Next Level Soul Podcast with Alex Ferrari

Episode 642: BANNED Harvard SCIENTIST Proves What CONSCIOUSNESS & The SOUL REALLY Are! INSANE! with Rupert Sheldrake
Date: November 25, 2025
Guest: Dr. Rupert Sheldrake (biologist, author, and researcher)
Host: Alex Ferrari

Episode Overview

In this profound and wide-ranging conversation, host Alex Ferrari sits down with controversial biologist Dr. Rupert Sheldrake. The episode explores Dr. Sheldrake's revolutionary ideas about consciousness, memory, morphic resonance, and the nature of the soul. They traverse scientific, spiritual, and philosophical terrain, unpacking the limitations of materialist science, the enduring wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions, and practical insights for humanity’s future. The discussion is both challenging and accessible, weaving rigorous science with deep spirituality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Morphic Resonance: Memory in Nature (03:11–14:59)

• Theory Overview:
  Dr. Sheldrake outlines his morphic resonance theory, which proposes that nature possesses a form of collective memory. Laws of nature are not fixed but more like habits that evolve over time.

  “The so called laws of nature are more like habits. They've been evolving along with the universe and along with life. That memory is basically built into everything, into self-organizing systems.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 03:41)

• Memory Access as Resonance:
  Memory is not stored in the brain like data on a hard drive but is accessed by tuning into past similar events — our brains are receivers, not storage devices.

  “Our memories are not stored inside our brains, which is the usual assumption, but rather we tune into them. Our brains are more like TV receivers than like video recorders.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 04:35)

• Akashic Records & The Cloud:
  Sheldrake differentiates his concept from metaphors like the Akashic Records or digital clouds, emphasizing resonance across time rather than storage in space.

  “The whole of the past is potentially present everywhere, and you tune into it, but it's not, when you're not tuning into it, sort of stored out somewhere. … Memory is by its very nature a relation in time, not space.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 06:10)

• Species-Level Connection & Collective Unconscious:
  Morphic resonance implies each species — for instance, all dogs or all humans — has a collective memory it both draws from and contributes to. This echoes elements of Jung’s collective unconscious.

  “We're connected when we come into resonance through similarity … it's specific resonance [that] depends on things being similar.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 08:29)

Scientific Examples & Experiments (09:56–14:59)

• Animal Learning Experiments:
  Sheldrake references studies with rats and hints at the “hundredth monkey” concept, positing that as more animals learn a behavior, others pick up the skill faster—even at a distance—through morphic resonance.

  “The more that did it, the bigger the effect elsewhere. So it's not all or none, it's a kind of gradual effect. It depends on the numbers.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 10:27)

• Vibration & Resonance:
  All matter and living systems are vibratory. The complexity and pattern of these vibrations facilitate resonance, not simply a single frequency.

  “Everything in nature is essentially rhythmic or vibratory or oscillatory … it's a complex pattern of vibration that's involved. And morphic resonance depends on the similarity of that pattern.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 14:59)

Eastern Spirituality Meets Western Science (16:52–21:40)

• Memory, Death, and Reincarnation:
  Eastern traditions, unlike Western science, take memory in nature for granted—a key for explaining phenomena like reincarnation or life after death.

  “You need something like an inherent memory in nature if you're going to explain any form of life after death.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 17:38)

• Materialist Model vs. Morphic Resonance:
  The materialist view (memory stored in the brain) rules out survival of consciousness after death. Sheldrake’s model keeps the door open for survival and spiritual phenomena.

  “If your memories are stored inside your brain, then when you die, your brain decays and all your memories will be wiped out. … But all I'm saying is that the theory of morphic resonance, that memory is tuned into rather than stored in the brain, leaves open the question of survival.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 18:30, 21:08)

Personal and Scientific Journey (21:40–29:35)

• "Scientific Heretic":
  Sheldrake recounts his start as a conventional scientist, his shift into new theories, and the fierce criticism he’s faced.

  “I didn't start off as a troublemaker. I started off being very successful in the regular scientific world.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 22:37)

• Experience in India:
  In India, he found more acceptance for ideas like memory in nature, reflecting their alignment with ancient philosophies.

  “When I went to India and started telling people, Indian colleagues and people about morphic resonance … most Indians said, oh, there is nothing new in this idea. Ancient Rishis have said this thousands of years ago.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 24:14)

• Controversy & Resilience:
  His book "A New Science of Life" was labeled a “book for burning” (Nature, 1981), but Sheldrake found support among Jungian therapists, seekers, and thinkers open to paradigm shifts.

The Nature of the Soul: Historical and Spiritual Context (29:35–46:07)

• The Soul Through the Ages:
  Sheldrake provides a sweeping history of the soul, from Aristotle’s "psyche" (animating principle for all life) to the mechanistic views post-17th century, where the soul became sidelined.

  “All living things have souls. That's what makes them alive. They're animate. They have a soul.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 30:21)

• Morphic Fields & The Soul:
  He links his concept of morphogenetic fields (form-shaping fields) to Aristotle's "vegetative soul" and expands this to all physical and behavioral structures in organisms.

  “Morphogenetic fields are form shaping fields … and these fields are not just inside the body, they're in and around it.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 35:58)

• Dreams & The Afterlife:
  Sheldrake interprets the dream body as evidence for a part of us that survives bodily death and posits that after death, consciousness may continue in a dream-like state, shaped by expectation and personal belief.

  “When we die we can go on dreaming, but we can't any longer wake up because we haven't got a physical body to wake up in. It's dead.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 46:07)

Near-Death Experiences & Spiritual Practice (50:16–58:44)

• Near-Death Experience (NDE) Analysis:
  Sheldrake recognizes the significance and commonality of NDEs, drawing parallels to out-of-body and lucid dream experiences.

