The 12 Principles of Remote Viewing

When we founded the Center Lane Project in 2023, our goal was to create a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and transferring the original knowledge and principles of Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV) to future generations. We were motivated by concerns that the foundational methods and teachings of CRV—developed by Ingo Swann and Hal Puthoff and taught to a small group of military viewers in the 1980s—were at risk of being lost or diluted as the field expanded and new, often modified, remote viewing methods proliferated after the original programs were declassified in 1995.

The project aims to capture the essence of CRV, ensure its core principles are not obscured by later innovations, and make this body of knowledge accessible for education and research. It also seeks to support both newcomers and experienced practitioners by providing reliable resources and fostering a network for knowledge sharing and practitioner support.

Anyone who has taken a closer look at the topic will agree that the knowledge of remote viewing is inseparably intertwined with RV’s history—just as it is in other areas of life. Those who understand the history, the processes, and the chronology of each development can truly grasp the method and its theoretical, scientific, and practical foundations.

That’s why we decided to also include the entire historical context of remote viewing in our project, making the knowledge accessible to interested individuals and new remote viewers.

Unlike our general work that focuses exclusively on Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV), this booklet deliberately addresses Remote Viewing (RV) in its broadest sense, independent of any particular school or methodology.

People find their way to remote viewing through a wide variety of paths, each bringing its own perspective and expectations. For some, the journey begins with books, reports and interviews featuring the original viewers from the military unit, whose stories have reached a certain presence in media and documentaries. Others first encounter remote viewing in adjacent communities, such as among UFO/UAP enthusiasts, anomaly researchers, or those interested in out-of-body experiences, where the topic is often discussed alongside other extraordinary phenomena.

Some are introduced to remote viewing through courses at the Monroe Institute, which focus on exploring altered states of consciousness. These courses have helped popularize the idea in broader circles. There are also psychics who market their services as remote viewing, even though what they offer may differ significantly from the structured methods developed in the original programs. At the same time, genuine remote viewers who openly share their work or offer training play a crucial role in attracting newcomers and passing on their knowledge.

In recent years, the proliferation of YouTube videos and docu-mentaries about mysteries and secret government projects—often highlighting the U.S. government’s involvement in remote viewing—has further fueled public curiosity. This diversity of entry points has led to a wide range of interpretations and expectations, making it all the more important to clarify what remote viewing truly is and how it differs from other practices in the field of psi phenomena.

A major issue that has emerged over time is that the term “remote viewing” has gradually evolved into a catch-all buzzword for a wide array of psi phenomena, regardless of their actual connection to the original protocol and methodology. This misuse is partly driven by the desire for borrowed legitimacy; Its scientific origins and structured protocols of remote viewing lend remote viewing an air of credibility that is often lacking in other areas of popular parapsychology. In a field frequently met with skepticism or outright dismissal, adopting the label “remote viewing” can make practices seem more serious and research-based, especially since terms like “clairvoyance” or “psychic” are often associated with unscientific or mystical connotations.

Additionally, many people simply lack a clear understanding of what truly distinguishes remote viewing from other forms of extrasensory perception (ESP). The original remote viewing protocols were developed through years of research and refinement, emphasizing repeatability, documentation, and a strict separation between the viewer and the target. In contrast, many who use the term today may be unaware of these rigorous standards, and instead apply the remote viewing term to any intuitive or psychic process involving information gathering at a distance.

The widespread use of “remote viewing” as a marketing term also plays a role. Some psychics and intuitives rebrand their services under this label to attract clients who are seeking something with a scientific or military pedigree. This further blurs the lines between genuine remote viewing and other, less rigorous psychic practices. As a result, the public’s understanding of what remote viewing actually entails becomes muddled, making it harder for newcomers to discern authentic methods from loosely related or entirely unrelated practices. This confusion underscores the importance of clear definitions and education about the unique features and history of remote viewing.

The earliest written definitions of remote viewing provide only limited guidance for understanding what truly sets this discipline apart. In the initial years of research, the terminology and concepts surrounding remote viewing were still evolving, as the primary focus at that time was on providing evidence for the exis-tence of ESP. It was only about a decade later that efforts shifted toward the development of a structured training methodology for remote viewing. The distinctions that now separate it from other forms of extrasensory perception were not yet fully established. As the field matured, through systematic experimentation and practical application, the protocols and criteria that define remote viewing were gradually developed and refined.

Today, when we compare those early, broad definitions with the much deeper understanding held by trained remote viewers of the second or third generation, the importance of clear and precise descriptions becomes evident.

To address this need, we have worked closely with our group of advisors, all of whom were key figures in the development of remote viewing: Hal Puthoff, the lead scientist of the original RV program; Skip Atwater, the operations and training officer of the mili-tary remote viewing unit at Ft. Meade; and three of the first and original CRV viewers from that unit—Tom McNear, Paul H. Smith, and Bill Ray, who also served several years as the unit’s comman-der. Together, with their unique expertise and first-hand experience, we have distilled the essential features that truly characterize remote viewing.

The result is a set of guiding principles that provide a reliable framework for identifying and practicing remote viewing, regardless of the specific method used.

These Principles of Remote Viewing are designed to be universally applicable—not limited to Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV), but relevant to any approach that genuinely embodies the core aspects of RV, now and in the future as the field continues to evolve. This booklet serves as a compact guide and orientation for anyone interested in remote viewing. It brings together the essential basics and the most important definitions—information you won’t find presented in such a concise form anywhere else. Whether you’re new to the topic, looking for clear foundations, or simply want a quick reference, Principles of Remote Viewing offers a uniquely accessible introduction to the core concepts of the field.

Jana Rogge,
President, Center Lane Project

June 2025