by professorpan » Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:02 pm
Lots and lots of interesting points in this thread, but I'll comment on just a few. Like Palyne, I also spent a lot of time in the Compuserve forums, though I don't recall her specifically.<br><br>Although Palyne's smorgasbord of experiences may sound outlandish, it fits what I've termed the "paranormal complex." There's not a DSM-IV listing for it yet, though ;-)<br><br>I've also had the "downloading" sensation on several occasions, though I have no strong opinions about what it means.<br><br>The age-old caution about opening one's self up to paranormal experiences is a wise one. Yoga cautions against getting immersed in siddhis (paranormal phenomena such as precognition, clairvoyance, spirit communication, and so forth). And Palyne's experiences -- all of them -- are readily recognizable to someone who is familiar with Kundalini activation, which is known to cause siddhis. That's just one template with which to analyze her story.<br><br>My working theory (always subject to revision) is that the barriers between consensus reality and the liminal realm (Vallee's Magonia) can become thin for a variety of reasons -- a deep inhalation of DMT, a UFO sighting on a dark road, a psychotic episode, exhaustion, trauma, or the mindset of someone attempting an occult working. <br><br>Once the veils part, and paranormal phenomena manifests, further energy feeds into the complex. Once someone becomes "open," and lets down their guard, the energies behind the paranormal experiences find a willing host. Jim DeKorne's "Archon" model makes perfect sense to me (from his book "Psychedelic Shamanism"). Keel's thinking is also similar.<br><br>So someone like Palyne begins to have paranormal experiences. She is somewhat frightened (a highly energetic state) by those experiences, but also intrigued and drawn to the mystery. That interest -- that excitable state of openness -- facilitates more paranormal activity.<br><br>And an open door, especially if there is light streaming from inside, attracts all sorts of cold, hungry wanderers.<br><br>Palyne's story should serve as a cautionary tale, particularly for those of us who are inclined to delve into the borderlands. It pays to be cautious when feeding the Archons, even if you believe that's just a fancy word for a psychological complex. <br><br>Dion Fortune's "Psychic Self Defense" should be on everyone's bookshelf. At the very least, if you find things are weird and getting weirder, take a break. Socialize as much as possible. Work hard at immersing yourself in mundane tasks. When it comes to this subject, balance is not only important -- it can save your life. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p097.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=professorpan>professorpan</A> at: 7/20/05 10:31 am<br></i>