by William A. Tiller, Ph.D.
NOTE OF INTRODUCTION
Those Net surfers who have been keeping up with the chapters of THE BOOK
gradually accumulating in Section 2 of this database will already know that
Bill Tiller has honored me with his friendship since 1972. He has also been
a valued, and often needed, mentor regarding conventional and non-conventional
science matters.
After receiving his doctorate (1955) in physical metallurgy from the University
of Toronto, Dr. Tiller spent nine years at Westinghouse Research Laboratory
conducting theoretical and experimental investigations into the detailed
physics of the freezing processes of a wide range of materials. His work
in this area aided in increased knowledge of crystallization put to work
to generate many new processes for technological development.
He joined Stanford University (1964) as professor in the Department of Materials
Science and Engineering, and has been Emeritus Professor since 1992. During
this period, and continuing, he has been consultant to government and industry
in the fields of metallurgy and solid state physics. His fields of specialization
are crystal growth, surfaces and interfaces, physical metallurgy, semiconductor
processing, thin film formation and computer simulation.
He has published more than 250 scientific papers, three technical books
and has five patents issued. He was elected Fellow to the American Academy
for the Advancement of Science (1966), held a Guggenheim Fellowship (1970-71),
and was Distinguished Visiting Professor, School of Engineering, University
of Delaware (1981-82). In 1982, he received the Humanitarian of the Year
Award from the International New Thought Alliance of Churches, and in 1996
received the J. G. Gallimore Award For Innovative New Research from United
States Psychotronic Association (USPA).
Alongside his illustrious work in conventional science, Professor Tiller
has had a long-term interest in anomalous and exceptional energies, psychotronics,
Kirlian effects, healing, modes of consciousness and psychoenergetics. Within
a conceptual framework that incorporates all of conventional science, he
has devoted significant efforts to developing theoretical modeling to understand
this combined "subtle energy" class of seemingly strange phenomena.
He is currently devoting effort to the development of reliable instrumentation
for the detection and study of "subtle energy" fields in nature.
He has published over seventy papers regarding these novel efforts, and
one book in the psychoenergetics area. He is a Founding Director of the
Academy of Parapsychology and Medicine (California) and the Institute of
Noetic Sciences, is formerly a Director of the World Health Trust (England),
and Associate Editor of the JOURNAL OF HOLISTIC MEDICINE.
Many scientists and leading-edge thinkers recognize that Prof. Tiller's
work bridges the so-called conventional and non-conventional realms of scientific
inquiry, and that his work has opened up well-founded scientific criteria
for pursuit of inquiry into the latter. As he indicates, "What we can
see with our eyes comprises less than ten percent of the universe. The real
power sustaining the architecture of the ten percent is the energy contained
in the unseen ninety percent."
Prof. Tiller's forty years of research in subtle energies and psychoenergetics
has recently been brought together in his latest 1997 book SCIENCE AND HUMAN
TRANSFORMATION: SUBTLE ENERGIES, INTENTIONALITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS. (This
new book may be ordered from Pavior Publishing, 2910 Camino Diablo #100,
Walnut Creek, CA 94596, (501) 295-0786. Paper, 316 pgs., $24.95 + $5.00
s/h USA, $8.75 s/h Canada & Europe. CA residents add 8.25% Sales Tax
($2.06).)
Here, a scientific model of the Unseen is presented from many different
aspects, in both lay language and scientific mathematical presentation.
This new book is an outgrowth of his exploration of the intricate interrelationships
between the internal and external energy environments of nature and human
organisms.
His theoretical model postulates that nature expresses itself via many other
"subtle" dimensions than the physical and the simple cognitive
domain referred to as "space/time." Because of these other dimensions,
potentials of substance and radiations exist from these subtle domains for
enhanced interactions with the physical domain in ways that can significantly
add to our present knowledge.
