Testing My Techniques: Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Ethereal Software

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In 2012, over 50 readers helped me test a sigil I’d made. It was amazing, tapping into this community to verify my results. So many of you helped — thank you!

That helped me move forward with confidence in my book, my writing, and my own practice. Participating and feeling the results helped many of you build confidence in your own work, too. But the test wasn’t scientifically rigorous, and as a result it hasn’t given us as much confidence as it could.

This post is about fixing that. I’m repeating the test, this time as a double-blind placebo-controlled version — the gold standard for scientific research. It’ll help me become more confident in this work, and participating will help you be confident that the sensations you’re feeling really are from energy, not from placebo or suggestion.

This post has three sections. First I’ll explain exactly what we’re testing. Then I’ll discuss today’s version, and why it’s better than the 2012 version. Then I’ll show you exactly what to do to participate. Or skip to the participation now.

Update: Results are here.

The Technique — What’s a Sigil?

A sigil is a symbol with ethereal software bound to it. (Ethereal software is the general term for the forces that healers and mages channel. Other systems refer to these forces as Egregores, The Universe, or other names.)

These bound symbols aren’t the same as symbols you see in everyday life. Company logos and family crests don’t usually have forces bound to them. But there are some examples you might know: The symbols used in Reiki, symbols from magickal systems like Golden Dawn and Enochian, along with sigils commonly used in Chaos Magick. Those symbols have power precisely because they are bound, because they cause ethereal software to connect to a person who focuses on them.

The symbol can be basically anything. I just made some lines in Paint. The lines had nothing to do with anything, they were just random squiggles. They were not specially designed in any way.

To bind my ethereal software to my sigil, I contacted another force (another ethereal software) that seems to handle this. I asked it to, “Associate this symbol I’m looking at with this ethereal software I’m connecting you to,” and it said OK. And I thought to myself, “It can’t possibly be that easy. The universe can’t possibly work like this.” That’s why I tested it.

To use a sigil, a person focuses on the symbol, and the ethereal software connects to them. How does that work? Before the 2012 test, I would have said that the person already has a connection to the ethereal software, and the sigil reminds them of that force, activating the connection. But the whole point of the 2012 test was that no one had used the ethereal software before, and it still connected to them.

Even today, I find this whole phenomenon odd. But when our expectations disagree with the results we observe, we trust our observations. That’s really the only rule of science.

That’s why I want to do a better test today.

Why Do Double-Blind Testing

In 2012, I gave readers a sigil, told them what a success would look like, and asked them to try it. The results were great: Most experienced practitioners successfully felt the connection, and some even used it for manifesting.

But… Everyone experienced what they expected to experience. How could I know it was the result of energy and ethereal software, and not placebo and suggestion?

The truth is, I can’t. The testing wasn’t rigorous.

For those of you wondering why I spend so much time on scientific testing, this is the exact reason: A good test lets me be confident of the results. A bad test leaves doubt. Scientific testing is about moving from unconfident belief to confident knowledge.

I knew all this in 2012, but flinched away from that idea. Proper testing has a brutal honesty, it can tell me I’m wrong. That’s the whole point. But that’s also scary, so I punted with a good-but-imperfect test. (That’s also why this post is a few days late.)

Here’s what I’m doing this time:

There are 2 sigils. One bound to my ethereal software, the other (the placebo) not bound. You won’t know which is which. You’ll randomly select one, try it, report what happens. I have over 1,000 readers, so we should get a bunch of data on both sigils, and we can see if they give the same results (meaning the sensations are placebo) or different results (meaning the binding actually does something). I’m excited to find out.

As I write this post (and the twitter and facebook announcements), I don’t know which sigil will be bound. I’ve created the images, but I won’t bind them until this post is entirely finished and ready to post. This ensures I don’t subtly, unconsciously suggest to you which one is bound — I can’t, because I don’t know. That’s what “double-blind” means, that neither of us knows which one is real. After this post is fully written and ready to go up, I’ll randomly pick a sigil (by flipping a coin) and bind it. (By the time you read this, one of the sigils will be bound.)

