To support people concerned about, or distressed by, anomalous, religious, or spiritual experiences by:

• Providing advice, information, and therapeutic support where required.
• Undertaking and reporting on high quality academic research.
• Delivering education and training about these kinds of experiences and beliefs.
• Raising awareness and bridging the worlds of spirituality and mental well being.
• Depathologising and normalising these kinds of experiences in contemporary society.

I think this is fascinating as it shows the continuity of one type of anomalous or spiritual experience from at least the early Mediaeval period up to the present day. The following interview is from TV show This Morning and aired on 7th December 2017.

And the following quote is from Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th century book the History of the Kings of Britain:

It should be noted that the understanding of daemons here is not the same as the Christian conception of demons that are subject to the Devil. Daemons were not considered to be servants of evil but rather spiritual beings that could act as guides or mediators between the gods and mortals.

Participants needed for new study on the effects of sharing one's personal story of recovery.

The NEON publicity material states:

'The NEON study seeks to understand how access to stories of personal journeys through mental health challenges can benefit others.  

Have you had experience of what can be called “psychosis”, or have experiences that others see as unusual (e.g. hearing voices, seeing or believing things that others do not)?

Are you living without NHS support (other than your GP)?

Taking part would involve:

• You would take part in an interview, and be asked to share your story with us.
• You would be paid £20 in recognition of your time and expertise.

This research is being undertaken at sites in Nottingham, East London and South London. Members of the research team have lived experience of mental health challenges.

For further information see: www.researchintorecovery.com/NEON
contact Rose at rose.mcgranahan@qmul.ac.uk
or call Rose on 020 7540 4380 ext 2309 or text 07901511866.

NEON is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (RP-PG-0615-20016) and approved by the Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee (nrescommittee.eastmidlands-nottingham2@nhs.net), by the Health Research Authority, and by the Research and Innovation Team at Nottingham Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who are sponsoring the project.'

Open Grave Open Minds (OGOM) & Supernatural Cities are holding The Urban Weird conference at the University of Hertfordshire on 6-7 April, 2018

The conference website says:

"The OGOM Project is known for its imaginative events and symposia, which are often accompanied by a media frenzy. We were the first to invite vampires into the academy back in 2010. Our most recent endeavour, Company of Wolves: Werewolves, Shapeshifters and Feral Humans enjoyed extensive coverage globally and saw us congratulated in the THES for our ambitious 3 day programme which included actual wolves, ‘a first for a UK academy’. Our fourth conference will be an exciting collaboration with the Supernatural Cities: Narrated Geographies and Spectral Histories project at the University of Portsmouth. Supernatural Cities will enjoy its third regeneration, having previously convened in Portsmouth and Limerick."

Robert Gordon University Aberdeen are organising a conference titled Supernatural in Contemporary Society.

The conference will take place on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 August 2018.

Their webpage states:

"The media reports ghostly encounters, supernatural TV and films continue to be popular genres, and professionalised groups and organisations offer commercial experiences of the otherworldly. It seems that regardless of scientific progress and rationale thought, the allure of the extraordinary still prevails.

The Supernatural in Contemporary Society Conference (SCSC) aims to explore the continuing role of the supernatural. SCSC intends to provide an interdisciplinary forum to discuss current and emerging research, and examine these in relation to the impact and value this has on culture, heritage and tourism. In addition, industry professionals are invited to discuss current and emerging issues."

Erika A. Pratte at the University of Northampton is seeking participants for a new research study into Near-Death Experiences:

"The following questionnaire is part of a psychology doctorate degree project at the University of Northampton; it explores near-death experiences (NDEs) and adjustment to life post-NDE. People who have a subjective experience close to death or when temporarily dead have what is called a near-death experience (NDE). An NDE may involve characteristics such as seeing a bright light, going through a dark tunnel or void, seeing a spectacular place, meeting deceased loved ones or a “higher being,” and having an out-of-body experience (seeing your body while your awareness is outside of your body)."

For further information and to contribute to Erika's research please see her survey

Social context of anomalous experiences in a spiritual support-seeking population

This study, by Charlie Heriot-Maitland, aims to explore relationships between social factors and anomalous experiences, like changes in perception, spiritual-type experiences, hearing voices, or extrasensory communications.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY?

