theta newsletter no 1-fall 2013

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERAQuarterlyPublicationofthePsychicalResearchFoundationNo.1,Fall2013

TheRevivaloftheThetaAssociation

For justover50 yearsnow, thePsychicalResearch Foundation(PRF) has been actively involved in the effort to scientificallyexplorethequestionof lifeafterdeath.MuchofthisdedicatedeffortbythePRFwouldnothavebeenpossibleifitwerenotforthe continued support of the countless benefactorswho havepersonallyexpressedaninterestintheresearchandeducationalprogramsofthePRFovertheyears.Toacknowledgethesupportof these benefactors and keep them apprised of the PRFsongoingactivities,theThetaAssociationwasformed in1978asthecontributingmembershiporganizationofthePRF.The PRF is pleased to mark the revival of the ThetaAssociation with this inaugural issue of the Theta AssociationNewsletter,whichwillbemadeavailableonaquarterlybasistoallcontributingmembersofthePRFasabenefitoftheirsupport.Inaddition toproviding the latestnewson thePRFsactivities,the Newsletter will provide its readers with interesting andinformativearticlesonvarioustopicsrelatedtoparapsychology,spirituality,andtheissueoflifeafterdeath.Itisalsoexpectedtoofferasectionwithletterstotheeditor,aswellasbriefreviewsofrecentlypublishedbookswhichmaybeofinteresttoreaders.In time, and with the proper resources, the PRF will seek toextendbeyond the limitsof the standardnewsletter formatbyresumingpublicationof its scholarly journal Theta,primarily inelectronicform.Fornow,weopenthisinauguralissueoftheNewsletterwithtwofulllengtharticles.Itisoftensaidthatinordertoprepareforthefuture,wemustlearnaboutthepast,andsothefirstarticletakesa lookback through the50yearexistenceofPRF for thebenefitofreaderswhomaybenew to itsactivehistory. Italsooffersabriefglimpseatwhat liesahead for thePRFas itnowcarriesonwardintothe21stcentury.Neardeath experiences often immediately come to mindwhenoneaskswhatoccursasthemomentofdeathapproaches.Yet there are several other kinds of neardeath phenomenawhichhavebeen frequentlyoverlooked.Oneof these involvesencounters with apparitions at the bedside of terminallyillpatients near the time of death. Are these simply terminalhallucinations,ordotheyoffersomehintofsurvival?Thatisthetopicofthesecondarticle.Wehopeyouenjoythisfirstissue!

INTHISISSUE:

Editorial..............................1PRFNewsBriefs.................2ThePsychicalResearchFoundation:LookingBack,LookingForward3DeathbedPhantasms:TerminalHallucinations,orHarbingersoftheAfterlife?...........................11THETHETAASSOCIATIONThecontributingmembershiporganizationofthePsychicalResearchFoundation2901HaymeadowCarrollton,TX75007

1

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013

PRFNEWSBRIEFS

NewWebsiteforthePRFIn order to broaden its reach through a virtualInternet presence, the Psychical ResearchFoundation (PRF) announces the recentestablishment of its new website. Featurescurrently available on this new site includeconcisesummariesofthePRFscurrentresearchprojects, links to PRFrelated online videos, anddownloadable electronic copies of current andpastPRFpublications,includingcompletearchivalissues of the PRF journal Theta. The content ofthewebsite isbeingcontinuallyupdated,andsowe inviteourreaderstocheckbackregularlyformoreadditions.The new site can be found on the Web athttp://www.psychicalresearchfoundation.com.

PRFpresidentJerryConser

JerryConserElected toRhineCenterBoardofDirectorsThePRF ispleased toannounce that its currentpresident, JerryConser,was recently elected tojointheBoardofDirectorsoftheRhineResearchCenterinaunanimousvoteheldduringanofficialmeetingoftheBoardinNovemberof2012.The Rhine Center, located in Durham, NorthCarolina, remains to be one of themost activeand longestrunningresearchcenters involved inthe field of parapsychology within the UnitedStates. It has had a long historical connectionwiththePRFthroughtheCentersnamesake,Dr.J.B.Rhine,whohadhelpedestablisha fund forsurvivalresearchatDukeUniversity inthe1960s

thatwouldbecomethebasisforthePRF(seethearticle The Psychical Research Foundation:LookingBack,LookingForwardinthisissue).FirstaskedtojointhePRFBoardofDirectorsin1981,ConserhasservedaspresidentofthePRFsince1986.

PRFResearchDirectorWilliamRollin2005

Memorial tribute held for PRFResearchDirectorWilliamRollTheRhineResearchCenterwasthehostofatwodaymemorialtributeeventheldtohonorthelifeand work of the PRFs longtime researchdirector, the late Dr. William Roll, who passedawayonJanuary9,2012attheageof85.Held June 29 30, 2012, the tribute wasattendedbymanycurrentand formermembersoftheRhineandPRFstaffwhogatheredtosharetheir personal memories of Dr. Roll. Also inattendancewereDr.RollsdaughterLise,hissonTertius,andtheirfamilies.A presentation entitled The PsychicalResearch Foundation and its Legacy UnderWilliamG.RollwasalsogivenbyBryanWilliamsaspartofthetribute.WilliamswasoneofRollslast students and collaborators, having workedclosely with Roll since 2004, and Roll officiallyappointedhim tobea researchassociateof thePRF in September of 2008. The supplementalpaper to Williams presentation is currentlyavailabletoviewthroughthePRFwebsite(AdobePDFfile).

2


ThePsychicalResearchFoundation:LookingBack,LookingForward

BYBRYANWILLIAMS

Throughout theages,peoplehavebeen reportingprofoundexperiences thatare suggestiveofsomeformof lifeafterdeath,suchasencounterswithapparitions(orghosts)ofthedeadandapparent communicationwith deceased loved ones throughmediums. Such experiences havelongstirredgreatfascinationamongthegeneralpublic,andraiseinterestingquestionsabouttheirseeminglymysteriousnature:Howmightweexplainthesekindsofexperiences?Dotheyfit intoourcurrentknowledgeaboutthenaturalworld?Andwhatmighttheytellusabouttheessenceofhumanity?Cansomeaspectofhumanconsciousnessreallysurviveafterthedeathofthebody? Itwasnotuntilthe late19thcenturythatempiricalexplorationofthesequestionsreallybegan inearnest,when the Society forPsychicalResearchwas founded in1882byagroupofscholars from Cambridge University in England.1 Among their various activities, these earlypsychicalresearcherscollectedandverifiednumerousaccountsofpersonalexperiencesrelatedtolifeafterdeath,andconductedfieldinvestigationsintocasesofreportedhauntingsandtheclaimsbeing made by mediums and psychics. Although their investigations uncovered many hoaxes,therewereanumberofcasesthatthepsychicalresearcherscameacrosswhichseemedtoposegenuineenigmas.2Fromthis,clearsuggestionarosethat,despitebeinglimitedinquantity,therewere some quality cases out there which were relevant to the issue of survival, and whichdeservedfurtherstudy. Overthepastfivedecades,thePsychicalResearchFoundation(PRF)hassoughttocarryontheeffortsbegunbytheearlypsychicalresearchersofexploringphenomenawhichseemtobearon the question of life after death. In this article,well take a brief look back at some of theachievements in thiseffort that thePRFhasmade throughout itsexistence,andwellglanceatwhats ahead for the future as the PRF continues to strive for better understanding of thesephenomena. TheearliestoriginsofthePRFcanbetracedbacktoJuneof1959,whena symposiumon research related to thequestionof survivalwasheldatDukeUniversity.3InattendanceatthesymposiumwasCharlesE.Ozanne,aretiredOhioschoolteacherwhoreceivedhisformaleducationatYaleandHarvardUniversities,andwhoheldadeeppersonalinterestinthe issueof lifeafterdeath.Mr.Ozannewaswellversed intheworkoftheearlypsychicalresearchers4,andwasawarethattheefforttoresolvethe survival questionwas an ongoing one. However, he held a strongpersonalconvictionthatitwasaworthytasktopursue,ashearguedinanarticleheoncewroteonthetopic(seeNote4):

