Remote Viewing: The Complete Guide to Its History, Methods and How to Practise

Remote viewing is a structured practice for describing a distant or hidden target, such as a place, object or event, using the mind alone. Developed at Stanford Research Institute in the 1970s by physicists Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff with artist Ingo Swann, it was used for more than two decades in US government programmes and is now practised and taught worldwide.

Consciousness and intuition training · Helps with: intuition, focus, curiosity, creativity and exploring consciousness

Last updated: 30 October 2026

Written by Saj Ali

Reading time: about 15 minutes

How we wrote this guide: this guide was written by Saj Ali. Every research claim below links to the original study, its DOI or an official record.

Quick answer: what is remote viewing?

• It is a structured way to use intuition. A viewer describes a target they cannot see, usually identified only by a random reference number, by sketching and noting impressions.
• It began in a laboratory. Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff ran remote viewing experiments at Stanford Research Institute from 1972 and published results in Nature and the Proceedings of the IEEE (Targ & Puthoff, 1974; Puthoff & Targ, 1976).
• The US government studied it for over 20 years. Programmes later known as Star Gate ran until 1995, and thousands of documents are now public (CIA Reading Room: Stargate collection).
• It follows set protocols. Techniques such as Coordinate Remote Viewing, developed with Ingo Swann, use structured stages to separate raw impressions from guesses.
• Research has continued. A 2023 meta-analysis of remote viewing studies from 1974 to 2022 reported results above chance (Tressoldi & Katz, 2023).

Contents

1. What Is Remote Viewing?
   • Remote Viewing at a Glance
2. The History of Remote Viewing
   • The SRI years
   • Ingo Swann and Coordinate Remote Viewing
   • The government programmes
   • Well-known viewers
3. How Remote Viewing Works
   • The protocol
   • Main methods
   • The role of a relaxed, focused mind
4. How to Try Remote Viewing at Home
5. What People Use Remote Viewing For
6. What the Research Shows
   • Early SRI studies
   • The PEAR laboratory
   • Free-response studies
   • A 2023 meta-analysis
   • The studies at a glance
7. Getting the Most from Remote Viewing
   • Remote Viewing vs Related Practices
8. Is Remote Viewing Right for You?
9. Associative Remote Viewing
   • A simple ARV exercise
10. Watch, Listen and Follow
11. Frequently Asked Questions About Remote viewing
12. Key Takeaways
13. Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
14. Sources

What Is Remote Viewing?

Remote viewing is the practice of describing a target that is out of sight, often far away, using focused attention and intuition. The target might be a location, a building, an object, a person or an event. In a typical session the viewer is given only a reference number, so they have no ordinary way of knowing what the target is (Puthoff & Targ, 1976).

What makes remote viewing distinctive is its structure. Rather than simply guessing, the viewer follows a protocol: relaxing, recording fleeting sensory impressions, sketching, and setting aside the mind’s attempts to name or explain what it is perceiving. The results are then compared with the actual target.

Remote Viewing at a Glance

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The History of Remote Viewing

The SRI years

In 1972, laser physicist Harold Puthoff began exploring human perception at Stanford Research Institute in California. He was soon joined by physicist Russell Targ. Working with New York artist Ingo Swann, and later with former police commissioner Pat Price and others, they ran experiments in which viewers described remote locations chosen at random, while an outside judge matched the descriptions to the targets (Puthoff & Targ, 1976).

Their first major paper, “Information transmission under conditions of sensory shielding”, appeared in Nature in 1974 (Targ & Puthoff, 1974). In 1976 they published a longer review of their experiments, “A perceptual channel for information transfer over kilometer distances”, in the Proceedings of the IEEE (Puthoff & Targ, 1976). Their popular book Mind-Reach followed in 1977.

Ingo Swann and Coordinate Remote Viewing

Ingo Swann is widely credited with coining the term “remote viewing”. Working with Puthoff, he developed Coordinate Remote Viewing (CRV), a staged method in which the viewer is given a set of numbers, or coordinates, and works step by step from simple impressions to detailed descriptions. Swann also named the mind’s habit of jumping to conclusions “analytical overlay”, and taught viewers to note it and set it aside.