Many people describe having anomalous experiences. For some these experiences have a negative impact on their life and result in input from mental health services. For others, these experiences have a positive impact and can be life-enriching. This research aims to explore the protective social factors that might enable people to integrate their experiences in a helpful way. We would like to recruit people who have recently accessed a support network for spiritual crisis/emergence. For this study, it is not important how you describe or explain your own experiences, but if you have look for support through a spiritual network, then we would love to hear from you.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

Taking part will involve meeting with the researcher, either in person or via Skype, to discuss your experiences. This will last about 1 hour, including a short interview about your experiences and some questionnaires about, e.g., how you see yourself in relation to others. We are able to offer you £15 remuneration for your time. If you are eligible to also participate in the online follow-up part of the study, we will be able to offer you a further £10 for each assessment point, so a maximum of £35 for all three assessment points (0, 3, and 6 months).

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Please contact charles.heriot-maitland@kcl.ac.uk or visit
http://research.anomalousexperiences.com/study3

A new research project at the Religious Experience Research Centre, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter.

The aim of this project is to understand the place of spirituality within a therapeutic (medical) context. In the first stage we asked psychologists, psychotherapists and others about their understanding of the role of spirituality in their work place. In this second stage we want to ask people active in religious communities about their understanding. The essential question we are asking is how important spirituality (or religion) is for developing a sense of wellbeing.

Click here to take part in the research survey.

Thank you very much for your participation.

Prof Bettina Schmidt, Director of the Religious Experience Research Centre, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

An update from the Religious Experience Research Centre (UWTSD, Lampeter):

"The Religious Experience Research Centre has launched a new project about the place of spirituality within therapy in the UK and Brazil. Our aim is to understand the place of spirituality within a therapeutic context. We want to examine the role of spirituality within psychotherapy, counselling and other medical contexts as well as the understanding of spirituality among therapists.

We have prepared two online surveys with a series of questions asking about experiences with spirituality in the therapeutic context, one in English and one in Portuguese. The essential question is how important spirituality (or religion) is in the work place, either as therapist or counsellor or as student of psychology.

We would appreciate if you could spare some time answering the online survey:

In English: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3130382/New-Survey

In Portuguese: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3130430/Espiritualidade-e-Saude-Pesquisa

We will treat all information confidential and anonymise all information given to us.

Thank you.

Prof Bettina Schmidt, Director of the Religious Experience Research Centre.
Rev Dr Jeff Leonardi, Research Fellow at the Religious Experience Research Centre.
Dr Everton Maraldi, Researcher at the Institute of Psychology, Universidade de São Paulo."

The RERC (UWTSD) website can be found at: http://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/library/alister-hardy-religious-experience-research-centre/

An Update from Katie Mottram!

International Emerging Proud Launch: Premiere screenings of CRAZYWISE and Emerging Proud films, and Open Space event to ‘Re-think Madness’

What is Happening?

Your participation shapes the outcome! Join us for the first ever International #EmergingProud day of connection and innovation happening simultaneously in 8 or possibly 10! countries around the world. Be part of catalyzing discussions about ‘Rethinking madness’;Exploring The Wisdom Of Falling Apart: from Stigma to Transformation.

Together we are creating a new global movement towards a dream we all share...

How We Got Here:

We know that severe psychological distress is an ever-growing emergence problem for humanity. We know there is something inherently problematic with our current Western medical approach to mental health. The transformation potential of psychological crises into positive growth has never been examined by the medical model. The lived experience of many individuals, (indigenous communities included), speaks to this truth, bridging worlds and bringing new understanding. CRAZYWISE and #Emerging Proud add powerful voices to the growing conversation that believes a psychological crisis can be an opportunity for growth and potentially transformational, not a disease without a cure. None of us have the answers to what can be done alone; we need to join forces to explore what we can do to support this shift in perspective; Are you with us?

Where is it Happening?

The main hub for this International event is happening HERE in Central London at the beautiful Strand Palace Hotel - and YOU can be part of the LIVE events! Listen to all of the countries call in LIVE at the end of the day with the initiatives that have been catalysed!

The Day Presents the Opportunity To:

Come armed with an open- mind, open- heart and share your passion to support the shift; your voice is important. Join us in a powerful group process to quickly catalyze and support positive transformation through inspiring creative and collaborative solutions to these complex issues. Harness International wisdom through the energy and ideas we create together with our passion for change. Share your ideas, passions, and possibly inspire others to join you in carrying a particular project forwards… This is an interactive, inclusive event; please bring your laptop, cameras, notebooks and pens!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-emerging-proud-launch-event-exploring-the-wisdom-of-falling-apart-rethinking-madness-tickets-32229056977

https://katiemottram.com/