Supernatural

1. The Universe is Stranger Than Conventional Science Admits

This book is full of flocks of white crows.

Beyond the ordinary. The author's journey from scientific rationalism to exploring the paranormal began with a sense that the world is far more complex and mysterious than conventional science acknowledges. Events like precognitive dreams, inexplicable physical phenomena, and altered states of consciousness suggest a reality that defies simple materialistic explanations. The success of books like The Morning of the Magicians highlighted a widespread public intuition that the unexplained is not necessarily the unreal.

Skepticism vs. Openness. The scientific establishment, often represented by groups like CSICOP, tends towards hard-line skepticism, dismissing paranormal claims as fraud or delusion. However, the author argues that true scientific inquiry requires an open mind, willing to investigate phenomena even if they contradict existing paradigms. Just as finding one white crow disproves the law that all crows are black, a single well-authenticated paranormal event challenges the notion that such phenomena cannot exist.

Personal experiences. The author's own shift in perspective was influenced by compelling anecdotes from credible sources, such as Osbert Sitwell's story of palms predicting death or Charles Dickens's dream of meeting a stranger who introduced herself by name just hours later. These instances, while seemingly minor, pointed towards abilities and connections that science struggled to explain, suggesting that human perception and the fabric of reality are far richer than commonly assumed.

2. Humans Possess Hidden, Untapped Powers of Mind

Human beings possess strange powers of which they are normally unaware.

Latent potential. The author posits that humans are on the verge of an evolutionary breakthrough, possessing dormant mental powers that are glimpses of a higher stage of development. These powers are often glimpsed during moments of intense emotion, creativity, or altered states of consciousness, suggesting they are not supernatural but rather inherent human capacities. The challenge lies in consciously accessing and controlling these abilities.

The 'Robot' within. Everyday consciousness is often dominated by a 'robot' – an automatic, habit-driven part of the mind that handles routine tasks but also dulls our perception and inhibits deeper awareness. This robotic state prevents us from fully experiencing the richness of reality and accessing our hidden potential. Overcoming this automatic pilot is key to unlocking extraordinary abilities.

Glimpses of power. Experiences like Richard Church's sensation of floating after a moment of profound insight, or the documented cases of individuals appearing in two places at once (doppelgangers), suggest that the limitations of space and time are not absolute for the human mind. These 'white crows' of the paranormal hint at a capacity to transcend physical constraints, pointing towards a future where humans might consciously wield such powers.

3. Hypnosis Unlocks the Subjective Mind's Extraordinary Abilities

Puységur had virtually demonstrated ‘magic’ in public.

Beyond suggestion. The work of Franz Anton Mesmer and his disciple Marquis de Puységur revealed the profound influence of the mind on the body and the existence of a 'subjective mind' with remarkable powers. Puységur's discovery of hypnosis (somnambulism) showed that subjects could obey mental commands, read minds, and exhibit heightened perception, suggesting a telepathic connection or 'will-beam' between individuals.

The two selves. Thomson Jay Hudson's theory of the 'objective' and 'subjective' minds provides a framework for understanding these abilities. The objective mind is our conscious, logical self, while the subjective mind is intuitive, controls bodily functions, and possesses latent psychic powers. Hypnosis, by quieting the objective mind, allows the subjective mind to operate more freely, revealing its hidden capacities.

Controversial implications. Cases like the 'Wicked Magician Thimotheus' and the Heidelberg case suggest that hypnosis can be induced against someone's will and used to compel actions they would not normally perform, challenging the conventional scientific view that hypnosis is merely suggestion. These instances, though controversial, underscore the potent and often misunderstood power of the subjective mind and its susceptibility to external influence.

4. Psychometry Hints at Time's Mysteries

The Past is entombed in the Present!

Reading objects. Joseph Rodes Buchanan's discovery of 'psychometry' suggested that objects retain a record of their history, accessible to sensitive individuals. By holding an object, psychometrists could gain impressions of past events, people, and places associated with it, as demonstrated by Pascal Forthuny's reading of Henri Landru's letter or Buchanan's subjects sensing the character of letter writers.

A telescope into the past. William Denton, inspired by Buchanan, conducted extensive experiments with geological specimens and artifacts. His wife and sister, acting as psychometrists, provided detailed descriptions of prehistoric landscapes, ancient civilizations like Pompeii, and historical events, often describing details unknown to Denton himself. This suggested that the 'record' was not merely telepathic but inherent in the object itself, like a 'daguerreotype' of the past.

