The Mind's Eye

How Remote Viewing Expands Human Perception

Jan 26, 2025

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Remote viewing is a subject that straddles the line between esoteric practice and scientific inquiry. It involves the claimed ability to perceive information about a distant or unseen target through extrasensory perception. I have undertaken formal training in remote viewing at the London College of Psychic Studies many years ago and I find it fascinating. More recently I refreshed my experience with a course run by Stacey Tallitsch, who is a professional Remote Viewer trained under Major Ed Dames (ret) who headed up the "Psychic Spy" programme developed by the United States Military in the 1970's known as "Project Star Gate," and later under the FBI as the "Icarus Project."

The most famous body of evidence around Remote Viewing comes from government-funded programmes like the Stargate Project, initiated by the U.S. government. These programmes aimed to determine the applicability of psychic phenomena, particularly remote viewing, for military and intelligence applications. Classified documents released in the 1990s suggest that while there were instances of apparent success, the overall inconsistency led to the programmes reported eventual discontinuation. Researchers noted that some viewers could provide remarkably detailed and accurate information about distant locations, but the hit rate was not consistent enough to replace more traditional means of intelligence gathering, but nonetheless could be an adjunct to traditional methods.

Controlled Experiments: Academic studies on remote viewing have often involved controlled experiments designed to test the ability of participants to describe remotely located stimuli, such as objects in a sealed room or photographic material sealed in an envelope. Results from these studies have been mixed, with some experiments showing hit rates slightly above chance, while others have not demonstrated significant psychic abilities. Researchers like Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff, who conducted experiments at the Stanford Research Institute during the 1970s, claimed positive results in their early studies.
Meta-Analyses and Reviews: Meta-analyses of psychic phenomena, including remote viewing, suggest that while some studies have shown results slightly above chance, replication by independent researchers remains a challenge. The lack of consistent, repeatable results is a significant barrier to broader scientific acceptance.

Nonetheless, Most ancient civilisations appear to recognise this area of perception in the human mind. In both Indian and Chinese scriptures there are instances of the extra-sensory perception being used to gain intelligence at times of conflict.

States of Consciousness for Remote Viewing

Remote viewing is said to occur in a specific altered state of consciousness that is neither fully awake nor asleep. This state is often associated with the following:

Trance State: Many practitioners describe entering a trance-like state where they can access information about a distant or unseen target. This state is similar to meditation and is thought to facilitate the connection to the subconscious mind.
Alpha and Theta Brain Waves: Research into the brain activity of viewers while they perform remote viewing has indicated increased alpha and theta brain waves. These brain waves are associated with relaxation, meditation, and creativity. They are present during light sleep, deep relaxation, and when engaging in imaginative tasks.
Focused Attention: Remote viewing requires a unique form of focused attention, combining relaxation with a deliberate intent to gather information about the target. This state is often cultivated through practices similar to those used in meditation and mindfulness.

Evolving Beyond Espionage

Remote viewing, originally developed for military and intelligence purposes, has evolved beyond its espionage origins to find applications in various civilian domains.

1. Personal and Spiritual Growth

Many people practice remote viewing as a means of personal development. They believe it helps enhance self-awareness, intuition, and a deeper understanding of the unconscious mind. Practitioners often use remote viewing to explore spiritual realms, which they claim can provide insights into personal dilemmas and life decisions.

2. Scientific and Academic Research

Although mainstream scientific acceptance is limited, remote viewing continues to be a subject of interest in parapsychological research. Researchers in this field study remote viewing to explore the capabilities of human consciousness and to test the boundaries of cognitive science. This research aims to better understand phenomena that do not easily fit within the conventional frameworks of psychological and neurological sciences.

3. Archeological Exploration

Remote viewing has been claimed to assist in locating archaeological sites or to provide details about historical contexts that are not readily accessible through traditional archaeological methods.

4. Missing Persons and Law Enforcement

Some remote viewers offer their services to help locate missing persons or solve crimes. They claim to be able to provide details about the whereabouts of missing persons or circumstances surrounding unsolved cases.

5. Business and Finance

There are anecdotal reports of remote viewing being used in business and finance to predict market trends or make investment decisions. Some practitioners claim they can 'view' future economic conditions or business environments, although this is highly speculative and not supported by empirical evidence.

Types of Remote Viewing

Remote viewing can be categorised into various types based on the objectives of the sessions, the methodology employed, and the specific applications for which it is used. Here’s a breakdown of some of the different types of remote viewing, highlighting their unique characteristics and purposes:

1. Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV)

Controlled Remote Viewing is a structured method developed during the U.S. government's Stargate Project. This technique involves detailed protocols designed to make the remote viewing experience replicable and as free from the viewer's personal biases as possible. CRV uses a standardised format for recording information, which helps in minimising the viewer's mental noise and focuses on gathering verifiable data.

2. Extended Remote Viewing (ERV)

Extended Remote Viewing is a more relaxed approach compared to CRV and often involves the viewer reaching a deeper, trance-like state of consciousness. ERV sessions are typically conducted in a quiet and dark environment, allowing the viewer to lie down and achieve a state akin to the threshold of sleep. This method is believed to facilitate access to more extensive and detailed psychic information and is often used for more complex or distant targets.

3. Associative Remote Viewing (ARV)

Associative Remote Viewing is particularly used in predicting outcomes of binary events, which makes it suitable for applications like market trends in finance. In ARV, each possible outcome of an event is associated with a different image or object. The viewer is unaware of these associations and views a target that will only be revealed after the event occurs. The viewer describes their perceptions, and these descriptions are then matched with the pre-assigned images or objects to predict the outcome.

4. Applications in Self-Development

In the context of personal growth and self-awareness, remote viewing can be practiced as a form of meditative discipline. Practitioners focus on expanding their consciousness and enhancing their intuitive capabilities. This form of remote viewing is less about gathering specific data and more about experiencing a transcendent understanding of oneself and the universe. Sessions aimed at self-development may involve viewing random or assigned targets with the intent to explore subconscious patterns, blockages, or potential growth areas.

5. Operational Remote Viewing

Operational remote viewing is used in practical applications, such as locating missing persons, solving crimes, or gathering intelligence on inaccessible locations or situations. This type is highly goal-oriented, with specific targets and objectives set before the viewing session. Accuracy and reliability are crucial here, as the information obtained can have real-world consequences.

6. Random Target Remote Viewing

In random target remote viewing, targets are selected randomly without any prior information provided to the viewer. This method is often used in training and experimental settings to test and enhance the viewer’s ability to access and describe unknown targets accurately. It serves as a good practice for new viewers and helps experienced viewers maintain their skills.

From experimental and scientific applications to personal development and operational tasks, the diversity of remote viewing types reflects its broad appeal and the range of possibilities it presents for exploring non-local consciousness and intuitive capabilities. The practice continues to be a fascinating area of study, reflecting broader human curiosity about the limits of sensory perception and consciousness.

For paid subscribers scroll to the end of this post to see some ways to practice remote viewing yourself. This doesn’t replace the need for full training but can be a fun exercise to explore your own perception.

To start to decondition your ego find your inner child and clear unecessary interference in psychic exploration, why not work with the self-print journal below: Click on the image for more information