This file was originally posted on the KeelyNet BBS message base and later as a file on November 16, 1993 as PSYCHMAN.ASC.
In watching the sorrow of the survivors and families of those lost in the recent terrorist mischiefs on September 11th, I thought it might be worth putting online as a means people might use to attempt to gain some kind of closure for those lost.
It is basically a soft comfortable chair like a bean bag chair, inside a darkroom created by using black material such as felt to enclose the space to prevent any outside light from entering. A mirror is also provided and if one is attempting to contact someone departed, some kind of link in the form of a personal effect, photograph or such is included as a 'witness' (to use a radionic term).
The subject is to sit in the chair, touch the witness sample and gaze in to the mirror in the total darkness and think about the person they are wanting to contact.
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Message 2690 DATE/TIME: 10/18/93 17:18
From : JERRY DECKER (SYSOP)
To : ALL
Subject: PsychoManteum
Folder : A, "Public Mail"
Hi Folks!
Don't know if you got a chance to see the Oprah Winfrey show
broadcast today, Monday 18th of October...at 4:PM on Channel 8?
She had Dr. Raymond Moody and 3 other folks who have been working
with "communicating with the dead"...I plan to write a file (this is
the first part!) on the particular techniques that are being used
extrapolated from a recording of the program but FOR NOW, I just
wanted to see who all might have seen it and if anyone had any
thoughts on it or would be willing to give it a try???
Basically, the ancient Greeks had a very dark room (no light
WHATSOEVER) which had a mirror that a person faced while sitting in
a comfortable chair. By getting into the correct frame of mind,
they claimed you could actually communicate with the departed.
Moody says there is some kind of preparation I would guess to get
you in the mood but some of the other people don't use that beyond a
mental idea of what they are trying to do and asking for "guidance".
So, the scoop is to devote small room (closet, etc) or build a box
large enough to place a chair and large mirror. The chair must be
very comfortable and the TV program showed the use of flat black
felt for the maximum blackout of any light. You are supposed to sit
back in the chair, look into the mirror and just wait or think of
who you want to contact (depending on which method you use, Moody's
or the other folks).
There were several theories as to what was really happening and some
such as Persinger's work that were not even mentioned, but it looks
like a low level sensory deprivation experiment...one subject
plugged her ears, so with that you have a lack of auditory AND
VISUAL stimulation which would allow the evocation of images that
could be perceived as real....
The main thrust was that no one described a negative experience and
all felt it was of benefit to them....an interesting show, this one.
I have done limited sensory deprivation for 1 hour and had no
bizarre experience PERIOD except for the electrical tone of my
muscles going away to the point that I could not move at all....and
this was not cured by the tingling that comes from restriction of
blood flow...it was in a water tank (600 pounds of epsom salt
dissolved in a coffin type container that prevented any light).
I understand such experiences should be done frequently for the best
benefit and to get the range of hallucinations that come with
sensory deprivation...in this case, I could hear...the temperature
by the way, was maintained at a constant 98 degrees...no light, no
cold, just sound so it did not qualify as a true sensory dep
experiment.
Anyway, this Psychomanteum thing is intriguing as it does not really
take any advanced equipment or cost an arm and a leg to experiment
with...hmmm, could we maybe do an orgone box while we're at it???
Wonder what that would conjure up, Reich maybe...???...>>> Jerry
...forgot to mention one of the primary reasons why this was SO
INTRIGUING... It might offer a means of enhancing creativity by
allowing the subject to call up someone like KEELY, TESLA, RUSSELL,
whoever or just to help pull in those loose thoughts that when
brought together show correlations and thus new perspectives....
Creativity and/or inspiration....now that could be of use...>>> JWD