Eidetic vision and memory. Denton linked psychometry to 'eidetic imagery' (photographic memory) and the brain's ability to store detailed sensory information. This suggests that the capacity to 'see' the past might be a heightened form of memory or perception, where the mind accesses information recorded not just in the brain but potentially in the environment or objects themselves, hinting at a deeper connection between consciousness and the fabric of time and space.

5. Spiritualism Brought Paranormal Phenomena to Public Attention

For whatever reason, the Fox sisters began a Spiritualist explosion.

The Hydesville raps. The inexplicable rapping noises in the Fox family home in 1848 marked the beginning of the modern Spiritualist movement. These phenomena, initially poltergeist-like, evolved into communications attributed to spirits of the dead, sparking widespread public interest and leading to the emergence of numerous mediums and psychic phenomena across America and Europe.

Variety of phenomena. Spiritualism encompassed a wide range of manifestations, including:

• Table tipping and movements
• Raps and knocks
• Apports (objects appearing or disappearing)
• Materializations (spirits appearing physically)
• Automatic writing and trance speaking
• Psychic healing

Scientific investigation. The rise of Spiritualism prompted the formation of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) in 1882, dedicated to scientifically investigating these claims. Despite numerous exposures of fraudulent mediums, the SPR documented thousands of cases of telepathy, clairvoyance, apparitions, and poltergeists that defied simple explanation, accumulating a vast body of evidence for paranormal phenomena.

6. Poltergeists Are Real, Mischievous, and Often Tied to People

What is a poltergeist? It is a ‘spirit’ that seems to specialise in mischievous tricks...

Noisy disturbances. Poltergeists, or 'noisy ghosts,' are characterized by physical disturbances like raps, bangs, objects moving or flying, and sometimes spontaneous fires or water appearances. Historical cases like the Drummer of Tedworth and the Epworth poltergeist, and later ones like the Bell Witch and the Great Amherst Mystery, provide detailed accounts of these often prolonged and disruptive phenomena.

Focus on individuals. A key observation in poltergeist cases is their frequent association with a specific person, often an adolescent girl, who seems to be the 'focus' or source of the energy. This led to theories linking poltergeists to the unconscious mind and 'recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis' (RSPK), suggesting that psychological tension or energy from the individual somehow causes the physical effects.

Beyond psychology. However, some cases challenge purely psychological explanations. The Bell Witch exhibited apparent malice and even caused death, while the Enfield poltergeist displayed intelligence, communicated through voices, and performed feats of strength and teleportation that seem beyond known human psychokinesis. The possibility that these phenomena involve external entities, perhaps 'earthbound spirits' or 'elementals,' remains a compelling, though controversial, explanation.

7. Possession May Involve External Entities, Not Just Psychology

The classic modern book on the subject... takes... a totally sceptical view: Oesterreich dismisses the ‘spirit’ explanation, insisting that possession is always a case of hysteria or mental illness.

Beyond hysteria. While conventional psychology views possession as a form of mental illness or hysteria, historical and modern cases suggest a more complex reality. Accounts like the 'Devils of Loudun,' where exorcists themselves became afflicted, or the 'Watseka Wonder,' where a girl's body was seemingly inhabited by the spirit of a deceased person with detailed knowledge of their life, challenge purely psychological explanations.

Earthbound spirits. The theory of 'earthbound spirits,' proposed by figures like Allan Kardec and Carl Wickland, suggests that some spirits, particularly those who died suddenly or unprepared, remain attached to the material world and may 'possess' vulnerable living individuals. These spirits, often unaware they are dead, can influence thoughts, actions, and even cause physical symptoms, sometimes seeking to relive earthly experiences through their host.

Modern perspectives. Contemporary psychiatrists like Adam Crabtree, while initially skeptical, have found that treating cases 'as if' they involve possession can be therapeutically effective. Cases where 'possessing' personalities reveal verifiable information unknown to the patient, or where they exhibit distinct characteristics and motivations, lend credence to the idea that these are not merely fragments of the host's psyche but potentially external entities.

8. Witchcraft Has Roots in Ancient Practices and Spirit Contact

What is the truth about witchcraft?