CharlesOzanne

ThefirstpointwhichIshould liketomake isthatthequestion[ofsurvival] isnotonlyanentirelylegitimateone,but isoftremendous importanceforthehighest interestsofman.Whatmustweknow in order to determinewhether it isworth ourwhile to give serious thought and strongendeavortoany inquiry?Justtwothings, itseemstome:first,whetherthequestionhasenough

3


evidence in itsfavortomake itadebatableproposition.Wedonot,for instance,wasteourtimediscussinghowmanygrainsofsandthereareinagivenpilebecausetheknowledgewouldnotbeworthhaving.Neitherdowetakethetimetoarguewhetherthereisahighlydevelopedcivilizationon the moon, because there is no evidence for it, and what we know about the lack of anatmospheretheremakesitimpossiblethattherecouldbeanylivingcreatures.Butonboththesecountsthequestionofsurvivalqualifies.Therecanbenodoubtastotheenormoussignificanceofthequestion. If itwereonce reallyproved that thehuman spirit survivesdeathand thatactualcommunicationcouldundercertaincircumstancestakeplacewiththosenolonger inthis life,thechangewhichwouldbeeffectedinhumanthoughtwouldbeoverwhelming.Theimpactofsuchaconvictiononpsychologyandonourviewsas to thenatureof themindwouldbestartling.Thecourage,strength,andhope thatwouldcome tomen if, inall thestruggleof lifeandamidst itsfrustrations, we could look forward to progress that was not checked by death, would be ofenormousvalue.5

Mr.OzannespersonalconvictionsoonmotivatedhimtoapproachJ.B.Rhine,thedirectoroftheParapsychologyLaboratoryatDuke,withtheideaofsettingupafundspecificallyforresearchonsurvival,with the supportinggrant coming froma small fortune thatMr.Ozannehadamassedhimself through somewise investments he hadmade. Even though Rhinesmain interestwasstudyingthepsychicabilitiesandexperiencesoflivingpeople,hewasnotopposedtoresearchonthesurvivalquestionandhehelpedMr.OzanneestablishthePsychicalResearchFundatDukeforthispurposeinearly1960. Mr.OzannecloselyfollowedtheplanningandtheprogressbeingmadewiththeFund,andbyAugustof1960,hehaddecidedtosupplement itwithadditionalfinancialbacking inordertoallowfortheincorporationofanindependentorganizationthatwouldbedevotedprimarilytosurvivalresearch.Andasaresult,thePRF formallybeganoperatinginJanuaryof1961.PsychologistJ.GaitherPratt,whohadbeen Rhines assistant at the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory, wasselectedtoserveasthefirstpresidentofthePRF,andOxfordUniversityphilosopherH.H. Pricewas added to the founding PRF Board as vicepresident. William G. Roll, who had been Prices student inparapsychology at Oxford during the 1950s, was made the PRFs firstdirectorofresearch.Thisgreatachievementhadasolemnmomentfollowinitswake,however,asitwasonlyfourmonthsaftertheestablishmentofthePRFthatMr.Ozannepassedawayattheageof95.6

J.GaitherPratt

Despitethelossofoneofitsmainsupporters,effortwasmadebythePRFinthefollowingyears toadvance researchon the survivalquestion:Aprilof1963 saw the firstpublicationofabulletincreatedby thePRFcalledTheta,whichwouldeventuallyevolve intoascholarly journaldevotedentirelytoresearchonsurvival.7Inaddition,aplanningconferenceheldbythePRFinthesummerof1965ledtothedevelopmentofexperimentaldesignsthatwouldbeusedthefollowingyear inaPRFproject intended to test theabilitiesofcertainmediums, including IreneHughes,HerbertBeyer,DouglasJohnson,andlaterinthe1970s,AnnJensen.811 However,inthemidstofthisprogress,thePRFwasfacedwithyetanothersuddenturnofeventsin1964.Havingreachedtheageforretirementmandatedbytheuniversity,J.B.RhinewasfinallyrequiredtoleaveDukethatyear,whichresultedinthelossofthespaceoncampusbeingutilizedbythePRF.Butinavaliantefforttokeeptheorganizationgoing,WilliamRolltookontheresponsibilityofmovingthePRFintotworoomsofhishomeinDurham,NorthCarolina.

4

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013 Fortunately,bytheendofthe1960s,thePRFwasabletoreturntoDukeasasponsoredprogramoftheuniversitysDepartmentofElectricalEngineering(EE),whichcameaboutthroughtheinterestshowninthePRFsworkbyAleksandarVesic,thedeanofthedepartmentatthetime.ThecloseaffiliationthatthePRFheldwiththeDukeEEdepartmenthelpedfacilitatecollaborationwith two professors in the department, WilliamJoines and John Artley, who made valuablecontributions to the study of poltergeists.1214Eventually, thePRFwas able to rent three smallhouseson theDukecampus thatwould serveasitslaboratory,offices,andlibrary.ThestaffofthePRFwasquiteextensiveintheperiodleadingintothe 1970s. Members of the inhouse researchteam includedRobertMorris, Jerry Solfvin,KeithHarary,JohnStump,JudithKlein,andJoanKrieger.JuliaHardyservedasthemanagingeditorforthePRFjournalTheta,andLindaFleishmanwasthePRFs administrator and businessmanager.Generous support for the PRFs research activitiescamefromPRFboardmembersFrankAumanandIrmaHooks.

JuliaHardy,LindaFleishman,&JoanKrieger

TwoparticularlyintriguingcasesofapparentpoltergeistphenomenawereinvestigatedbyWilliamRollduringthisperiod.Inthefirstcase,anumberofsouvenirobjects(suchasbeermugsand ashtrays) were mysteriously falling off storage shelves and breaking in a small shippingwarehouse inMiami,Florida.15 In some instances, theobjectswere found somedistanceawayfromtheshelvesonwhichtheywereinitiallyplaced,suggestingthattheyhadtakenflighttolandwheretheydid.Althoughatfirsttheeventswerethoughttobecarelessaccidents,thewarehouseemployeessoonbegantonoticetheirtendencytooccurmostofteninthepresenceofJulio,a19yearoldCubanboyworkingatthewarehouseasashippingclerk. Tomoreclearlydeterminewhether theeventswereanomalous innature,RollandPRFpresident J. Gaither Pratt conducted a quasiexperiment in which they placed select targetobjectsontheshelvesfromwhichotherobjectshadfallen,inordertoseeifthesetargetobjectswould also fall and break at some later time. Tomaintain a certain level of control over thesituation, Roll and Pratt carefully inspected the area around these shelves to be sure that notrickerydeviceswere inplace,andtheykeptacloseeyeontheactivitiesofJulioandtheotheremployees.At least ten targetobjects fell from theshelvesattimeswhenRollorPratthadthewarehouse employeesunder surveillance, and sevenof theseoccurredwhile theyhad Julio insight. The observation that the disturbances of the souvenir objects occurred most often inproximity to Julio suggested that, rather than being due to any kind of noisy spirit (as theGerman term poltergeist literally implies), poltergeist phenomena were more likely to beassociatedwithalivingperson.Inparticular,RollandPrattsuspectedthattheywerecausedbyalargescale form of psychokinesis (or mind over matter) that sporadically occurs on anunconscious level,forwhichtheycoinedthetermrecurrentspontaneouspsychokinesis(orRSPK,forshort). ThepossibilitythatpoltergeistphenomenaareduetoRSPKonthepartofalivingpersonwasalsoindicatedinthesecondcaseinvestigatedbyRollinOliveHill,Kentucky,aboutayearaftertheMiamicase.16SimilartotheMiamicase,anumberofsmallfragileobjectsweremovingaboutandbreaking inthehomeofJohnandOraCallihan,andtheyseemedtooccurmostoftenwhen

