In ancient times, says Leonard Shlain, human societies universally worshipped the image of a goddess. Sometime about 5,000 years ago a massive shift occurred in which the gender of the diety changed. He presents his hypothesis that this change is related to the introduction of the alphabet and its effects upon the human brain. He [...]

Human beings are capable of extraordinary transformations that often go unrecognized in contemporary thought. Michael Murphy summarizes scientific efforts to document extraordinary human capabilities. He draws upon research in hypnosis, parapsychology, and biofeedback as well as medical accounts of the placebo effect and the uncanny remission of disease. Murphy suggests that programs of transformative training [...]

Here he focuses on the life and work of one of the most widely read and influential American writers. He expands on the mythological motifs behind Steinbeck’s social critiques.

Here she describes her decades of work with conscious intention and subtle energy, and its relationship to the out-of-body experience as well as other forms of nonlocal consciousness.

When the guru teaches, says Joseph Chilton Pearce, he does so not through the intellect but by opening the heart to spiritual experience. Pearce was a devotee of Siddha Yoga as taught by Swami Muktananda and his successor Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. He compares the guru-disciple relationship to the bonding relationship which occurs between parent and child.

Here he shares his interest in establishing empirical evidence for the existence of the afterlife, and its implications.

Here he compares Janet’s discoveries concerning dissociation with the insights of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.