CERPI - no 14 - novembre 1977

Magazine Overview

This document is issue number 14 of the French publication "CERPI", a magazine focused on the study and research of unexplained phenomena. The cover prominently displays the CERPI logo and title, "Centre d'études et de recherches des phénomènes inexpliqués", along with an address in Saintes, France. It includes a quote attributed to Blaise Pascal and a central illustration encompassing themes of parapsychology, ufology, archaeology, and mystery. The issue number "14" is visible in a circular emblem.

Editorial: "Devons-nous continuer nos expositions ?"

The editorial, signed by R. Souris, addresses the challenges faced by CERPI in organizing public exhibitions. While acknowledging the positive impact and relative success of past events in locations like Saintes, Cognac, La Rochelle, and Royan, the author highlights significant difficulties in preparation. These include insufficient manpower, lack of member availability, and inadequate publicity efforts. The editorial points to a "malaise" within the group, characterized by a feeling of absent members and an overburdened core group of active individuals. It questions whether CERPI should "regress" and calls for a redistribution of tasks to avoid a sense of hegemony and to re-establish balance within the responsibilities of its members. The author urges members to take personal responsibility and feel directly involved in the group's successes and failures.

Astronomy: Saturne

This section provides a detailed overview of the planet Saturn, identified as the 6th planet in our solar system and known to the ancient Greeks as "Cronos". It lists key characteristics, including its polar and equatorial diameters, mass (95 times that of Earth), density (0.7 relative to water), and surface gravity. The article details Saturn's revolution and rotation periods, its distance from the Sun, the inclination of its orbit, and its axial tilt. It also explains the unequal seasons on Saturn due to its orbital eccentricity, with the Northern Hemisphere receiving 15 years and 9 months of sunlight, and the Southern Hemisphere receiving 13 years and 8 months. The composition of Saturn's atmosphere is described as an outer layer of hydrogen surrounding a liquid hydrogen core, with a surface temperature of -145°C. The structures of its rings are explained, noting their discovery by Galileo and their dimensions. A table lists Saturn's ten satellites, including their names, orbital characteristics, diameters, masses, magnitudes, and discovery dates and astronomers, with Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Iapetus, Phoebe, and Janus being mentioned. The article concludes with a poetic reflection on the Saturnian nights.

Enquête CERPI: Saint-Porchaire (La Roche-Courbon)

This section details two related investigations by CERPI concerning UFO sightings in the Saint-Porchaire area.

Enquête nº 49 (1): Château de la Roche-Courbon (October 9, 1977)

This report, compiled by H. Kim and A. Kim, documents an observation made by Melle Marie-Lise Guillebaud (13 years old) and Mme Guillebaud on the evening of October 9, 1977. While at the Château de la Roche-Courbon, Marie-Lise observed two luminous points in the sky. One point later transformed into a brilliant white sphere with a blurry disk, which moved in spirals and then rapidly towards the forest, approximately 200 meters away. Her mother, initially on the phone, observed the object moving rapidly northwest. Mr. Roussel, a neighbor, also witnessed unusual phenomena. The Gendarmerie were contacted and also observed luminous points. The incident attracted media attention, with television, press, and radio covering the event, which the article suggests led to the ridicule of the witnesses.

Enquête nº 49 (2): Saint-Porchaire (La Roche-Courbon) (October 9-10, 1977)

This report, compiled by A. Kim, B. Marsin, and G. Wascowiski, continues the investigation from the previous night. Mr. Anthony Roussel recounts seeing a large, bright, and colorful point in the northern sky, larger than Venus. Using 8x50 binoculars, he observed the object as having the size of a mandarin, with colors including red, orange, metallic gray, and green. It moved slowly and vertically before departing rapidly to the east after about 45 minutes. No sound or unusual sensations were reported. Accompanying illustrations depict the object's appearance through binoculars and to the naked eye, as well as a sketch of the observation scene.

