Backster and Primary Perception
from MindControlForums Website
Cleve Backster’s work in the late ’60s and
early ’70s was an important impetus for the best selling book
THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS by Peter Tompkins
and Christopher Bird. In the ’80s and 90s, his work was chronicled by
Robert Stone in THE SECRET LIFE OF YOUR CELLS and many periodicals. His research
journey started with the 1966 almost accidental rediscovery that plants are
sentient and respond to the spontaneous emotions and strongly expressed
intentions of relevant humans.3 (For example, J. Chandra Bose of India
had demonstrated a similar principle in the early part of the 20th
century.) Using an instrument to measure galvanic skin responses (GSR), a
part of his polygraph or lie detector stock-in-trade, Backster attempted
to determine whether it would measure the moment of rehydration of a plant whose
roots were freshly watered. It did not, but, to his surprise, the GSR meter
registered his threat to burn the plant leaf when he spontaneously thought of
the idea.
Subsequent to his accidental discovery, in an amazing series of experiments, he
demonstrated that the expression of genuine emotion and intent by humans caused
measurable reactions (“Primary Perception”) in the cells of leaves,
fruits, and vegetables. They also reacted to behaviors or changes in states of
animals and insects. Conversely, in what Backster labeled “fainting,”
plants ceased their normal functioning when horrific treatment (burning,
scalding, and chemical destruction) was continued on the parallel materials or
the presence of hostile individuals was introduced into the lab. This reaction
seems to correspond to Shock Syndrome in humans. More detailed protocols
demonstrated that plants possess some discriminatory capability, making them
capable of distinguishing individuals who have either destroyed related plants
or have very positive intentions. Plants seem to know who has the sentiment to
become a “green thumb.”