I have pressed Bill Tiller to provide for this database a brief paper that
includes some of the basic concepts revealed by his research and the theoretical
paradigm emerging. So we are grateful to him for his kind permission to
reproduce his paper with the stipulation that copyright and all other rights
are reserved to him. For further information, please be directly in touch
with Prof. Tiller at the address included in the paper. (Ingo Swann)
SUBTLE ENERGY ACTIONS AND
PHYSICAL DOMAIN CORRELATIONS
CONSCIOUSNESS, INTENTIONALITY AND SUBTLE ENERGIES
William A. Tiller, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305-2205
TOPICAL AREA: Science, human transformation, subtle energies
KEY WORDS: Consciousness, intentionality, physical/subtle
domains
ABSTRACT
Results of three uniquely different experiments are provided, each providing
robust correlates of subtle energy events manifesting in the physical band
of reality. Taken together, the experiments support the postulate that subtle
energy signals not directly observable by physical means do create a transduced
signal at the magnetic vector potential field level of the physical realms.
Within the concepts of our standard electrodynamics, the transduction of
the subtle energy signals generates electric and magnetic signals that have
observable physical effects. The experimental results are also suggestive
that human intention when applied to unseen subtle domains is the effective
driver of events seen in the physical domain.
Early in this century, medicine saw living organisms as operating via the
following interaction/reaction equation:
Function <-> Structure <-> Chemistry
In keeping with this equation, human health was thought to depend on the
integrity of the body structure. The integrity of the body structure depended
on a relatively stable state of equilibrium (i.e., homeostasis) between
the different but interdependent structural parts. In turn, homeostasis
depended on a host of organic and inorganic chemicals.
Whenever the body didn't function properly, structural defects arising out
of chemical imbalances were blamed.
*
To cure this problem and restore the needed homeostasis
of the body, prescriptions were ordered involving sophisticated chemical
complexes at increasingly larger dosages in order to trigger the body's
defense and repair mechanisms.
This approach led to what can be called "chemical medicine" with
its many strengths and weaknesses.
*
Later in the century, neuropsychiatry demonstrated
that small electric currents between specific points in the brain gave rise
to the same behavioral changes that were observed with the ingestion of
certain brain-stimulating chemicals.
Other researchers found that small electric currents can stimulate cells
to regenerate, tissue to repair itself and fractures to heal.
Although the use of x-rays and diathermy have a long history in medicine,
recent extensions to MRI scans all tend to indicate that the earlier three-part
equation (shown above) was incomplete.
*
In the light of the electric current effects, a
four-part equation was presented, the fourth part involving electric and
magnetic fields:
E/M
Function <-> Structure <-> Chemistry <-> Fields
The body's electric and magnetic fields provide the necessary conditions
for homeostasis at the chemical level.
Detection of imbalances at the electric/magnetic field levels would be an
early warning factor of coming potential disruptions in the chemical homeostasis
condition, and which, if unchecked, would eventually result in repercussions
at the body's functional level.
*
Research and study of hypnosis and hypnotic affects
revealed that the human body can exhibit truly remarkable feats of strength
and endurance - attesting to an important linkage of body/mind, in which
the mind can influence not only the body's structure and function, but also
its chemistry and electric/magnetic fields.
*
Advancing research in psychotherapy revealed that
certain chemical treatments induce specific mental states - while certain
mental treatments influence specific chemical populations.
*
More recently, biofeedback techniques have shown
that directed mind not only can control various autonomic body functions
(such as skin temperature, pain, etc.) but can also repair the body.
*
Thus, a new five-part equation became necessary:
E/M
Function <-> Structure <-> Chemistry <-> Fields <-> Mind
*
Well-controlled, remote influence experiments with
healers, and experiments with psychokinesis, clairvoyance, remote viewing,
homeopathy and many other phenomena, indicate the existence of processes
inadequately understood.
The nature of these processes extends beyond conventional knowledge of the
physical domains of nature, and appear to involve emotional, spiritual and
other intangible qualities.
*
These qualities should also enter an extend form
of the five-part equation presented above. However, since we presently do
not have clear definitions of these different qualities, they might temporarily
be put into the category of SUBTLE ENERGIES.
