"I of my own knowledge…"

This article, from Wired magazine, came to me via the Schwartzreport. Editor Stephan Schwartz rightly says:

Think about what this report is saying. The meaning beneath. It is saying that our consciousness has the power to affect the functioning of our physical organism down to cellular level. Additionally, the data shows we know which component of our organism to affect, even though we know nothing consciously of that organ, its location, or its function. Ask someone where their pancreas is and what it does. Yet in any placebo/medication double blind drug study better than a third will routinely produce the effect sought by the medication being tested. Previous studies have shown that across the board placebo will result in about 35 per cent of the people who are getting the sugar pill treatment doing as well or better than those receiving the actual medication.

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My brother alerted me to this story from The New York Times [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/world/asia/21japan.html?_r=1&emc=eta1] that to my mind shows the continuing impact of Western ways upon the rest of the world — not always to the non-Western world’s advantage. The old tradition seems pretty much gone, in Japan. Is that a bad thing? Good thing? Somewhat both? Neither? Your call. But one thing I know: We can and often do contact those on the other side. Some do it easier than others do, but if anyone at all can do it, then clearly it is a human ability. 

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