5

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013Roger,theCallihans12yearoldgrandson,wasaround.AcloseeyewaskeptonRogerduringtheinvestigation,andatleasttenobjectsinthehouseweredisturbedwhilehewasbeingwatched.Inoneparticularly impressive instance,Rollwas followingbehindRogeras theboywent into thekitchen.Ashenearedthesink,theboyturnedaroundtolookatRoll,andatthatmoment,alargekitchentable located justtothe leftofRollsuddenlyshotup intotheair. Itrotatedhorizontallyabout45degreesinmidair,andthenquicklydroppeddownontothebacksofthefourchairsthatsurroundedit,withallfourofthetablelegsremainingupandofftheground.RollhadRogerinhisdirect sight theentire time,andnoonehadbeen in thekitchen for severalhoursprior to theevent,suggestingthatitwasnotlikelytohavebeenacleverlydevisedtrick. ProgresswasalsobeingmadeinthelaboratoryduringthisperiodasthePRFcontinueditsstudiesofmediumsandpsychics.Of thoseparticipating in the researchatthis time, the most notable included Noreen Renier, a psychic adept atpsychometry (aka., tokenobject reading)whohasbecomewellknown forher work with various law enforcement agencies17; and Sean LalsinghHarribance, a psychic originally from the West Indies island of Trinidad.Harribances skills in giving psychic readings to unfamiliar people wereextensively tested under increasingly controlled conditions by having himcompletetasksthatsimulatedcertainaspectsofhisreadings.Inonetask,hewasaskedtoguessthesex(maleorfemale)ofthepeopleshowninasetofrandomized photocards which were carefully concealed from view.18 Inanothertask,Harribancewasaskedtoholdobjectsassociatedwithapersonhedidnotknowandgiveareadingforthatpersonwhileheorshewas located inadistantroom.19Theresultswerefoundtobestatisticallysignificantoverall,withoddsgreaterthan50to1againstchance,butevenmoreimpressiveweretheoverallresultsfromthephotocardtask,whichhadoddsgreaterthanabilliontoone!20

SeanHarribance

Another laboratorybased program carried out by the PRF during the early 1970s wasaimedatexploringaphenomenonthatwouldclearlyseemtoberelevanttosurvival:outofbodyexperiences (OBEs).21 Inparticular, theprogramwas focused towardaddressinga fundamentalbutpreviouslyunresolvedissue:DoessomethingactuallyleavethebodyduringanOBE,andisittangibleenough tobedetected?Tobeable toeffectivelyexplore this issue fromanempiricalperspective,itwouldbenecessarytolocateapersonwhowasapparentlyabletohaveanOBEatwill.Fortunately,therewasalreadyamemberofthePRFwhoclaimedtheabilitytodothis.

At the time,KeithHararywasmorewidely knownbyhis childhoodnickname Blue, anicknamehehadbeengiventoreflecthisadmirationoftheskyandthewateraroundthenationalparkheoftenvisitedasaboy.22InadditiontoworkingwiththePRFasaresearchassistant,Hararyhad his own extensive history of psychic experiences,which includedOBEs.His experience ofleaving his body became so commonplace for him that he was apparently able to conditionhimselftoproducetheexperienceatwill.Asheoncepersonallyrecalled:

Tome[theOBE]wasafamiliarstateofmindIhadpracticedsincechildhood.IjustrelaxedmybodyasdeeplyasIcouldandimaginedhowitwouldfeeltobesomeplaceelse.ThemoreIrelaxed,andthemore intenselyIfocused,themoreIfeltasthoughIwereno longer inmybodybutmentallypresentinthatotherplace.23

6


DuringtheexperimentalsessionsofthePRFprogram,Hararywasaskedtotryand leavehisbodyatrandomlydeterminedtimesandprojecthisoutofbodyformtowardadesignatedtarget site located in another laboratory some distance away. Various people, animals, andphysicalinstrumentswereplacedatthistargetsitetoseeiftheycouldpossiblysenseorotherwisedetect thepresenceofHararysoutofbody format the timeshewas trying tovisit the site.Mostof thesepeople,animals,and instrumentsperformednobetter thanchanceduring theseOBEdetectionstudies,buttherewasoneanimalwhichinitiallyseemedtoshowsomeintriguingresponses.These came fromanineweekold kittenbelonging toHarary,whichhehadnamedSpirit. Beforeeachexperimental session,Spiritwasplaced intoa smallwoodenenclosure thathad an arrayof individuallynumbered squares set across the floor. The kittenwas allowed tofreelyroamthroughouttheenclosureduringthesessionand itsbehaviorwascloselymonitoredby the researchers. Particular attentionwas paid to how often the kitten meowed and howmanyofthenumberedsquares itwalkedacrossduringthecourseofthesession.Meanwhile, inanotherlaboratory,HararycontinuallyrelaxedandwasaskedatrandomhisoutofbodyformtowardtheroomwhereSpiritwaslocated. The sessions with Spirit

timestotryandproject

produced rather striking results:hroug

htheudden

theDukeUniversityDepar

initially examining the situation, Roll did not find the case to bDuring a lengthy vigil by themedia to try and observe the disturbances, a T

Dr.RobertMorrismonitoringSpiritduringanOBEsessionT hout the sessions,Spirithadmeoweda totalof37 times.

However, at the timeswhenHararywas attempting to visit theroom inhisoutofbody form,Spiritbecame significantlyquieter,notevenmeowingonce!Moreover,thekittenbecame lessactiveduringtheseattemptedvisitperiods,crossinganaverageof0.21squaresintheenclosure,ascomparedtoanaverageof3.5squaresduring other periods. These indications of Spirit becomingmuchquieterandmuchlessactivesuggestthatthekittenwasapparentlyresponding to something at the times thatHararywas trying toprojecthimselftotheroominhisoutofbodyform. ThefirstshiftinthePRFpresidencycameabruptlywits deathofJ.GaitherPrattinNovemberof1979.PsychiatristIanStevenso ityofVirginia,whobecamethePRFvicepresidentinMayof1979followingtherPrice, assumed the role of acting president for a short time until UnivermathematicianThomasN.E.Grevillewaschosentobethesecondpresidentoft ThePRFwasable to remainaffiliatedwithEngineering up until the time of the death of Aleksandar Vesic in 1982, atrelocated to an office in the Methodist Center in Chapel Hill (near the UCarolina),where it remained throughoutmostof the early 1980s. ItwasdurWilliamRollwascalledupontoinvestigatethepoltergeistdisturbancesreportedColumbus,OhiohomeofJohnandJoanResch.Amongthedisturbances,largewere being displaced and various lights and electrical appliances wmalfunctioning.Although theredidntseemtobeany apparentcauseforthemnoticedthatthedisturbancesmostoftenoccurredaroundTina,theReschs14daughter. UponnoftheUniverstmentofElectrical

e very promising.V news crew had

esignationofH.H.sity of WisconsinhePRF.

