An intermediate space seems to be constituted by the "spiritual but not religious", which we will consider from the angle of its implications in the field of health. We study experiences of the "wildly sacred," particularly at the frontiers of death: near-death experiences, terminal lucidity and necrophany. Presented in spontaneous forms or induced in experimental devices, these experiences are...
The unanticipated occurrence of unusually enhanced mental clarity just before death has been reported across time and cultures and has come to be known by the term “terminal lucidity.” Cases that appear to be characteristic of terminal lucidity in children have been sporadically documented in historical and more recent literature, yet no studies have systematically examined the characteristics...
Frederic Myers (1843-1901), co-founder of the Society for Psychical Research, developed a pioneering theory of consciousness in the late 19th century (Gauld, 1968; Hamilton, 2009). Myers initially introduced a distinction between two forms of consciousness: the subliminal (subthreshold) and the supraliminal (ordinary consciousness). This theory was hailed by his contemporaries, notably Theodore...
Mindfulness meditation has gained prominence in somatic and psychiatric care in several countries including France. Studies have shown its effectiveness in various conditions, in particular the prevention of depressive relapses. However, there are criticisms and concerns about its potential links to Buddhism and spirituality, raising issues of secularism and sectarianism. This issue is...
Many cultures believe that the first traces of human consciousness during the incarnation may be present before birth. Practices based on this belief exist in many cultures. However, formal scientific inquiry into the possibility of communicating with prenatal consciousness has never been explored. To evaluate if it is possible to communicate with a hypothetical prenatal consciousness of the...
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are usually associated with clinical death, although this association remains controversial. A look back to the early understanding of these experiences, since the end of the 19th century, reveals a different picture than presented in contemporary descriptions. Indeed, the more historical accounts linked NDEs with various forms of intellectual and physical...
Sigmund Freud a œuvré pour démarquer la psychanalyse de l’occultisme, notamment en expliquant les rêves, dits prophétiques, par des processus inconscients. Mais son attitude à l’égard de l’occultisme évoluera progressivement avec un intérêt croissant pour un « noyau de vérité », qu’il rattachait à la télépathie. Cela le conduira, notamment en 1925, à reproduire, avec sa fille Anna et Sandor...