Somehow this reminds me of the time I did a Tarot reading for someone, whose only previous experience had been Brent Dill doing a Tarot reading, and they were… sort of shocked at the difference. (I prefer three card layouts with a simple context where both people think carefully about what each of the cards could mean; I’ve never seen his, but the impression I got was way more showmanship.)
If it works as a device to facilitate sub-conscious associations, then maybe an alternative should be designed that sheds the mystical baggage and comes with clear explanations of why and how it works.
I’m generally very anti-woo, but I expect presenting it clearly and without baggage would make it stop working because the participant would be in a different mental state.
Somehow this reminds me of the time I did a Tarot reading for someone, whose only previous experience had been Brent Dill doing a Tarot reading, and they were… sort of shocked at the difference. (I prefer three card layouts with a simple context where both people think carefully about what each of the cards could mean; I’ve never seen his, but the impression I got was way more showmanship.)
If it works as a device to facilitate sub-conscious associations, then maybe an alternative should be designed that sheds the mystical baggage and comes with clear explanations of why and how it works.
I’m generally very anti-woo, but I expect presenting it clearly and without baggage would make it stop working because the participant would be in a different mental state.
Well, if that is true then that would be another avenue to research mental states. Something that is clearly needed.
But what I really wanted to say: You shouldn’t do it if you can’t formulate hypotheses and do experiments for it.