The government programmes

From the 1970s, US intelligence agencies and the Army funded remote viewing research and operations under a series of code names, including Gondola Wish, Grill Flame, Center Lane, Sun Streak and finally Star Gate. Army viewers were trained in Swann’s methods. The programme ended in 1995 and was declassified, and the CIA has since released a large collection of documents to the public (CIA Reading Room: Stargate collection).

Well-known viewers

• Joseph McMoneagle – known as “Remote Viewer #001” in the Army programme. He later worked with SRI and the Monroe Institute and wrote Mind Trek.
• Lyn Buchanan – a former Army viewer who went on to teach Controlled Remote Viewing.
• Paul H. Smith – a former Army intelligence officer trained in CRV, author of Reading the Enemy’s Mind, and a long-standing teacher and leader of the International Remote Viewing Association.

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How Remote Viewing Works

The protocol

Good remote viewing sessions share a few features that keep them fair and focused:

• Blind targets. The viewer, and ideally anyone with them, does not know the target.
• A reference number. The target is identified only by a random number.
• Raw impressions first. The viewer records basic perceptions, such as colours, textures and shapes, before any interpretation.
• Analytical overlay set aside. Guesses and labels are noted separately so they do not crowd out the raw data.
• Feedback. After the session the viewer sees the target, which helps them learn.

Main methods

The role of a relaxed, focused mind

Most teachers emphasise a calm, open and curious state. Many viewers begin with a few minutes of relaxation or meditation, and some find that the absorbed quality of a flow state helps impressions come more easily.

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How to Try Remote Viewing at Home

You will need a partner, a few sealed envelopes or folders, some varied photographs (for example a bridge, a waterfall, a city square and a desert) and plain paper. The key is that neither you nor anyone in the room with you knows which target has been chosen.

1. Set up a blind target. Ask your partner to place one photo in each envelope, shuffle them, write a random reference number such as 4729-8153 on each and choose one at random. They then keep it out of sight, ideally in another room.
2. Relax and settle. Sit comfortably with paper and pen. Spend five minutes relaxing with slow breathing until your mind feels calm and open.
3. Write the reference number. Write the reference number at the top of the page. Let your pen make a quick, spontaneous mark or line, sometimes called an ideogram, without thinking about it.
4. Record raw sensory impressions. Note simple impressions as they come: colours, textures, temperatures, sounds, smells and basic shapes, such as “blue, cold, rushing, vertical”. Use single words rather than names.
5. Set aside guesses. If a definite answer pops into your mind, such as “it’s the Eiffel Tower”, write it in the margin labelled “AOL” (analytical overlay) and return to raw impressions. Naming too early tends to pull you off track.
6. Sketch what you sense. Make quick sketches of shapes, layout and sense of size or space. Keep going for 10 to 15 minutes, then stop and write a short summary.
7. Compare with the target. Open the envelope and compare your notes with the photo. Look for matching elements rather than an exact name. Keep your sessions in a notebook so you can see patterns over time.

Treat early sessions as playful practice. Many teachers recommend short, regular sessions and keeping careful records, so you learn which kinds of impressions tend to be accurate for you.

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What People Use Remote Viewing For

• Developing intuition. Many people practise remote viewing to sharpen their sensitivity to subtle impressions and gut feelings.
• Focus and attention training. Sessions call for calm, sustained concentration, much like mindfulness.
• Creativity. Sketching and describing without labels encourages fresh, open perception. See visualisation.
• Exploring consciousness. For many, remote viewing is part of a wider interest in the nature of mind. See astral exploration, My Big TOE and the Map of Consciousness.
• Mind training systems. Related intuitive exercises appear in programmes such as the Silva Method.
• Curiosity and fun. Many practise in groups or with a partner as a fascinating shared hobby.

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What the Research Shows

Remote viewing has been studied in laboratories for more than 50 years. Here are some of the key findings.

Early SRI studies

In their 1974 Nature paper, Targ and Puthoff described experiments in which participants reproduced or described targets they were shielded from seeing, and reported results they interpreted as information transfer beyond the ordinary senses (Targ & Puthoff, 1974). Their 1976 review summarised experiments with several viewers describing distant locations, with independent judges matching transcripts to targets (Puthoff & Targ, 1976).

The PEAR laboratory

The Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) laboratory ran a long series of “remote perception” experiments. In a 2007 review of 653 formal trials, Dunne and Jahn reported an overall result well above chance, with a composite z-score of 5.418 (Dunne & Jahn, 2007).