(For readers who have used my book’s ethereal software and wanted confirmation that they were getting actual results, not just placebo, this is a great time to test that. Try both sigils, see what you notice, then come back when I reveal the results.)

I’m going to leave all comments in Pending state for 4 weeks, until August 14. That way no one will be influenced by anyone else’s results.

Nothing about this is technically difficult. 99% of the difficulty is emotional. That’s often the case when scientifically testing healing and magick.

How You Can Participate

Step 1: Focus on the sigil: You’ll find links to the two sigils at the bottom of this post. Flip a coin to pick one randomly. Click the link, focus on the sigil. Look at the whole image, then focus on each symbol. Do this for about half a minute.

Step 2: Request an obvious connection: Continue focusing on the sigil and think the message, “Give me an obvious connection.” It’s OK if you rephrase it, but keep the words / concepts “obvious connection” and specify it goes to you. If English isn’t your primary language, use whatever language is easiest for you — the ethereal software responds to concepts, not the words themselves. Focus on the sigil and repeat this command for another half-minute, or until you notice the connection.

Feeling the connection: The connection should feel like an intense energy: Tingling, possibly pressure or heat. It’s tuned to be obvious to most people, so those more sensitive to energy may find it too intense, but don’t worry, it’ll stop as soon as you ask it to. (And please accept my apologies, along with my gratitude for helping with this project.)

Step 3: Turn off the connection: To turn off the connection, think the message, “Turn off the obvious connection.” This should stop the sensations immediately.

If you want to try manifesting with this ethereal software, just ask it for what you want. “Cause me to [whatever goal].” It also has commands for shielding, awakening your ethereal muscles, and more. See my book-in-progress for some ideas.

Step 4: Disconnect: When you’re done, tell the ethereal software to disconnect by thinking the message, “Disconnect from me.” In total, testing one sigil like this should take 1-2 minutes.

Step 5: Test the other sigil tomorrow: At this point, you’ve tested one of the two sigils. Maybe you felt something, maybe you didn’t. Either way, wait. Don’t go on to the other sigil yet — give the ethereal software time to disconnect. If it’s still connected, you could receive energy from it even if you’re looking at the placebo sigil. So wait. Do the other sigil tomorrow.

Similarly, please do this test as your first act of magick / energy work of the day. If you’ve already been working with other forces (such as my book’s ethereal software, channeling healing energy, doing ritual magick, etc), it’s possible you’re still connected to those forces, and they could influence the results.

After testing a sigil, please fill out the form below and post it as a comment. I’ll leave all comments in “Pending” status until August 14, so they don’t display for other readers and influence their expectations.

Thank you so much for helping me test sigils!

Here are the links. After clicking the link, you can click the sigil to make it full-screen. (Remember, flip a coin to pick the sigil, and only do one per day):

Sigil 1 (heads)

Sigil 2 (tails)

(It doesn’t matter which sigil goes with heads, but it’s important to decide that before flipping the coin. If we flip the coin, get heads, and then decide which sigil goes with heads, we haven’t actually randomized. That’s why I labeled them.)

Here’s the results form, paste it into the comment field below:

Sigil used: Heads / Tails

Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

Other notes / comments:

Thank you!

If you liked this post, consider visiting my current blog at mikesententia.com.

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44 Responses to “Testing My Techniques: Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Ethereal Software”

  1. Amy says:

    Sigil used: I looked at both… felt connection to sigil #2

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    Only felt tingling during #2… twitching in my right temple

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    I felt like sigil #1 was unimportant only after viewing #2
    Felt OCD while looking over image #2 like it was important and i needed to memorize it.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    8 Firm

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    I have emf sickness in my left hand
    Also wore a device called the god helmet

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    No Ma’am

    Other notes / comments: my right temple is still twitching… i dont wish to detach from either Sigil at this time. I will be focusing my thoughts towards Sigil #1 tonight but i dont feel any connection to it whatsoever almost want to say that it feels like its irrelevant and/or a waste of time to put thought additional thought into it. (Even though its oviously important to the experiment)

  2. magus732 says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? no

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? Nothing

    How strong was the obvious connection? 0

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? I’m an experienced magician (in my own terms). I had made different sigils with great results.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? yes

    Other notes / comments: I think this is the placebo.

