Matrix Energetics is a system of self-transformation developed by Richard Bartlett in the context of alternative medicine, which he teaches at training seminars around the world to anyone who wishes to learn it. The authors conducted the present study to determine what happens psychologically at a Matrix Energetics seminar and to see if there are any long-term health benefits associated with participation at such a seminar. Participants were 97 attendees at a Matrix Energetics seminar held over three days at a hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Participants were given questionnaires to complete before the beginning of the seminar, at the end of each of the three days, and through a website at a two-month follow-up. The questionnaires included measures of demographic information, personality, psychological well-being, physical and mental health, state of being, and profundity of experiences. In addition, behavioral observations were made and participants were interviewed. During the seminar, some participants appeared to experience reality as being more plastic than we ordinarily assume it to be and perceived themselves as having profound, meaningful, sacred, spiritual, transcendent experiences in altered states of consciousness that brought them closer to the truth. Although the study was not designed to verify them, among the 42 interviews and 427 written comments were claims of occurrences of anomalous phenomena, including instances of physical healing. Participants showed slightly improved health at a two month follow-up, although that result must be interpreted with caution given the small proportion of participants who completed the follow-up measures and the fact that such improvement cannot be attributed to seminar attendance. The implications of these results for non-contact healing are discussed.

Imants Barušs is a professor of psychology at King’s University College at The University of Western Ontario where he teaches courses about consciousness. He is the author of five books including Alterations of Consciousness. baruss@uwo.ca

Carrie van Lier completed her BA in psychology at the University of Western Ontario and currently works at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort and Spa on Grand Cayman Island.

Diana Ali completed her BA in psychology at King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario and currently works at Family Service Thames Valley, London, Ontario, Canada.