Free-response studies

Remote viewing is one of a family of “free-response” methods, in which people describe an unknown target in their own words. A 2010 meta-analysis in Psychological Bulletin examined free-response studies from 1992 to 2008 and reported a mean effect size of 0.142 across 29 ganzfeld studies, a relaxed sensory setting often compared to remote viewing. Studies using other relaxation-based approaches, such as meditation and hypnosis, also showed a positive effect. Participants with a special interest or practice, such as meditators, performed better than unselected participants in the ganzfeld condition (Storm et al., 2010).

A 2023 meta-analysis

Tressoldi and Katz examined remote viewing studies published between 1974 and 2022. Pooling 36 studies, they reported an overall effect size of about 0.34, with viewers scoring around 19% more hits than chance would predict, and found little sign of publication bias. Comparing their results with other experimental methods, the authors concluded that remote viewing protocols appear to be the most efficient for both experimental and practical applications (Tressoldi & Katz, 2023).

The studies at a glance

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Getting the Most from Remote Viewing

• Keep it blind. A fair setup makes your practice meaningful and your feedback useful.
• Start relaxed. A few minutes of slow breathing or self-hypnosis can help you settle.
• Trust small impressions. Simple words such as “rough”, “wet” or “tall” are often more useful than a confident name.
• Note your AOLs. Writing guesses down separately frees your mind to carry on perceiving.
• Keep sessions short. Many teachers suggest 15 to 30 minutes, with a break before the next session.
• Keep a journal. Record every session and its feedback so you can track your progress over weeks and months.
• Learn from experienced teachers. Courses, books and organisations such as the International Remote Viewing Association offer structured training.
• Stay curious and playful. An open, light-hearted attitude helps you enjoy the process.

Remote Viewing vs Related Practices

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Is Remote Viewing Right for You?

Remote viewing may appeal to you if you enjoy curiosity-driven experiments, are interested in intuition and consciousness, and like a structured, hands-on approach. It suits people who are happy to keep careful notes and to learn steadily through practice and feedback.

It can be done alone with a set of prepared targets, but most people find it easier and more fun with a partner or a small group, who can set up targets and act as judges. Many teachers offer online courses, and conferences run by the International Remote Viewing Association bring practitioners together.

If you prefer a gentler, more open-ended exploration of inner experience, you may also enjoy astral exploration or visualisation. If your main goal is calm and focus, meditation and mindfulness are excellent places to start.

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Associative Remote Viewing

Associative Remote Viewing (ARV) is a popular variation that people often use in groups. Instead of describing a single target, the viewer is asked to describe a photo they will be shown in the future. Each possible outcome of an event is linked in advance to a different, contrasting photo.

A simple ARV exercise

1. Choose a simple event with two possible outcomes, such as whether it will rain at a particular time tomorrow.
2. Ask a partner to pick two very different photos, for example a beach and a forest, and to link each one to an outcome without telling you which is which.
3. Do a short session on the reference number, recording raw impressions as usual.
4. Have a judge compare your notes with the two photos and choose the closer match.
5. After the event, your partner shows you the photo linked to the actual outcome. This feedback is a key part of ARV.

Treat ARV as an intriguing experiment and a way to practise, keeping careful records of your sessions. Because the photos are deliberately contrasting, ARV is a good way to see how your impressions match one target better than another.

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Watch, Listen and Follow

Hear from pioneers of remote viewing, including Russell Targ, Joseph McMoneagle, Lyn Buchanan and Paul H. Smith, and learn the basics of the method.

Videos

• Remote Viewing: What is remote viewing? – Lyn Buchanan. Lyn Buchanan on remote viewing.
• Russell Targ & Remote Viewing – Russell Targ. Russell Targ on the history of remote viewing.
• Remote Viewing From the Inside Out with Russell Targ – New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove. Russell Targ in conversation with Jeffrey Mishlove.
• Ingo Swann: The Mind Behind Remote Viewing – Ingo Swann Estate | Swann-Ryder Productions, LLC. Ingo Swann, the father of remote viewing.
• Ingo Swann Expanding the Information Base About Remote Viewing Part 1 – IRVA . An IRVA presentation on Ingo Swann.
• Remote Viewing with Joseph W. McMoneagle – Monroe Institute. Joseph McMoneagle at the Monroe Institute.
• How To Do a Simple Remote Viewing – Dr. Paul H. Smith. Paul H. Smith explains simple remote viewing.
• Remote Viewing Training, Part One: The Initial Phases, with Paul H. Smith – New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove. Paul H. Smith on remote viewing training, part 1.
• Guidelines for Future Remote Viewing with Joseph McMoneagle – New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove. Joseph McMoneagle’s guidelines for remote viewing.

