During the Cold War, American and Soviet military agencies secretly used psychics to collect intelligence. Their goal: to gather information about spatially and temporally remote targets that are impossible to locate with conventional means.
Known as “remote viewing,” this research involved training certain individuals to hone their abilities to ESP. The CIA and other agencies spent $20 million on the program over two decades.
1. The United States of America
In 1978, the United States of America established a secret government project known as the Stargate Project to research psychic phenomena. This project, which spanned two decades, involved the use of psychics to assist government agencies with both military and domestic intelligence applications.
In one of the most well-known projects, a team of psychics worked for the U.S. military to monitor a group of hostages taken by Iranian revolutionaries in 1979. According to declassified CIA documents, these psychics worked under the code name Grill Flame and attempted more than 200 telepathic forays to observe the hostages and their surroundings.
They used ESP to track the hostages’ movements, their health and the strength of their security team. The team was supervised by the Defense Intelligence Agency and Army intelligence.
The DIA and SRI International, a California contractor, formed the Stargate Project in 1978 at Fort Meade, Maryland. The project went through several names and management changes until 1991.
Despite the government’s efforts, it failed to find any significant evidence that psychics can help investigators solve crime or recover missing persons.
However, some law enforcement personnel have utilized the services of psychic detectives to help them solve homicide and missing person cases. Some of these detectives are referred to as “psychic sleuths.”
Other police departments have been known to utilize psychics in cases where they believe a crime has been committed, but are not sure of the identity of the perpetrator or where the crime occurred. The results of these investigations are often highly publicized, and this can cause psychics to be portrayed as a valuable resource for police agencies.
In the United States, there are many psychics who provide services to law enforcement agencies to help solve crimes. Some of the most prominent include Allison Dubois (inspiration for the television show Medium), Kathlyn Rhea, and Noreen Renier.
While some psychics have become famous for their ability to solve high profile cases, they are not a common practice in the United States. This is due to the fact that they are unable to substantiate their claims with empirical evidence, and most police departments do not permit their use in a criminal investigation.
2. The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy that consists of four countries–England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and has a relationship with the United States, as well as with Europe.
The country is a nuclear power and is a member of the G8 and NATO. It has close relations with many other nations, and its international influence is reflected in its membership of the United Nations Security Council.
Its economy is the world's fifth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). The British model of economic development centers on the principles of liberalization, free trade and “common law” relating to property and taxation.
A significant number of people in the United Kingdom are religious and follow a variety of beliefs. They include Catholicism, Protestantism, Jewish religion and the Baha'i Faith. There are also a large number of non-religious groups, including Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.
In the United Kingdom, there are three distinct legal systems: English law, which applies in England and Wales; Scots law, which applies in Scotland; and Northern Ireland law. These laws have been influenced by the Act of Union 1707, which formally established the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
There is a tradition of psychics in the United Kingdom, and the government has recognized their legitimacy in certain cases. They can be hired to provide evidence in court, help track down a missing person or offer guidance to a police investigator.
The government also uses psychics to assist in the fight against terrorism. A few weeks after the 9/11 attacks, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) embarked on a series of experiments to test whether psychics could be used to locate Al-Qaeda leaders.
Some of the results from these experiments are interesting and even surprising. One experiment centered on the abilities of a man named James Ogilvie, who was believed to be an expert in telepathic communication. He was found to be inept at the task and failed to convince the participants that his visions were accurate.
3. China
In the last several years, China has taken a harsh line against occultists and other religious practitioners who are suspected of subverting state authority. Those who are suspected of ‘endangering national security and social stability' (zhongdian renkou) have been repressed by government authorities in reeducation camps and prisons. In some cases, they have been confined indefinitely. Others have been incarcerated for long periods without being charged or found guilty.
Despite the crackdown, China’s occultists remain highly active in the country. Psychics and psychical researchers continue to operate in China, both through traditional practices and through new forms of practice such as tele-reading.
According to a 2018 article in Zhonghua zhongyiyi zazhi, Chinese psychics still attract a lot of foreign clients. Many of these visitors are curious about the ‘I Ching' or ‘Book of Changes', a divination system that uses talismans and gemstones to predict future events.
Other foreigners visit psychics in China for more specific, complex divination that focuses on the past and the present rather than on the future. These include people who want to learn more about their Chinese fortunes or those who have questions about their name and the naming of their children.
Another reason why Chinese and foreigners visit a psychic is because they believe that a good name can significantly affect the future. This is especially true for women.
While the United States and Britain have long employed psychics, China has been relatively recent to this trend. A 2014 survey in Xinjiang, China’s vast northwest region, showed that there was a sharp increase in the number of psychics in the area.
There has also been an influx of new clients, with the economic pandemic, COVID-19, and other global challenges driving a mini-surge in demand for psychic services. Psychics have scrambled to meet the demand by adding tele-readings, expanding hours and opening satellite locations in coworking spaces.
As a result, some studies have measured the effects of sports events on psychic income. Some of the findings suggest that the impact of a sports event on psychic income can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as event excitement, enhanced community attachment, increased city pride, and pride in efforts to improve infrastructure.
4. India
A country with more than 1.3 billion people, India is one of the world's most diverse countries in terms of traditions, beliefs, landscapes, cuisine, and more. Its cosmopolitan cities (such as Mumbai and Kolkata) are vibrant cultural hubs. But the heart of India remains the villages, where life is slow and agrarian.
While it is the largest Hindu nation, India has a long history of other religious beliefs, including Buddhism and Jainism. It is also the birthplace of some of the world's most influential philosophies, such as yoga and meditation.
Many Indians believe that religion is more than just a belief; it's also a way of life, an important element of society. In fact, they spend a lot of their time and money on spiritual pursuits and ceremonies.
They are known for their dedication to God and finding the meaning of life. For many, this includes a lifelong commitment to worship and live by particular values, such as love, unity, and respect.
The country is divided into seven regions, each with a distinctive culture and a unique language. It is a large and diverse country with a rich history and many thriving modern industries.
A national survey has shown that about three-in-ten Indians say they voted for the BJP or Congress during the last election. But there are many political parties in the country, and support for them varies widely.
Some of these parties are tied to specific religious groups, such as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is primarily focused on helping lower castes and minority religions. Others, such as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), are more secular and focus on the welfare of all Indians.
Regardless of their political leanings, most Indians agree that it is important to be able to speak Hindi and be Hindu to be truly Indian. This sentiment is strongest among those with less than a college degree, and it is more pronounced in the Central region.
Some of these sentiments are rooted in nativist views of national identity. Those who are more supportive of keeping religious groups segregated from each other – such as those who say it's very important to stop Hindu men and women from marrying non-Hindus – are also more likely to say that being able to speak Hindi and be Hindu is very important to being truly Indian.
