It saddens me that so much has been hijacked by new agers and modern mystics that it is difficult to cull away the noise to get to the useful information.
This has been a huge problem for me in trying to research ancient texts and mysticism. For instance, the new age movement has embraced the book of Enoch and the Jewish Kabbalah. These are not "new" concepts. The book of Enoch found at Qumran carbon dates to 200 B.C. and the first record of Jewish Kabbalah dates to the 12th century (Kabbalah claims greater antiquity because it literally means an oral tradition).
But simply because some "new" agers have embraced certain elements of these ancient thoughts, it follows in the minds of many that there is nothing touched by them worth studying.
Likewise, it appears that some new agers or mystics have also embraced what is serious scientific research into the phenomenon of ultraweak bioluminescence and dark luminescence. Fascinating information has emerged from this research, but it is deemed guilty of mysticism by association and thus some American scientists choose to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Other countries don't seem to do that. Penrose certainly did not reject biophotons out-of-hand, though he was quick to disclaim any conclusions regarding a relationship between the physical phenomenon and consciousness. And China is certainly an atheistic country; surely they aren't researching this to support an Eastern mysticism.
Nicolo Dallaporta complained - and I agree with him - (paraphrased) that science has lost its deep thinkers. Over the years it has become too burdensome and thus specialized requiring enormous investments of time and effort among the scientists.
But frankly, I'm tired of scientific baby steps, betty boop ...
Me too, Alamo-Girl. The past will suffocate us altogether if we cannot be bolder, more "aggressive" -- and creative -- thinkers. I've had just about all the "received doctrines" right up to my eyebrows by now.... Time to let in some fresh air. JMHO FWIW.