Parapsychology- Reappraising Methodological Issues: The Efficacy Of Allied Traditions.
Stephanie Lynne Thorburn
January 29, 2010
New Papers: Nuance Webzine/ Paranormal Scholar.
By Stephanie Lynne Thorburn
Context.
I have recently completed a training in traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki in view of learning the skills to become a Master/ Teacher practitioner. Undoubtedly there is no single point or stage in a Reiki student´s learning when they actually obtain Master/ Teacher status, the title is gained through continuous re-iterative cycles of learning and assimilation over many years. I have also subsequently been studying a range of comparative modalities, including Zen Reiki, Ama Deus Shamanic Healing, ´One Spirit´ Shamanism and Tiger Reiki. All these energetic systems possess a rich anthropological inheritance and need to be studied ideally in context of their original methods and practices, without making compromises from their authentic cultural origins or symbol systems. There is definitely a balance to be struck however, between studying the original facets of these energy systems, with a tacit acceptance of the efficacy of their therapeutic benefits, whilst being aware of their social context and also avoiding unnecessary over- intellectualisation! As a whole, I feel that my exploration of Reiki and Shamanic healing presents a beneficial comparative perspective, when considering the epistemological crisis I encountered in the emerging discipline of parapsychology, whilst studying the subject in recent years.
Here are the overviews of three journal articles I am currently researching and preparing: -
Overview Abstract: - (References and further links below.)
Parapsychology.
Precis Text.
Re-appraising Methodological Issues: The Efficacy of Allied Traditions.
By Rev. Dr. Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
The field of parapsychology would appear to have encountered an apparent philosophical crisis of confidence, both in respect to its status in the public domain and in relation to the scientific, academic community. A series of consistent issues related to the conveyance of key epistemological aspects of parapsychology display an apparent disregard for the potential individuality and development of the discipline as an independent sphere of theory and practice for students and parapsychologists alike. This conceptually disappointing outcome is at least in some substantial part, an inevitable response to the embracing of somewhat uniform methodological ideals shared by the contemporary social sciences.
In my forthcoming paper on parapsychological pedagogic issues, I have presented a series of comparative sociological models in relation to the allied areas of Reiki, shamanic healing, meditation and hypnosis. Reflexive issues in connection to this paper relate firstly, to whether these traditions might be universally accepted as legitimate allies for conceptual analysis and conceptual/ ontological integration. Further, my own inevitably subjective selection and interpretation of the available studies and methodological standpoints currently exhibited in the field of parapsychological theory, has presented further questions within my own mind. Researcher and theorist interpretive 'bias' are present in determining the formation of coherent discourses and critiques, amounting to what I believe is termed 'scholarship' or the conveyance of a distinct perspective in the academic domain, rather than simply a reappraisal or a recital of all existing facets to a debate. My vested interest therefore is to respect the lessons that can be learned from the maintenance of scientific rigour to ensure components such as the sound validity, reliability and replicability of parapsychological studies. However, at a more qualitative level of analysis, I am attempting to represent a reasonably concise sociological theory of comparative esoteric traditions and emerging occupations such as hypnosis and Reiki in the postmodern context.
There are some quite stark points of contrast between parapsychology and a range of alternative practices in relation to their respective social, ontological status and milieu. As a whole, the uncompromising, authentic traditional cultural identity exhibited by increasingly popular 'new age' modalities such as Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki and Ama Deus shamanism are at total variance with the relatively cautious and sometimes seemingly unchallenging face of parapsychology as presented by the most prevalent theorists such as Chris French and Susan Blackmore (1), when articulating conventional parapsychological discourses logically within the public domain. Further, the phenomenon of the middle classes embracing the philosophies of the intangible, or the fundamentally esoteric aspects of such modalities as Reiki would seem to be in direct contrast to both public and academic cynicism inhibiting the actualisation of parapsychology as a discipline. It is via closer comparison of the ontological and epistemological 'defence mechanisms' inherently utilised by such esoteric practices as Reiki and shamanic healing, that I feel we may circumvent the limitations offered within existing discourses that seek to explain subjective paranormal phenomena and experiences.