Other Sections

The magazine also includes a table of contents listing articles on "Editorial", "Astronomie: Saturne", "Enquête CERPI: St-Porchaire", "Cosmographie: La Terre", "Enquête CERPI: Verrières", "Archéologie mystérieuse: L'Atlantide", "Parapsychologie: Dédoublement involontaire", "Alchimie: Le Mutus Liber", and "Les contactés: Antonio Villas Boas (lère partie)". There are also sections for "Mots croisés" (crossword puzzles) and a solution to a previous puzzle. The issue is dated by the content of the articles and the mention of newspaper coverage from "Sud-Ouest" on dates in October 1977.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ufology, astronomy, parapsychology, and archaeology, reflecting CERPI's broad interest in unexplained and mysterious phenomena. The editorial stance, as expressed in the editorial piece, is one of concern for the sustainability of the organization's activities, particularly public exhibitions, due to resource limitations (specifically, volunteer availability). It advocates for better task distribution and increased member engagement to ensure the group's continued operation and to avoid burnout among its core members. The reporting on the Saint-Porchaire UFO incident suggests a commitment to investigating and documenting such events, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by media and public reaction.

This issue of "Enquête C.E.R.P.I." (Issue 16/17, number 49(3)) dated October 9, 1977, from the Saintes sector, presents a collection of investigations and articles spanning UFO phenomena, parapsychology, astronomy, and ancient history.

Investigation: The Marechal Case (Beurlay)

On October 9, 1977, at 8:30 PM in Beurlay, Mr. and Mrs. Marechal reported a strange auditory phenomenon. While watching television, they heard an unusual noise from outside. Mr. Marechal, accustomed to dealing with intruders, went outside with his rifle but saw nothing. He described the sound as "like an animal, an owl, not a barn owl, but very amplified and aggressive." The sound came from the sky, was irregular, and occurred in 'shocks' that crescendoed, with a brutal stop of 30-45 seconds followed by 2-3 seconds of silence. There were 7 to 8 such occurrences. Notably, their 19 dogs, usually reactive to any noise, remained silent. The Marechals experienced a strange feeling of fear and unease.

Investigation: The Gravail Case (Verrières)

On September 18, 1977, Mr. Marcel Gravail reported an incident at "Les Brandes de Verrières." While plowing his field, his tractor was blocked by a stone. He noticed dust rising from the edge of a nearby wood. Shortly after, he observed a rapidly moving object in the sky emitting a "whirring" sound, heading towards Barbezieux. He described the object as cylindrical, wider than tall, with a blue-green lower part and a red-orange upper part, separated by a band. It evolved regularly at an estimated altitude of 50 meters and a distance of 100-150 meters, moving at a speed comparable to a helicopter. The sighting lasted about 20-25 seconds. Upon returning to his tractor, he discovered an extraordinary circular trace on the ground. He encountered two hunters who confirmed seeing and hearing the object.

Follow-up and Analysis of the Gravail Case

A follow-up investigation included a sample taken from the presumed landing site, which revealed a radioactivity level 50% higher than normal. Photos of the traces and the location were taken. The Gendarmerie requested the analysis results. The phenomenon was also featured in an article in "Sud-Ouest" on September 27, 1977. The circular traces were located 1.300 meters from the Dolmen of St Fort sur le Ne. Military maneuvers were conducted at the nearby Air Base of Chateau bernard during the same period. The analysis of the object's trajectory suggests it would have been visible only under specific angular conditions (90° from the landing point, with an angular height between 10° and 60°).

Astronomical Verification

An article titled "UN AUTRE ELEMENT DE L'ENQUETE DE ST-PORCHAIRE : LA VERIFICATION PAR L'ASTRONOMIE" discusses observations made on October 12 and 13, 1977. Witnesses reported seeing a brilliant object with multiple colors in the sky, about 30 degrees north. This description did not match previous accounts and is believed to be the star "Capella" from the constellation Auriga, which was visible above the trees of St-Porchaire. Capella is noted to be 46 light-years away and 10 times larger than the Sun.

Geological and Environmental Data

Several disparate elements related to the St-Porchaire investigation are listed:

1. Geology: The observation site is located on a boundary between the Cognacian and Turonian geological periods.
2. Faults: No faults were found in the vicinity (within tens of kilometers).
3. Seismic Activity: The period coincided with earthquakes, with an epicenter near 45° 56' N and 0.1° 25' W, in the Bay of Pilots, 9 km from St-Pierre d'Oléron.
4. Infrastructure: A medium-voltage power line is located 300-400 meters away.
5. Water Sources: Two springs are nearby, at 1 km and 1.6 km.
6. Prehistoric Sites: Two prehistoric caves are located at 0.9 km and 1.2 km.

