BAE 3.1

Magazine Overview

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Volume 3, Number 1
Date: February 1992
Publisher: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Country: Canada
Language: English

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience (BAE) marks a return after a period of 'soul-searching,' with editors David Gotlib, M.D. and Joanne thanking contributors and readers for their encouragement. The newsletter reaffirms its mission to serve as a networking platform for mental health professionals and interested scientists focusing on the UFO abduction phenomenon and related issues, aiming to explore and suggest rather than assert.

Editorial Comments

Back In The Saddle Again The editorial expresses gratitude for the support received, signaling a renewed commitment to producing BAE through 1992 and 1993. The editors aim to maintain BAE's unique contribution by presenting perspectives not typically found elsewhere.

Mission Statement BAE will continue to focus on the UFO abduction phenomenon and related issues for mental health professionals and scientists. The publication strives to balance academic inquiry with marketplace relevance, acting as a space for suggestion and inquiry.

Contributions: The Spirit of BAE Contributors are assumed to grant permission for their correspondence to be printed, unless otherwise specified. Contributions can be sent via IBM-compatible diskettes (WordPerfect 5.0 or ASCII files). Contact is available via CompuServe (72037,737) and The WELL (drdave).

Copyright Information All contributions remain the property of the authors. Reproduction requires the author's written permission.

BAE on the WELL An online version of selected articles from BAE is being experimented with on The WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link) bulletin-board system.

Subscription Information Distribution is limited to mental health professionals and interested scientists. Subscriptions are $20 per calendar year, with back issues also available. The editors are seeking opinions on whether 'experiencers' should be allowed to subscribe.

Letters to the Editor (Mail!)

Several readers express their support for BAE's continuation. Stuart Appelle, Ph.D., finds BAE informative and hopes for its continued publication, even if on an occasional basis. Jean Mundy, Ph.D., acknowledges BAE's unique contribution, noting that while the subject matter diverges from her expertise, it offers discussions not found elsewhere. Bruce Maccabee, Sabillasville, MD, apologizes for procrastination and inquires about a potential increase in headaches among experiencers in late October 1991. H. Ezell Branham, Jr., M.D., expresses concern about the potential discontinuation of BAE, emphasizing its unique role as a forum for a small group of thinkers in the field. He also notes a decrease in new experiencers in 1992 and shares his efforts to protect people from further abductions.

Hilary Evans, London, England, offers detailed suggestions for BAE's future, advocating for a simple newsletter format, irregular scheduling based on input, gathering a 'nucleus of contributors with the Right Stuff,' circulating a subscriber list, and accepting material in facsimile format. He also suggests potential collaborations for exchanging material.

Highlights

• Fairies, UFOs, and Problems of Knowledge by Peter Rocjewicz
• Quick Alert System for Abduction Reports by Richard Hall
• "Manifest Destiny on the Bus" by Jean Mundy

Article: Fairies, UFOs, and Problems of Knowledge

By Peter M. Rojcewicz, Ph.D.

This article explores the philosophical issue of knowledge by comparing fairy lore and UFO encounters. Rojcewicz posits that the extraterrestrial nature attributed to some fairies makes comparisons with UFO occupants relevant. He argues that the archetypal structure of folklore reflects the mind's deep core and interacts with nature's archetypal structure to construct our knowledge of the world. The primary goal is to examine issues related to the relativity of knowledge and human estrangement from the world, using anomalous folk beliefs as a lens.

The article discusses the 'subtle body' nature of fairies and UFO occupants, their protean shape-shifting abilities, and their capacity to dematerialize. These phenomena challenge common sense wisdom and are often accompanied by luminous visual effects. Rojcewicz suggests that an existential reading of these motifs reveals the problem of the subjective nature of human knowledge, where reality is constructed through patterns of experience. He notes that the 'real' world manifests when these constructions break down, but our understanding is limited by the same principles used in construction.

Fairies and UFO occupants are described as possessing a nature that is partially ethereal and abstract, capable of volitional metamorphoses, and existing on the border between fact and fiction. They are seen as 'multiple presence phenomena' that resist materialistic scientific observation.

Superior Beings: Special Skills and Gifts Encounters with fairies and UFO occupants can result in extraordinary talents, cures for ailments, and access to secret knowledge, such as Betty Andreasson-Luca's claimed book of universal truths. Psychic abilities like telepathy, precognition, and invisibility are also mentioned as potential outcomes. The article notes continuities between fairy contact and UFO encounters in healings and personality changes, with witnesses sometimes developing a greater appreciation for life.