Existing explanations of empathetic phenomenon, NDE's, OBE's have touched on feminist issues such as the acceptance or rejection of the gendered binaries of nature/ nurture and intuition as categories of explanation of parapsychological experiences. The employment of abnormal psychological frames of reference (i.e. ´dissociative tendencies´, ´fantasy proneness,´ Footnote 2.) and the exhaustive use of the scientific method in forming reductive neurobiological theories, are also popular categories of explanation and often dismissal of the legitimacy of the complexities of subjective parapsychological phenomena. Whilst it is not within the remit of this paper to assess the validity or substance of these studies, which I believe are often formulated on selective sound empirical evidence- I would however make the observation that a number of these strategies have simply served to further marginalise the discipline of parapsychology. I would also make the subsequent assertion that the field of parapsychology would be far freer to explore a range of complementary perspectives, if its theorists would be more accommodating towards the incorporation of the heart, soul and epistemological lessons of more holistic spheres, such as Reiki and hypnosis both in respects to their pedagogic base and as legitimate subjects for more fully dimensional analysis in themselves.
The lessons potentially learned from the plurality these alternative disciplines offer and their at least partial abandonment of western scientific methodological goals has proven liberating in the establishment of these alternative disciplines. It would seem that the most powerful component in the success of esoteric modalities when integrating into mainstream accepted practice in our culture, has been their initial engagement with the purchase of cultural confidence and public resonance, prior to the establishment of successful professional, occupational acclaim. Doubtless alternative therapies and skills such as hypnotherapy now also wield a degree of cultural capital for practitioners. I feel that parapsychologists might attend wisely to the ontological and epistemological issues I will attempted to overview in this paper on the efficacy of comparable, well established allied traditions to gain advantage and evolve in the context of contemporary postmodern culture. To augment this paper, I have drawn from the motifs offered by a number of current courses, such as the MA and PhD course structures from a range of learning providers, offering a plurality of approaches including the Californian Institute of Integral Studies and Coventry University (Parapsychology MSc). A range of cross comparative study syllabuses and emerging papers in the field of Parapsychology forward theories from an encouragingly diverse range of spheres including Shamanism, anthropology and transpersonal psychology. These approaches are complemented by the application of cutting edge scientific paradigms such as quantum physics in establishing a fluidity in their discursive structures.
Undoubtedly, parapsychology benefits therefore through its appeal as an interdisciplinary field. It is my hope that my own research initiatives and equally importantly, those already on offer by a range of divergent lateral thinkers in the field suggest positive models for further, future practice that might benefit the learning process of students and the academic community at large in developing the essentially human science of parapsychology.
Making A Positive Methodological Contribution To Emerging Discursive Spheres.
Rev Dr. Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
In my second paper on parapsychology, I am currently forming some thoughts on the key facets and components required in the forwarding of a methodologically sound, reflexively open system of engagement with conflicting discourses in emerging spheres such as parapsychology. Despite its not inconsiderable history in British and US culture and the evocative body of scientific research available on parapsychology (1), the sphere is still at an early stage in establishing its voice. In this paper, I will explore the benefits of engaging with holistically informed methodological appraisals that might assist in the development and professional stability of disciplines, (with special reference to parapsychology!) This paper is therefore a logically corollary to the first and formed via a concern that too often students are not offered the relevant methodological tools to make balanced, critical holistic observations pedagogically, rather encouraged into localised research based discourses pertaining to the continuation of the orthodoxy within specialist spheres of knowledge.
Reiki and Shamanic Energetic Systems: In The Field With The Big Cats.
Rev. Dr Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
Field research: breaking with the safety offered by academic papers and philosophy alone- I have been busy translating Reiki and shamanic energetic systems into workable modalities, directly applicable to feral beasts! This is doubtless an ethical and methodologically challenging area which I have approached very respectfully and cautiously. I will be undertaking my field research into the future and am currently selecting a suitable white tiger to bestow a 'One Spirit' therapeutic, healing attunement upon, (from a safe distance..)
