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natural rather than occult phenomenon, that it was latent in all of us and was in fact an evolutionary process that would eventually result in a higher level of existence for mankind.”
In his article Dr. Dean states, “Thus far most of the attention in the literature has been focused upon descriptions of psychic phenomena, but not enough upon their purpose; therefore, I intend to ask not only, ‘What are psychic phenomena?’ but also ‘What good are they?’” He goes on to describe a number of possible purposes, including a life-preserving function of ESP similar to the flight or fight mechanism and the self-repairative mechanism of trauma and disease. He refers to Dr. William Tiller, “a scrupulous researcher at Stanford University, who is optimistic about the future usefulness of Kirlian photography as a life-energy monitoring system. (Kirlian photography is a photographic technique which allegedly reveals pulsating energy fields emitted by all forms of life, and which is presumably capable of interacting with other energy fields past, present, and future). It should then be possible to develop a reliable monitoring system for revealing the physical, emotional, and mental tone of human beings; develop systems for determining the peak conditions of participants in critical team activities; and develop a sorely needed objective standard for psychiatric research and therapy.”
Notes
1. C. G. Jung, “Concerning Mandala Symbolism” in “The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious,” Collected Works, Volume 9, (1), Bollingen Series xx. (New York: Pantheon, 1959), pp. 355-384.
2. Advances in Parapsychological Research. 1. Psychokinesis (New York and London: Plenum Press, 1977), p. 191.
3. Wilder Penfield, The Mystery of the Mind (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1975), p. 114.
Dr. Wilder Penfield (1891-1976), one of this century’s greatest brain researchers and neurosurgeons, was founder of Montreal (Canada) Neurological Institute. He located several functional areas of the human cerebral cortex in the development of a surgical treatment for epilepsy. Penfield discovered that stimulation of the interpretive cortex activated the neuronal record of past experience; he consequently developed the centro-cephalic hypothesis of memory control.
4. Interview, “Candace Pert,” Omni, February, 1982, pp. 64 &. 112.
5. As quoted in Russell Targ and Keith Harary, The Mind Race (New York: Villard Books, 1984), p. xv.