseen world.

The psychical bridges science and religion. The psychical represents the sacred in transit from traditional religious frameworks into modern scientific ones. It seeks to explore spiritual questions through empirical observation and rational inquiry. The terms "psychic" and "psychical" have elite intellectual roots, born in the professional academy.

Psychical research seeks objective proof. Unlike traditional religion, psychical research emphasizes evidence and experimentation over belief and dogma. It aims to uncover the underlying laws governing paranormal phenomena. The Society for Psychical Research (S.P.R.) was founded to investigate claims of telepathy, clairvoyance, and other extraordinary abilities.

The paranormal challenges conventional boundaries. Paranormal phenomena blur the lines between the subjective and objective, the material and immaterial. They force us to reconsider the limitations of our current scientific worldview. The study of the paranormal requires a willingness to embrace uncertainty and explore the unknown.

3. Frederic Myers: Charting the Subliminal Depths

My history has been that of a soul struggling into the conviction of its own existence.

The human personality is a spectrum. Myers proposed that the human personality operates on two levels: the supraliminal (conscious) and the subliminal (unconscious). The subliminal Self holds untapped potential and can manifest in altered states of consciousness. Myers's model challenges the notion of a fixed, unified self.

Telepathy connects minds. Myers coined the term "telepathy" to describe the communication of impressions from one mind to another, independent of the senses. He believed telepathy was a fundamental force in the universe, linking all minds together. Myers saw telepathy as a key to understanding the survival of consciousness after death.

The book as séance. Myers viewed writing as a form of telepathic communication, a way to connect with readers across time and space. He believed that books could act as a medium for transmitting thoughts and emotions, even after the author's death. Myers's work aimed to create a "progressive immortality" through the written word.

4. Charles Fort: Damned Data and Cosmic Pranks

All things cut an umbilical cord only to clutch a breast.

Collect the data of the damned. Fort challenged conventional science by collecting and classifying anomalies, data that had been excluded or ignored by mainstream researchers. He sought to uncover hidden patterns and connections in the seemingly random events of the world. Fort's method involved a radical form of empiricism, embracing the strange and the unexplained.

The world is a cosmic joke. Fort's writing is characterized by a mischievous sense of humor and a playful skepticism. He saw the universe as a vast, absurd stage, where the rules were constantly changing and nothing could be taken too seriously. Fort used humor to challenge authority and expose the limitations of human knowledge.

We are property. Fort proposed a dark mythology of galactic colonialism, suggesting that humanity is owned or controlled by unseen forces. He saw evidence of this control in the strange and often absurd events that defy explanation. Fort's vision of a controlled world challenges our notions of free will and autonomy.

5. Jacques Vallee: From Folklore to Future Technology

If it were possible to make three-dimensional holograms with mass, and to project them through time I would say this is what the farmer saw.

UFOs as a modern mythology. Vallee argues that the UFO phenomenon is not simply about extraterrestrial visitors, but a complex cultural phenomenon with deep roots in folklore and mythology. He sees parallels between UFO encounters and traditional stories of fairies, demons, and other supernatural beings. Vallee's approach emphasizes the symbolic and psychological dimensions of the UFO phenomenon.

The control system hypothesis. Vallee proposes that UFOs may be part of a larger "control system" designed to influence human belief systems and shape our understanding of reality. This control system may be operated by forces beyond our comprehension. Vallee's hypothesis challenges the notion of a purely objective, external reality.

The hermeneutics of light. Vallee sees the UFO phenomenon as a form of communication, a way for unseen forces to interact with human consciousness. He emphasizes the importance of interpretation and understanding the symbolic language of the UFO encounter. Vallee's work calls for a new approach to the paranormal, one that combines scientific rigor with a deep appreciation for the power of myth and symbol.

6. Bertrand Méheust: The Sociology of the Impossible

No culture is able to achieve the integral fullness of the real, nor can any develop all the potentialities of the human being, for the latter is always in excess of itself.

The human sciences must return to consciousness. Méheust argues that the humanities have become overly focused on social and cultural constructs, neglecting the fundamental role of consciousness. He calls for a return to the study of subjective experience and the exploration of human potential. Méheust's work seeks to bridge the gap between the humanities and the sciences.

To describe is to construct. Méheust proposes that our descriptions of reality shape our experience of it. The categories and concepts we use to understand the world can both enable and limit our perception. Méheust's concept challenges the notion of a fixed, objective reality.

The forgetting of magnetism. Méheust traces the history of animal magnetism and psychical research, showing how these once-prominent fields were marginalized and forgotten by mainstream science. He argues that this forgetting represents a loss of valuable knowledge about the nature of consciousness. Méheust's historical analysis reveals the cultural forces that shape our understanding of the paranormal.

7. The Power and Peril of Belief Systems

All things cut an umbilical cord only to clutch a breast.

Belief systems shape reality. Our beliefs, whether religious, scientific, or cultural, influence our perception of the world and our experience of the paranormal. These beliefs can both empower and limit us. The power of belief is a double-edged sword.

The dangers of dogmatism. Dogmatic adherence to any particular belief system can blind us to alternative perspectives and limit our understanding of the paranormal. Open-mindedness and critical thinking are essential for exploring the unknown. Dogmatic belief systems can lead to intolerance and violence.

The need for liberating confusions. The pursuit of knowledge requires a willingness to embrace uncertainty and challenge our own assumptions. Liberating confusions can lead to new insights and a deeper understanding of the paranormal. The paranormal mocks and shocks us out of our present normal thinking.

8. The Fantastic Structure of the Mind-Brain

My theory is that the Supernatural is the Impossible, and that what is called supernatural is only a something in the laws of nature of which we have been hitherto ignorant.

The mind-brain as a filter. The brain may not be the source of consciousness, but rather a filter or reducing valve that limits and shapes our perception of reality. This perspective challenges the materialist view of the mind as solely a product of the brain. The brain is an arrangement of matter expressly adapted to being acted upon by a spirit.

The human as two. The human personality operates on two levels: the conscious and the unconscious (or subliminal). The unconscious holds untapped potential and can manifest in altered states of consciousness. The human being can be thought of as a living musical instrument born into the world capable of playing any tune, any language, any belief system.

The importance of interpretation. Paranormal phenomena are not simply physical events, but also meaning events. They function as signs or symbols that require interpretation. The paranormal demands interpretation and makes any attempt to interpret such events literally look foolish and silly.

9. The Ongoing Quest for Meaning and Connection

We should never forget how utterly unsophisticated the tenets of eighteenth-century rationalism have left us, believers and unbelievers alike, in that complex arena we blithely dub “spiritual.”

The search for a new synthesis. The study of the paranormal represents an attempt to integrate science and spirituality, reason and intuition. It seeks to find a new understanding of the human condition that transcends the limitations of both materialism and dogmatic religion. The paranormal appears in that space where the humanities and the sciences meet beyond both.

The authorization of the impossible. By exploring the paranormal, we can expand our imaginative possibilities and challenge the boundaries of what we think is possible. The ability to imagine more is precisely what defines an "author of the impossible." The paranormal appears in order to mock and shock us out of our present normal thinking.

The importance of personal experience. Personal experiences of the paranormal can be transformative, leading to a profound shift in worldview. These experiences can challenge our assumptions about reality and open us up to new possibilities. The paranormal is not just an intellectual pursuit, but a deeply personal one.

Last updated: April 21, 2025