Preliminary research data indicate that the subtle energies somehow influence
the electric and/or magnetic fields of the body, and which influences have
demonstrable effects on its structure, function, chemistry, and the mind.
The SUBTLE ENERGIES can include emotional, mental and spiritual qualities,
but appear to operate in connection with physically intangible factors that
can be called ETHERIC.
*
These qualities should also be entered into the
equation:
E/M Subtle
Function <-> Structure<->Chemistry<->Fields<->Energy
Fields
*
In conventional science, four forces are considered responsible for all
observable phenomena in the universe:
The strong nuclear force;
The weak nuclear force;
The electromagnetic force: and
The gravitational force.
These four forces characterize the purely physical domain very well.
Thus, the "subtle energies" referred to above, and the subtle
forces/effects they generate, are not necessarily weak - but rather constitute
that large body of elusive energies and forces beyond the four accepted
by today's physical science.
*
Let us now refer to three very different experiments
to see how some of these unseen energies can produce strong physical correlates
under certain special conditions, so that significant manifestations are
observable by our physical instrumentation.
During the early 1970s, a gentleman named Stan
came to see me about some photographs he had taken. At the time, his camera
was a simple Kodak with a plastic lens, and the film was Kodak Kodacolor.
Strange lights and illuminations appeared on the photos. Stan indicated
much the same thing happened when other people gave him their cameras to
take pictures.
He first thought he was a camera klutz. But he eventually realized that
the film phenomena correlated with special inner states he could sense and
which he felt "energized" the camera. dak which processed the
photographs.
In addition to the expected physical scenes, remarkable optical effects
were imprinted on the photographs.
*
The special occasions when the optical effects
were most probably to be obtained were (a) at spiritual rock concerts; (b)
at religious shrines; and (c) at high-energy metaphysical lectures.
*
The special inner states involved the following
physiological symptoms. Whenever he would sense a particular feeling in
his 7th cervical plus 4th thoracic vertebrae and snapped a picture, he would
invariably find some anomaly present on the subsequent photograph. In addition
to the expected physical scenes, remarkable optical effects were imprinted
on the photographs.
His camera had been sent to Kodak and certified to be in good working order.
The photographs were also sent to Kodak specialists to determine what kind
of picture-taking error had transpired. ....
*
Over a fifteen-year period, out of 9,000 photographs
taken 5,000 contained easily distinguishable anomalies. During all of this
time, his only intention during the picture-taking process was "to
reveal God's universe."
*
In a series of studies I carried out with this
man, two cameras were utilized. One camera was sensitized by the man, the
other was not. Both were mounted on a single tripod with a single shutter
release.
Standard Kodak color film and standard Kodak processing were used, and the
man was never allowed to touch the film during loading or unloading.
*
Most photo pairs showed very significant differences.
The photos from the sensitized camera would often show one or more people
in the frame as somewhat transparent over a portion of their body so that
objects behind them could clearly been seen through the transparent (translucent)
portion.
However, the photos from the unsensitized camera showed their bodies fully
formed and opaque as one would expect.
In other single camera experiments, the opaque lens cap was placed on the
sensitized camera, but remarkably clear photographs THROUGH this opaque
barrier were still obtained.
*
This man appeared to be able to sensitize any camera
merely by keeping it close to his body for several days.
After he had fully sensitized a camera (or charged it up with his subtle
energies), it could be passed to someone else to take the pictures. Some
anomalies would continue to appear on the photographs for the next hour,
after which time period no further anomalies would appear.
*
Certain deductions can be made from this study.
(1) Some kind of radiations exist in nature that can travel through materials
that are normally opaque to visible light.
(2) Such radiations, which may be normally present in nature, can be imaged
via the camera onto the film by some quality inherent in this man's energy
field, and register an imprint at the physical level of the silver halide
grains of the film.
(3) Some "energy soaking time" is needed for the camera to acquire
this anomalous capacity after placing it in the special energy field of
this man.