Ancient origins. Witchcraft, far from being mere superstition, has deep roots in ancient pagan religions and fertility cults, predating Christianity. Early witches were often priestesses connected to nature worship, particularly the moon goddess. This 'Old Religion' survived in various forms, often blending with local folklore and practices.

Persecution and distortion. The Christian Church, particularly during the Inquisition and the Reformation, demonized these practices, associating them with the Devil and heresy. The resulting witch trials, fueled by fear, torture, and financial motives, led to the execution of thousands, distorting the image of the witch into a malevolent figure in league with Satan.

Real magic and spirits. Despite the hysteria, evidence suggests that some individuals practiced forms of magic involving contact with spirits. Accounts from African witch doctors, historical confessions (even under duress), and modern occult practices hint at the possibility of invoking or interacting with non-human entities for various purposes, both benevolent and malevolent, suggesting a reality behind the legends of pacts with demons and supernatural powers.

9. Magicians Seek Mastery Over Hidden Forces, Often at Great Cost

Of all the great charlatan-magicians, Cagliostro is the most tragic.

Will to power. The history of magic is filled with figures like Simon Magus, Faust, Agrippa, and Crowley, who sought not only knowledge but also personal power and fame through the manipulation of hidden forces. This ambition often led to conflict, downfall, and a blurring of the lines between genuine ability and charlatanism.

Techniques and theories. Magicians explored various methods to access and control these forces, including:

• Study of mystical systems like the Cabala
• Rituals and invocations
• Hypnosis and thought pressure
• Astral projection
• Sex magic

Ambiguous legacy. While many famous magicians were undoubtedly flawed individuals who resorted to deception, their lives and writings often contain accounts of genuine paranormal phenomena and profound insights into the nature of consciousness and reality. Figures like Eliphas Lévi and Dion Fortune attempted to synthesize ancient traditions with modern understanding, leaving behind a complex legacy that continues to influence occult practices today.

10. Time Anomalies Challenge Our Reality

Time is essentially mental travel from the cradle to the grave.

Beyond linear time. Experiences like the Versailles 'time slip,' precognitive dreams (Dunne, Goddard, Fairley), and psychometric visions challenge the conventional understanding of time as a linear, irreversible progression. These anomalies suggest that the past may not be entirely gone and the future may, in some sense, already exist or be accessible to consciousness.

Consciousness and time. The author posits that our perception of time is a function of the 'left brain,' while the 'right brain' may operate outside of these temporal constraints. Heightened states of consciousness, intuition, or 'Faculty X' seem to offer glimpses into this non-temporal reality, suggesting that our minds are not as bound by time as our physical bodies.

Predetermination vs. Free Will. The existence of precognition raises questions about fate and free will. While some premonitions seem to predict an unchangeable future, others appear to serve as warnings that allow individuals to alter the course of events, suggesting a complex interplay between potential futures and conscious choice, perhaps influenced by the probabilistic nature of reality suggested by chaos theory.

11. Elementals and Other Strange Entities May Inhabit Our World

The notion of vampirism that begins to emerge from all this is simple and (provided one can accept the notion of ‘earthbound spirits’) plausible.

Nature spirits. Folklore across cultures describes various non-human entities like fairies, gnomes, and nymphs, often associated with specific natural locations or elements. While often dismissed as myth, accounts from psychics and individuals in altered states suggest these may be 'elementals' or nature spirits, perhaps perceived through heightened sensitivity to environmental energies or fields.

Vampires and werewolves. Legends of vampires and werewolves, though sensationalized, may also have a basis in reality, understood through the lens of 'possession' and 'earthbound spirits.' Historical accounts of 'revenants' and 'sanguisugae' describe entities that drain vitality or cause physical harm, behaving more like poltergeists or possessive spirits than blood-drinking corpses, suggesting a connection to 'hungry ghosts' or low-level entities seeking energy or experience from the living.

Psychic invasion. Experiences of 'incubus' and 'succubus' attacks, as described by Stan Gooch and others, further support the idea of psychic invasion by non-human entities, often occurring in hypnagogic states. These encounters, while sometimes interpreted psychologically, align with descriptions of 'lower order' spirits or elementals seeking interaction or energy from humans, particularly those who are psychically sensitive or in vulnerable states.

Last updated: July 8, 2025