The C.E.R.P.I. is also investigating a UFO sighting on the Île d'Oléron (November 19, 1977), noting its proximity to a geological fault. The article poses the question of a potential link between UFO observations and earthquake periods.

Cosmography: The Earth (Continued)

This section delves into astronomical and geodetic principles:

• Measuring Latitude: Explains how latitude is determined by the height of the celestial pole above the horizon.
• Shape of the Earth: Discusses the measurement of a meridian arc using triangulation, referencing historical French geodetic surveys (17th-18th centuries) and modern ones like the Cap-Alexandria arc. It concludes that the Earth is an oblate spheroid (geoïde), flattened at the poles, with an ellipticity of 1/297.

Parapsychology: Involuntary Doubling

A case study of "involuntary doubling" is presented, attributed to severe fatigue. Mme X from Saintes describes an experience on October 26, 1977, where she felt her consciousness separate from her body while resting. She perceived herself sitting on the sofa, unable to move or speak, while her children were nearby. She noted that a large burnous, which should have fallen off, remained perfectly in place on her seated form. This experience, which she had encountered three times before during periods of great fatigue, caused her significant fear and panic.

L'ATLANTIDE: Plato's Account

This section features excerpts from Plato's "Timée" and "Critias," recounting the legend of Atlantis. Critias, citing his ancestor Solon, who learned it from an Egyptian priest, describes how nine thousand years before his time, Athens fought against the kings of Atlantis. The Atlanteans, who had built a vast empire encompassing parts of Libya and Europe, attempted to subjugate the Mediterranean peoples. Athens, in a heroic defense, repelled the invasion. However, a great cataclysm of earthquakes and floods, occurring in a single day and night, caused Atlantis to sink into the sea, making the area impassable due to underwater debris. The text highlights the preservation of ancient knowledge in Egyptian temples, contrasting it with the cyclical destruction and loss of memory in Greece. It also mentions the possibility of other destructions by fire and water throughout history.

Alchemy: MUTUS LIBER

This part introduces "Mutus Liber" (The Mute Book), a 17th-century alchemical treatise of unknown authorship. A paragraph titled "Au lecteur" (To the reader) from the original 1677 edition is presented. The text emphasizes the book's unique nature, stating that despite being a "mute book" (without dedications or prefaces), it can be understood by people of all nations and languages. It is described as the most beautiful book on the subject, containing novel concepts, and only a true "Child of the Art" can fully comprehend it. Reproductions from the 1725 edition are included.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores phenomena that challenge conventional understanding, from unexplained aerial objects and auditory events to parapsychological experiences and ancient myths. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and witness accounts for investigation, while also connecting these phenomena to broader historical, scientific, and philosophical contexts. The inclusion of astronomical data, geological context, and historical texts suggests an effort to provide a multi-faceted approach to understanding unexplained events. The recurring theme is the exploration of the unknown, whether in the skies, the human mind, or ancient history.

This document, titled "LES CONTACTES," presents the first part of the account of Antonio Villas Boas's encounter with extraterrestrials. The narrative is presented in two installments, with the continuation promised in CERPI n° 15. The issue focuses on the detailed testimony of Villas Boas regarding his experiences.

The Contact of Antonio Villas Boas

The article details the experiences of Antonio Villas Boas, who was twenty-three years old at the time of his adventure. The account begins with a description of the extraterrestrial woman he had a sexual encounter with, noting her white skin and Chinese or Mongol-type eyes, contrasting this with the skin tones of various Asian and Native American populations.

First Sighting (October 5, 1957)

On the night of October 5, 1957, around 11 PM, Villas Boas opened his bedroom shutters due to the heat. He observed a very bright, white fluorescent light above the terrain facing his house, brighter than the moon. He could not see the source of the light, which seemed to come from above, like headlights. He initially decided not to wake his skeptical brother. Later, out of curiosity, he reopened the shutters and saw the light still in the same place. The light then appeared to approach the window, causing him to quickly close the shutters, which made a noise that woke his brother. Both observed the light filtering through the openings as it moved above the house and then disappeared, not returning.

