AMSKAYA

Magazine Overview

AMSKAYA, Issue No. 54, dated April 2003, is the newsletter of the STAR Fellowship. It presents a collection of articles and reports related to UFO sightings, extraterrestrial contact, and paranormal phenomena, reflecting a long-standing interest in these subjects.

Personal Journey into UFOlogy

The issue features a personal narrative by Chris Tannlund, who details his lifelong fascination with flying saucers, stemming from his family's experiences in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He recounts childhood excursions with his parents to spot UFOs near Phoenix, Arizona, and his early immersion in the paranormal and UFO sections of his local library. Tannlund highlights the profound impact of reading George Adamski's 'Inside the Spaceships' at age 12, which solidified his belief in the reality of flying saucers and the potential for spiritual advancement through contact with extraterrestrials. He describes his subsequent intensive research, devouring works by UFOlogists like Donald Keyhoe and Brad Steiger, and his initial efforts to publish 'The Golden Age of Flying Saucers Newsletter' in 1997.

The UFORIA Research Database and Online Presence

Tannlund explains his transition to online publishing after acquiring a computer in 1998. This led to the creation of the UFORIA Research Database website (http://home.earthlink.net/~tannlund/uforia.htm), which he describes as his personal platform for sharing research and findings on UFOs and extraterrestrial communication. The website aims to create a space for sharing research fruits with like-minded individuals.

Photographic Evidence and Historical Cases

The issue includes a section titled 'SOME PICTURES OF ADAMSKI TYPE FLYING SAUCERS,' showcasing various photographs and a video clip attributed to Adamski-type craft. These include images photographed by Sgt. Jerrold Baker (December 13, 1952), an image from Oregon by Mrs T.Fry (1969), a video clip from Lost Creek, California (1954) recorded by Mr John Sheets, a photo by Stephen Darbishire (February 15, 1954) in Coniston, England, and a Polaroid enlargement from Peru (October 19, 1973) taken by architect Hugo Vega. Additionally, a US government official named Madeline Rodeffer filmed an Adamski-type saucer in Silver Springs, Maryland, on February 28, 1965.

Encounters and Testimonies

Joao de Freitas Guimaraes

Under the heading 'JOAO DE FREITAS GUIMARAES, Military Advocate,' the newsletter recounts an encounter in Sao Sebastio, Brazil, in May 1956. Professor Guimaraes witnessed a water spout from the sea, followed by a machine that landed on the beach. Two tall beings emerged and communicated telepathically, inviting him aboard. He described them as having long fair hair, clear complexions, and wearing green one-piece garments. The experience lasted approximately 30-40 minutes, and he felt the machine left Earth's atmosphere. He later estimated the flight duration and noted his watch had stopped. The professor believed the beings were investigating humanity and warning of dangers like the indiscriminate use of atomic bombs.

Eugenio Siragusa

Another testimony features Eugenio Siragusa, a Sicilian Customs Officer, who reported telepathic messages leading to rendezvous on Mount Etna on April 30 and September 5, 1962. He met spacemen who arrived in flying saucers concealed in a crater. On the first occasion, the men were 5'4" tall, and on the second, nearly 7'. They wore metallic helmets and space suits. Siragusa was given a message concerning H-bomb tests and the need to 'disarm our hearts,' which he typed out and sent to various world leaders. Only Charles de Gaulle acknowledged receipt.

Siragusa also reported seeing luminous objects and saucer and cigar ships passing over his house. He described two meetings with a saucer, the second being an 80 ft. ship shaped like a spinning top. He noted that early man was aware of energy directly and suggested that UFO occupants might use psi powers to locate ley networks.

UFO Research and Theories

Orthoteny and Ley Lines

Gordon Millington discusses the concept of 'orthoteny' and energy lines in the landscape, referencing research from the Pitch Hill Project of 1991. He notes that places of worship tend to be located on these energy lines, suggesting a connection between sacred sites and these phenomena. Millington posits that while the straight-line UFO theory of Aime Michel was difficult to validate due to lack of radar, the existence of ley networks is established. He also touches upon the idea that abductees describe UFO occupants having psi powers, potentially linking them to the location of ley networks.

Flying Saucers in Leicester

A report from the Western Mail details an exhibition at the National Space Centre in Leicester, showcasing images captured by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Soho) spacecraft, which appeared to show UFOs. Mike Murray, a founder of the UFO group Euroseti, described some images as 'real crackers,' depicting archetypal disc-shaped objects with a glow. NASA dismissed these images as camera faults, but UFO investigators remained convinced they were alien spacecraft.

Woolworth's Aluminium Foil Promotion

This section humorously critiques a leaflet advertising the film 'Signs' on DVD, which provides instructions on how to prevent aliens from reading minds by wrapping one's head in aluminum foil. The article suggests that the portrayal of extraterrestrials as frightening, potentially due to human inventions like mind-reading prevention, may be causing a shift in public perception away from 'space friends' towards the idea of abductors.

Publications and Resources

The final pages of the newsletter list several publications available from the 'Amskaya address,' payable to J. Goddard:

• THE HIDDEN UNITY and BEGINNINGS: Explores subconscious siting of ley points and the significance of worship. Illustrated, £2 plus 30p p&p.
• EARTH PEOPLE, SPACE PEOPLE: A booklet prepared to compensate for the loss of Tony Wedd's original manuscript, detailing prominent contact claims, STAR Fellowship history, and extraterrestrial language. £2 plus 30p p&p.
• THE LEGACY OF TONY WEDD: A CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology. £9.99.

AMSKAYA itself is available for £2 for four quarterly issues from J. Goddard at 25, Albert Road, Addlestone, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15. 2PX.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of AMSKAYA are the personal experiences and historical accounts of UFO sightings and extraterrestrial contact. There is a strong emphasis on the legacy of early contactees like George Adamski and researchers like Tony Wedd. The newsletter appears to adopt a stance that is open to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation and communication, presenting various testimonies and photographic evidence without overt skepticism, while also acknowledging the challenges and economic realities of publishing in this field. The editorial stance seems to be one of earnest investigation and sharing of information within the UFO community.