(4) This acquired anomalous capacity leaks away with a time constant of
about l hour - unless continually "pumped" by the energy field
of this particular man.
Known in Asia since ancient times, acupuncture points have been used for
treating bodily dysfunction. Under research, the points have been found
to have electrical characteristics that differ from the surrounding skin,
even though no striking histological difference at the physical level has
been detected.
Variations in mental alertness are known to cause significant changes in
the electrical characteristics of the skin points.
Some Soviet researchers found that mental concentration, or "directed-mind"
techniques, can be used to increase the "effective" voltage difference
between similar points on the left and right sides of the body - an "effective"
increase, for example, being a mind-directed shift from 50 milivolts to
500 milivolts.
*
With the help of two of my Stanford students during
the mid-1970s, I designed and built a detector to register such mind-directed
energy from the body. The detector included a pulse counter that could measure
energy shifts and which could be displayed on an oscilloscope.
*
The detector has a sandwich-like form. The "bread"
of this sandwich is two parallel planar dielectric surfaces. The "meat"
of the sandwich is a gas isolated between the two surfaces.
An external voltage, generated by a high voltage power supply, powers the
device to a level BELOW the electrical breakdown voltage of the gas. There
is thus no sustained discharge through the isolated gas, but small microavalanches
of electrical charge form in it due to the ambient electric field. These
small electrical charges can be thought of as micro lightening bolts.
By adjusting the sensitivity of the pulse counter to NOT count the largest
microavalanches, a background or baseline profile of ZERO counts could be
selected. This reduced static capacitive effects.
With such a baseline, a human's intentionality effect on the functioning
of the device could be determined via an increased number of counts during
a five minute test period.
*
After showing that the important human interaction
with the device were dynamic, mind-directed effects rather than static capacitive
effects, a variety of experiments were carried out to reveal key features
of the dynamic effect.
For example, in one kind of experiment the subject stood or sat closer to
the detector for a five minute period with the hands placed around but not
touching the detector, and then mentally focused their intention on increasing
the count rate. The total counts for the period were then recorded and tabulated.
*
Over the three year period between 1977 and 1979,
several thousand different tests under a wide variety of different conditions
were conducted with several dozen different subjects. Some results were
extremely revealing and encouraging [1].
*
On days when the device was working well, anyone
could produce a positive result, young and old people, students, healers
and nonhealers, etc. The results were analogous to psychokinetic influencing
of the detector.
But from a purely subjective viewpoint, those with an high ability to focus
their attention produced an higher ratio of success while those with only
a small focusing ability produced a lower ratio. Also, subjects with previous
experience using the device generally produced higher count rates than new
subjects.
*
On some occasions, usually lasting for one to several
days, no one was able to produce an enhanced count rate, and we were unable
to determine why. No correlation was found with moon phases, rain storms,
etc. No consideration has as yet been given to geomagnetic field activity.
On still other occasions, great effort was required to produce enhanced
count rates, and at these times some successful subject failed.
*
Extensive studies were carried out to determine
if this human form of subtle energy could be shielded from the device, or
if an alternate inanimate energy source could also trigger it. The answer
to both questions was essentially "No."
*
It is reasonable to conclude from directed-intention
study that mental focusing and concentration, under certain conditions,
is an important subtle energy factor with regard to overall human functioning.
This factor probably has far-reaching implications, and its existence is
being confirmed by other researchers.
*
For example, in 1991 researcher H. Motoyama reported
in a significant experiment [2].
Two subjects, one with marked psychic ability, the other not psychic, were
placed in separate rooms shielded by concrete walls lined with lead.
*
The psychic concentrated on the other person while
Motoyama monitored some of his body functions. Remarkable changes were noted
regarding pulse rate, blood flow, skin resistance and respiration during
the concentration period of the psychic.
Since the two rooms were well shielded against information transfer via
physical energies, the effects on the biology of the second person appear
to require some non-physical energy involvement.