Footnotes:
1. Blackmore, SJ. (1993) ´Dying To Live: Science and the Near-Death Experience´. London: Grafton Books.
French, C. ´Alien Abductions´, Chapter 8 in ´Parapsychology. The Science of Unusual Experience´. Edited by Roberts and Groome. (Very thorough read- even if sometimes rather biased to an overly scientific standpoint.).
2. Nickell, J. (1997)´A study of fantasy-proneness in the thirteen cases of alleged encounter in John Mack´s abduction´. In Frazier, Karr, Nickell (eds). ´The UFO Invasion: The Roswell Incident, Alien Abductions and Government Cover ups´. Amherst NJ. Prometheus, 207-9.
Further Reading and Links.
Alvarado C.S. (2002)´Getting Started in Parapsychology´. The Parapsychology Foundation.
Carter. (2007). ´Parapsychology and The Skeptics´, Sterling House. (Answers the critics and suggests efficacious scientific approaches to parapsychology.)
Irwin and Watt. (2007). ´An Introduction To Parapsychology´. Mc Farland & Co. Inc
Society For Psychical Research:
http://www.spr.ac.uk/main/
Californian Institute Of Integral Studies:
http://www.ciis.edu/
About Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
I am an ordained Doctor of Divinity in The Universal Light, (a division of the International Natural Healers Association.) My modality specialisms are in Reiki and Parapsychology. I recently completed a Traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master/ Teacher course and am a ´One Spirit´ Shamanic Healing Master/ Teacher, (School of Living Reiki Therapies.)
I also have a conventional academic education and hold an MA in Sociology Qualitative Research from Goldsmiths College, London. My vocational qualifications include a Diploma in Parapsychology, (with distinction.) I write on a range of subject areas including popular music, media & entertainment, Reiki and Parapsychology.
Homepage: http://www.stephaniethorburn.webs.com
Nuance webzine- Music, culture, metaphysics and spirituality:
http:www.nuancewebzine.webs.com
By Stephanie Lynne Thorburn
Context.
I have recently completed a training in traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki in view of learning the skills to become a Master/ Teacher practitioner. Undoubtedly there is no single point or stage in a Reiki student´s learning when they actually obtain Master/ Teacher status, the title is gained through continuous re-iterative cycles of learning and assimilation over many years. I have also subsequently been studying a range of comparative modalities, including Zen Reiki, Ama Deus Shamanic Healing, ´One Spirit´ Shamanism and Tiger Reiki. All these energetic systems possess a rich anthropological inheritance and need to be studied ideally in context of their original methods and practices, without making compromises from their authentic cultural origins or symbol systems. There is definitely a balance to be struck however, between studying the original facets of these energy systems, with a tacit acceptance of the efficacy of their therapeutic benefits, whilst being aware of their social context and also avoiding unnecessary over- intellectualisation! As a whole, I feel that my exploration of Reiki and Shamanic healing presents a beneficial comparative perspective, when considering the epistemological crisis I encountered in the emerging discipline of parapsychology, whilst studying the subject in recent years.
Here are the overviews of three journal articles I am currently researching and preparing: -
Overview Abstract: - (References and further links below.)
Parapsychology.
Precis Text.
Re-appraising Methodological Issues: The Efficacy of Allied Traditions.
By Rev. Dr. Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
The field of parapsychology would appear to have encountered an apparent philosophical crisis of confidence, both in respect to its status in the public domain and in relation to the scientific, academic community. A series of consistent issues related to the conveyance of key epistemological aspects of parapsychology display an apparent disregard for the potential individuality and development of the discipline as an independent sphere of theory and practice for students and parapsychologists alike. This conceptually disappointing outcome is at least in some substantial part, an inevitable response to the embracing of somewhat uniform methodological ideals shared by the contemporary social sciences.