  “I think the body you're floating out with is the same kind of thing as your dream body that you experience in your dreams every night.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 51:43)

• Stan Grof, Psychedelics, and Archetypes:
  Discusses the archetypal tunnel/light experience in NDEs as a re-experiencing of birth or rebirth (Stan Grof), and suggests original Christian baptism (total immersion) may have been a ritual drowning to stimulate NDEs as initiatory rites.

  “John the Baptist was essentially a drowner and that he was holding people under total immersion in the River Jordan just long enough to induce a near death experience by drowning.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 55:56)

The Future of Humanity & Spirituality (61:34–65:46)

• Prospects for Higher Consciousness:
  Sheldrake is cautious—while spiritual awakening is growing, global crises and survival pressures could drive people to lower consciousness unless a genuine shift happens.

  “I'm not sure that most people would go to higher consciousness in those conditions. I think people go to lower consciousness.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 62:28)

• Spirituality vs. Material Growth:
  Fulfillment via spirituality could diminish compulsive materialism, but current trends aren’t promising.

  “If you feel happier and more satisfied with your life … it doesn't feel such a pressing need to spend the whole time whizzing around the world in jet planes or buying new products.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 65:46)

Telepathy, Animals, & Inter-Species Connection (68:12–73:59)

• Animals Knowing When Owners Return:
  Sheldrake describes his research showing pets—especially dogs and sometimes cats—appear to sense when their owners decide to come home, regardless of distance or familiar cues, attributing this to telepathic resonance within social morphic fields.

  “When they form the intention to go home before they've even got into the vehicle. The dog becomes alert and goes and starts waiting from a door or window.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 68:58)

• Invitation for Participation:
  He is launching new studies, now focusing on cats, and invites listeners with relevant experiences to contribute.

  “I'm planning a new phase of research on this with cats … if anyone watching this has a cat that regularly knows when they're coming home and would like to take part … get in touch with me through my website sheldrake.org.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 73:59)

Final Reflections & Advice for Humanity (74:26–82:04)

• Spiritual Practice for Individual & Collective Health:
  Sheldrake advocates connecting to spiritual realms through prayer and communal ritual—not simply for metaphysical reasons but because studies show such practices measurably improve well-being and longevity.

  “If you don't have spiritual practices or religious practices, you'll be unhappier, unhealthier, and live shorter on average. So that's why I think militant atheism should come with a health warning.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 77:49)

• The Power of Tradition and Ritual:
  Personal spirituality is important, but so is connection to tradition, family, ancestors, pilgrimage, and festival—the fabric of community.

  “One aspect of [religion] is connecting with our ancestors and honoring our ancestors ... reconnecting in all these ways to our ancestors, to holy places through pilgrimage ... [and] festivals ... if we try and get on without them ... look at the world we've got today .... It's not going to be business as usual.” (Rupert Sheldrake, 77:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our brains are more like TV receivers than like video recorders.” — Rupert Sheldrake (04:35)
• “The whole of the past is potentially present everywhere, and you tune into it.” — Rupert Sheldrake (06:10)
• “You can't have reincarnation if memories are embedded in brains, because they're all wiped out at death.” — Rupert Sheldrake (18:30)
• “I didn't start off as a troublemaker. I started off being very successful in the regular scientific world.” — Rupert Sheldrake (22:37)
• “In India…most Indians said, oh, there is nothing new in this idea. Ancient Rishis have said this thousands of years ago.” — Rupert Sheldrake (24:14)
• “Morphogenetic fields are form shaping fields … And so when some people say they can see auras and it's the soul … I think of the morphogenetic field as being within and around the body.” — Rupert Sheldrake (35:58)
• “When we die we can go on dreaming, but we can't any longer wake up because we haven't got a physical body to wake up in.” — Rupert Sheldrake (46:07)
• “John the Baptist was essentially a drowner and ... just long enough to induce a near death experience by drowning.” — Rupert Sheldrake (55:56)
• “If you feel happier and more satisfied with your life ... it doesn't feel such a pressing need to spend the whole time whizzing around the world in jet planes or buying new products ...” — Rupert Sheldrake (65:46)
• “I think we have to connect with the spiritual world and pray as well for guidance in what we're doing ... I think prayer is one thing.” — Rupert Sheldrake (74:26)
• “Militant atheism should come with a health warning.” — Rupert Sheldrake (77:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:11 – Introduction to morphic resonance
• 08:29 – Collective unconscious and resonance in species
• 10:27 – Animal learning experiments ("hundredth monkey")
• 14:59 – Memory, vibration, and resonance in nature
• 17:38 – Memory, reincarnation, and Eastern philosophies
• 22:37 – Sheldrake’s personal journey, controversy in science
• 24:14 – Reception in India versus the West
• 35:58 – Fields, the soul, and their relationship to traditional theology
• 46:07 – Dreams, afterlife, and survival of consciousness
• 51:43 – Analysis of near-death experiences
• 55:56 – Early Christian baptism as near-death initiation
• 65:46 – Spirituality, materialism, and collective future
• 68:58 – Animal telepathy research
• 74:26 – Final advice: spiritual practice and prayer
• 77:49 – Why spiritual practice improves health and community

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive, paradigm-challenging vision of nature, consciousness, memory, and the soul, weaving scientific hypotheses with spiritual wonders. Dr. Sheldrake’s humility and curiosity inspire listeners to question dogmatic assumptions, explore new frontiers of science and spirituality, and embrace practices that cultivate connection, health, and meaning—individually and collectively.