The third experiment was carried out primarily
by Elmer Green and his associates at the Menninger Clinic and involved a
simulated healing experiment using an accomplished healer in a specially
designed "copper wall" environment [3, 4].
*
Wired up to a variety of electro-physiological
instruments, the healer either stood or sat on a framework placed within
four large, square copper walls. The framework was electrically insulated.
The four copper walls were placed in front, behind, above and below the
healer, and the healer was centered inside. Each of the four walls was attached
to electrically isolated electrometers that simultaneously recorded any
changes in voltages of the walls.
*
Likewise, the healer was attached to other measuring
equipment, and an electrode on the healer's ear lobe recorded the time variation
of her body voltage.
*
A number of affects were noted as the healer attempted
to extend energy. Principally among these effects, it was observed that
instead of the usual 10-15 millivolt baseline (which usually includes a
1 millibolt ripple), her body voltage often plunged 30 to 300 VOLTS, and
then returned to baseline in 0.5 to 10 seconds.
This large body voltage pulse was astonishing in that it was 100,000 times
the normal, and, equally astonishing, smaller correlated pulses appeared
on each of the four copper walls.
*
Additionally, in a single 30 minute healing session,
the measuring equipment recorded FIFTEEN of these anomalously large pulses.
*
Based upon a theoretical multidimensional model,
a working hypothesis that might help conceptualize the extraordinary voltage
behavior of the healer's body is as follows:
(1) A subtle energy pulse is emitted from some unknown location of the body;
(2) The subtle energy structure of the body responsible for this pulse is
somehow coupled to the physical body structure so that a transduced effect
materializes at the physical level. This effect extends outward from the
body and is echoed in the copper walls as measured by the electrometers
simultaneously recording any voltage changes in the walls.
(3) Since the pulses were measured on the healer's body and simultaneously
on the copper walls, it is necessary to propose that a pulse of magnetic
vector potential is generated from this transduction. This pulse can be
referred to as Pulse A.
(4) Within the physical realities of standard electrodynamics, Pulse A generates
an electric field, now referred to as Field E. Field E is of a specific
shape that grows to a maximum extent, then reverses itself, finally shrinking
to zero.
(5) Such an electric field effect would cause the ions of the local body
electrolyte to separate and produce an electric charge dipole. This first
expands to a maximum extent and then collapses back to zero after a short
time.
(6) It would be this charge dipole that creates the large voltage swing
at the electrodes on the healer's ear and upon the copper walls.
*
Based on the conceptual picture emerging from experiment
outlined above, this author developed a quantitative mathematical model
of the process apparently involved and compared it with the experimental
data.
It was found that of the fifteen extraordinary pulses, thirteen of them
had the same origin in the healer's body - the lower abdomen and the frontal
area of the body. This location is consistent with the "second chakra"
point known in acupuncture, and sometimes referred to as the "Dan Tien"
or the "Hara" point.
*
The electric dipole length (or pulse) was predicted
to be very large, extending from the ear (as the negative charge end) to
the feet (as the positive charge end). However, only a very small electric
current flow was required for a very short time to achieve this result (pulse?).
*
As a result of this important study, it can be
seen that the large electric voltage pulses appearing at the physical level
of the measuring devices are resulting from some kind of correlation with
the subtle energy level manifestations.
The subtle energy level manifestations themselves are not directly observable,
but they set into motion electric shifts that can be physically measured.
*
This author postulates that a vector potential
exists between the subtle energies and the physical electric energies, and
that the vector is probably magnetic:
Subtle Energies <-> Magnetic vector <-> Electric Energies
The magnetic vector potential plays a special role in nature as the "bridging"
element between the subtle domains and the physical domain. The existence
of the magnetic vector potential yields the successful quantitative connection
in the physical domain of the activity of the subtle energy pulses involved.
*
With regard to Experiment B, it is interesting
to consider that if the human emits bursts of subtle energy toward the gas
discharge device, these will manifest at the physical level as bursts of
A in the device. This then yields pulses of increased E in the gas, and
which will then drive subthreshold electron microavalanches so that they
become large enough to register as superthreshold counts.
