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taste do not define what is real. Let us appreciate our special senses for what they are: indispensable tools for negotiating three- dimensional space-time. The quantum domain has its antecedent in Plato's theory of forms. The difference is that we now have a scientific account of the probability wave and the infinite potentia it enfolds. But does this mean that anything goes, that we can all claim to be ‘right’ about anything and everything? experiences. In the UK, for example, the spiritualist movement, which arose in the 19th century, was attacked on a number of counts. The phenomena ran counter to the prevailing scientific culture; nor were they amenable to the research methods of the time. There were a number of fakes who were gleefully exposed and, not least, the spiritual implications were an uncomfortable challenge to the Church. We have had to wait over a hundred years for the right research tools to be developed, aided by new scientific paradigms and daring anthropological fieldwork (Narby, 1998). Nevertheless, in our society today there are, as always, healers and mediums who are sensitive to other realities. Typically, they suppress this awareness during childhood because they learn it is risky to be known to be different from others. Later, there is con- siderable relief when they find they are not alone. Psychiatrists get a particular slant on people with such heightened sensitivity. They easily get labelled 'borderline’ and their sensitivities are seen as pathological. Perhaps this is not surprising, since the psychiatrist only gets involved when something has gone seriously wrong. CONSENSUS REALITY AND THE PARANORMAL Nevertheless, in our society today there are, as always, healers Out of the history of civilisation has emerged what is known as and mediums who are sensitive to other realities. Typically, they consensus reality—a framework of values and judgements in which suppress this awareness during childhood because they learn it is religion, science, culture and education all contribute to a coherent _risky to be known to be different from others. Later, there is con- world-view. We diagnose mental disorders such as schizophrenia siderable relief when they find they are not alone. Psychiatrists get and depression not in a vacuum but with reference to this consensus a particular slant on people with such heightened sensitivity. They reality. Individually, each person is sovereign over his or her inner _ easily get labelled 'borderline' and their sensitivities are seen as world, for good or ill. But one man's truth is another man's delu- _ pathological. Perhaps this is not surprising, since the psychiatrist sion, and if we participate in social reality we have little choice but _ only gets involved when something has gone seriously wrong. to live with the consensus truths that feed our belief systems. We absorb these belief systems unconsciously, although they deeply SOUL DRAMAS influence how we make sense of what we perceive. When a good few years ago I began working with healers, I Now I want to link the two arenas of consciousness I have could see that there was indeed an overlap with the borderline state, mapped out. On the one hand we have the perceptual world of con- except that the healers were not ill or in mental distress. They had sensus reality; and on the other, the learned how to tune their sensitivity to unlimited, beyond-time-and-space func- what are called subtle energies so that tion of consciousness, which gives rise . ar 1 * they could work in the service of oth- to what in the West we call the para- Out of the history of civilisation ers, Healers also initiated my experi- normal. has emerged what is known as ence of other times and places beyond For many people, awareness of the consensus reality—a framework the bounds of sense perception. I have eternal and the boundless remains large- written on this topic elsewhere (Powell, ly out of sight and out of mind. This is of values and judgements In 2000), but I will mention briefly how it probably for a good reason. which religion, science, culture happened to me, since such things can Consciousness embodied in the human . | come as a bit of a surprise if they are species is largely occupied with a con- and education all contribute to not expected. p , tinuous flux of thought and emotion a coherent world-view. It was a group meditation, which taken up with the challenge of getting started with a guided fantasy. We had through life, and for most people this is to imagine ourselves walking in a field more than enough! in the countryside on a summer day. It is as though we have around each one of us a semi-permeable — Then we were asked to look around until we saw something that membrane, providing us with a dwelling place for the ego and _ attracted us and to go over and take a good look. which delimits the world of sense perception. Without such a I found myself standing before a majestic and mysterious tree. It boundary, we would merge into unitary consciousness—a case of _ had the appearance of a giant redwood and soared up into the sky. all waves and no particles! Because the membrane is permeable, As soon as I came close to the trunk I began ascending rapidly, as if we can leave the ego at home and journey beyond space and time. going up in a fast lift. I shot past the top of the tree and suddenly I This leads to wholeness or fragmentation, depending on the degree was scrambling up a rocky outcrop. Instantly I knew what was of stability of the psyche. Release from a well-balanced ego going on. This was Arizona, the year was 1848, my name was through prayer or meditation is one thing. It is quite another to try © Tom McCann and I was being hunted down by a raiding party of to hold onto one's identity in the course of a psychotic breakdown. Apache Indians. I heaved myself up onto the flat top of the rock. I If the membrane becomes porous, there is an uncontrolled outflow could hear the Indian braves a short way below and I knew they of consciousness with a terrifying loss of self. Equally disturbing is would get to me in a couple of minutes and have my scalp. I pulled the experience of being intruded upon by other energies or entities. out of my pocket a worn leather wallet and gazed for the last time In health, there is a balance to strike between the mind operating on the picture of my wife and two young daughters. Then I took as a classical Newtonian instrument obeying the laws of cause and — out my gun, put the muzzle to my head and pulled the trigger. effect, and as a quantum instrument unfettered by space-time and — There was no sound and no impact. I simply found myself floating which opens us to paranormal phenomena. In so-called primitive peacefully up and away from the body lying on the top of the rock. societies, this latter function is used for the therapeutic tasks of There had been no sense of invention or contrivance. The scene healing, divination, soul recovery and spirit release, to name but a _ had unfolded in real time, and all I could do was go through it as it few. The spirit world is understood to interpenetrate our own, and _ happened. the shaman undergoes an arduous training to enable him to enter an The experience can be interpreted in several ways. Was this a altered state of consciousness in which he converses with spirit, be soul drama woven from the archetypes of the collective uncon- it plant, animal or human, every bit as real as in everyday life scious? Did the theme of loss of loved ones, and of life itself, arise, (Castaneda, 1998). as with dreams, in response to a problem I had not consciously Living in industrialised nations distances people from such recognised? If so, then the contents are part of the Self, in Jung's Out of the history of civilisation has emerged what is known as consensus reality—a framework of values and judgements in which religion, science, culture and education all contribute to a coherent world-view. APRIL — MAY 2002 NEXUS ¢ 57 www.nexusmagazine.com