In my forthcoming paper on parapsychological pedagogic issues, I have presented a series of comparative sociological models in relation to the allied areas of Reiki, shamanic healing, meditation and hypnosis. Reflexive issues in connection to this paper relate firstly, to whether these traditions might be universally accepted as legitimate allies for conceptual analysis and conceptual/ ontological integration. Further, my own inevitably subjective selection and interpretation of the available studies and methodological standpoints currently exhibited in the field of parapsychological theory, has presented further questions within my own mind. Researcher and theorist interpretive 'bias' are present in determining the formation of coherent discourses and critiques, amounting to what I believe is termed 'scholarship' or the conveyance of a distinct perspective in the academic domain, rather than simply a reappraisal or a recital of all existing facets to a debate. My vested interest therefore is to respect the lessons that can be learned from the maintenance of scientific rigour to ensure components such as the sound validity, reliability and replicability of parapsychological studies. However, at a more qualitative level of analysis, I am attempting to represent a reasonably concise sociological theory of comparative esoteric traditions and emerging occupations such as hypnosis and Reiki in the postmodern context.
There are some quite stark points of contrast between parapsychology and a range of alternative practices in relation to their respective social, ontological status and milieu. As a whole, the uncompromising, authentic traditional cultural identity exhibited by increasingly popular 'new age' modalities such as Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki and Ama Deus shamanism are at total variance with the relatively cautious and sometimes seemingly unchallenging face of parapsychology as presented by the most prevalent theorists such as Chris French and Susan Blackmore (1), when articulating conventional parapsychological discourses logically within the public domain. Further, the phenomenon of the middle classes embracing the philosophies of the intangible, or the fundamentally esoteric aspects of such modalities as Reiki would seem to be in direct contrast to both public and academic cynicism inhibiting the actualisation of parapsychology as a discipline. It is via closer comparison of the ontological and epistemological 'defence mechanisms' inherently utilised by such esoteric practices as Reiki and shamanic healing, that I feel we may circumvent the limitations offered within existing discourses that seek to explain subjective paranormal phenomena and experiences.
Existing explanations of empathetic phenomenon, NDE's, OBE's have touched on feminist issues such as the acceptance or rejection of the gendered binaries of nature/ nurture and intuition as categories of explanation of parapsychological experiences. The employment of abnormal psychological frames of reference (i.e. ´dissociative tendencies´, ´fantasy proneness,´ Footnote 2.) and the exhaustive use of the scientific method in forming reductive neurobiological theories, are also popular categories of explanation and often dismissal of the legitimacy of the complexities of subjective parapsychological phenomena. Whilst it is not within the remit of this paper to assess the validity or substance of these studies, which I believe are often formulated on selective sound empirical evidence- I would however make the observation that a number of these strategies have simply served to further marginalise the discipline of parapsychology. I would also make the subsequent assertion that the field of parapsychology would be far freer to explore a range of complementary perspectives, if its theorists would be more accommodating towards the incorporation of the heart, soul and epistemological lessons of more holistic spheres, such as Reiki and hypnosis both in respects to their pedagogic base and as legitimate subjects for more fully dimensional analysis in themselves.
The lessons potentially learned from the plurality these alternative disciplines offer and their at least partial abandonment of western scientific methodological goals has proven liberating in the establishment of these alternative disciplines. It would seem that the most powerful component in the success of esoteric modalities when integrating into mainstream accepted practice in our culture, has been their initial engagement with the purchase of cultural confidence and public resonance, prior to the establishment of successful professional, occupational acclaim. Doubtless alternative therapies and skills such as hypnotherapy now also wield a degree of cultural capital for practitioners. I feel that parapsychologists might attend wisely to the ontological and epistemological issues I will attempted to overview in this paper on the efficacy of comparable, well established allied traditions to gain advantage and evolve in the context of contemporary postmodern culture. To augment this paper, I have drawn from the motifs offered by a number of current courses, such as the MA and PhD course structures from a range of learning providers, offering a plurality of approaches including the Californian Institute of Integral Studies and Coventry University (Parapsychology MSc). A range of cross comparative study syllabuses and emerging papers in the field of Parapsychology forward theories from an encouragingly diverse range of spheres including Shamanism, anthropology and transpersonal psychology. These approaches are complemented by the application of cutting edge scientific paradigms such as quantum physics in establishing a fluidity in their discursive structures.
