Raworth Salon North – the Power of Mind Over Matter

What makes the human imagination so powerful, who shapes our view of the world, and why are we so fascinated by the supernatural? Raworths Salon North explores these questions and much more when it returns this autumn.

The latest instalment of the ever-popular Salon series – the ‘night out for your brain’ – is back at The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, on Thursday 24 September, with three more thought-provoking speakers who will look at how our brains shape the way we imagine, believe and understand the world around us.

Author, presenter and folklore expert Deborah Hyde, who has made regular appearances on TV shows such as Strange Evidence and Mysteries at the Museum, will explore why we find the supernatural so intriguing.

Drawing on psychology, folklore, history and anthropology, Deborah will unpack our enduring fascination with ghosts, vampires, and the unexplained, revealing what these beliefs can tell us about ourselves.

Joining her is neuroscientist Professor Adam Zeman, who delves into the strange and extraordinary world of imagination. From daydreams and memory to hallucinations and the mind’s eye, Adam explores how our brains create the rich inner worlds that shape so much of our experience.

Completing the trio of special guests at this latest Salon event, hosted by TV producer and presenter Natasha Knight, is psychologist Dr Madeleine Pownall. Based at the University of Leeds, she will uncover the forgotten women who helped shape modern psychology, revealing how their pioneering ideas transformed our understanding of the human mind.

Raworths Salon North brings the world’s most fascinating ideas in arts, science, and psychology to an intimate cabaret style setting in the heart of Harrogate.

Simon Morris, Managing Partner at Raworths, said: “As always, there is a great line-up of intriguing, thought-provoking speakers. This brilliant Salon Series never fails to challenge and entertain us.”

Sharon Canavar, Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said: “The power of imagination has fascinated people for centuries, so I’m really looking forward to this Salon North event. There’s nothing else quite like these fantastic evenings that combine curiosity, creativity and unexpected connections.”

Voted one of GQ magazine’s ‘Top 100 Things to do in the World,’ these unique evenings celebrate ideas, creativity, and the thrill of discovering something new.

As well as enjoying a series of intriguing 25-minute talks, it’s an opportunity to catch up with friends over a drink from the bar, browse through the bookstall run by local bookseller Imagined Things, and soak up the atmosphere.

Raworths Salon North at The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, Thursday, 24 September. Tickets are available here.