Why has it been so hard to measure extra sensory perception and other psi abilities in a lab or academic setting?  I have been reading some recent research into psi abilities in order to try and better understand my own experiences.  Unfortunately, I have not found the currently published academic and scientific information to be very helpful.  My abilities have been evolving over the course of my life so exploring them has been a gradual process of discovery.  As a trained observer and analytical person, I have begun to notice some patterns that may help clarify which research models would better capture the measurable events.  It appears that the current model of research methods may have built in assumptions that tend to mask the very abilities they are trying to measure.  Not to mention, that perceptions vary so much to create one research method that captures them all would be nearly impossible.

I decided to present my thoughts on this and share my experience.  I hope that experts in the field can refine the research methods in such a way as to fully legitimize these non-standard abilities.  For those like me who do not try to trade on our skills or even publicly acknowledge them, there is a hidden life we cannot share.  It is nearly impossible to find others who genuinely share our experiences in such a way as to form a meaningful community.  Too many people who are focused only on selling something or trying to present themselves as prophets and spiritual advisers.  They have created a culture of belief in a higher power giving spiritual gifts, rather than an innate or developed talent.  Some in the alternative spiritual culture seems hostile to trying to understand them in a scientific way.  Then the mainstream mechanistic culture does not accept unexplained abilities as anything but a form of self delusion.  This leaves folks like me isolated and feeling like we I need to hide in the shadows.  After all, it was not so long ago that people who were too different were burned at the stake.

About me… I have a Masters in Sociology.  I intended to be an academic researcher, but was accidentally diverted into better paying work.  I have spent my career in software implementations.  Although I do have some spiritual beliefs, I do no follow any particular religion or dogma.  I do not see my abilities as necessarily spiritual in nature.  I am also a rational person with a strong interest in biology, medicine and theoretical physics.  To me these are not contradictory at all.  They are different ways of experiencing the world.  Together they provide a more complete understanding of the human experience.  I do not wish to become some kind of spokesperson or public figure.  As a matter of fact, I am an Aspie with a fairly strong social phobia.  So I have struggled for many years with the idea of publishing my experience.  I finally realized the only way to overcome the isolation is to reach out and hope to connect with others like me.