Vaughan, Alan (1936-)

Author, editor, and psychic who has written widely on psychical and parapsychological topics. He was born on December 28, 1936, in Akron, Ohio, and studied at the University of Akron (A.B., 1958), Rutgers University (1958-59), the New School for Social Research (1966-67), and the University of Freiburg (1967-68). He held several editing jobs before going to work for Psychic magazine (later New Realities) in 1969. He was the editor of Psychic for five years (1972-77). From 1978 onward he was president of New Ways of Consciousness Foundation, San Francisco. He also started a Los Angeles-based computer software company called Mind Technology Systems.

Vaughan has worked in parapsychology, especially with the Dream Laboratory at Maimonides Hospital, and he is an associate member of the Parapsychological Association. He is also a psychic, having begun his development in Europe in the 1960s. In 1983 he began channelling an entity named "Li Sung" who claimed to be an ancient Chinese healer and herbalist. Vaughan reflected upon his unusual dual life:

"The transition from a skeptical science textbook editor to a parapsychologist and practicing psychic was a painful one. I had to give up the cherished idea of traditional science to discover the more important underlying realities of consciousness and its psychic effects. The research leading to Patterns of Prophecy opened up my own prophetic talent, and enabled me to teach others how to develop their latent psi gifts…. Each of us has a unique consciousness and a unique task in life. We also have unique problems to solve. But only our consciousness has the answers to our problems. Your inner self has the wisdom of the universe locked up within it. By finding the key to unlock that wisdom, you will enrich your life."