which time itwasniversity of Northing this time thatlyoccurringinthepiecesoffurnitureere mysteriouslyatfirst,itwassoonyearoldadopted

7

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013captured film footageofTina trying to simulateadisturbancebypullingdown anearby lamp.Someof the reportedoccurrencesduring the first fewdaysofRollsvisitalsoseemed like theycouldhavebeenstaged.Butnot longafterward,Rollwitnessedasmallnumberofdisturbancesthathecouldnoteasilydismissasbeingfraudulent.Amongthem,anemptyteacupthatRollhadplacedonTinasnightstandhadmovedfrom itsplacewhilehewaswatchingTinamopupsomewatershehadspilledinherroom.Hearingthesoundofitland,RollturnedtofindtheteacuplyingonapileofclothesinTinascloset,twelvefeetfromwherehehadfirstplaceditonthenightstand.Tinas hands had been occupied with mopping at the time of the incident, and a bed stoodbetween her and the nightstand, so itwas not possible for her to have grabbed the cup andthrown it without Roll noticing. Roll later described this and other poltergeist disturbancesapparentlyfocusedaroundTinaingreaterdetailinhis2004bookUnleashed.24 ThePRFagainbecameaffiliatedwithacademia in1986when itsfacilitiesweremovedtoWestGeorgiaCollege(nowknownastheUniversityofWestGeorgia)throughtheeffortsofMyron

hauntini

re

toabruptlymoveormalfunction.This

giato look intothehauntingoccurrencesbeingexperie

(Mike)Arons,thechairofWestGeorgiaspsychologydepartmentatthetime,andcurrentPRFpresident JerryConser (whosucceededGreville in1986).ThroughsupportprovidedbythePRF,WilliamRollwasappointedProfessorofPsychologyandPsychicalResearchbythecollege,andheactivelytaughtcoursesinparapsychologyupuntilthetimeofhisretirementin2000.

During his time at West Georgia, Roll became particularly active in field research,conducting investigations into reported cases of

gsthroughtheauspicesofthePRF.25Rollfoundthat, in many of these cases, the reported haunt ngactivity (which included apparitions, temperaturechanges, strange sounds, odd smells, electricaldisturbances, and occasional object movements) waslikely due to the p sence of unusually high magneticfieldsattheallegedhauntsite.Suchfields,whichcanbepotentially hazardous to oneshealthduring longtermexposure, may have altered the perceptions of thepeople inhabiting the allegedly haunted location byaffectingtheirbrainactivity.Inaddition,suchhighfieldscoin theobjectspresentwithin the location, causing themsuggestedthatmanyreportedhauntingswere likelytohaveanordinaryphysicalbasistothem,ratherthanbeingtheworkofspiritsofthedead.

Therewere,however,a fewcasesofnotableexception. Inonesuchcase,knownastheGordycase,Rollwasaskedbyafamily inGeor

WilliamRolltakingmagnetic

sfieldreadingduringahauntinvestigation

uldhaveinducedstrongphysicaleffects

ncedprimarilybythefamilysyoungdaughter.Shortlyaftermovingintotheirnewhome,thegirlhadencounteredtwomeninherneighborhoodwhobefriendedher,andwhohadneverbeenseenbyanyoneelse.Shedescribedbothmenasbeingsolidand lifelike,witheachhavingtheir own unique physical appearance. Eventually, through a series of documents, the girlsmotherwasableto learnthatthetwomen,whobythenwerebothdeceased,had lived intheneighborhoodmanyyearsago.Inaddition,solelybasedonherdescriptionsofthem,thegirlwasabletocorrectlypickoutthetwomenfromrandomcollectionsofportraitphotographs.Tryashemight,Rollwasunabletofindanyplausiblewayinwhichthegirlcouldhavelearnedaboutthetwomenbeforehermotherhadverified their identities.This suggests that theremayhavebeena

8

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013possibleparapsychologicalcomponenttothegirlsexperiences,andthattheapparitionsofthesetwomen sheencounteredmayhave represented somepersisting (or surviving)aspectof theirpersonalities.26Thisfurthersuggeststhattheremaybeasmallproportionofhauntingcaseswhicharerelevanttotheissueoflifeafterdeath,andthusdeservefurtherinvestigation.

ItisatestamentofhisdedicationtothePRFthatRollloyallyheldthepositionofresearchdirector rightup to the timeofhispassing in Januaryof2012. Following the tradition thathestarted,

t something really does leave the body during an OBE.Conduc

runderstandingofwhatgoeson inside thebrainsofmediumsandpsychicswhilet

cialmirrorgazing technique, and a longtermffort t

thePRFisnowmovingforwardwithseveralnewresearchprojectsinitscontinualquesttoexploretheissueoflifeafterdeath.

Oneoftheseprojects involvesanewkindofOBEdetectionstudywhich isdesignedtoexplore the issue of whether or no

ted in collaborationwith theRhineResearchCenter inNorthCarolina and theMonroeInstituteinVirginia,theobjectiveofthisparticularprojectistomonitorforanypossiblechangesinweightthatmayoccurduringOBEsbycarefullyweighingselectedparticipantsonacustombuiltscalebefore,during,andaftertheirattemptstoleavetheirbodiesusingtechniquestheylearnedthrough programs offered at the Monroe Institute. Pilot sessions for this project began inSeptemberof2012andarecurrentlyongoing,withpreliminaryresultstobereportedsometimeinthenearfuture.

A second ongoing project, which began its pilot phase in April of 2013, is aimed atdevelopingabette

heyareattemptingtoapplytheirpsychicabilitiesduringreadings.Todothis,thisprojectseekstocloselyexaminethebrainwaveactivityofcertainpsychicsandmediumsusingcomputerbasedquantitativeelectroencephalography (orQEEG, for short).Digitalanalysisand imagingofthecollectedQEEGdatamayhelpshed lightonwhethertheremaybeanybrainwavepatternsspecificallylinkedtopsychicfunctioning,andrevealanywaysinwhichthebrainsofmediumsandpsychicsmaydifferfromthoseofordinarypeople. OtherprojectsthatthePRFcurrentlyhasplannedincludeacloserempiricalexaminationofapparitionlike visions experienced through a spee o continueWilliamRolls field investigationsof reportedhauntingandpoltergeist cases.Additional details about all of these projects may be found on the PRFs website:http://www.psychicalresearchfoundation.com.