  3. magus732 says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    Yes

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection?
    Like a fresh sensation in my head.

    How strong was the obvious connection? 4

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    I’m an experienced magician. Multiple successful sigils

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?Yes

    Other notes / comments: Is an advance comparing the other(the one in 2012) because the other caused me a headache.

  4. Julie says:

    Mike, I tested the sigils on separate days. Sigil 1 (Heads) I didn’t feel anything. I wrote down: “No. Nothing.” Afterwards, I had a sudden headache, nausea, and dizziness that went away quickly. I just kept thinking they look like upside down 7’s. I said the commands aloud instead of thinking them. I didn’t know what to expect and was a bit apprehensive. I had the commands written down and knew I could disconnect at any time which felt reassuring. I don’t think this one is bound. I tried it again later that evening and still no results. I was curious to see the other one, but I waited until the next day.

    I went into the Sigil 2 (Tails) test with a preconceived notion that it was probably bound because the other one didn’t seem to be. But since I had no idea what to expect I didn’t really have a preconceived notion. Right away I felt like it was “charged” and my right hand felt tingly almost numb. Before I even asked for a connection I felt a connection. It felt pleasant, and I didn’t want to turn off the connection. I got chills and goosebumps. My right hand had been sitting on the table, and I had to pull it back towards me. It felt really strange. No headache or ill effects. Based on your scale, I would say firm touch.

    Tomorrow, I’m going to try the sigil from 2012 and see what happens. Thanks, this is interesting work! I just realized I didn’t use the form I was supposed to use. Ugh. I think I answered all of the questions except for one. My experience with energy – I have a spirit guide; he’s not my internal voice, he’s disembodied energy. My experience with magick – my ex-boyfriend used to read Aleister Crowley books and tell me about them. My experience with healing – I’m thinking of radically changing my diet. Wish me luck! :) Julie

  5. Paula Tanksley says:

    Sigil used: #2

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? no

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? soft tingle on the back of my neck(Description, 1-2 sentences)

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 1

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? CST, MFR, Reiki, prayer, meditation

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? no

    Other notes / comments:

  6. SVH says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    no reaction no connection, nothing.

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    No .. it was not speaking to me… no energy exchange ..

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences) : nothing..

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) : it was 0

    What’s your experience with energy / magic / healing / etc? …. nothing

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? no

    Other notes / comments: ….

    —-

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?: I felt something with the focus but the connection was very very strong after the question to give me obvious connection.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences),: Yes, the reaction, the feeling was very strong and all over my body. It was more like electric-energy

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch): it was more then a 10, very very strong energy and a movement from top to toe.

    What’s your experience with energy / magic / healing / etc? It was energy: I cannot place this energy in a range of healing or magic. It was electromagnetic energy i think.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?: No . But I have used the other sigil this month for the first time. The connection was less strong then the one with the Tails and I felt the energy around my head.

    Other notes / comments: it looks like the images from this one work like funnels: they collect the energy from the ether and they direct the energy to the goal.

    Keep going!!! nice work, I like it very much.

  7. Brian Bailey says:

    Sigil: Tails

    so the image set i saw was two sets of three symbols, totaling 6 sigils in 3 pairs. i did not feel any bodily sensation or general sensations except for a slight visual distortion which i believe to be a particularly bright Laptop screen closer than needed to my eyes. I pulled away while continuing to analyse/request connection and noticed no more than slight visual distortion.

  8. Justin Shaw says:

    Sigil used: Heads / Tails
    Heads
    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    No i didn’t.
    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    I felt like i was somewhat excited, probably due to the anticipation but i didn’t feel anything else in particular.
    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    1
    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    I have practiced basic western ceremonial magick and i have a Thelemic background. I have banished and invoked energies to make desired change in my life.
    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    I did not.
    Other notes / comments: nah.

