Civlilian Saucer Intellligence of New York - No 27

Magazine Overview

This CSI Publication, issue #27 from July 1, 1959, titled 'JUNG ON THE UFO: Why His Real Views on Flying Saucers Have Never Been Correctly Reported,' delves into the complex and often misrepresented public statements of the renowned Swiss psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung, regarding unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Jung's Early Interest and Statements (1954)

The publication begins by detailing Dr. Jung's initial public engagement with the UFO topic in 1954. Responding to a request from the Swiss weekly newspaper 'Die Weltwoche,' Jung provided two lengthy letters, which were published as a full-page article. In these letters, Jung revealed he had been studying the UFO phenomenon since 1946. He stated that while he had accumulated data, he had not yet been able to draw definitive conclusions, other than that 'something is being seen.' He dismissed purely psychological explanations as unacceptable, noting that UFOs behaved as if weightless and intelligently guided. He also found theories like Menzel's untenable and suggested that the phenomena were 'so strange that one is tempted to compare them to parapsychological occurrences.' Jung concluded that he did not know 'what sort of reality' the flying saucers possessed.

Media Distortions and APRO's Role

The article highlights how this 1954 article, and later a 1958 book titled 'A Modern Myth: On Things Seen In The Sky,' were subject to significant distortion. A French translation appeared in 'Courrier Interplanétaire,' and a condensed version was published by the 'British Flying Saucer Review.' In July 1958, the 'APRO Bulletin,' edited by Coral Lorenzen, republished the 'Courrier-Review' version, coinciding with Jung's acceptance of honorary APRO membership. This reprint, unfortunately, neglected to specify its original publication dates.

A wire-service journalist from the Associated Press (AP) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, mistook this reprint for a new statement by Jung. This led to a widely disseminated AP story on July 29, 1958, which presented a strongly pro-UFO interpretation of Jung's views. Numerous newspapers, including 'The New York Times,' ran with this story, often adding editorial commentary that mocked Jung.

'Time' Magazine's Revisionist Account

'Time' magazine, in its August 11 issue, published a story by its science editor, Jonathan Leonard, claiming Jung had 'said no such thing' and that the entire affair was a misrepresentation. Leonard asserted that Jung did not judge the reality of UFOs and was primarily interested in the 'fantastic, quasi-religious cult' surrounding them. The CSI Publication argues that Leonard's account was a deliberate distortion, misrepresenting both the 1954 article and the 1958 book.

Jung's Statements to UPI and NICAP

In response to the media frenzy, Dr. Jung made further statements. On August 8, an AP interview reported him as discounting flying saucers, attributing sightings to a desire for a 'saviour myth.' However, the CSI Publication points out that this contradicted his own book, 'A Modern Myth,' where he had specifically rejected the 'wish-hypothesis' and accepted that UFOs were detectable by radar and photographed, suggesting a physical reality. On August 12, Jung issued a statement to United Press International (UPI), translated literally, clarifying his position. He stated that the press reports of his opinion that UFOs were physically real were 'thoroughly incorrect.' He reiterated that in 'Ein Moderner Mythus,' he specifically stated he could not express an opinion on the physical reality of UFOs, focusing solely on the psychological aspect. He described his position as: 'Something is being seen, but it is not known what,' leaving open the possibility of both material and psychic realities.

Jung also clarified his relationship with APRO, stating that while the Bulletin was useful for gathering material, he had consented to honorary membership unintentionally. He sent his book to APRO to inform them of his position and regarded their 'misleading article' as an 'accident.'

The Printed Record and Jung's Book

The publication then contrasts Jung's statements with the contents of 'A Modern Myth.' It asserts that in this book, Jung definitively accepts the physical reality of UFOs, contradicting his August 12 statement to UPI. The book argues that a purely psychological explanation is insufficient, citing radar detection and photographic evidence. Jung considered it 'hardly possible' to doubt their physical reality and noted their 'voluntary and intelligent direction.' He proposed three possibilities for UFOs: artificially-degravitated spaceships, unconsciously created phenomena, or 'entities' from outer space, finding the latter most attractive.

Criticism of Jung's Stance

The CSI Publication criticizes Jung for presenting a 'completely false account of his own writings.' It suggests that Jung, perhaps fearing embarrassment from the sensationalist press, 'beat a strategic retreat,' downplaying his book's implications and emphasizing the cautious disclaimers from his earlier article. The publication implies that Jung chose to present a 'scientific' skepticism to the public while privately entertaining more significant possibilities for his friends.

