Sylvan Joseph Muldoon

Hereward Carrington, born in 1880, was an American investigator of psychic phenomena and a prolific author, writing over 100 books on subjects ranging from the paranormal and psychical research to conjuring and stage magic. Initially skeptical, his interest in the psychic realm grew after reading relevant literature, leading him to join the Society for Psychical Research. He later became involved with the American Society for Psychical Research, establishing a reputation as an investigator.

Carrington investigated many high-profile cases of alleged psychic ability, including that of the medium Eusapia Palladino and the 'Great Amherst Mystery' concerning Esther Cox. While he exposed numerous fraudulent mediums and tricks used in spiritualism, he also maintained that some phenomena were genuine. He founded the American Psychical Institute in 1921, which was one of the earliest laboratories dedicated to investigating psychic phenomena. Carrington also corresponded with notable figures in occult and esoteric circles, such as Aleister Crowley and Sylvan Muldoon, with whom he co-authored books on astral projection.

Carrington's career was marked by a dual approach: exposing fraudulent mediums while simultaneously investigating claims of genuine psychic abilities. He meticulously documented the tricks employed in spiritualist phenomena such as slate-writing, table-turning, and materializations, revealing the methods used by mediums like Henry Slade and William Eglinton. In his book 'The Physical Phenomena of Spiritualism,' he asserted that a vast majority of physical and mental phenomena were fraudulent, yet he acknowledged the possibility of authentic supernatural occurrences. His investigations, such as those into Eusapia Palladino, often involved detecting cheating but also led him to believe in the reality of certain psychic events. He was known to use methods, sometimes controversial, to detect fraud, such as applying phosphorescent paint to a medium's arm to track movement.

Beyond his exposés, Carrington was deeply involved in the serious study of psychical research. He was a member of the American Society for Psychical Research and founded the American Psychical Institute in 1921, an early laboratory dedicated to investigating paranormal claims. His research extended to topics like astral projection, evidenced by his co-authorship of books such as 'The Projection of the Astral Body' with Sylvan Muldoon. Carrington corresponded with significant figures in esoteric and occult fields, including Aleister Crowley and Israel Regardie, indicating his engagement with the broader spectrum of mystical and spiritual inquiry. Despite his critical stance on much spiritualist activity, he maintained an open mind, stating in 1930 that the evidence for survival after death was remarkably strong.

“I have no particular theory to defend, and no belief to uphold. I am not a convinced spiritualist; at the same time, I am willing to grant that the evidence for survival is remarkably strong.”