Frederic Myers
Frederic Myers (1843 - 1901) believed that the mind is capable of existing in many different states; to
this he gave the name subliminal self. These states ranged from pathological to transcendent with the
normal, everyday waking state being only one of many. He believed that physical symptoms could result
from psychological trauma and claimed that the subliminal self was able to perform in many of the ways
that the ego does, i.e. with independence. The unconscious mind, breaking into consciousness
uncontrolled, could produce the symptoms of neurosis, psychosis and hysteria, however, it could also
produce the symptoms of genius. He believed the subliminal mind has access to information beyond the
normal range of the senses and he coined the term telepathy for the apparent communication of thought
between people. He accepted too that there was good evidence for the action of mind on matter; i.e.
telekinesis, (a subject that increasingly began to interest Jung). In 1882 he was one of the founders of
the Society for Psychical Research. By 1903, he believed that psychic science was about to become
respectable and wrote a book "Human Personality and its Survival of Bodily Death" in which he
attempted to create a comprehensive theory of psychic phenomena. Scientific research into all these
aspects of mind is ongoing today but, although we have extensive anecdotal evidence, we are still a
long way from Myers' vision.
this he gave the name subliminal self. These states ranged from pathological to transcendent with the
normal, everyday waking state being only one of many. He believed that physical symptoms could result
from psychological trauma and claimed that the subliminal self was able to perform in many of the ways
that the ego does, i.e. with independence. The unconscious mind, breaking into consciousness
uncontrolled, could produce the symptoms of neurosis, psychosis and hysteria, however, it could also
produce the symptoms of genius. He believed the subliminal mind has access to information beyond the
normal range of the senses and he coined the term telepathy for the apparent communication of thought
between people. He accepted too that there was good evidence for the action of mind on matter; i.e.
telekinesis, (a subject that increasingly began to interest Jung). In 1882 he was one of the founders of
the Society for Psychical Research. By 1903, he believed that psychic science was about to become
respectable and wrote a book "Human Personality and its Survival of Bodily Death" in which he
attempted to create a comprehensive theory of psychic phenomena. Scientific research into all these
aspects of mind is ongoing today but, although we have extensive anecdotal evidence, we are still a
long way from Myers' vision.
He is also famous for his communications from beyond the grave after his death; the so called
Cross-Correspondences. These communications spanned over 30 years and were recorded by
mediums in India, Britain and America. Each communication was a small part of the whole so that only
by putting all the fragments together did they make any sense.
Cross-Correspondences. These communications spanned over 30 years and were recorded by
mediums in India, Britain and America. Each communication was a small part of the whole so that only
by putting all the fragments together did they make any sense.
Copyright JCHarthan (2002)