  9. Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    Not really

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    There was some warm showing up around my head. It was light and I had my sinuses somewhat stuffed.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 3-4

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? none

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? NO

    Other notes / comments:

  10. Sigil used: Tails I done the “heads” yesterday but only gave my feed back today.
    Here is my feed back for tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    Yes. At first sight. Contraction along my spine leading to arching movement

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences). I did not ask the first time. On the second time I asked for it and the same response happened that at my first viewing. Arching movement at the spine.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 10

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? None

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? NO

    Other notes / comments: Big difference from the experience with the head sigil. In both case I had some warm around the head. and slight headache.

  11. Jared says:

    Sigil used: Heads / Tails

    Tried them both on alternating days for 6 days. (Tails, Heads, Heads, Tails, Tails, Heads if the order matters)

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    For BOTH sigils, I noticed a ‘pull’ — but I’m beginning to associate that sensation from my ‘Magical Mental Posture’, so I’m not sure I would call it a ‘connection’.

    For comparison, I definitely get one from your ‘beta’ software in under 5 seconds.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    This is where it gets dicey. I thought I felt something the first day with Tails, but I was never able to replicate it. It’s worth pointing out this was the first time I ever tried to do something like this. It was like the ‘pull’ became stronger, but just by a hair — a faint sort-of ‘awareness’ that I’d touched something new.

    Though I’m relatively sure nothing was ‘wrong’, it felt to me like neither sigil was actually hooked up to anything.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

    1 at the very best. By comparison, I get a solid 3 from your ‘beta’ software.

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    Journal says 4 months. The only work that I’ve done that’s produced any sort of measurable results is energy work. Haven’t experienced any ‘High Strangeness’ and I’m not entirely convinced that I’m not hallucinating any ‘results’ I’ve seen. But if we’re all brains in jars anyway and you’re having fun, not sure that it matters.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    Not in 2012 — but since I started this double-blind study, I’ve begun using the ‘beta’ software on a daily basis. So that’s been ongoing for about a week — always performed AFTER testing the double-blind sigils above.

    Other notes / comments:

    These double-blind sigils are noticeably different from my experiments with your other software and other symbols such as the Seal of Solomon or the ‘Ansuz’ Norse Rune. They… taste? different.

    Take that for whatever it’s worth.

  12. Jennifer says:

    Sigil used: Heads / Tails

    Used Tails the first time, Heads the second.

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    I really got no connection. I’d like to think that I had a slight bit of connection towards the second one I tried (heads), but it seems pretty likely that I just want to hope that more than “I ACTUALLY FELT SOMETHING.” Sorry.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    Pretty much nothing. My eyes were glazing over a bit both times (felt a little bit more on the second time), but…no response.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

    0.

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    Been officially pagan since about 2007, have been dabbling off and on, I don’t know how much I “feel” most of the time anyway. Occasionally I “feel” something here and there, but not frequently or consistently. I’ve been told I shield too much, I don’t know on that score.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    no.

    Other notes / comments:

    Sorry. I tried. I got nothing. But 90% of the time I get “nothing” and the other 10% is occasional, so maybe it’s just me.

  13. Kevin Chambers says:

    Used heads for first test, didn’t feel anything at beginning, but felt a small connection about 30 mins later.

    Used tails the following day got a headache as soon as I asked for obvious connection.

    I started learning direct magic about 5 months ago, and did not participate in the 2012 test

  14. Charles Massey says:

    Sigil used: Heads
    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? Yes
    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences) Pressure in front of me and a sense of the funnelling and orderliness of time.
    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 8
    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? Creating several sigils using a semi-automatic program to prepare graphic elements from text. Manual binding, then preceding using your 2012 sigil to create a QT film. Used c:a 3 times weekly. Documented effectivity to ’smooth’ events, as tested when selecting and recently buying a house here in France. Also testing using a program for creating random labels for future events. Documented change in learning procedures, resulting in unexpected talent ‘overlays’.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? No
    Other notes / comments: Manifesting done during using this sigil.

    —–
    Sigil used: Tails
    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? No
    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences) Slight sense of dizziness.
    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 1
    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? See Heads comments above.
    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? No
    Other notes / comments: See Heads comments above.