*
With regard to Experiment A, it is also interesting
to consider that if the man's strong subtle energy field produced a patterned
A distribution of appreciable magnitude, then the time-variation of this
would yield an E-distribution over the film. In keeping with this, it is
known in the photographic film industry that electric fields will produce
silver halide grain development in the film - EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF VISIBLE
LIGHT.
Based on a significant amount of experimental evidence emerging from numerous
researchers, it appears that the physical domain is interconnected with
a "subtle energy" domain.
Although not directly measurable in physical terms, the actions of the subtle
energies produce physical activity that is measurable in physical terms.
For this to occur, it would seem that a "magnetic vector potential"
of some kind must exist, via which the activity of the subtle energies is
transduced into measurable physical events.
*
A theoretical model can thus be postulated, showing
that body functions may have two, not just one, "paths." The first
path would consist of familiar physical conditions; the second path would
consist of subtle energy conditions. Mind/consciousness would appear to
have threshold connectivity between the two paths.
The theoretical equation would be something along the following lines:
[ Body
[ Direct Body Electric
[ Space/Time<->Physical<->Monopole. . . .
[ Structure Chemistry Fields .
[ . .
[ . .
[ . Body Higher Than
[ BODY Magnetic 4-D
[ FUNCTION Vector <<-->> Subtle Energy
[ . Potential Fields
[ . .
[ . Body .
[ Frequency Body Magnetic .
[ Domain <->Etheric<->Monopole . . . . .
[ Structure Chemistry Fields
*
It is important to understand that the fragmentary
data described in this paper do not constitute satisfactory proof of the
philosophical perspectives expressed by the various equations. Any individual
piece of data is contestable for a variety of scientific reasons.
However, taken as a whole, the sum is compelling circumstantial evidence
that nature does, indeed, function largely as indicated by the equations.
And each equation given in this paper is correct at some level of functioning.
*
The body of experimental data regarding the probable
existence of "subtle energies" is growing more appreciable as
time moves on. The idea it taking shape that the four physical forces, correct
within what they refer to, are not sufficient to explain all of Nature's
phenomena, especially regarding mind and consciousness.
1. Tiller, W.A., "A Gas Discharge
Device for Investigating Focused Human Attention." JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC
EXPLORATION, 4 (1990), 225.
2. Motoyama, H., THE CORRELATION BETWEEN PSI ENERGY AND KI. Tokyo: Human
Science Press, 1991.
3. Green, Elmer E., P.A. Parks, P.M. Guyer, S. L. Fahrion and L. Coyne,
"Anomalous Electrostatic Phenomena in Exceptional Subjects." SUBTLE
ENERGIES 2 (1993) 69.
4. Tiller, W. A., E.E. Green, P.A. Parks and S. Anderson, "Toward Explaining
Anomalously Large Body Voltage Surges on Exceptional Subjects: Part I, The
Electrostatic Approximation." JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION, 9
(1995) 331.
Tiller, W.A., "Towards A Future
Medicine Based on Controlled Energy Fields." PHOENIX 1 (1977) 5.
Tiller, W.A., "What Are Subtle Energies?" JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC
EXPLORATION, 7 (1993) 293.
Tiller, W.A., "Toward Understanding Living Bio-Magnetophoto-electrochemical
Systems."
AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SIMULATION
IN APPLIED SCIENCE. F. Abraham and W.A. Tiller, Eds.: Academic Press, 1975.
THE SCIENCE OF CRYSTALLIZATION: MICROSCOPIC INTERFACIAL PHENOMENA: Cambridge
U. Press, 1991.
THE SCIENCE OF CRYSTALLIZATION: MACROSCOPIC PHENOMENA AND DEFECT GENERATION:
Cambridge U. Press, 1991.
SCIENCE AND HUMAN TRANSFORMATION: SUBTLE ENERGIES, INTENTIONALITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS:
Pavior Publishing, Layfayette, Calif., 1997.