Manyunansweredquestions still remainaboutwhatmayhappen n theperiodbeyonddeath,andforthepast50years,thePRFhasb

ieenincontinualpursuitoftheanswers,thanksto

theded

oundersofPsychicalResearch.NewYork:SchockenBooks.recenthistoricalaccountoftheearlypsychicalresearchersactivitiesthatislayreaderaccessiblecanbe

ntificProofofLifeAfterDeathbyDeborahBlum(NewYork:PenguinBooks,2006).

icationofWilliamRollandthemanyotherpeoplewhohavebeenapartofthePRFstaffinthatlasthalfcentury.WithitsvirtualpresenceontheWebandadevelopingresearchprogram,itishopedthatthePRFspursuitwillcarryonasthe21stcenturycontinuestoleadsciencetowardmoredatawithwhichtoaddressthequestionofsurvival.References&Notes1Gauld,A.(1968).TheF2A

found in thebookGhostHunters:William Jamesand theSearch forScie

9

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL20133Severalofthepaperspresentedatthissymposiumwerepublishedthefollowingyear(1960)intheissues

comprisingVolume24oftheJournalofParapsychology.annesfamiliaritywiththepsychicalresearchliteratureisevi4Mr.Oz dencedbyanarticleheoncewrotethat

research.Theta,9,27.

6Stacy2009which

ldetailsaboutMr.Ozanne,hisconnectionstotheDukeLab,andtheeventsthatled

presentedhispersonalviewsonthesurvivalquestion,whichwaslaterreprintedinthePRFjournalTheta.SeeOzanne,C.E.(1981).Alaymanlooksatpsychical

5Ozanne,ibid.,p.3.Horn, author of a book about the history of the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory entitledUnbelievable (NewYork:EccoBooks,2009),hadputupapostonherblog in JulyofgivesadditionatotheeventualfoundingofthePRF.Thispostisstillaccessible(asofAugust2013)onherwebsite:http://www.echonyc.com/~horn/unbelievable/?p=775.meTheta,fromthefirstletteroftheGreekwordThanatos,meaningdeath,wasadoptedbythePRFforthebulletinbecauseitseemedtoaptlyrefer,inaconciseandconvenientway,tothescopeofthesubjectmatterthatwouldbetheprimaryfocusof

7Thena

thebulletin(andlater,thejournal).

9Roll,W ).Free

11Hardy,12Artley 968). Mathematical models and the attenuation effect in two RSPK

31.tial forces in theMiamipoltergeist.

14Joines, s.)Researchin

15Roll,W mericanSociety forPsychical

17Thedele, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing

tofherparticipationinthePRFresearchinChapter4of

18Stump

972). Further forcedchoice ESP experimentswith LalsinghHarribance. Journal of the

19Roll,W

20Amor andtheirresultscanbefoundonpages7

8PlanningConferenceforResearchwithMediums.ThetaNo.10,Summer1965.pp.12;FoundationBeginsMediumisticProject.ThetaNo.12,Winter1966.pp.12..G.(1966).Parapsychologicalstudiesoftwomediums.ThetaNo.15,23;Roll,W.G.(1971verbalresponseand IdentiKittestswithamedium.JournaloftheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,65,185191.

10DouglasJohnsonJoinsMediumisticProject.ThetaNo.13,Spring1966.pp.12.J.M.(1979).Exploringmediumship:AnnJensen.Theta,7,12., J. L., & Roll, W. G. (1(poltergeist)cases.ProceedingsoftheParapsychologicalAssociationNo.5,29

13Roll,W.G.,Burdick,D.S.,& Joines,W.T. (1973).Radialand tangenJournaloftheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,67,267281.W.(1975).Awavetheoryofpsienergy.InJ.D.Morris,W.G.Roll,&R.L.Morris(EdParapsychology1974(pp.147149).Metuchen,NJ:ScarecrowPress..G.,&Pratt, J.G. (1971).TheMiamidisturbances. Journalof theAResearch,65,409454.SeealsoChapters9and10 inRoll,W.G. (1972/2004).ThePoltergeist.NewYork:NelsonDoubleday,Inc./ParaviewSpecialEditions.

16SeeChapter11inRoll,W.G.(1972/2004),ibid.tailsofNoreenReniersworkwithlawenforcementcanbefoundinherbookAMindforMurder:The RealLife Files of a Psychic Investigator (CharlottesvilCompany,2008).Shegivesabriefaccounthebook.,J.P.,Roll,W.G.,&Roll,M.(1970).SomeexploratoryforcedchoiceESPexperimentswithLalsinghHarribance. Journalof theAmericanSociety forPsychicalResearch,64,421431;Roll,W.G.,&Klein, J. (1AmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,66,103112..G.,Morris,R.L.,Damgaard,J.A.,Klein, J.,&Roll,M. (1973).FreeverbalresponseexperimentswithLalsinghHarribance.JournaloftheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,67,197207.edetailedsummaryofthetasksperformedbyHarribance10ofthearticleThePsychicalResearchFoundationand itsLegacyUnderWilliamG.Roll:PastFindingsandFutureDirections,whichisavailableonlineatthislink(AdobePDFfile).

21Morris,R.L.,Harary,S.B.,Janis,J.,Hartwell,J.,&Roll,W.G.(1978).Studiesofcommunicationduringoutofbodyexperiences.JournaloftheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,72,121., K. (2005, November/December). Mind games: My journey through the psychic22Harary wilderness.PsychologyToday,pp.7485.

10

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL201323Harary,ibid.,p.78.

.,&Storey,V. (2004).UnleashedOfPoltergeistsandMurder:TheCuriousStoryof24Roll,W TinaResch.

25Concis auntingcases investigatedbyRollduringthisperiodcanbefound163ofRoll,W.G.,&Persinger,M.A. (2001). Investigationsofpoltergeistsand

23163).Jefferson,NC:McFarland&Company,Inc.

NewYork:ParaviewPocketBooks.esummariesofseveralofthehonpages154haunts:A review and interpretation. In J.Houran&R. Lange (Eds.)Hauntings andPoltergeists:MultidisciplinaryPerspectives(pp.1

26AdditionaldetailsandfurtherdiscussionoftheGordycaseareavailable inacasestudyarticle,which isavailableonthePRFwebsiteatthislink(AdobePDFfile).

DeathbedPhantasms:MereTerminalHallucinations,orHarbinger eAfterlife?

Encounterswithappar rietyofcontexts.Ofcourse,themostfamiliarandthemost thecontextofahaunting,whereeapparitionofadeceasedpersoni placethatthepersononceinhabited life. Some spontaneous encounters with apparitions occur within the context of a crisis

poor fellow lookedup intomy face,and, takingmyhand inbothofhis,hesaid:Youvebeenagoodfriendtome,doctor.Youvestoodbyme.ThensomethinghappenedwhichI

softh

BYBRYANWILLIAMS

itions (orghosts)of thedeadcanoccurunderavastereotypediswithin

scontinuallyseeninathinsituation,whereapersonsapparitionisseenatthetimethatheorsheisinthemidstofacrisisoratraumaticexperience.1Otherencountersmayoccur inthemomentsafterapersonhasdied.2Butprobablylesswellknownaretheinstancesinwhichanapparitionhasappearedtoapersonatornear themomentofdeath.3A typicalexampleof thiskindofappearance (in itsmostbasicform)isthefollowingaccount,givenbyaNewYorkphysicianattendingtoadyingmanattheturnofthelastcentury:

Itwasaboutfouroclock,andthedawnforwhichhe[thepatient]hadbeenwatchingwascreepinginthroughtheshutters,when,asIbentoverthebed,Inoticedthathisfacewasquitecalmandhiseyesclear.The

shallnever forgettomydyingdayhappened;somethingwhich isutterly indescribable.Whileheappeared perfectly rational and as sane as anyman I have ever seen, the onlyway that I canexpressitisthathewastransportedintoanotherworld,andalthoughIcannotsatisfactorilyexplainthemattertomyself, IamfullyconvincedthathehadenteredtheGoldenCityforhesaid inastrongervoice thathehadusedsince Iattendedhim: There ismother!Why,mother,haveyoucometoseeme?No,no,Imcomingtoseeyou.Justwait,mother,Iamalmostover.Icanjumpit.Wait,mother.Onhis facetherewasa lookof inexpressiblehappiness,andtheway inwhichhesaidthewordsimpressedmeasIhaveneverbeenbefore,andIamasfirmlyconvincedthathesawandtalkedwithhismotherasIamthatIamsittinghere.InordertopreservewhatIbelievedtobehisconversationwithhismother,andalsotohavearecord of the strangest happening of my life, I immediately wrote down every word he hadsaidHiswasoneofthemostbeautifuldeathsIhaveeverseen.4,p.73,italicsinoriginal

11

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013Animp edyingman on theurface, oradruginducedstateatthetime,

ortantthingtonoteinthisaccountisthat,accordingtotheattendingphysician,thappeared perfectly rational and as sane as anyman I have ever seen,which,suggeststhatthemanwasnotinaterminaldeliriums

andwasthereforenotrespondingtoapathologicalhallucination. Reportsofthesedeathbedvisionsstretchallthewaybacktotheearlydaysofpsychicalresearch,butitwasthepioneeringeffortsofpsychicalresearcherssuchasErnestoBozzano4andJamesHyslop5 that helped draw broader attention to these experiences and encourage otherresearcherstobegincompilingandsystematicallystudyingthem. Inhisstudy,Hyslopnotedthatindividualswho are dying have a tendency to see apparitions of deceased people rather thanthoseoftheliving,whichsuggestedtohimthatdeathbedvisionsweresupportiveofthepossibilityof lifeafterdeath.PhysicistandpsychicalresearcherSirWilliamBarrettalsomadean importantposthumouscontributionwithhis1926bookDeathBedVisions, inwhichhealsorecognizedthetendencyfordyingindividualstoseeapparitionsofthedead.6

Eventowardthepresenttime, itseemsthatencounterswithdeathbedapparitionshavenot faded away, and are still reportedby a considerablenumberofpeople. In the late1950s,researcherKarlisOsishadconductedapreliminarysurveyofphysiciansandnursesintheU.S.whoadcarh edfor35,540terminallyillpatients.Ofthesepatients,1,318ofthemhadseenadeathbed

apparition,and884hadarelatedvisionoftheafterlife.7Collaboratingwith IcelandicresearcherErlendurHaraldsson,OsisexpandedthissurveyadecadelatertoincludeinterviewsofphysiciansandnursesinIndiaandtheU.S.Theresultsofthissecondstudyindicatedthat,inspiteofobviousculturaldifferences,therewasareasonabledegreeofconsistencywithOsisfirstsurvey, inthatseveralfundamentalcharacteristicsoftheapparitionalexperienceswerethesameincludingthetendency for thedyingpatients toseeapparitionsof thedead,rather than thoseof the living.8(Additionalcharacteristicswillbediscussedbelow.) Morerecently,inherbookAfterlifeEncounters,researcherDianneArcangelstatedthat,inherpreviousandextensiveexperienceasahospicechaplain,Ihaveneversatwithadyingpatientwhowasnotintheaccompanimentofanapparitionastheirtime[ofdeath]grewnear.9,p.120Shertherfu addedthatterminalpatientsseemtoexperiencedeathbedapparitionsandotherafterlife

relatedvisionssocommonlythathospicestaffandvolunteersconsider[afterlifeencounters]asignalthatdeathisdrawingnearerandincreasethefrequencyoftheirvisits.9,p.110

At the very least, the consistency of these deathbed visions across the generationssuggeststhatsomethingof interest isgoingonhere.Whiletheexactcontentoftheexperienceshasvariedacrosscases,studiesofcasecollectionstendtoindicatethattheyhavesomeinterestingcharacteristics,whichmaybebestillustratedthroughanecdotalaccounts.

As with apparitions seen in other contexts10, apparitional figures appearing at thedeathbedcanoftenlooksolidandlifelike.Insomerarecases,however,onlycertainpartsofthefigurehavebeenseen,asinadeathbedcaseexaminedbythelateresearcherIanStevensonoftheUniversity of Virginia, in which a young woman witnessed an apparition of her grandmotherstanding beforeherdying grandfathers bed.As the youngwoman generally recountedof theexperience:

Granddaddycalledmetogivehimadrinkofwater.Ifailedinmyattemptstolifthimenoughtowethislips.Thediseasehadreducedhisoncetall,strongstatureto[thatof]afrail,weakinvalid.Icalled

12


momatworktoaskforhelp,butshetoldmeitwouldhavetowaituntildad[theyoungwomans

roomwas filledwithawarm,bright light.He spoke to

WhenS edthatthevisi a brightwhite lightandthatherface isthereandIeeherhands.IcanseeanimageofarmsbutIdontseeclothing.Sheiseitherinallwhiteorthe

sychic

shewasinacoma.Iwenttogetacupofteaandmyhusbandremainedintheroomwithher,sayingtherosaryatherbedside.

eweretrying

hedidheartherustleofherdress.Shewas in

ground

ions orldly realmsof the afterlife. In their1977bookAt theHourofeath,OsisandHaraldssonciteanaccountgivenbyanursetreatinga76yearoldwomanwhoadsuf

atshewouldrecoverandreturntoherdaughterwhobadlyneededherathome.Suddenlyshestretchedoutherarmsand,smiling,calledtome.CantyouseeCharlie[her

stepfather]returnedfromworkatnoon.Shortlythereafter Iheardgranddaddycallingouttohiswife,Hazel.Grandmomhaddiednineyearsprior[onOctober13,1956],soIthoughthemustbelosinghismind.Irandownthehalltomakeanotherattempt tohelphim.Thegrandmom,whowasstandingatthefootofhisbed.Neitherofthemacknowledgedmypresence.Shewastherebutabriefmoment,andwhengranddaddy laidbackdown,hissoulescapedwithher.Hediedwithasmileonhisface.11,p.360

tevensonaskedherformoredetailsabouttheexperience,theyoungwomanrecallonofhergrandmotherwas in very

swhitelightissobrightIcantseetheclothing.11,p.360

In many deathbed visions, any sounds or utterances that seem to emanate from theapparitionareusuallyonlyheardbythedyingpatient.But insomecases,otherwitnesseshaveheard them, aswell.Oneexampleof this comes from a case in the collectionof spontaneousp experiencessentover theyears to theRhineResearchCenter inNorthCarolina.As thewomanwhosentintheexperiencestatedinherletter:

Myaunt,whohelpedraiseme,wasdyingofacerebralhemorrhage.Wehadallbeenupforfivedaysandnightswithher.Thecandleswereflickering,and

Allofa sudden,he randown the stairspastus,appearingpaleandvisibly shaken.Whenwecouldfinallygethimtotalk,hesaidthatwhilehewaspraying,myauntseemedtocomeoutofthecomaandstartedflailingherarmsaroundintheair,holdingthemwideopenasifshtoreachsomeone,andcrying,Mom!Oh,Mom.Myhusbandfeltabreeze,andsuddenlyalittlewomanstoodnexttohim,lessthanfivefeettallwithaplaidshawloverherhead,wringingherhands,andmyhusbandsawtearsrunningdownherface.Althoughheheardnothingfromthewoman,black.Hesaidthatheprayedhardthathecouldmusterthestrengthtogetoutoftheroom.Whenable,herushedoutanddownthestairs.Hedescribedtheexperiencetorelativesatourhouse,andanotherauntsaid,Well,thatwashermother. She has been dead since 1910.Whenwewent back upstairs,Momwas deadwith apeacefulsmileonherface.12,pp.266267,emphasisadded

