1966 05 00 Transaction - Vol 3 No 4 - Buckner

Magazine Overview

This issue of TRANS-ACTION, dated May/June 1963, features an article titled "Flying Saucers Are For People" by H. Taylor Buckner. The magazine's price is 50c, and it is identified as ISSUE NO. 18.

"Flying Saucers Are For People" by H. Taylor Buckner

The article by H. Taylor Buckner, a research consultant at the University of California at Berkeley specializing in social psychology and rumor transmission, delves into the social phenomenon of flying saucer belief. Buckner posits that flying saucer reports, while under investigation, serve as a "flying Rorschach test," reflecting societal anxieties and beliefs.

Historical Context of UFO Phenomena

The author outlines three main periods of popular excitement surrounding UFOs: a "sensitization" period from 1947 to 1951, a "hysteria" period in 1952, and a "secondary hysteria" following the Sputnik launch in late 1957. Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting near Mount Ranier, which coined the term "flying saucers," is identified as a key event that defined the phenomenon. During the initial period (1947-1951), reports averaged 100-200 per year, leading to widespread public awareness.

The "hysteria" phase in 1952 was amplified by Life magazine and the U.S. Air Force, whose public relations efforts, including "absurd explanations," fanned the flames. By the end of 1952, 1,501 sightings were reported. The excitement waned but was briefly revived by Sputnik in 1957.

The Rise of Occult Colonization and "Flying Saucerians"

Buckner identifies a new phase, overlapping the first, which he terms "occult colonization." This phase, beginning around 1950 with books like Frank Skully's "Behind the Flying Saucers" and Gerald Heard's "Is Another World Watching?", shifted focus from sightings to personal contact with "space people" piloting UFOs. The "publication explosion" of 1953-1954 saw ten books on this topic, finding an audience among those already interested in the occult and psychic phenomena.

This led to the formation of flying saucer clubs and conventions in 1955-1956, with organizations like "Understanding Incorporated" emerging. Magazines devoted to flying saucers began publication, fueling the growth of these organizations.

The Social World of the Occult Seeker

The article describes the "social world of the occult seeker" as one populated by various esoteric beliefs, including astrology, spiritualism, magic healing, and concepts of "second comings" and telepathy. Seekers often move between different cults, staying until they feel they have learned all they can.

The flying saucer movement, initially a distinct occult philosophy, transformed into an "open door" cult. This evolution is attributed to its organization by individuals already active in the occult social world. The "Bay City" Space-Craft Club is cited as an example, where the organizer, a woman with limited formal education, was involved in various occult groups.

The "Open Door" Cult and Audience Characteristics

The "open door" nature of these clubs allows for diverse beliefs, including socialism, peace movements, and various esoteric philosophies. The "Bay City" club's newsletter stated a willingness to support any plan that would "build a Better World." However, this broad approach can lead to chaotic attendance, as decisions on speakers are often based on their ability to attract an audience.

Buckner provides detailed observations on the audience demographics gathered over three years:

• Age: Average age is around 65, with few under 50.
• Gender: Approximately 90% of regulars are women.
• Marital Status: Mostly widowed or single; few couples attend.
• Socio-economic Status: Upper-working to lower-middle class.
• Education: Formal education level is generally low, leading to a fragmented understanding of knowledge.
• Physical Health: Appears to be poor, with many members exhibiting deafness, poor vision, mobility issues, and other handicaps.
• Mental Health: Generally low, with hallucinations being common, and a tendency to be drawn to environments where "seeing things" is accepted.

Men in the audience are described as either young schizophrenics or aged with advanced senility, with Buckner stating he has "never seen a male saucerian who could make a successful presentation of normalcy."

The audience norm is "anything goes," with a high degree of tolerance for unusual behavior and ideas, even to the point of disrupting meetings.

Challenges and Survival of Flying Saucer Organizations

Flying saucer clubs face organizational challenges due to a lack of members explicitly interested in flying saucers and an audience that may drift away if not constantly presented with "new" and "helpful" information. The clubs have no core doctrine to sell, making them reliant on attracting speakers who can offer diverse lines of thought.

Despite the decline in interest in sightings around 1960, the movement adapted. Speakers began linking saucers to other occult concepts like the hollow earth theory, planetary reincarnation, and Lucifer. The focus has increasingly shifted towards "magic healing" for the problems of the aged – social, economic, political, and physical.

Organizations survive by choosing a general goal like "building a better world" and adapting to the audience's interests. However, Buckner notes they are "not prospering," as survival requires more than mere drift.

"Flying Rorschach Blots"

When varied occult beliefs become diffused, it becomes difficult to distinguish what is unique to flying saucers. The phenomenon becomes a "Rorschach blot," allowing anyone with an occult agenda to connect it to flying saucers and gain acceptance within the clubs. This has led to speakers presenting increasingly "out-there" connections, linking saucers to concepts like the hollow earth theory, planetary reincarnation, and even Lucifer.

"Good Lines For Better Worlds"

The article touches on the practicalities of running these clubs, noting that political lines, while sometimes presented, are less effective than topics like magic healing, which draw larger audiences. The founding of the "Universal Party" by saucerians attracted only eleven people, highlighting the difficulty in mobilizing members for specific political action.

Healers are described as "con-men of some talent" who use the flying saucer platform for their own gain. The focus on healing, while popular, is seen as a self-limiting group.

Despite the challenges, flying saucer clubs have maintained themselves by adopting a broad goal of "building a better world" and adapting to audience interests, particularly in magic healing. However, they are not thriving.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the sociological and psychological aspects of belief systems, particularly the phenomenon of flying saucer sightings and the communities that form around them. The article positions flying saucers not as a physical reality but as a "Rorschach blot" onto which individuals project their existing beliefs and desires, especially those within the occult and esoteric social world. The editorial stance, as presented by Buckner, is analytical and somewhat skeptical, viewing the flying saucer movement as a manifestation of social and psychological needs, particularly among an aging demographic seeking meaning, community, and solutions to their problems, often through the lens of magic healing and occultism. The magazine, TRANS-ACTION, appears to be a platform for sociological and critical analysis of contemporary social phenomena.