Superior Beings: Negative Effects However, encounters can also lead to ruin of health, property, and personality. The article references the fear mortals have of fairies, referring to them euphemistically as the 'Good People.' W.B. Yeats's belief that exploring fairy faith could be dangerous is cited, with the message being 'Be careful, and do not seek to know too much about us.' The potential for bodily injury, paralysis ('fairy blast'), disorientation ('pixie-led'), and the abduction of children are discussed. The concept of 'changelings' is also mentioned. Fairies are also said to abduct mortal women for their race. The article draws parallels between these negative effects and those reported in UFO lore.

Dependent Beings: They Need Us Fairies and UFO occupants, despite their superior powers, apparently fear humanity and need humans for various reasons, including recharging their powers and ensuring their socio-psychological well-being. Humans are essential for their genetic evolution, with fairies taking mortal women as midwives and mothers. Hybrid children are noted to be stronger. The substitution of changelings is presented as a way for fairies to eliminate defective members of their race.

Article: Towards Preliminary Understandings of Anomalous Folklore

This section, drawing on C.G. Jung's concept of the 'Unus Mundus' (one world), explores anomalous folklore as arising from a unitary background of mind and nature. Jung's 'archetypes' are described as structuring principles of mind that are 'psychoid,' meaning they are not purely psychic but also physical and organic. These archetypes possess 'transgressivity,' the ability to cross between the psychic and physical realms, thus honoring no ultimate separation between matter and spirit.

The psychophysical nature of archetypes is linked to Jung's concept of 'synchronicity,' where psychic states and physical events unexpectedly meet. Synchronistic phenomena, like fairy and UFO encounters, are seen as the 'coming-to-consciousness' of an archetype. The article cites Aniela Jaffe on how antinomies and parallelisms of an archetype manifest psychically and non-psychically, explaining the strange behavior of psychoid archetypes that are not yet fully conscious. The relativity of time and space, common in fairy and UFO abductions, is highlighted.

Richard Tarnas's view that the human mind is nature's organ for self-revelation is presented, suggesting that reality emerges through the mind's participation in nature's unfolding process. This participatory epistemology, seen in fairy and UFO lore, is proposed to reunite humans with the universe.

Article: Quick Alert System for Abduction Reports

By Richard Hall

This proposal outlines a 'Quick Alert System' designed to serve as a unique database for abduction reports. The system aims to alert investigators and researchers to reports containing salient features, providing an overview of the field, new developments, patterns, and trends. Active abduction case investigators would fill out a one-page form after initial contact with a subject. This information would be compiled into a computer database and periodically distributed to contributing investigators, researchers, and mental health professionals.

Financial support is estimated at $6,000 per year, with an additional $600 per year for the coordinator. The form includes fields for identification, initial contact, location, conscious memories (categorized as Anomalous Experiences, Environmental Effects, Psychological Effects, and Medical/Psychological Effects), and later recall.

A sample Quick Alert Report is provided for a recent abduction case in Maryland, detailing the subject's demographics, the nature of the events, and associated psychological and medical effects. The report notes a period of respite when the family moved, before new incidents began.

Recent Abstracts

Posttraumatic stress disorder following recent-onset psychosis: An unrecognized postpsychotic syndrome.

This abstract discusses a study finding that symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common in patients recovering from acute psychotic episodes. The study assessed 36 patients and found a PTSD prevalence of 46% at 4 months and 35% at 11 months. A significant correlation was found between depressive symptomatology and PTSD symptoms. The article suggests that the trauma experienced is linked to hospitalization rather than the psychosis itself.

Psychophysiological responses in the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans.

This abstract reports on a study where five heart rate parameters correctly discriminated 75% of Vietnam combat veterans into PTSD and non-PTSD groups. Adding blood pressure parameters increased discrimination to 80%. The study suggests that HR responses to combat-related stimuli can serve as a non-self-report technique for diagnosing PTSD, with potential applications for other types of trauma.

The role of expectancy in hypnotic hypermnesia.

This experiment assessed the effects of expectancy and hypnotizability on recall for videotaped material under waking and hypnotic conditions. While subjects' raw recall scores were significantly greater under hypnosis, this hypermnesia was not evident when corrected for response rate. Expecting hypnosis did lead to higher scores, but this was not seen in corrected scores. Hypnotizability was related to corrected recall.

Fantasy proneness, amnesia, and the UFO abduction phenomenon.

This essay examines the role of amnesia in fantasy proneness and PTSD, postulating that individuals who report alien abductions may use systematized amnesia as a coping mechanism for repeated incidents of violent sexual abuse.

