In April 2026, James G Matlock took over from Robert McLuhan as General Editor of the Psi Encyclopedia (PE). Matlock is joined by a team: Associate Editors Nemo Mörck, KM Wehrstein, Melvyn Willin and Nancy Zingrone and Staff Writers Courtney Block and Roberto R Narváez, supported by Software Consultant Hugh Matlock.
Besides writing extensively for the PE, Matlock and Wehrstein have supported McLuhan in editorial roles in recent years. Mörck is book review editor for the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research and Willin is archivist of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR), the PE’s sponsor. Zingrone has a background in experimental parapsychology, a doctoral degree in history, and experience in education and public outreach in parapsychology. Block is an academic librarian who has authored an encyclopedia of parapsychology and a directory to reference works in the field. Narváez, whose academic training is in philosophy as well as history, continues in the role he had under McLuhan. Hugh Matlock brings fifty years of experience in software development, the last thirty years on web sites, including WordPress.
Our team will continue to develop the PE according to McLuhan’s vision: We aspire to make it a comprehensive introduction to and overview of the academic parapsychology, which until the 1930s was better known as psychical research. Academic parapsychology has two major branches – laboratory-based experimental research and field-based case studies. The former branch ranges from tests of extra-sensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK) to remote viewing and distant healing. The latter branch has several sub-branches, including ‘spontaneous cases’ of ESP; ghosts and hauntings; poltergeists; mediumistic communications; past-life memories and other phenomena suggestive of reincarnation. The common denominator linking these diverse areas is consciousness, conceived of as something independent of the brain and therefore potentially able to survive the body’s demise, hence their treatment together under the heading of psychic (or psi) phenomena.
Parapsychology got its start in the late nineteenth century with the formation of the SPR and has become a world-wide enterprise. The PE seeks to cover parapsychological topics in cross-cultural breadth and historical depth, in a way that is in keeping with the academic orientation of the field but is accessible to a wide audience.
To expand our online presence, we are establishing a page on Facebook, where we will be sharing this biweekly blog and new articles as they are published, generally two or three times per week. We will continue with the feeds already established on X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky and Instagram.
We are also initiating a fundraising appeal, to support the PE over the long term. As described on our About page, the PE was created under a sizeable bequest to the SPR from Nigel Buckmaster, but as that fund is drawn down it becomes necessary to augment it with new funds if we are going to continue to grow. We have several ways you can contribute, as described on our Donate and Supporters pages: You can provide a small amount monthly or larger sums on a one-time or annual basis. We appreciate any amount you can spare.
We are pleased and honoured to take on the work of continuing, refining and growing the Psi Encyclopedia for the benefit of all who are interested in parapsychology and the crucial human questions it strives to answer. Thank you for your interest and support. May the Psi Encyclopedia serve you well!