  15. DeeDee says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    Nothing really; my right index finger pulsed veers slightly.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? I did not receive my usual sensations. I received an impression of the color grey; energy was “flat”, barely perceptible, as if something was blocking it.

    How strong was the obvious connection? 0-10 scale=2

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    5yrs or so.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    No

    Other notes / comments:
    Again, I perceived a sort of residual energy from something being “blocked”; my personal symbol for blockage resembles a grey cinder block, without the weight.

  16. Anonymous Meatbag says:

    So, I totally cheated for this and tried them sequentially in the same sitting, because I knew that I’d be less likely to do it again later.
    Heads first, felt nothing (0). Focused on disconnect. Then tails, within a few seconds I felt something(3): a swimming in my head, like pre-fainting, some vision colouration, light dizziness and suggestions of a body buzz. I’m pretty new to being a practicing occultist (just over a year), but as things start to connect with my past, I realize that I was probably a ‘weird kid’. This feeling was very similar to things I had experienced in the past, often in churches. Calling the test a double-blind defeats the purpose, as it reveals there’s some trickery to anticipate (at least to those of us whom were obligate participants for a college psych course). Strongest support would be to have programmed it for very specific instructions (e.g. show people images of puppies) and to have it confirmed without any sort of suggestion that visuals would appear. I’m excited to see the results.

  17. Christopher Bender says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    yes

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    Felt an immediate connection even before asking.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    8

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    I have an interest in magick but do not really practice. I do not meditate though I know I should. At times I observe strange synchronicities.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    no
    Other notes / comments:

  18. Bran M says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    . Nothing obvious, even when I focused and tried to open my senses.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    . Nothing at all… Although there was a vague idea of something at my back upon my first look at the sigils, before I intently focused on them.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

    . 0 – no sensation

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    . Not much, mostly a novice. I understand intellectually how to do certain things, but I also sense it would take energy for me to do and thus I don’t do much. It takes a lot out of me… I feel it needs to meet a need for me to go for such a working.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    . Yes, I did. (And I loved it!)

    Other notes / comments:

    . Nothing I can think of. Probably tomorrow…

  19. Jesse says:

    Round 1 (yesterday)
    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    No.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    I felt a heat in the lower part of the back of my neck and a slight nausea in my chest and stomach. I might have been trying to fight it subconsciously while nevertheless trying to focus on my request, so it alternatively grew weaker and stronger. Both heat and nausea slowly disappeared for the most part when I asked it to turn off the obvious connections.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    6

    Round 2 (today)
    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    Yes.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    Since when I started focusing on the sigil I felt a slight tingling at the back of my head, very weak, though. It didn’t grow stronger when I asked for an obvious connection and took several minutes to disappear after I asked it to stop and disconnect.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    2

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    Not very much experience, mostly dabbling. I read much but didn’t do that much so far. I meditate regularly, though, do a daily invocation/prayer to aspects of my deity since a couple of weeks (I did these experiments before the invocations) and also practice autogenic training once in a while.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    No.

  20. Bran M says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    . Nothing obvious that I could feel / sense.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    . Nothing at all… Although there was a vague idea of something touching my hip this time… upon my first look at the sigils, before I intently focused on them.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

    . 0 – no sensation, although the hip touch / warmth would be a 4 – it was very fleeting.

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    . Not much, mostly a novice. I study what I can and practice what little I can as well.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    . Yes, I did. (And I loved it!)

    Other notes / comments:

    . I need to input here that I’m a new mother and I did the testing of both sigils within sight of my baby – she was asleep at the time as I did these late at night. I cleared my mind of distractions best as I could. Still, I feel I didn’t do enough. I hope I helped regardless, and I want to learn more!
    Thanks for allowing my participation, I appreciate it!

  21. Talyaa says:

    1. Sigil used: Heads / Tails

    Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    No

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    Warmth/energy in left palm

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

    4

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    20 years energy work/channeling. Reiki master 1999. Developed energy healing modality in 2007. Shamanic training, one-year mentorship, 1999. Professional channel and oracle since 1999.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    No.
    Other notes / comments:

    2. Sigil used: Heads / Tails

    Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    Yes

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

    8

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    See above

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    No
    Other notes / comments:

    I felt whole-body joy and excited anticipation with this sigil. Felt surrounded by spirit.