Article: "Manifest Destiny On The Bus"

By Jean Mundy

Jean Mundy shares personal accounts of spontaneous manifestations, describing them as humorous but true events. She recounts finding items she desired at yard sales, the dump, or even appearing on a deserted beach, often shortly after thinking of them. Examples include a miniature cannon, Martina Navratilova's address, Monopoly money, an upright piano, a bottle of suntan lotion, and baking soda. She also describes finding a Mona Lisa tomato can and a briefcase with the initials 'W.S.' in her apartment. Mundy suggests these manifestations are encouraged by a guiding force, possibly a 'baby angel,' and that they have prompted her to design miracles for her trips.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the complex relationship between folklore (fairies) and modern phenomena (UFOs), the philosophical implications of knowledge and perception, and the psychological impact of anomalous experiences, particularly UFO abductions. The issue also highlights the practical aspects of research through the proposed 'Quick Alert System' and the discussion of PTSD. The editorial stance, as reaffirmed, is to provide a platform for discussion and inquiry within the UFO abduction and related phenomena community, prioritizing a balanced approach between academic rigor and accessible exploration. The editors aim to foster a sense of community among professionals and interested individuals in the field.

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Vol. 3, No.1
Date: February 1992
Publisher: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Country: Canada
Language: English

This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience delves into personal accounts of unusual experiences, upcoming events in the UFO and anomalous phenomena community, and calls for reader participation.

Personal Accounts of Anomalous Experiences

The issue opens with a lengthy first-person narrative detailing a series of seemingly telepathically influenced events. The author recounts requests made to a stewardess on a bus, which appeared to manifest in reality. These included seeing the name of God in a newspaper headline, a white dove appearing, an odd-shaped piece of wood, an albatross, a zebra van, and the number 666 on a license plate. The author humorously notes the uncanny timing and the potential for these manifestations to be mere coincidences or tricks, even referencing Oscar Wilde's quote about gods punishing humans by answering their prayers. The narrative also touches upon the 'psychic gorilla' show by Penn and Teller, where the number 666 was featured on a license plate.

News and Events

1992 World UFO Conference

A notice is included for the 1992 World UFO Conference, scheduled for September 11-13, 1992, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jean Mundy announced that her UFO play "Believe Me!" would be performed, and she would also be speaking. The conference topics listed cover a broad spectrum of anomalous experiences, including Testimonials, Contact, Channeling, Psychic Contact, Abductions, Walk-ins, Government, Media, Crop Circles, UFO Data Bases, UFO History, and Investigations. A costume party is also planned, encouraging attendees to come as their favorite Alien Creature. Registration costs range from $80 to $180, with contact information provided for further details.

New Crop Circle Video

Linda Howe announced a new video on crop circles titled "CROPCIRCLE COMMUNIQUE." This documentary, produced by Circlevision (owned by John Macnish and Jayne Wilde), features investigators, hypotheses, graphic animation, and aerial photography of major crop circle sites from 1990-1992. The video includes footage of two Englishmen, Doug and Dave, who demonstrate how they created crop circles. A notable sequence shows a small, white disk-like object moving amid plants near Barbury Castle on August 19, 1992, two days after a large crop circle formation was discovered. The video is available for $35 from Linda Moulton Howe Productions.

Operation Right to Know

A demonstration called "OPERATION RIGHT TO KNOW" is scheduled for March 21 through March 31, 1992, at the White House. Organized by private citizens, the event aims to promote greater public inquiry into the UFO mystery and advocate for the disclosure of government UFO secrets. The organizers assert that there is a high-level cover-up of UFO information and that a small number of government officials have been granted access to information confirming the presence of extraterrestrial visitors. The demonstration intends to provide a comprehensive briefing package for journalists and interested persons, without adopting a specific viewpoint on the nature of the cover-up or alien presence. The organizers are Ed Komarek, Jr. and Mike Jamieson.

Reader Engagement

Virtual Conference Participation Made Simple!

Page 13 features an invitation for readers to participate in a "Virtual Conference" by responding to a series of questions. These questions cover a range of topics, including whether subscriptions should be opened to experiencers, opinions on Dick Haines' "Quick Alert" proposal for abduction cases, willingness to share abstracts and articles from journals like DISSOCIATION and JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, suggestions for journal articles and books to be featured, inquiries about Michael Persinger's current activities, and an invitation for readers to submit biographical sketches or short essays on their abduction experiences. Readers are also asked if they are interested in receiving a list of subscriber names and addresses and if they wish their own name to appear on it. Responses are to be sent to David Gotlib, M.D.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently highlights the intersection of personal experience, unexplained phenomena, and the community's efforts to investigate and disseminate information. There's a strong emphasis on reader involvement, as seen in the "Virtual Conference" initiative and the call for submissions. The publication appears to be a platform for sharing anecdotal evidence, news of conferences and documentaries, and advocacy for greater transparency regarding UFOs and potential extraterrestrial contact. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry, encouraging diverse perspectives and active participation from its readership.