Second Encounter (October 14, 1957)

The second episode occurred on the night of October 14th, between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM. Antonio was working on his tractor in a field, a common practice to avoid daytime heat. He noticed a violent, stationary light to the north of the field, approximately 100 meters above the ground. The light was round and illuminated a large part of the terrain. He called his brother, who refused to come, so Antonio went alone towards the object. As he approached, the object moved rapidly to the south side of the field, a maneuver that was repeated several times. Eventually, the light moved away and did not return.

Third Encounter and Abduction (October 15, 1957)

The following day, October 15th, Antonio was working alone on his tractor in the cool, starry night. At precisely 1:00 AM, he saw a red star in the sky that grew larger and approached him at a terrifying speed. The object was directly above his tractor before he could react. It descended to about 50 meters above the ground, illuminating the area like daylight. Terrified, Antonio considered fleeing but found his tractor too slow and the muddy field would not allow for easy escape. He remained still for two minutes. The object then approached to within 10 to 15 meters and descended near the ground. Antonio described its shape as a strange, rounded machine with red lights and a large projector emitting the intense light that had previously obscured the object itself.

He observed three metallic legs extending from the machine. The machine was described as resembling a "newlywed" (neuf) lying down, with three metallic arms on the front: one in the center and one on each side. These arms were covered in a reddish phosphorescent or fluorescent material. The top of the machine had a dome-shaped turret. As the machine slowed to descend, the red light turned green, which he interpreted as a decrease in the rotation speed of the upper part of the craft. He later recalled these details, being too frightened at the moment.

When three metallic feet emerged, he realized the machine was going to land. With his tractor engine still running, he tried to drive around it. However, after only a few meters, his tractor stalled, and the headlights inexplicably turned off, despite the ignition key being in the 'on' position. His attempts to restart the tractor were unsuccessful.

Inside the Craft

Antonio exited the tractor from the side opposite the machine and jumped to the ground. After losing time trying to restart the tractor, he had only taken a few steps when he felt himself being grabbed. His aggressor was a small individual, reaching his shoulders, dressed strangely. In desperation, Antonio struggled and managed to push the individual away, sending him about two meters. Simultaneously, three other individuals attacked, grabbing his arms and legs. As they dragged him towards their machine, he began to scream. This seemed to surprise them, as they stopped and stared at him each time he screamed, without releasing their grip. This gave him some reassurance about their intentions, as they had not harmed him.

They brought him to their apparatus, still about two meters above the ground on its three metallic legs. A door opened at the rear, forming a sort of ramp, with a ladder attached to the end. The ladder was made of the same silver metal as the machine, was narrow, flexible, and swayed from side to side. It had metallic handrails on each side, resembling broom handles, which he felt were not rigid and seemed to be made of interlocking links.

Inside, he found himself in a square room with polished metal walls reflecting fluorescent light from square lamps set into the ceiling and upper walls. He couldn't count the lamps. The door closed after the ladder retracted. The room was brightly lit, and he couldn't distinguish the door's seams; it seemed as if it hadn't existed. He knew where it was because the ladder was still attached there.

Five beings then motioned for him to move to another compartment through an open doorway. He followed them into a larger, semi-oval room with the same polished walls. He believed they were at the center of the machine. A round, solid-looking metallic column extended from floor to ceiling. The only furniture consisted of a strange-shaped table surrounded by swivel stools without backs, similar to bar stools. The table and seats were conical, narrower at the bottom, made of the same shiny metal, and appeared fixed to the floor.

Communication and Examination

For what seemed like an interminable period, Antonio stood there, held by two beings, while they looked at him and made sounds. He described these sounds not as human language but as a series of barks resembling those of a dog, though much more distant. These were slow barks, sometimes short, sometimes long, with various sounds and sometimes ending in tremolos, but nothing resembling language or a foreign word. He couldn't understand them.

When the barking stopped, they seemed to have finished their arrangements. The five beings then forcibly undressed him. He struggled and protested, but they couldn't understand him. They stopped and looked at him, as if to convey they had no bad intentions. They did not harm him or damage his clothes, except possibly his already torn shirt.

Finally, naked and terrified, he didn't know what would happen. One of the beings approached him with something in its hand. It appeared to be a sponge, which it used to pass a clear, thick, odorless liquid over his entire body. The liquid felt like oil but was not greasy. He felt cold due to the low temperature and was already trembling. The liquid dried quickly, and he felt as before.