In some cases, the dying patients apparently saw the apparitions against backdepicting the otherwvis

Dh feredaheartattack:

[Thewomans]consciousnesswasvery,veryclearnosedation,nohallucinogenichistory.Shewascheerfulandconfidentth

deadhusband]therewithoutstretchedarms? Imwonderingwhy Ihavent gonehomebefore.Describing thevisionshesaid,Whatabeautifulplacewithall the flowersandmusic.Dontyouhearit?Oh,girls,dontyouseeCharlie?Shesaidhewaswaitingforher.Ifeelshedefinitelysawherhusband.8,pp.8081

13

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013In a su earoldwoman omin estinalcancer:

hadthemostpeaceful,nicestsmile,justasifsheweregoingtothearmsofsomeoneshethoughtagreatdealof.Shesaid,Guy,Iamcoming.Shedidnt

notbe

expecte a scientificerspectivebecauseoftheirpurelyanecdotalnatureaspersonalaccounts.Butthisdoesnotmean

thatwe

emajorityofthedeathbedvisionsexaminedin

e

Study #Cases Relatives Friends Strangers

mmaryofhisearlierpreliminary survey,Osis cited another case involving a60ysufferingfr t

Allofasudden (thedoctor reports)sheopenedhereyes.Shecalledher (deceased)husbandbynameandsaidshewascomingtohim.She

seemtorealize Iwasthere. Itwasalmostas ifshewere inanotherworld. Itwasas ifsomethingbeautifulhadopeneduptoher;shewasexperiencingsomethingsowonderfulandbeautiful.13,p.1

As intriguingastheyare, its importanttonotethatcasesofdeathbedvisionscand to carry a lotof valueon theirown asevidence for life afterdeath from

pcantlearnanythingfromthem,however.

For instance,onethingthatmaybenoticeablefromthepersonalaccountspresentedsofar isthat ineachone,thedyingpatienthaswitnessedanapparitionofsomeoneheorshewasrelatedto.ItturnsoutthatthispatternholdsforththestudiesconductedbyOsisandHaraldsson.7,8Inhispreliminarysurvey,Osisfoundthatofthedeathbedapparitionsseen,90%wererelativesofthedyingpatient,withmostofthembeingcloserelatives (i.e., parents, siblings, spouses, or children). Similarly, over half (around 60%) of thedeathbedvisions inOsisandHaraldssonssubs quent interviewstudy involvedcloserelativesofthe dying patient. Moreover, as Table 1 shows, this pattern is consistentwith other kinds ofapparitionalexperiences.

Table1.RelationsBetweenApparitionsandthePeopleWitnessingThem(%Cases)14

Osis &Haraldsson(1977)DeathbedVisions 418 60 7 21Persinger(1974)Crisis&PostmortemApparitions 193 47 18 13Arcangel(2005)Crisis,Postmortem,&HauntingApparitions 590 58 13Haraldsson(2012)Crisis,Postmortem,&HauntingApparitions 449 51 9 24AveragePercentage 54 11 18

Comparing & study; second inTable 1) with those seen in three other contexts (Rows 3, 4, & 5), it can be seen that thepparitionsarerelativesofthepersonseeingtheminapproximatelyhalfofthecases.

t).Someofeper

tional and cleareaded

theapparitions seen indeathbed visions (Osis Haraldssons row

a Inaddition,severaloftheapparitionswerereportedbythedyingpatientstobeatakeawayfigure,meaningthattheapparitionsapparentpurposeforappearingwastogreetandhelpleadthedyingpatientawaytotheafterlife(butnotalwayswiththepatientsconsenth sonalaccountspresentedinthisarticlecertainlyseemsuggestiveofthis. Someof themost important findings toemerge from these studiesofdeathbedvisionsconcerns not the apparitions, but the patients themselves. In some of the personal accountspresented here, it has been noted that the dying patients appeared to be rah when they encountered the deathbed apparitions. The studies conducted byOsis andHaraldsson seem to furtherconfirm that,according to theattendingphysiciansandnurses, thedyingpatientsexperienceswerenot likely tohavebeen influencedbymedical factors suchas

14

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013medication,highfever,andsymptomsofillness.Norwerethereanyindicationsthatthepatientsexperiencesweresignificantlyaffectedbydemographicfactors(e.g.,age,gender,&education)orby psychological factors (e.g., stress, desires, & expectations). In other words, these findingssuggestthatthedyingpatientsinthesecasescamefromallwalksoflife,andthattheywerenotmedicated,delirious,or seriously ill at the time they saw the apparition,norwere theyunderstressorexpectingtoseeonewhenitoccurred.IntheeyesofOsisandHaraldsson,thisseemedtolendconsiderablecredencetowardthepossibilityoflifeafterdeath. Anotherintriguingaspectofsomedeathbedvisionsthatsomepeoplehaveconsideredtobesupportiveofthepossibilityoflifeafterdeathiswhenadyingpatientseestheapparitionofa

swife]saidtome:Wehavesomepeoplestayinghere all week. Do you know anyone I could get to sing with the girls? I suggested that my

In the bingdeathbedvisions like thisone ,19thcenturyauthorandocialcommentatorFrancesPowerCobbehadcalled them Peak inDarienvisionsbecause to

deceasedpersonatatimewhenthepatient isunawarethatthepersonhasalreadydied.15Onedetailed example of this comes from Eleanor Sidgwick in the annals of psychical research,followinganaccountgiven inthe late19thcenturybyan Irishcolonelconcerninghiswifeandafamilyacquaintance.Hisaccountisasfollows:

SomesixteenyearssinceMrs. [thecolonel

gunmaker,Mr.X.,hadadaughterwithafinevoice,whowastrainingasapublicsinger,andthatifshe,Mrs., liked,IwouldwritetoX.,andaskifhewouldallowhertocomedownandspendaweekwithus.OnmywifesapprovalIwrote,andMissX.camedownforaweek,andthenleft.AsfarasIknow,Mrs.neversawheragain.MissX.didnotcomeoutasasinger,butshortlyaftermarriedMr.HenryWebley,andnoneofuseversawheragain.Sixorsevenyearspassedaway,andMrs.,whohadbeenlongill,wasdying,infactshediddiethefollowingday.Iwassittingatthefootofherbedtalkingoversomebusinessmattersthatshewasanxioustoarrange,beingperfectlycomposedandinthoroughpossessionofhersenses;infact,she was right, and my solicitor, who advised that the step she wanted to be taken was notnecessary,waswrong. She changed the subjectand said, Do youhear those voices singing? IrepliedthatIdidnot;andshesaid:Ihaveheardthemseveraltimestoday,andIamsurethattheyareangelswelcomingmetoHeaven;butsheaddeditisstrange,thereisonevoiceamongstthemIamsureIknow,andcannotrememberwhosevoiceitis.Suddenlyshestopped,andsaid,pointingstraightovermyhead:Whythereshe is, inthecorneroftheroom; it is JuliaX.;she iscomingon;she is leaningoveryou;shehasherhandsup;she ispraying;do look;she isgoing.Iturnedbutcouldseenothing.Mrs.thensaid:Sheisgone.AllthesethingsIimaginedtobethephantasiesofadyingperson.Twodaysafterwards,takinguptheTimesnewspaper,IsawrecordedthedeathofJulia,thewifeofMr.Webley.IwassoastoundedthatadayorsoafterthefuneralIwentuptoandaskedMr.X.ifMrs.Webley,hisdaughter,wasdead.Hesaid:Yes,poorthing,shediedofpuerperalfever.On theday shedied shebegan singing in themorning,and sangand sanguntil shedied. InasubsequentcommunicationColonel adds:Mrs. JuliaWebleydiedonFebruary2nd,atsixorthereaboutinthemorning,1874.Mrs.diedFebruary13th,1874,ataboutfourintheevening.Isaw the notice of Mrs. Webleys death on February 14th. Mrs. never was subject tohallucinationsofanysort.16,p.92

