In 1987, an educational psychologist, Harry Palmer, outlined an intriguing series of mental procedures. When applied correctly, these procedures unraveled many of the more profound mysteries of human consciousness.

Harry Palmer developed The Avatar Course while trying to understand and experience the source of his consciousness, rather than to just understand it intellectually. His quest began in the 1960s, and led him to sensory deprivation tank work in 1986. This made it possible for him to study consciousness without any distraction from external stimuli. Over a period of eight weeks, he discovered a technique that allowed him to deliberately expand or contract consciousness. In doing so, he found a way to experience the transcendental state of pure awareness.

He made some startling discoveries. Among them:

• We are what we believe, and we are the belief creators.
  
  
• We exist as our minds, our bodies and our energy, and we exist outside of any definition.
  
  
• We are the source of our existence as humans.
  
  
• We create ourselves as ideas, and we become associated with, and exist as these ideas.
  
  
• Thus, our experiences are a reflection of the beliefs we create.
  
  

Harry was able to take what he learned and formulate it into a set of techniques that could be transmitted through the Avatar Course to anyone ready to take full responsibility -- and deliberate control, of their lives -- and go far beyond their current definition of self.