Forgive me James Randi, for I have sinned . . .

That “10 Days” in the title is a little misleading. On one hand, it was actually under 1 hour. On another, it’s been a four month progression which has gained ridiculous momentum in these past few weeks. (On the third hand, it’s actually not lost . . .)

I’ve been such a worshiper of logic and reason for ages. Funnily enough, it actually had to be this that lead me out of that perspective.

Here is the basic outline:

1. Start (very scientifically) with no assumptions.
2. Are there any absolute truths? The only one seems to be that there is A conscious awareness. This “I” is all that I can experience, though I don’t know if it knows its full self. I don’t know if your “I”s actually exist (Or if they are unique from mine? Maybe we are all one consciousness which has been sectioned off?)
3. This is where I have historically stopped and left that thought train. I went ahead and put faith in Science because this consciousness appears to be perceiving a somewhat stable, objective, physical reality. I would joke that, “I can’t KNOW that gravity will continue working and that my next step will hit solid ground, but, c’mon, no one lives like that.”
4. That reasoning depicts both a logical fallacy (argumentum ad populum, I think), as well as a wrong premise. Still, it just seemed for awhile that, because it was unprovable, going after the idea of an inconsistent reality was just a pointless mental masturbation technique. (I state it like those are obvious flaws. Now, I see obvious things to have a problem with there- But it was never like that from before, within that framework.)
5. Enter a testable hypothesis . . . Well, before getting into that, let me say that the idea was introduced through Steve Pavlina’s podcast, “The True Nature of Reality.” His considerations of a subjective reality were an explanation for weirdness he was experiencing. For me, it actually works that the concept of a subjective reality is like a key that undid a locked door in my brain. I’ve been hyperanalytical, atheist, skeptical, etc. for these past few years. I care very deeply about having a true understanding of the world, and, for me, all evidence –was- pointing to the nonexistence of psychics/ghosts/souls/afterlife/santa/etc. It’s always been obvious that your beliefs will affect your experience of reality, but it didn’t really sink in for me until recently. And then . . . I had to wonder . . .
6. . . . How far does it go? What if my beliefs actually affect my physical reality? This Steve guy seems down to earth, how can he believe all this crazy stuff? I think that’s where the main problem for me happened. I was checking out his other articles and really respected his mind, but then the fact that we had such conflicting beliefs in some areas wasn’t adding up. Then I started thinking about all the intelligent people throughout history of whom I’ve heard and of their varying beliefs. How can I think that things are so obvious when many geniuses would disagree?
   What if, by actively disbelieving in supernatural things, I was preventing them from coming into my life?

7. Now here’s the basic testable hypothesis: If I believe in something, it shall come to be. (It’s vague, but also tweakable to plenty of specifics.)
8. Anyway, this concept is still “obvious” from a skeptical view point- I mean, if you believe something you’ll see it. One of the first articles that got me all fired up about that sort of thought culture was entitled, “Believing is Seeing,” by Robert Novella and went into such things as illusions, expectancy, and pareidolia . . .
   . . . . But now I’ve got to know how far can you actually push the effect of belief upon your experience? My opinion is that it’s best to just go as extreme as (safely) possible with it. Try and believe the craziest things. Truth will present itself. If this stuff doesn’t exist, then the shortcomings will speak for themselves.
   Of course, there are plenty of other advantages to the exercise in addition to this. I mean, I care a lot about mental growth and living up to my potential, you know? Wouldn’t it be a sign of true mental mastery if you could switch your beliefs on and off? Without any additional level to existence, one might as well, eh? So there would be a lot to gain, even if these experiments were to fall short.

9. . . . And yet, they haven’t fallen short.
   I’ve had some odd experiences, which have their benefit. But it’s like I have three people inside of me, one of whom still being that little skeptic miss I’ve been for ages (Though I think I can’t ever entirely go back to where I was before by now.) I’m also a much better person now, even on that skeptical level. But I’ve mostly been picking up more questions . . .

Things being/to be explored: psychics, intention manifestation, energy healing, haunted locations, telekinesis, psionics, hypnosis . . .

There’s a lot of deeper changes going on in my life that are less spooky but definitely more significant. Let me tell you though, mastering your thoughts/beliefs? Difficult.

Anyway, I’m attempting to fall further and further into this (With safety in mind, of course.) So anyone disturbed by all this, don’t expect it to pass anytime soon. I’m giving myself a year of uninhibited exploration (I think it’s down to ten months now) . . .

So, at the very worst, we can all look back at this time fondly as,
“The Year That Zas Went Insane. On Purpose.“