Voices and shadows: hallucination or extra-sensory perception?

Between 5 and 15% of people¹ report perceptions or experiences that seem to defy what is understood as 'reality'. To hear voices or see shadows are the most common of such experiences, and they are present in the history of all peoples and epochs, from the most sublime inspirations and visions of the prophets, to the most tragic cases of madness.

Those who experience such phenomena rarely state it publicly, thus avoiding mockery or social contempt for being considered 'crazy'. However, the voices and shadows are sometimes very 'real' for the individual and may even be confused with objective reality. Mental confusion often arises as a result of the conflicting information between the physiological senses and what is actually perceived. This phenomenon is considered normal to a certain extent and only becomes pathological when its frequency or intensity affects normal mental processes.

The voices of Joan of Arc, the transfiguration of Christ and the universal form of Krishna.

In the age of reason and modern science, without any further explanation of their origin and mechanisms, such phenomena are reduced to mere hallucinations.

What is hallucination?

Psychiatry defines hallucination as 'perception of something that does not objectively exist, a subjective impression that something is real without external stimulus'. It would be the product of the mind, simulating perceptions commonly associated with the senses. Although it arises spontaneously in most cases, it can be induced through hypnotic suggestion or the use of hallucinogenic psychotropic drugs, a fact that led most researchers to attribute any abnormal perceptions to the convenient theory of hallucination.

This theory is based on the assumption that everything that is 'real' must necessarily be perceived by a physiological sensory organ. As we shall see, this theory is proven incomplete and questionable in the face of published and peer-reviewed studies² on extrasensory perceptions (ESP), which demonstrate the natural ability of the human being to perceive or 'feel' beyond the five physiological senses.

Schizophrenia

Frequent hallucinations may lead individuals to believe they have developed schizophrenia. Positive symptoms³ of schizophrenia are; delusional ideas, unreal thoughts, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and discourse, visible behavioral changes, excessive anxiety, impulses or aggressiveness.

As we can see, hallucination alone cannot account for such a diagnosis, since the individual who hears voices or sees shadows may be mentally coherent. The following is a summary of theories³ that seek to explain the cause of schizophrenia: Genetic theory suggests a hereditary cause, although 80% of the cases have no antecedents in immediate relatives. Neurological or neurotransmitter theory points to possible biochemical and structural changes in the brain. It does not however seek to explain their underlying cause, nor does it explain how such changes could cause the symptoms. Psychoanalytic theory points to 'the absence of satisfactory interpersonal relations' or the lack of parental or family attention to the infant.

None of the above theories have been experimentally or empirically proven to date. "Although all these hypotheses try to explain the origin of schizophrenia, none of them individually can provide a satisfactory answer to the many doubts surrounding the causes of the disease, thus reinforcing the idea of ​​a probable multi-factorial etiology." ³
The treatment of schizophrenia is palliative in most cases and consists of symptom control through the use of anti-psychotic drugs which have presented moderate results. Unfortunately, some patients discontinue treatment because of their ineffectiveness or intolerable side effects.^3,4 Cognitive behavioral therapy shows good results in certain individuals. In the case of a positive diagnosis, a follow-up with a competent psychiatrist is necessary.

In view of the questionable efficacy of conventional approaches, both in explaining the causes of  schizophrenia, hallucinations and in their treatment, we deem it necessary to consider a possible psychical or extrasensory cause.

Extra-sensory perception

As we have pointed out in another article on depersonalization⁵, for modern science, the mind or consciousness in the living being is a product of neuronal activity.  However, studies in parapsychology² suggest exactly the opposite: the mind/consciousness is the cause, architect and regent of the physical body. Different from the conventional body>mind dichotomy, the mind>body dichotomy finds corroboration in the somatization of observable symptoms, such as the cases of bruising or bleeding obtained through hypnotic suggestion.
The mind or consciousness would therefore preexist and instinctively oversees the molecular organization of the body in the uterus, and consequently survive its disintegration through bodily death. Once expanded the concept of 'mind' to the extra-physical plane, independent of the body, many phenomena seemingly inexplicable or attributed to neurological causes are analyzed and explained in a more rational way.

