Notes on Edwin C. May's Interview Regarding Remote Viewing and ESP
Jul 23, 2024
Notes from the Interview with Mr. Edwin C. May
Introduction
Guest: Mr. Edwin C. May, Director of the Stargate program.
Discussion Topic: Remote viewing, ESP, and consciousness.
Background: The significance of the subjects has led to global interest and research, especially from various governments.
Background Information
Received a $1.5 million Air Force contract; faced strong opposition.
Notable International Interest:
Russians: Engaged in similar research.
Edinburgh University: Established a strong psychology program in parapsychology.
Brazil: Active research into psychic phenomena.
Current Popularity: Increases in interest around psychic phenomena can be observed.
Remote Viewing Aptitude Test
Purpose: Identify if someone has capabilities for remote viewing.
Conditions:
Tasking involves only outdoor targets (e.g., no buildings, people, etc.).
Must eliminate background noise and irrelevant thoughts.
Test process: Participant shares impressions without overthinking. Internal editing encouraged.
Edwin C. May's Background and Experience
Holds a degree in experimental Nuclear Physics.
Career Highlights:
Worked at SRI International under ESP program.
Author of 90+ peer-reviewed papers.
Previous director of the U.S. government's Stargate program.
Worked on developing and trying to understand psychic research.
Assisted by Bob Monroe and others in the field to establish understanding of consciousness and ESP.
Overview of the Stargate Program
Name Origin: Changed to Stargate due to prior labels not fitting security needs.
Scope: Analysis of psychological phenomena related to national security.
Funding: Primarily funded by the U.S. government (DIA, CIA), but influenced greatly by external governmental research teams.
A major concern was to keep projects classified and secure from opposing agencies.
Key Findings and Anecdotal Reports
Remote viewing results can vary significantly, with hit rates around 44%. Small amounts of successful predictions does not discourage further efforts.
Challenges: Participants sometimes struggle with failures or expectations. Individual responses vary widely.
Variability in results spurred additional research into mechanics and neurological observations of remote viewers.
Related Research
Studies involving psychokinesis and synchronicity between participants and external factors were conducted but had inconclusive results.
Remote viewers have been used in many varied contexts, including family safety measures and law enforcement successfully at times.
International Research Comparisons
SRI International vs. Russian & Chinese Research Programs:
The Russian program appeared to have significant state backing, leading to larger participant groups.
Discussions revealed a mutual interest between American researchers and foreign programs, particularly during visits and joint research.
Methods: Rigidity and structural approaches vary significantly, but all aimed to gather useful intel for military applications.
Future Considerations
May points out continued uncertainty in understanding consciousness, telepathy, and how ESP operates. He emphasizes the need for future studies.
Improvements in technology could aid future experiments related to ESP.
Closing Remarks
Mr. May holds a practical view of the future of ESP research, emphasizing the importance of good methodology.
Philosophical Questions: May has a strong practical stance on consciousness being an emergent property of the brain, opposing the notion of an afterlife.
Thoughts on Existential Questions
Believes debates about existence and the afterlife are vast but currently holds the view that consciousness is tied directly to physical states of the brain.
Potential in future: Future research may allow for advancements in understanding phenomena such as intercessory prayer and other previously mentioned topics in a more quantitative manner.