sectionofherbookdescri 17

sher, they seemed toofferwondroushintsabout theafterlife.18Bozzano4,Hyslop5,andBarrett6alsotookspecialnoteofPeakinDariencasesintheirearlystudiesofdeathbedvisions.Butapartfrom the possibility of survival after death, its also possible that the dying patientmay havebecomeawareofthedeathofthepersonthroughESP,whichmanifestedintheformofavisual

15

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL2013apparition.Regardlessofthemodalityinvolved,PeakinDariencasesseemtoaddanelementtodeathbedvisionsthatbecomesdifficulttoaccountforthroughconventionalexplanationssuchasmerepathologicalhallucinationsomethingmorecomplexseemstobeinvolvedhere. Itmaybeofinteresttonotethatdeathbedvisionsseemtosharesomecharacteristicswithanotherkindofexperienceinwhichpeopleclosetodeathsometimesseeotherswhoareknown

bed

duringtheNDEtendedtoberelativesofthepersonseeingthem;

(suchasbrightlightorseeingatunnel);

seewhoheorshe

Thecentral endeathbedvisionsandNDEs involvingencounterswithdeceasedeopleincludethefollowing:

stigated by trauma and sudden health problems, whereas manyterminalpatientsarenotfacedwiththese lifethreateningsituationswhentheyhave

2.) iews;thesearelackingindeathbedvisions.

Althoughit thercomparisonofdeathbedvisionswithNDEsayfindthatdeathbedvisionsareamuch lesserformofNDE,only lackingtherichersubjective

s

merous apparitional case reports described by psychical researchers Edmund Gurney,Frederic Myers, and Frank Podmore in their classic twovolume work Phantasms of the Living (London:

fo

to ead:neardeathexperiences(NDEs).ResearcherEmilyKellyattheUniversityofVirginiasDivision of Perceptual Studies once performed a study specifically of NDE cases in which thepersonwhowasneardeathreportedmeetingdeceasedindividualsaspartoftheNDE.19Similartodeathbedvisions,KellyfoundthatinNDEcasesofthistype:

1.) mostofthedeceasedindividualswhowereseen

2.) theNDEismorelikelytocontainoneormorebackgroundaspectsthataresuggestiveofanotherworldlyrealm

3.) psychological factors,suchasexpectationanddesire,donotalways influencewho isseenduringtheNDE(e.g.,duringanNDE,apersondoesntalwayshadhopedtosee)

differencesbetwep

1.) NDEs are often in

theirdeathbedvision.NDEs can include more encompassing experiential elements such as outofbodyexperiencesandliferev

3.) NDEsoftentakeplacewhileapersonisunconscious,whereaspeoplewhoexperiencedeathbedvisionsareawakeandalert.

isnotclearbyanymeans,perhapsfurmfactorsthatNDEstendtohave,andwithoutthetraumaticonset.Moreindepthstudyneedstobedonetoshedmorelightondeathbedvisionsandanyrelationtheymay(ormaynot)havetoNDEs,andperhapsrevealmoreabouttherelevancebothkindsofexperiencesmayhaveonthequestionoflifeafterdeath.References&Note1See, for example, the nu

Trbner&Company,1886).2See, rexample,theaccountsofapparitionalencounterscompiledinthebookTheDepartedAmongtheLiving:An

InvestigativeStudyofAfterlifeEncountersbyIcelandicresearcherErlendurHaraldsson(Guildford,UK:WhiteCrowBooks,2012).

16

THETHETAASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTERFALL20133Forexamplesofothercontexts,aswellasfurtherdiscussionofencounterswithapparitions,seeWilliams,B.,Ventola,

A.,&Wilson,M.(2009).ApparitionalExperiences:APrimeronParapsychologicalResearchandPerspectives,whichisavailablefordownloadinAdobePDFformatonthePsychicalResearchFoundationwebsite.

5Hyslop,6Barrett,

York:

rk:AvonBooks.

J. (1994). The phenomenology of

any,Inc.

12Feathe

9),Haraldsson(Note2),andPersinger,M.A.(1974).TheParanormal:PartIPatterns.Newfamilymembersandreligiousorunidentified

15Greyso

16Sidgwic 885). Notes on the evidence, collected by the Society, for phantasms of the dead.

17Cobbe, rien.London:Williams&Norgate.

)witnessthesightofthePacificOceanforthe

4Bozzano,E.(1906).Apparitionsofdeceasedpersonsatdeathbeds.AnnalsofPsychicalScience,3,67100.J.H.(1907).Visionsofthedying.JournaloftheAmericanSocietyforPsychicalResearch,1,4555.W.F.(1926).DeathBedVisions.London:Methuen.

7Osis,K. (1961).DeathbedObservationsbyPhysiciansandNurses.ParapsychologicalMonographNo.3.NewParapsychologyFoundation,Inc.

8Osis,K.,&Haraldsson,E.(1977).AttheHourofDeath.NewYo9Arcangel,D. (2005).AfterlifeEncounters:OrdinaryPeople,ExtraordinaryExperiences.Charlottesville,VA:Hampton

RoadsPublishingCompany,Inc.10See the discussion of apparitional experiences in Section 8 of Irwin, H.

parapsychologicalexperiences. InS.Krippner (Ed.)Advances inParapsychologicalResearch7 (pp.1076).Jefferson,NC:McFarland&Comp

11Stevenson,I.(1995).Sixmodernapparitionalexperiences.JournalofScientificExploration,9,351366.r,S.R.,&Schmicker,M.(2005).TheGift:ESP,theExtraordinaryExperiencesofOrdinaryPeople.NewYork:St.MartinsPress.

13Osis,K.(1975,Summer).Whatdidthedyingsee?ThetaNo.45,13.14PercentagesinthistableareroundedvaluesderivedfromdatapresentedinthebooksbyOsis&Haraldsson(Note8),

Arcangel(NoteYork:MSS InformationCorporation.Cases involvingextendedfiguresareexcluded.n,B. (2010).Seeingdeadpeoplenotknown tohavedied:Peak inDarienexperiences.AnthropologyandHumanism,35,159171.k, E. M. [Mrs. H.] (1ProceedingsoftheSocietyforPsychicalResearch,3,69150.F.P.(1882).ThePeakinDa

18ThenamePeakinDariencomesfromapoembyJohnKeats,whichdescribesthewondrousmomentwhenSpanishexplorersonamountaintopinDarien(inmoderndayPanamaveryfirsttime.

19Kelly,E.W.(2001).Neardeathexperienceswithreportsofmeetingdeceasedpeople.DeathStudies,25,229249.

17

theta newsletter no 1-fall 2013

Documents