Jeffrey Mishlove notes that, since the advent of computer games and the movie Avatar, our understanding of the word “Avatar” has taken on new dimensions. Traditionally, it means a living incarnation of a deity. He was first exposed to the claims of divinity for Meher Baba as a college student in the 1960s. Adi Da [...]

Jeffrey Mishlove has based this monolog on a lecture he has prepared for a graduate level course on William James. He reviews James’ history with the Society for Psychical Research in England, starting in 1882. James regarded the spiritualistic hypothesis of communication between the living and the dead as worthy of and amenable to empirical [...]

Here Jeff shares his reflections after listening to a lecture by Gary Lachman, author of Dark Star Rising, about occult influences within the alt-right supporting the election of Donald Trump. It turns out that the iconic meme of “Pepe the frog” used by Trump supporters was also, in the minds of many, akin to that [...]

Here Jeff discusses the work of Jacques Vallee, UFO researcher and computer scientist, whom he first interviewed in 1973. Vallee worked at SRI International in the 1970s and helped develop the software for ARPANET, which eventually evolved into the internet. At the same time he was engaged with the remote viewing work of Ingo Swann, [...]

Here Jeff notes that he has been a fan of Bill Maher’s television programs for several decades. He claims that the August 3, 2018, episode of Real Time was very likely the best he has ever seen. He realizes that this will be controversial because of the political content; but he urges viewers to watch [...]

Here Jeff shares his impressions after viewing the presidential address to the Parapsychological Association given by Dean Radin, author of Real Magic. There are several reasons for optimism. Membership in the Association is at an all-time high. The American Psychologist, flagship journal of the American Psychological Association, has just published a very favorable article summarizing [...]

Here Jeff describes the British occultist, poet, and mountaineer Aleister Crowley (1875 – 1947) as an important counter-culture influence in the 1970s. Crowley was an early forerunner of the sexual revolution and promoted the use of both sex and various drugs in the context of magickal rituals. He believed himself to be the inaugurator of [...]

Here Jeff endeavors to fulfill a commitment he made in InPresence 0131 — that is to cultivate his karaoke singing skills and, eventually, upload a new selection of songs to show that improvement is possible. The four selections include the Ella Fitzgerald version of Summertime, Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks, The Dock of the Bay [...]

Here Jeff focuses on efforts to replicate some of the unusual macro-psychokinetic phenomena that were reported in nineteenth century spiritualist seances. In England, Kenneth Batcheldor developed a method for achieving table levitations. He incorporated a seance-like atmosphnere — but with neither the solemnity of a religious service nor any spiritualist mediums. In Toronto, Canada, the [...]

Here Jeff shares his excitement and anticipation about meeting an individual whom he has not seen in 45 years — Joanna Harcourt-Smith. When he originally met her, and interviewed her on KPFA-FM in Berkeley, California, she was known as Joanna Leary, the wife of Timothy Leary. She worked tirelessly for years to help release Timothy [...]

Here Jeff describes three different types of experimenter effects that can, potentially, contaminate scientific studies. The first of these involves influence experimental subjects through direct statements, subtle hints, and non-verbal cues. Typically, the use of control groups and double-blind protocols protects against this. The second type of experimenter effect involves the use of Questionable Research [...]

Here Jeff describes his experience of being libeled in 1980, as well as the six-year long legal battle that followed. Eventually Jeff emerged victorious. Nevertheless, the lawsuit took its toll. A particular difficulty for those who have been libeled is dealing with the response from former friends and supporters who distance themselves and take a [...]