Seeing God May Cost You More Than Money

Reading over my current issue of Psychology Today while curled up in bed with my dog, I found the back section where the ads are. Despite the on-line 'transpersonal' psychology degree offerings, I found a rather interesting ad under the title of SELF IMPROVEMENT:

"GOD HELMET" TECHNOLOGY (as seen on PBS)
Available to the public at long last
www.spiritualbrain.com

With an eyeroll and a sigh, I got up, went to my desk, and typed in the URL. I had heard about the 'God Helmet' only in references to poorly-executed paranormal investigations (cough cough Paranormal State cough cough), and my knowledge of it was very limited.

Todd Murphy is a behavioral neuroscientists who works closely with Dr. Michael Persinger, who created the 'God Helmet' in the 1980's. Now, when I first heard what Murphy specialized in, I became giddy--he and I are of a similar cloth. However, that is where the similarities end. See, for someone who has had countless hours of education and training, Todd Murphy believes in psychic phenomena.

On the website, the SHAKTI helment is being sold as "spiritual technology for altered states, meditation enhancement and mood enhancement." The helmet 'work's by delievering magnetic fields to the brain to open up the user to altered states of consciousness. And here I thought it would be easier, and perhaps cheaper, just to score some LSD.

Now there are several different forms of the SHAKTI that are recommended by the manufacterer to enhance specific needs (spiritual, psychic, etc). The only one 'available to the public' is the Shiva for 'God Helmet' sessions.

Now, I suggest reading this link for the details on the helment, but I'll sum it up here. Basically, this helmet is worn on the head of the user and magnetic pulses are delivered in specific orders to certain parts of the brain to elict certain stages of consciousness. There are 4 'phases', each of which lasts 20-30 minutes. Also, complete sensory deprivation is required during the session.

For only 649$ in US currency, you too can order a SHAKTI helmet. Of course, there are a list of warnings, but if you purchase the item you can simply use it in your own home, there is no medical doctor to assist you or monitor you for any ill effects during it's use. There are safety rules as well, such as only using once a week, and after 6 weeks you need a 3-week break. My question is...why? Is it because these fields can have damaging effect to your brain?

But more interestingly, does this even work? Does SHAKTI help one to self-improve?

The literature from the website does not make it clear, but Dr. Persinger himself was quoted as saying only about 20 subjects have reported seeing God (less than 1 percent). Many of the articles written on the SHAKTI (click here) seem to be related to paranormal activity, one about creating a 'synthetic ghost' is rather interesting. However, after much persuing of the website, I fail to see what self-improving function the SHAKTI is said to have. If there is a probability to see God, or more likely a ghost, is that considered self-improving?

After some searching around, I found the mystic connection to SHAKTI. Apparently, it manipulates the brain into a stage where mystical experiences happen. Let me explain. The website claims that "mystic experiences seem to begin with very negative experiences, ones that inspire the most unpleasant emotions: especially fear and despair." The amygdala is the part of the brain that deals with fear and anxiety and it is manipulated during the session. One side is good feelings, the other bad. During the session, the sides are stimulated alternately. This design was based on the work of Buddah, Jesus and St. Teresa. Oh if only I were joking. Other phases during a SHAKTI session include stimulation of the hippocampus, which is responsible for cognition.

Basically, what it sounds like to me, is that the SHAKTI stimulates and manipulates your brain, putting you in a highly emotional state, and then messes with the way you think. This results in self improvement? Actually, with the long list of warnings and potential side effects (including aggression, seizures, and worsening of psychological disorders), it sounds more like a detriment.

Not all consumers are a discerning as they should be. One who sees this ad and thinks that self-improvement and actualization is as easy as putting some electrodes on your head, because after all it's designed by a doctor, is going to be sorely disappointed, if not hurt.

So I'll post this commentary and perhaps turn the page of the magazine. There is an interesting article about Introverts...