Voices and shadows

If it is unwise to attribute any abnormal perception to hallucination, it is also unwise to attribute all of them to an extra-sensory cause. According to physician and transpersonal therapist Alberto Almeida, every patient is different, and it is particularly difficult to distinguish hallucination from extra-sensory perception, since the mind itself can generate images, sounds and entire scenarios. The distinction becomes clearer when the content of perception cannot be the product of the individual's imagination, as we shall see below.

The vision of environments, beings, lights or objects that are not objectively observable by a tier is a phenomenon defined as clairvoyance, considered here as a natural capacity in some individuals, without any mystical connotations. Simply put, the mind 'sees' without the use of the eyes. This fact is demonstrated by the somnambulists who move around in complete darkness and interact, open doors, pick objects, even in an environment that is completely unknown to them, while being eyes closed and asleep. We are forced to agree that individuals cannot accurately 'hallucinate' a completely dark environment that they have never visited. Likewise, hearing sounds or voices without apparent external stimulation, also called clairaudience, can be a legitimate perception without the use of the ears.


With the mind being independent from the physical body, a logical consequence is its survival to the phenomenon of detachment that we call 'death'. Along with the possibility of hallucination, the beings heard, seen or perceived can also be human beings like us, who continue to exist on a different vibrational plane parallel to ours: the purely mental dimension, of which we are also essentially part of. This approach rationally explains a multitude of phenomena attributed to the supernatural. There is no such thing as 'paranormal', there is only phenomena that defy our limited notions of normality.

Considering the scope of the theory exposed, it is inevitable to address certain philosophical-religious questions, without however raising theological or dogmatic questions. All religious systems, modern or ancient, are based on the exchange between the two planes mentioned above. Investigations into the communication between the 'living' and the 'dead' date back to Ancient Babylon and Egypt. Such studies pertained to esoteric schools and societies until they became public in late 19th century's psychical research and philosophical doctrines like Spiritism. Extra-sensory perception is the phenomenon by which the visions, voices, inspirations of all enlightened prophets and geniuses of history have occurred. For others, this perception can become a source of distress when its content is disturbing and may require assistance, especially in the cases where voices being heard are of incentives for self-harm or suicide. Extra-sensory perception is a neutral and natural capacity in the human being, although more developed in certain individuals, it does not in itself constitute a particular 'gift'.

If doctors are unsuccessful, in treating most of the ailments, it's because they treat the body without treating the soul. - Socrates

Treatment, prophylaxis or development?

In general, a clinical diagnosis does not take into account the transpersonal or parapsychological aspects of a disorder. This means that a person diagnosed as schizophrenic may not carry the pathology, but the psychical sensitivity that allows extra-sensory perception to occur. If such perception is natural, and not of pathological origin, then there is no need for 'treatment' in the ordinary sense of the word. Because such distinction is difficult even for an experienced psychiatrist, any pharmacological treatment should be accompanied by a spiritual evaluation of the individual.

While Psychology and Psychiatry have different approaches, spiritual treatments vary from a belief system to another. It is understood that spiritual treatment should always be free of charge. Among others respectable institutions, Spiritist centers and literature are often specialized in the safe and long-term development of psychical abilities and in the treatment for a variety of spiritual perturbation processes. 

Simon Baush


References
1 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/voice-hearing-by-the-numbers/
2 http://deanradin.com/evidence/evidence.htm
3 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/252307874_Effectiveness_of_modern_antipsychotic_drugs_for_the_treatment_of_schizophrenia_and_other_psychotic_disorders_Therapeutic_progress_or_more_of_the_same
4 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa051688
5 https://iotsoul.blogspot.com/2018/12/out-of-self-depersonalization.html
"Without any experimental evidence, this theory is so rooted in modern thought that almost no one cares to question it, acquiring the character of a true scientific dogma.It is in its own conceptualization of the human mind that researchers find the greatest obstacle in the observation of it. "