  22. Evan Cross says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    kinda? it felt fuzzy
    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    uh it sort of felt like being in a crowded room with everyone looking at me. like a light buzz across all of my skin
    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    like a three?
    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    minimal experience with magick and things but i have been working with energy for a few years
    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    nope
    Other notes / comments: i did both sigils the other one the day after i didn’t notice anything. did i placebo myself?

  23. Anne Myrka says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? No

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    Nothing

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch): 0-none

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? Core shamanic state training (3 years), active dreamer

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? No

    Other notes / comments:

  24. Tiara says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? Not quite

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences) Third eye started pulsing

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 7

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? I’ve delved into various healing modalities and been working with magick on and off for about 16 years. I feel like I have an opposite effect to too much of my magick though!

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? No

    Other notes / comments:

  25. Christina says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    No.

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    Nothing much. Slight warmth in my belly but it’s still there even after disconnecting, so I have a feeling it’s not because of the software.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    1

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    I’m a Reiki level 3 practitioner (Usui Reiko Ryoho) and started dabbling in magic 2 decades ago.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    I posted my results, but in 2015/16.

    Other notes / comments:
    In the 2012 testing, the response was much clearer. I was waiting for something obvious like last time.

  26. Bob Young says:

    Sigil 1. Nothing.

  27. Bridget Ventura says:

    Sigil used: Heads / Tails
    Heads
    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    Yes
    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    I heard a high pitched noise in my head
    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    8
    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    Out of the ordinary. 15 years ago I met a healer who assisted me in overcoming Crohns disease. He has been my teacher or guide if you believe in that. But I never saw him again. I have felt his presence and heard his voice many times over the years. I have also had many strange and mysterious experiences since then. This year things have changed a lot. I have had spiritual visions, automatic writing, instruction, opened books at random to find they answer immediate questions in my head, heard voices that made lights in my head, felt overwhelmed to cry for gratitude or because I could feel the suffering of humanity, and I see the world from a different perspective. And I lost my job and almost everything but I don’t care I feel happy inside. So lots of weird things… So I thought I would try this. ☺
    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    No but I think I will go look at it
    Other notes / comments:
    Well I think the symbol on the left is care – nourishment like the sun or rain and the symbol in the middle is growth- planting or seeding into the earth and the one on the right is completion to where the other two symbols worked together and the plant is healthy and growing. Except I think its a farm and its wheat or something growing and maybe the last one is a picture or a postcard of a farm scene.

  28. Ben says:

    Sigil used: Heads
    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    no – nothing at all
    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    Got no clear signal – felt like “just looking at a picture”

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 0

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    Over 10 years of experience with focus on energy work and sigil magick

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? yes.

    Other notes / comments:
    Great experiment. I wish others were brave enough to put their ideas to a test like that.

  29. Rhiannon says:

    Can’t seem to copy/paste form- apologies-
    Heads
    Yes
    Pressure on the right side of my chest/clavicle. Not unpleasant.
    8
    Practicing “sympathetic ” magick all of my life, quite unknowingly! Focus has grown over the last 5-6 years- solitary with some guidance, many modalities.
    No

  30. nm says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? A little

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences) tickling in my forehead an neck

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 4

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? I’ve done some Douglas before, practiced ceremonial magic a little. When I was young I could feel others hassle when I touch one’s forehead – it started to ache me in the same place

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? No

  31. Lillith says:

    Sigil used: Heads / Tails- Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?- No

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)- Nothing

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)- O

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?- Some

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?-No

    Other notes / comments:

  32. Joel says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? Yes

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences) I felt as if i was glowing

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 7

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? No experience other than studying the mind. I have had experiences through meditation, but I have not participated in anything with rules or concepts that I could learn to get better.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? NO

    Other notes / comments:

    • Joel says:

      wanted to add that I felt like a light bulb that was turning on and maybe flickering a bit. The flickering was slow rhythm. Don’t know if that will make sense to you or not, but I tried.

  33. Ouvek says:

    I tested tails on the first day, couldn’t feel anything.

