California Institute for Human Science

    • PSYCHOLOGY

      PhD in Psychology Concentrations

      Master of Arts in Psychology Concentrations

Center for Anomalous and Noetic Studies (CANS)

Advancing Applied Noetic Studies

CANS is the leading research center in the area of anomalous and noetic studies. Current research programs include:

Worldwide Initiative for Super Experiencer Research (WISER)

This research project aims to bring a whole new level of academic rigor and methodological sophistication to the study of anomalous, extraordinary, and noetic experiences that people have (often on a much more regular basis than is acknowledged!). These experiences challenge the current materialist models of reality and consciousness.

It is a multi-phase project carried out over the next three to five years. Each phase will focus on a different set of key research questions and subsequent phases will build on the results of the previous ones. 

  • Phase 1 (Current Phase): Global Survey. This 12-18-month phase will collect data from 5000+ individuals who have had a wide range of anomalous experiences over extended periods in their life. The goal is to develop a more detailed understanding of the variety and intensity of anomalous experiences that a single person can have during their life. One outcome of this phase will be a publicly accessible database similar to what the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation has done for NDEs.

    Participate in Phase 1 by filling out the current pilot survey (full survey will be launched in early 2025) at: https://www.exostudies.org/super-experiencer

 
  • Phase 2: In-depth Interviews. This 12-18-month phase will collect data from 100+ individuals selected from Phase 1 who meet the criteria of being a super experiencer. A super experiencer is defined as someone who has had six or more distinct types of anomalous experiences (e.g., OBEs, precognitive dreams, NDEs, visitation by deceased humans, telepathy, seeing auras) over extended periods in their life. A special focus will be placed on super experiencers who have had encounters with intelligent beings other than physical earth humans. Around a dozen psychometric assessments will be used to provide comparative insight with other populations. The goal is to develop a rich phenomenological and contextual understanding of the variety and intensity of anomalous experiences and entity encounters that a single person can have during their life. One outcome of this phase will be to add to the publicly accessible database noted above the transcripts of these interviews. 
 
  • Phase 3: Biological Analysis. This 12-18-month phase will collect data from 30+ individuals selected from Phase 2 who meet criteria for being solid candidates to undergo a series of biological and energetic assessments (e.g., genetic testing, brain imaging, and subtle energy analysis). The goal is to develop a map of potential biological markers, brain patterns & structures, and subtle energy correlates associated with super experiencers and anomalous experience in general.  One outcome of this phase will be to add to the publicly accessible database noted above the results of these assessments. Very little research along these lines has been done. Thus, this phase of the research has the potential to make significant contributions to our understanding of the role of brains, bodies, and consciousness in the perception of and interaction with the “Phenomena.” 


In summary, the key areas this research explores in a robust mixed methods approach include:

  • The range and intensity of anomalous experiences found in single individuals
  • In-depth phenomenological description of a variety of anomalous experiences
  • Documenting the range of entity encounters humans have with other intelligent beings
  • Mapping the subtle bodies and the inner senses involved with anomalous perception
  • Biological correlates of anomalous experience including genetic, brain states and neurological analysis
 

The Three Wisdom Centers Project

This research project involves the comparative analysis of the 20 contemplative traditions around the world that work with the three major wisdom centers of Head, Heart, and Body – by whatever name. For example, Celtic traditions refer to them as the three Cauldrons, Chinese traditions refer to them as the three dantians. Each of these traditions highlights the importance of activating these three centers and then integrating these energies. This project explores how these different traditions discuss and frame these three centers, the practices they use to activate and integrate them and how they relate to other subtle energy systems.

The Varieties of Nonduality Project

This research project involves a comparative analysis of the 30 major nondual traditions found globally. This includes major and minor traditions as well as ancient and modern ones found in both the global “West” and global “East.” Various metathemes are identified across these traditions. For example, which types of nondual traditions are monastic or householder traditions, are there certain time periods across the planet where multiple nondual traditions emerged simultaneously, which types of practices seem to be similar or unique across these traditions? To date there has not been a meta-systemic comparative analysis of these important noetic traditions. Thus, this project breaks new ground in multiple directions.

The Siddhis and Superpowers Project

This research project explores the range of psi and paranormal senses and capacities reported by regular people, saints, sages, and shamans. It explores which types of inner senses are developed in association with which kinds of practices, experiences, or traditions. There is also a focus on how and why these “magical” powers have been hidden, ignored, repressed, or diminished. For example, in the Christian West they often have been viewed suspiciously as linked to witchcraft whereas in the Buddhist East they often have been viewed as a distraction from making progress on full liberation. This project views these powers as inherent to our human embodiment and is keen to better understand them, their development, and reach across and between traditions.

