by Everton Maraldi
The recent convention in Mexico marked a significant moment in the history of the Parapsychological Association. With most of our conventions held in the US or Europe, hosting the event in a Hispanic country for the first time was a groundbreaking step. As I mentioned in my first presidential article for Mindfield (Maraldi, 2023), the future of parapsychology depends on its ability to expand and strengthen beyond the traditional geographic hubs of research. The convention in Mérida was a clear demonstration that this expansion is not only possible but is already unfolding in a solid way.
I was deeply impressed by the structured work and innovative projects presented by our colleagues from the Unidad Parapsicológica de Investigación, Difusión y Enseñanza (UPIDE), who actively contributed with many presentations at the PA convention. They even organized a local conference just prior to the PA convention, the 1st Mexican Meeting on the Expansion of Consciousness (EMEC), during which Stanley Krippner received a special award. UPIDE researchers are also honoring and advancing the legacy of Jacobo Grinberg, a key figure in the history of Mexican parapsychology. I left Mérida with the firm conviction that UPIDE has both the passion and conditions to become a major force in psi research across Latin America and abroad.
Indigenous Epistemologies
Another highlight of the convention was the banquet address by Dr. Nuria Ciofalo (2024) from Pacifica Graduate Institute, who spoke on indigenous psychologies from Mesoamerica. Her presentation provided an insightful overview of how the Nahua and Maya civilizations understood consciousness, the psyche, spirit, and health. This talk was a powerful reminder to look beyond the dominant Western framework of science and consider the wealth of knowledge that other epistemologies offer.
This talk was a powerful reminder to look beyond the dominant Western framework of science and consider the wealth of knowledge that other epistemologies offer.
For centuries, long before modern Western science developed, people from diverse cultures generated reliable knowledge about both the external world and the inner dimensions of human experience. They did this without the sophisticated tools and technologies available to us today. These ancestors made remarkable advances in fields like botany, medicine, pharmacology, and psychology—and all this outside the formal structures we now associate with academic research. In particular, spiritual traditions around the world have produced a vast body of knowledge about the human soul, which offers perspectives that modern psychology still struggles to grasp.
What can we learn from these non-hegemonic epistemologies, often developed in regions beyond the centers of mainstream science? How can we build a genuinely transdisciplinary and transcultural knowledge that integrates these diverse contributions? And, crucially, how do we reconcile this wisdom with the knowledge produced in our laboratories and universities? These are important questions worth exploring as we strive to broaden the scope of parapsychology.
Clinical Applications of Psi Research
In her Schmeidler Outstanding Student Award address, Erika Pratte (2024), the program chair for the 2024 convention and current Vice-President of the PA, gave a talk on how clinicians can better understand Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) in their practice. Erika highlighted the potential for dialogue between mental health professionals and parapsychologists.
After decades of research on the phenomenology and psychological impact of non-ordinary experiences, our field is well-positioned to offer clinicians some practical insights. This is probably one of the few areas in parapsychology where we can offer some recommendations without running the risk of concluding too much without sufficient evidence. Regardless of the authenticity of reports of NDEs or the mechanisms underlying them, clinicians can learn to accommodate these experiences thoughtfully. Parapsychologists, with their specialized knowledge, can offer a more nuanced perspective, encouraging clinicians to consider multiple explanations before arriving at a diagnosis or pathologizing the experience prematurely.
Parapsychologists, with their specialized knowledge, can offer a more nuanced perspective, encouraging clinicians to consider multiple explanations before arriving at a diagnosis or pathologizing the experience prematurely.
The clinical approach to psi and other anomalous experiences is an area where parapsychology can engage meaningfully with mainstream health sciences. While there is still much work to be done, important contributions have already emerged from colleagues in countries such as France, Germany, the United States, and the UK pointing toward promising future developments.
A Palette of Methods and Experiences
This year’s convention program was replete with interesting presentations covering an enormous variety of methods and types of non-ordinary experiences. Researchers from diverse fields contributed with theoretical discussions, as well as qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods investigations. Amidst the scientific debates, we even found time during the EMEC conference to explore our psychokinetic potential during a lively spoon-bending party led by John Kruth. I had to conclude that I likely possess no psychokinetic abilities—or maybe I just didn’t choose the right spoon!
The spoon-bending party reminded me of the importance of balancing rigorous scientific inquiry with direct experience. It also underscored that, at the end of the day, we are all learners, not so different from the subjects we study. Perhaps the PA could consider similar activities in future conventions, fostering a healthy mix of systematic investigation and personal exploration.
Concluding Remarks
I would like to conclude this overview of the 2024 convention by extending my heartfelt gratitude to all the colleagues who contributed to its success. Special thanks go to the convention committee, the host institution, and everyone on the program committee whose collaboration made this event possible. Finally, I warmly invite all PA members to join us for our next convention in 2025, which will be held in Freiburg, Germany, July 16-18. It promises to be another exciting opportunity to advance our field together.
Ciofalo, N. (2024, August 22-25). J. B. Rhine address: Indigenous psychologies from Cem Anahuac (Mesoamerica) [Conference presentation abstract]. 66th annual convention of the Parapsychological Association, Mérida, México. https://tinyurl.com/2uj3wb45
Maraldi, E. D. O. (2023). From the president: My view of the field (part 1). Mindfield: The Bulletin of the Parapsychological Association, 15(3), 7-11.
Pratte, E. A. (2024, August 22-25). The intersection of psychotherapy and near-death experiences: Schmeidler Outstanding Student Award (2021) invited address [Conference presentation abstract]. 66th annual convention of the Parapsychological Association, Mérida, México. https://tinyurl.com/2uj3wb45
In this second installment on the theme “Psi & Fiction” for Mindfield: The Bulletin of the Parapsychological Association, we are pleased to offer several open-access essays. These include an editorial examining the challenges of getting the message out there in the digital age by Anastasia Wasko and Jacob Glazier. Everton Maraldi contributes a Presidential Column …
by Annalisa Ventola, PA Executive Director