Undoubtedly, parapsychology benefits therefore through its appeal as an interdisciplinary field. It is my hope that my own research initiatives and equally importantly, those already on offer by a range of divergent lateral thinkers in the field suggest positive models for further, future practice that might benefit the learning process of students and the academic community at large in developing the essentially human science of parapsychology.
Making A Positive Methodological Contribution To Emerging Discursive Spheres.
Rev Dr. Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
In my second paper on parapsychology, I am currently forming some thoughts on the key facets and components required in the forwarding of a methodologically sound, reflexively open system of engagement with conflicting discourses in emerging spheres such as parapsychology. Despite its not inconsiderable history in British and US culture and the evocative body of scientific research available on parapsychology (1), the sphere is still at an early stage in establishing its voice. In this paper, I will explore the benefits of engaging with holistically informed methodological appraisals that might assist in the development and professional stability of disciplines, (with special reference to parapsychology!) This paper is therefore a logically corollary to the first and formed via a concern that too often students are not offered the relevant methodological tools to make balanced, critical holistic observations pedagogically, rather encouraged into localised research based discourses pertaining to the continuation of the orthodoxy within specialist spheres of knowledge.
Reiki and Shamanic Energetic Systems: In The Field With The Big Cats.
Rev. Dr Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
Field research: breaking with the safety offered by academic papers and philosophy alone- I have been busy translating Reiki and shamanic energetic systems into workable modalities, directly applicable to feral beasts! This is doubtless an ethical and methodologically challenging area which I have approached very respectfully and cautiously. I will be undertaking my field research into the future and am currently selecting a suitable white tiger to bestow a 'One Spirit' therapeutic, healing attunement upon, (from a safe distance..)
Footnotes:
1. Blackmore, SJ. (1993) ´Dying To Live: Science and the Near-Death Experience´. London: Grafton Books.
French, C. ´Alien Abductions´, Chapter 8 in ´Parapsychology. The Science of Unusual Experience´. Edited by Roberts and Groome. (Very thorough read- even if sometimes rather biased to an overly scientific standpoint.).
2. Nickell, J. (1997)´A study of fantasy-proneness in the thirteen cases of alleged encounter in John Mack´s abduction´. In Frazier, Karr, Nickell (eds). ´The UFO Invasion: The Roswell Incident, Alien Abductions and Government Cover ups´. Amherst NJ. Prometheus, 207-9.
Further Reading and Links.
Alvarado C.S. (2002)´Getting Started in Parapsychology´. The Parapsychology Foundation.
Carter. (2007). ´Parapsychology and The Skeptics´, Sterling House. (Answers the critics and suggests efficacious scientific approaches to parapsychology.)
Irwin and Watt. (2007). ´An Introduction To Parapsychology´. Mc Farland & Co. Inc
Society For Psychical Research:
http://www.spr.ac.uk/main/
Californian Institute Of Integral Studies:
http://www.ciis.edu/
About Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.
I am an ordained Doctor of Divinity in The Universal Light, (a division of the International Natural Healers Association.) My modality specialisms are in Reiki and Parapsychology. I recently completed a Traditional Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master/ Teacher course and am a ´One Spirit´ Shamanic Healing Master/ Teacher, (School of Living Reiki Therapies.)
I also have a conventional academic education and hold an MA in Sociology Qualitative Research from Goldsmiths College, London. My vocational qualifications include a Diploma in Parapsychology, (with distinction.) I write on a range of subject areas including popular music, media & entertainment, Reiki and Parapsychology.
Homepage: http://www.stephaniethorburn.webs.com
Nuance webzine- Music, culture, metaphysics and spirituality:
http:www.nuancewebzine.webs.com
Print
Email