The Subtle Bodies Project

This research project compares and contrasts the traditions that include multiple subtle bodies. Subtle body researcher Simon Cox uses the term “multinatural somatic pluralism” to refer to the fact that different contemplative, esoteric, and martial arts traditions identify various numbers of subtle bodies associated with human embodiment. There is no set number in the same way that most humans are born with the same number of bones (i.e., 270). The number of subtle bodies within various traditions (e.g., Neoplatonism, Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, ancient Egyptian esoteric systems, and Theosophy) is enacted through traditions, rituals, and practices. Thus, this project explores the nature of subtle body systems and the how and why there can be anywhere between 1 and 12 different subtle bodies.

The Entity Encounters Project

This research project catalogs and explores the wide range of non-human intelligences (NHIs) and nonconventional human intelligences (NCHIs) that are reported globally. that are reported globally. Humans have been having encounters with various types of entities (fairies, ghosts, ancestors, demons, aliens, sasquatches, cryptids, and various types of humanoids) throughout our shared history. This project explores ontological (e.g., in what ways are they real?), epistemological (e.g., how do we trust our experience of these encounters?), and methodological (e.g., how many first-person encounter reports are needed for them to move from the status of anecdote to data?) issues around how do we study these entity encounters and make sense of them in a post-material noetic science. Currently we are making a meta list of the 10-15 major categories of entities and then documenting the 10-30 variations within each category.

Center Director

  • Sean Esbjörn-Hargens Ph.D.
    Dean of Integral Education
    Program Director Integral Noetic Sciences
    California Institute for Human Science
 

Affiliated CIHS Faculty and Staff

  • Jeffery A. Martin, PhD
    President and Dean of Research, California Institute for Human Science
    Director, Center for the Study of Non-Symbolic Consciousness
    non-symbolic experiences
  • Thomas Brophy, PhD
    President Emeritus, California Institute for Human Science
    President, Institute of Noetic Sciences
    physics & subtle energy
 

Affiliated WISER Advisors

  • Karin Austin
    John E. Mack Institute
    abductee & experiencer perspectives
  • Chris Bledsoe
    super experiencer
  • Etzel Cardeña, PhD
    Lund University
    consciousness & anomalous psychology
  • Loren Coleman, MA
    International Cryptozoological Museum
    cryptozoology & bigfoot
  • Joshua Cutchin, MA
    independent scholar
    folklore & anomalous experiences
  • Christopher Diltz, PhD
    independent scholar
    data science & humanoid encounters
  • Kimberly Engels, PhD
    Molloy University
    phenomenology, philosophy, & UAP studies
  • Stephen Finley, PhD
    Louisiana State University
    African American studies & esotericism
  • Jack Hunter, PhD
    University of Wales Trinity Saint David
    anthropology, ecology, & the paranormal
  • Melinda Greer, MD
    super experiencer
  • Leslie Kean
    investigative journalist
    UAP studies and survival of bodily death
  • Jeffrey Kripal, PhD
    Rice University
    religious studies & anomalous experience
  • Kurt Leland
    independent scholar-practitioner
    OBEs, subtle bodies, & inner senses
  • David Luke, PhD
    University of Greenwich
    entity encounters & DMT research
  • Kathleen Marden
    independent scholar-practitioner
    UAPs, abductions, & hypnosis
  • Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD
    New Thinking Allowed
    NDEs & parapsychology
  • David Mitchell, PhD
    California Institute of Integral Studies
    Integral & transpersonal psychology
  • Julia Mossbridge, PhD
    PhD Northwestern University
    consciousness & neuroscience
  • Garry Nolan, PhD
    Stanford University
    immunology & anomalous cognition
  • Kara Placek, PhD 
    University of San Diego
    sociology of the paranormal
  • Ed Sarath, PhD
    University of Michigan
    creativity, integral theory, & consciousness
  • Peter Skafish, PhD
    Sol Foundation
    ontology, philosophy & anthropology
  • Gregory Shushan, PhD 
    independent scholar
    NDEs & religious studies
  • Helané Wahbeh, ND, MCR
    Institute of Noetic Sciences
    mixed methods & noetic experiences
  • Simon Young, PhD 
    independent scholar
    faerie traditions & folklore
  • Michael Zimmerman, PhD
    University of Colorado
    philosophy & environmental studies
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