    I tested heads on the second day, not sure if it’s me or because I haven’t felt anything on the first day so I anticipated on the second test, I feel a tightening near my forehead.

    I participated 2 or 3 years ago, probably.

    I think the older test to manifest for weather sort of works?

  34. William H says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?

    No. Slight visual artifacting, but that is my usual way of activating sigils (staring until they enliven).

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection?

    I didn’t feel any sensations. There was strain on my eyes from staring at a white screen with black imagery, but nothing obviously out of the ordinary.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)

    0

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    Some sigil work, astrological geomancy, daily lbrps and meditation.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    No.

    Other notes / comments:

    Hoping that the Sunday cut off is late enough (1-2am EST) for me to try the other sigil. Came over from Higherside Chats, so I am late to the test.

  35. Joel says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? No

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences) my hands started to feel warm

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 3

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc? Not any standardized experience.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? No

    Other notes / comments:

  36. Elizabeth says:

    Sigil Day 1: Heads

    Sigil Day 2: tails

    I noticed a connection on the first day. While I felt focused on day 2 (8/14) yesterday I felt more indications that somatic energy work might be going on. Hands felt tingly and it seemed like I should ground and center after disconnecting.

    The strength of the connection was around a three. I’ve had a stronger reaction to walking into metaphysical bookstore with a live altar.

    Roughly 25 years of mostly grounding and centering, ritual with an eclectic Pagan group in college for 2 years, and 10 Reclaiming Intensive Witchcamps. My PhD research focused on the Intensives, emotions, and sustainable community.

    No.

    Good luck! This protocol does seem like a step up.

  37. Bridget Ventura says:

    Today I looked at tails sigil. I felt or heard ringing while concentrating at a 5 or 6 and the feeling was fuzzy & chaotic. It said “no” or “go away” so I did

  38. Christina says:

    (sorry I’m a bit late, but I’m doing this before reading the other comments)

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    No

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    A warm, soft energy that enveloped my hands and face, which poured into /over my crown Chakra and third eye.

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch)
    4. 30 servings was not enough, I remained focus for at least a minute, but as soon as it started coming in, it started to do it faster. I began to feel a slight pulse on the right side of my head, as well as a feeling of pressure from energy building up.

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    3rd level usui reiki practitioner, but I have done basic energy work for a decade and a half.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?

    Other notes / comments:

  39. igil used: Heads / Tails : heads 1, tails 2

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    yes

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? (Description, 1-2 sentences)
    slight alpha-style sensation in arms, head, torso

    How strong was the obvious connection? (0-10, 0 = no sensation, 4 = gentle breeze, 7 = light touch, 10 = firm touch) 3

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    I do sigil work , recently started daily floatation, read lots of books

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    no

    Other notes / comments: I’m sort of guessing 1 is the placebo group. I floated last night so I am in the process of strengthening my alpha state connection, so I am actually a bad candidate for the control group

  40. Huvor says:

    Sigil used: Heads

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil? No

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? Not much, kind of warm but didn’t really get much. I focused until I got an energy head ache forcing me to disconnect and ground.

    How strong was the obvious connection? 2 felt something

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing? No

    Other notes / comments:
    For feedback you shouldn’t use public comments since they might skew results if read by subjects before participation.

    • Yes, Tails is the sigil. The comments were all in Pending status until this study ended last week, meaning no one could see anyone else’s comments. Thanks for testing and posting your results.

  41. Huvor says:

    Sigil used: Tails

    Did you notice a connection just from focusing on the sigil?
    A bit better than heads yes

    What did you feel when you asked for an obvious connection? Smoother cleaner energy, the other sigil felt like I was feeling the energy of the other participants.

    How strong was the obvious connection?
    6

    What’s your experience with energy / magick / healing / etc?
    Some, mostly as a cross disciplinary student. Haven’t quite broken into practical application.

    Did you participate in the 2012 testing?
    No

    Other notes / comments:
    I didn’t wait the day, don’t think I’ll get a chance to do so tomorrow. Better this time, felt a better connection but didn’t feel any response to my test commands. My guess is this is the sigil.

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