Books

• Mind-Reach – Russell Targ & Harold Puthoff (1977). The original account of the SRI research.
• Limitless Mind – Russell Targ (New World Library, 2004). A practical guide to remote viewing and the nature of consciousness.
• Mind Trek – Joseph McMoneagle (1993). An insider’s account from Remote Viewer #001.
• Reading the Enemy’s Mind – Paul H. Smith (Tor/Forge, 2005). The story of the Army remote viewing programme.

Free resources

• International Remote Viewing Association – articles, conferences and information about teachers.
• CIA Reading Room: Stargate collection – declassified documents from the government programmes.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Remote viewing

What is remote viewing?

Remote viewing is a structured practice for describing a distant or hidden target, such as a place or object, using the mind alone. The viewer usually knows only a random reference number for the target.

Who invented remote viewing?

Remote viewing was developed at Stanford Research Institute from 1972 by physicists Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff, working with artist Ingo Swann, who is credited with coining the term.

What was Project Star Gate?

Star Gate was the final code name for US government remote viewing programmes that ran from the 1970s until 1995. The programme was declassified, and many documents are available from the CIA.

Can anyone learn remote viewing?

Many teachers believe remote viewing is a natural ability that most people can develop with practice, structure and regular feedback.

What is analytical overlay?

Analytical overlay, or AOL, is Ingo Swann’s term for the mind’s tendency to jump to a name or explanation. Viewers note it separately and return to raw impressions.

How long is a remote viewing session?

Beginner sessions often last 15 to 30 minutes, including time to relax, record impressions, sketch and review feedback.

Is there research on remote viewing?

Yes. Studies date back to the 1970s, including papers in Nature and the Proceedings of the IEEE, and a 2023 meta-analysis of 36 studies reported results above chance.

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Key Takeaways

• Remote viewing is a structured method for describing hidden or distant targets.
• It was developed at SRI from 1972 by Russell Targ, Harold Puthoff and Ingo Swann.
• US government programmes later known as Star Gate used it until 1995.
• Sessions use blind targets, reference numbers, raw impressions and feedback.
• Setting aside “analytical overlay” is a core skill.
• Research spanning five decades includes meta-analyses reporting results above chance.

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Explore More on Self Help Supermarket

Use these guides alongside this one:

• Astral exploration – explore consciousness
• Silva Method – mind training
• Visualisation – mental imagery
• Meditation – calm the mind
• Mindfulness – focused attention
• Relaxation – settle the body
• Flow state – absorbed focus
• My Big TOE – a theory of consciousness
• Map of Consciousness – levels of awareness
• Hypnosis – focused trance
• Reality Transurfing – reality and intention
• Psycho-Cybernetics – the mind’s inner guidance
• Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.

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Sources

1. Targ, R., & Puthoff, H. (1974). Information transmission under conditions of sensory shielding. Nature, 251(5476), 602–607. https://doi.org/10.1038/251602a0
2. Puthoff, H. E., & Targ, R. (1976). A perceptual channel for information transfer over kilometer distances: Historical perspective and recent research. Proceedings of the IEEE, 64(3), 329–354. https://doi.org/10.1109/PROC.1976.10113
3. Dunne, B. J., & Jahn, R. G. (2007). Information and uncertainty in remote perception research. Explore, 3(3), 254–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2007.03.010
4. Storm, L., Tressoldi, P. E., & Di Risio, L. (2010). Meta-analysis of free-response studies, 1992–2008: Assessing the noise reduction model in parapsychology. Psychological Bulletin, 136(4), 471–485. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019457
5. Tressoldi, P. E., & Katz, D. L. (2023). Remote viewing: A 1974–2022 systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 37(3), 467–489. https://doi.org/10.31275/20232931
6. Central Intelligence Agency. CIA Reading Room: Stargate collection. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/collection/stargate
7. International Remote Viewing Association. https://www.irva.org/

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