Consciousness and Reality in CIA documents

The CIA and other U.S. government agencies have declassified numerous documents over the years that touch on consciousness, the nature of reality, out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and astral projection, primarily from Cold War-era programs exploring psychic phenomena for intelligence purposes. Beyond the well-known "Analysis and Assessment of the Gateway Process" (1983), several other declassified reports and projects delve into these topics, often under the umbrella of programs like Project Stargate or earlier paranormal research efforts.

Consciousness and Reality

1. Project Stargate Documents (1970s-1990s)

Overview: Project Stargate, run by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and later involving the CIA, explored remote viewing - a practice tied to OBEs and altered states of consciousness. Declassified in the 1990s and 2000s, these documents don’t explicitly theorize about reality’s makeup as much as the Gateway report does, but they imply consciousness can access information beyond physical limits.

Key Mentions: A 1978 DIA report ("Parapsychology in Intelligence: A Personal Review and Conclusions") by Kenneth Kress discusses consciousness as potentially non-local, capable of perceiving distant events. It references Soviet research suggesting consciousness might interact with a universal field, though it lacks the holographic framing of Gateway. A 1984 CIA document ("Research in Human Paranormal Capabilities") explores whether consciousness can influence physical systems (e.g., psychokinesis). It speculates reality might include "subtle energy fields" consciousness can tap into, but it’s vague and experimental data is inconclusive.

Reality Implications: These reports treat consciousness as a tool rather than defining reality’s structure. They hint at a paradigm where mind and matter aren’t fully separate, but stop short of Gateway’s bold holographic universe claims.

2. MKUltra Subprojects (1950s-1970s)

Overview: The CIA’s MKUltra program, declassified in the 1970s and expanded via FOIA releases, focused on mind control but included subprojects on consciousness alteration through drugs, hypnosis, and sensory deprivation.

Key Mentions: Subproject 119 (circa 1960) investigated bioelectric signals and their relation to consciousness, aiming to "control mental states." It suggests consciousness might be manipulable via electromagnetic fields, implying a physical basis but not a full theory of reality. A 1955 memo ("Hypnotic Experimentation and Research") describes hypnosis-induced states where subjects reported perceiving "alternate realities" or "disembodied awareness." It’s unclear if this was OBE-like or hallucination, and no deeper analysis of reality follows.

Reality Implications: MKUltra treats consciousness as a brain-based phenomenon to be hacked, not a cosmic force. It lacks the metaphysical depth of Gateway, focusing on practical control rather than existential questions.

3. NSA’s "Astral Projection Caper" (1973)

Overview: A lesser-known NSA document, declassified in 2011, details an investigation into an alleged astral projection incident tied to intelligence gathering. It’s more a case study than a theoretical treatise.

Key Mentions: The report describes a subject claiming to project consciousness to a Soviet-occupied island, sketching its layout. It doesn’t define reality but questions whether consciousness can operate independently of the body. [This sounds like or similar to Remote Viewing]. It references "energy planes" as a possible medium for such feats, echoing Gateway’s energy-based view of consciousness, though without elaboration.

Reality Implications: The focus is operational (can this work?), not philosophical. It implicitly challenges materialist views by taking the subject’s claims seriously enough to investigate.

OBEs and Astral Projection

• Project Stargate: Remote viewing often felt like OBEs, with subjects reporting "disembodied" states (e.g., 1982 DIA memo). A 1977 SRI report details accurate descriptions of distant sites, suggesting consciousness detachment.
• Astral Projection Caper: Explicitly uses "astral projection," with a subject projecting to Kerguelen Island via "energy planes," treated as a potential tool. The subject’s process involved entering a trance and "traveling" psychically. It mentions collaboration with the Monroe Institute, tying it to Gateway’s Hemi-Sync research.
• Astral Projection Caper:Army Monroe Training: Officers reported OBEs like "visiting past or future events" using Gateway Tapes (1983), though anecdotal. A 1983 report describes officers using Hemi-Sync to achieve "astral plane" states for language learning and "habit control." Some reported OBEs, like visiting past or future events. Success rates varied; a 1984 review notes 251 candidates trained, with anecdotal OBE claims but no hard data.

Broader Themes

Consciousness is often seen as non-local or exploitable, but only Gateway ties it to a holographic reality. Other docs focus on practical applications, not metaphysics.

Citations and Sources

“Parapsychology in Intelligence,” DIA, 1978, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080008-5, CIA FOIA.

“Research in Human Paranormal Capabilities,” CIA, 1984, CIA-RDP96-00788R001300010001-7, CIA FOIA.

MKUltra Subproject 119 docs, CIA MKUltra Collection.

NSA Astral Projection Caper, 1973, NSA FOIA.

Further Investigation

Wikipedia: Stargate Project - Program overview.

CIA FOIA Reading Room - Raw documents.