Mind & Body
This category contains articles that treat consciousness in relation to the body. Major topics covered include healing and psychotherapy; dreams and dreaming; and out-of-body experiences, end-of-life experiences, and near-death experiences, all of which suggest that consciousness may have an existence independent of the physical body.
‘The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven’ (recanted NDE)
Best-selling American book describing the supposed NDE of a 6-year-old child.
‘The Phenomena of Astral Projection’ (1951)
Classic study of OBEs, described in the context of the occult idea of 'astral projection'.
Altered States of Consciousness and Psi
Altered states of consciousness have long been known to be associated with psi experiences.
Apollonius of Tyana
Itinerant first-century preacher and healer reputed to have performed miracles and supernatural feats.
Arigo
Brazilian celebrated for making diagnoses, prescriptions, even surgery, while possessed by ‘spirit doctors’ in a trance state.
AWARE NDE Studies
AWARE and AWARE II were large-scale studies testing for veridical perceptions recalled by hospital patients during NDEs.
Alexander Batthyány
Austrian philosopher, cognitive scientist and researcher concerned with phenomena surrounding death and dying.
William Bengston
American sociologist and practitioner of ‘energy healing’ (1950–2025) who engaged in successful laboratory tests.
The Brain and Psi
Describes how electroencephalography (EEG) and brain imaging technology are being used to demonstrate psychic functioning.
William Braud
American experimental parapsychologist (1942–2012), pioneer of study of distant mental influence on living systems (DMILS).
Edgar Cayce
American psychic famous for trance readings in which he diagnosed the cause of medical symptoms and prescribed effective remedies.
Christine Beauchamp
Noted case of multiple personality disorder reported by American psychologist Morton Prince in 1906.
Clinical Parapsychology
Therapeutic approach that aims to provide support for people disturbed by anomalous event experiences.
Robert Crookall
English geologist (1890-1981) who promoted out-of-body experiences as evidence of ‘astral projection’ and postmortem survival.
Deathbed Visions Research
Describes research into the phenomenon of deathbed visions by psi investigators Karlis Osis and Erlendur Haraldsson.
Distressing Near-Death Experience
Although most reported near-death experiences (NDEs) are pleasant, almost one in five are disturbing.
Does Something Leave the Body During OBEs?
Discusses early ‘projection’ theories of the out-of-body experience.
Doris Fischer
Notable early 20th century American case of dissociative identity disorder, described by Walter Franklin Prince, who helped cure her.
Dream ESP Reports (list)
Summaries of reports, surveys and analyses of dream ESP in the SPR archives from 1889 to 1998.
Dream Incubation
Dream incubation is the modern term applied to dreaming for purposes of problem solving, healing and divination.
Dreams and ESP
This article describes the experience and study of ESP in dreams, notably of telepathic interactions and precognitions of future events.
Eben Alexander
Near-death experience described by an American neurosurgeon that attracted media attention and controversy.
Harry Edwards
Celebrated British spiritual healer of the mid-20th century, who engaged in vigorous controversy with religious and medical critics.
Oskar Estebany
Twentieth-century Hungarian-Canadian psychic healer whose abilities were demonstrated in successful laboratory experiments.
Peter Fenwick
British neuropsychiatrist and neurophysiologist (1935–2024), leading authority on near-death and end-of-life experiences.
Bernard Grad
Canadian biologist and cancer researcher (1920–2010) who pioneered laboratory studies of ‘laying-on-of-hands’ or spiritual healing.
Bruce Greyson
American psychiatrist at the University of Virginia who is the world's leading authority on near-death experiences.
Healing at a Distance (DMILS Research)
Since the 1980s, parapsychologists have studied distant mental interactions with living systems.
Induced After-Death Communication (IADC) Therapy
Therapy thought to bring relief by facilitating visions of deceased loved ones.
Hideyuki Kokubo
Japanese researcher known for work on bio-PK (non-contact healing and energy therapies such as Reiki and Johrei).
Lourdes Cures
Healing powers attributed to the shrine of Lourdes are said to have brought about cures for many debilitating diseases.
Lucid Dreaming
This article surveys research on dreams in which the dreamer is aware of being in a dream and sometimes can control the dream.
Maimonides Dream Telepathy Research
This article describes ESP dreaming experiments carried out in a New York sleep laboratory.
Matthew Manning
British man, the focus of poltergeist activity in his teens, later known for his metal-bending, psychic activities, and healing.
James F McHarg
Scottish psychiatrist and medical historian (1917–2003) who studied the kinds of psychic experiences reported by his patients.
Medieval Near-Death Experiences
Episodes described in Medieval writings are both similar to and different from modern accounts.
TW Mitchell
TW Mitchell (1869–1944) was a medical psychologist and psychotherapist interested in multiple personality disorder.
Sylvan J Muldoon
American who wrote about his out-of-body experiences, which occurred throughout his life, and which he was able to control.
Near-Death Experience (Overview)
This article describes anomalous mental events reported by people who have survived a near-fatal accident or illness.
Near-Death Experience – Paranormal Aspects
List of NDEs with confirmed clairvoyance and other paranormality.
Neo-Mesmeric Movement
Modern version of early hypnotism, or animal magnetism, which attributed trance states to physical agents.
Neuroimaging and Psi
Recent advances in brain imaging technology have been exploited in several lines of psi research.
Out-of-Body Experience (OBE)
Reviews research on OBEs, the sense of having separated from the body and of viewing it from the outside.
Pam Reynolds (Near-Death Experience)
This near-death experience of an American woman is regarded as especially significant.
Phenomena Related to Danger, Death, and Bereavement
Anomalous mental phenomena may be triggered by emotional crises.
Psi Healing Research
This article assesses the quality and outcomes of research into various forms of complementary and alternative medicine.
Psychedelics and Psi
A gradual easing of restrictions means that psi research with psychedelics, once prevalent, could soon resume.
Psychoanalysis and Psi
Psychoanalysts have often reported instances of psi occurring between patient and practitioner.
Psychomanteum (Mirror-Gazing)
Describes explorations by Raymond Moody with a mirror-gazing technique for therapeutic purposes.
Thomas Rabeyron
French clinical psychologist whose psi research has included the study of precognition and presentiment effects.
Religious Levitation
Reports of individuals being seen, spontaneously and involuntarily, to rise into the air and remain suspended
Kenneth Ring
Retired American psychologist who is one the leading investigators of near-death experiences, about which he has written extensively.
Marilyn Schlitz
American social anthropologist and psi researcher, studying distant intentionality, healing and special gifted populations.
Spirit Release Therapy
Clinical treatment used with patients who appear to be ‘possessed’ by harmful spirit entities.
Alex Tanous
Alex Tanous (1926–1990) was a noted New England psychic and parapsychologist, who contributed to out-of-body research.
Terminal Lucidity
Persons with long-term dementia and other severe neurological disorders may return to mental clarity shortly before dying.
Thoughtforms
Describes the concept of an entity created directly and exclusively by the mind, whether unconsciously or consciously.
Robert Van de Castle
Robert Van de Castle (1927–2014) was an American psychologist specializing in dreams who also was active in parapsychology