He was then led by three beings to a doorway on the opposite side of the room. They motioned for him to follow, occasionally barking, and pushed him into a room. The door opened by pressing something, likely a button or handle, and closed after him, extending from floor to ceiling. The door opened in two parts, inwards, and at the top, there was a luminous inscription in red, which appeared to be 5 cm in front of the metal due to the lighting. This was the only inscription he saw inside the machine, and the signs were completely different from anything he knew.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine presents this account as a significant case ("7ème cas de cette série") due to the importance of Antonio Villas Boas's testimony. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious reporting and investigation into UFO phenomena, aiming to present detailed accounts of alleged encounters. The inclusion of the source as "LE MYSTERE DES O.V.N.I." by R. Jack Perrin suggests a focus on the mysterious and extraordinary aspects of UFOlogy.

This issue of "LES TAROTS" magazine, identified as Volume I and issue number 102, was published on November 5, 1977. The publisher is CERPI, and the magazine is in French. The cover prominently displays the title "LES TAROTS" above an illustration of "Le Bateleur" (The Magician) tarot card.

Content Highlights

The magazine appears to cover a range of esoteric and mysterious topics, including UFOs, civilizations, parapsychology, and enigmas. A significant portion of the content is dedicated to a crossword puzzle, presented in both horizontal and vertical formats. The clues for the crossword touch upon various subjects:

Horizontal Crossword Clues:

• "Du déluge" (From the deluge)
• "De là" (From there)
• "Disciples de Joseph Smith" (Disciples of Joseph Smith)
• "Lobsang Rampa le parle" (Lobsang Rampa speaks it)
• "Septième grecque Qui a de l'aversion" (Seventh Greek Who has aversion)
• "Possessif féminin" (Feminine possessive)
• "Donner en référence" (Give in reference)
• "Symbole chimique" (Chemical symbol)
• "Certaines d'entre elles sont visibles bien qu'elles n'existent plus" (Some of them are visible even though they no longer exist)
• "Imagina" (Imagine)
• "Abréviations" (Abbreviations)
• "Ancienne note de musique" (Ancient musical note)
• "Il y en a un qui tue, dit-on !" (There is one that kills, they say!)
• "Fleuve et Etat des USA" (River and US State)
• "En ville" (In town)
• "Il brait" (It brays)
• "Dieu de la Guerre de nos ancêtres" (God of War of our ancestors)

Vertical Crossword Clues:

• "La majorité des OVNI ne le sont pas" (The majority of UFOs are not)
• "Cérémonie par laquelle un individu était admis à la connaissance de certains mystères dans les religions anciennes" (Ceremony by which an individual was admitted to the knowledge of certain mysteries in ancient religions)
• "Selle de bête de somme" (Pack animal saddle)
• "Il adore les enfants" (He adores children)
• "Fleuve Suèdois" (Swedish river)
• "Magistrat romain" (Roman magistrate)
• "Donner sa voix" (To give one's voice)
• "Se dit d'un navire sans chargement ni cargaison" (Said of a ship without cargo or freight)
• "Entre la Caspienne et le Persique" (Between the Caspian and the Persian)
• "200 centavos en font 2" (200 centavos make 2)
• "Tranchés minces" (Thinly sliced)
• "Comme un ver" (Like a worm)
• "Dans l'Antiquité Romaine" (In Ancient Rome)
• "4ème partie du jour commençant après la 9ème heure, soit vers 3 h de l'après-midi" (4th part of the day starting after the 9th hour, i.e., around 3 PM)
• "Double "Nu" grec" (Double Greek "Nu")
• "Habitation délabrée, misérable" (Dilapidated, miserable dwelling)
• "Qui donne une évaluation-" (Who gives an evaluation-)

Other Content:

A note within the magazine states, "La solution de ce problème paraîtra dans le CERPI nº 15" (The solution to this problem will appear in CERPI issue #15), indicating ongoing series or puzzles.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine "LES TAROTS" appears to have an editorial stance that embraces mystery, the unexplained, and esoteric knowledge. The inclusion of UFOs, parapsychology, and tarot cards suggests an interest in phenomena beyond conventional understanding. The crossword puzzles, with their diverse clues ranging from historical figures to geographical and symbolic references, indicate an effort to engage readers intellectually across various domains of knowledge, often with a mystical or historical bent. The publication date of 1977 places it within a period of heightened interest in UFO phenomena and alternative belief systems.