I research the exceptional, the beautiful and the ‘unusual’ capacities of consciousness – and what the implications and applications can be for our collective good. Of particular interest is the intersection of ‘Sensory Processing Sensitivity’ and ‘psi phenomena’ – using both quantitative and qualitative information.
Psi phenomena is the scientific term, in parapsychology, for what is more generally termed ‘psychic abilities’ such as extra sensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK). Decades of research have already established their validity as a ‘real’ phenomena. I am interested in how they ‘work’ in terms of processing – and how people people can therefore cultivate these experiences for their personal and collective flourishing.
I am very interested in ‘traits and states’ of exceptional experience. This entails examining the traits (personal characteristics) of people who seem to experience more psi phenomena and, the states of consciousness that facilitate them. This means exploring ‘sensory restriction’ tools and techniques (including REST, meditation, Ganzfeld and floatation) and neuro-adaptive entrainment and feedback technologies – as these appear to support spontaneous phenomena even under experimental conditions.
Here are some of my ongoing engagements:
Centre for Liminal Studies
I am co-founder of the Centre for Liminal Studies – a community interest company specialising in collaborative inquiry, direct experience and dissemination of knowledge of transformational states of consciousness.
We are focused on the study of consciousness and liminal experience – those transitional spaces, times, practices, and states of consciousness where meaning emerges, boundaries shift and dissolve, and new forms of sensing, experiencing and understanding become possible. We operate as a collaborative platform, bringing together researchers, artists, practitioners, and communities united by a shared interest in exploring consciousness and its role in human development. Our work spans empirical science, experiential practice, and creative expression, grounded in the conviction that consciousness research demands more than any single methodology can offer.
We are located across two buildings on Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, BD23 3AE
MONROE INSTITUTE
Neuroentrainment audio technologies
At Monroe Institute, I fulfil the role of Head of Collaborative Research and Dissemination.
The Monroe Institute has refined a proven method for expanding human consciousness, combining precise audio technology with a structured, research-based process for personal transformation and exceptional experiences – such as the OBE, lucid dreaming and more.
The Monroe mission is to advance the global awakening of human consciousness. Helping people create more meaningful and joyful lives through the guided exploration of expanded consciousness.
In my role, I help to expand Monroe’s reach by fostering new academic and practitioner relationships, alliances and projects, innovating creative protocols – and ultimately, translating robust findings into accessible information and inspiration – to meet seekers wherever they are.
WYRD Technologies
REG Consciousness Technology
I have the role of ‘chief research Wyrdo’ in team Wyrd. Here we conduct frontier mind-matter / PK research, interrogating the occurrence of anomalous structures emerging from paired random event generators, during specified and meaningful human experiences. We do so using patented technologies – such as the ‘Wyrdoscope‘ and Wyrd Light which are designed to detect synchronicities in the data – syntropy (or what we think are ‘changes in the field of consciousness’).
At Wyrd, the team understand and promote the Anglo-Saxon concept of ‘wyrd’ to be symbolic of the interconnectedness of all life, of all awareness and meaning – of consciousness itself. We consider our direct mission to be active explorers and disseminators of insight and practical applications – of how such interconnectedness can support a culture of human and planetary flourishing, for both the individual and collective.
PhD @ NORTHAMPTON
Sensory isolation in floatation tanks as a method of promoting ESP phenomena
I am part of the Exceptional Experiences and Consciousness Studies (EECS) special interest group at the University of Northampton.
Extra-sensory perception (ESP) aka ‘psychic abilities’ forms the focus of a lot of my work. As I am interested in the ‘states and traits’ , my PhD project at Northampton is precisely this – an experiment involving a variety of people who float in a float tank for an hour, which is complemented by a precognition task. We examine personality characteristics, phenomenology of consciousness and their holistic experience as a kind of ’embodied liminality ‘.
This is a mixed-methods design collating both quantitative and qualitative data to explore what people experience and any intersections of variables, the strengths and limitations of the methodology itself.
The research data was gathered on site at Broughton Sanctuary – with much gratitude for the support of Roger and Paris Tempest and the Broughton team.
The IF Crowd and Sensory Processing Sensitivity
The ‘innate magic’ of HSPs
Through the IF Crowd club, and the CLS, I explore the role of sensitivity.
20% of the population are ‘highly sensitive’ – a population who think and feel everything very deeply. They take in and process sensory information especially fast and deep: this is information from both the environment around them and yet also, their inner world too. As a highly sensitive person (HSP) myself, I utilise my lens of lived experience to explore both the challenges and gifts of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS). Challenges such as anxiety, self-doubt and sensory anomalies (e.g. synaesthesia, visual snow, tinnitus) -are often corresponding to what’s known as ‘vantage sensitivity’ such as heightened intuition, creativity, empathy and psi (psychic) experiences. Of particular interest for me, is the intersection of psi with sensitivity – and how we might cultivate such experiences of deep interconnection, for personal and collective growth.
<< image: Ginger Joe having an exemplar catnap.
Anomalous Experience Investigation
Private and public consulting
As well as working with experiencers to gently explore and integrate their psychic and anomalous experiences in a coaching capacity, I have field experience in investigating claims of anomalous environmental activity e.g. hauntings. I have consulted for media outlets including Most Haunted and was a leading feature in the BBC’s ‘Psychic Detectives’ show in 2005.
As a conference speaker and contributor to formal investigative organisations, I am a member of the Spontaneous Case Committee at the Society for Psychical Research, and also a private ‘paranormal think-tank’ which has no public face. I have also served as a council member of the Scottish Society for Psychical Research, written for a number of peer and public publications and training guides and have supported ‘ghost-hunting’ groups across the UK and abroad in their investigatory technique, ethics, safety and interpretation of findings.
If you have an experience to report,
please contact the SPR team here: https://www.spr.ac.uk/report-an-experience