Conclusion and Impact

The article concludes that innocent parties, such as the Lorenzens of APRO, were left with an unjustified stigma on their reputation due to Jung's 'tergiversations' and the press's irresponsibility. It argues that serious UFO research was dragged into disrepute, missing the opportunity for public support and interest that Jung's frank testimony could have provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The central theme is the discrepancy between scientific inquiry, public perception, and media reporting, particularly concerning complex phenomena like UFOs. The publication champions a rigorous, evidence-based approach, criticizing both sensationalism and what it perceives as intellectual dishonesty or strategic retreat by prominent figures. The editorial stance is critical of Jung's handling of his own statements and the press's role in distorting them, advocating for clarity and courage in presenting findings, even when they challenge conventional understanding.

This document comprises appendices from a publication, likely a book or journal, titled "Appendix 1" and "Appendix 2," dated September 1958, with a price of 14 shillings. The primary focus is on the views of Carl Gustav Jung regarding Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), presented through translated excerpts and commentary. The English translation of Jung's work, "Ein Moderner Mythus: Von Dingen, die am Himinel gesehen werden" (A Modern Myth: Things That Have Been Seen in the Sky), published by Routledge & Kegan Paul, is also discussed.

Dr. Jung's Views on UFOs

Dr. Jung addresses questions about UFOs, acknowledging that some competent individuals believe they are of extraterrestrial origin, originating from planets like Mars or Venus. He notes similarities between reported UFO sightings and phenomena such as ball lightning, which can appear as luminous spheres and cause destruction. He also considers the possibility that 'bead lightning' might be responsible for formations of 'saucers' photographed on several occasions. Jung suggests that if UFOs are indeed extraterrestrial, it would signify the reality of intelligent interplanetary relations, posing a critical challenge to humanity, akin to primitive societies encountering a superior culture.

He expresses concern about the potential societal impact, including the loss of power and paralyzed spiritual progress. However, he also points out the potential positive outcome of ending wars and dismantling military hardware. Jung emphasizes that the construction of UFOs implies a scientific knowledge far superior to our own and warns of the moral decay that could result from such a "discovery and colonization," leading to widespread panic.

Jung is asked about the connection between UFOs and parapsychological occurrences, such as apparitions. He states that establishing such a link would require demonstrating a causal relationship between UFO phenomena and psychical conditions, like collective psychic dissociation or exteriorization of psychic energy. He acknowledges the existence of collective visions and questions whether collective physical phenomena like levitation or materialization can be produced.

He posits that the UFO phenomenon, particularly in the United States, represents a 'compensatory contrast' to the dominant scientific worldview, which tends to exclude rare, anomalous cases. Jung argues that this creates a 'flattened-out, dulled rationalization' that leaves a hunger for the marvelous, especially in light of global political news and the threat of the H-bomb. He likens the current situation to periods of spiritual famine and upheaval in history, suggesting that the appearance of 'signs and wonders' is not surprising.

Jung expresses caution regarding the nature of UFOs, stating that despite extensive reading, he does not know their true reality and is therefore unable to draw conclusions or form a decisive judgment. He highlights the deep anxieties of the American people, linking the prevalence of 'signs in the heavens' to 'McCarthyism.'

Historical Context and Interpretations

The document presents historical accounts of UFO-like phenomena, dating back to the 16th century. A broadsheet from Basel in 1566 describes numerous large black globes moving rapidly before the sun, some appearing red and fiery, engaging in battle-like maneuvers before disappearing. Another broadsheet from Nürnberg in 1561 details a 'frightful sight' of blood-red, bluish, and black globes and round plates, some in rows, fighting each other for an hour before descending to earth with vapor. These historical reports are noted for their peculiarities, such as 'tubes' analogous to 'mother ships' and the presence of 'quaternities' interpreted as mandalas.

Jung's own interpretation of these historical events is discussed. He suggests that the Christian significance of the cross might not be involved, but rather a natural phenomenon of 'entities' (Wesenheiten) cavorting in violent movement, reminiscent of a battle or an insect swarm mating. He contrasts the medieval interpretation of these events as warnings from God with modern technological interpretations.

Jung's Book and the 'Jekyll and Hyde' Dichotomy

The publication of the English translation of Jung's book, "Flying Saucers - A Modern Myth of Things Seen in the Skies," is noted. A preface by Jung, dated September 1958, addresses the media's portrayal of him as a 'saucer-believer.' Jung claims he gave a true version of his opinion to the United Press, but it received little notice, leading him to conclude that news affirming UFO existence is welcome, while skepticism is undesirable. The document's authors dispute this conclusion, suggesting the lack of play for Jung's statement was due to its contradiction with previous debunking stories.

The authors describe Jung's book as containing two distinct parts or personalities: "Jekyll" and "Hyde." The "Jekyll" part is characterized as a sensible, competent, and crisply-written essay on the UFO problem, focusing on observational data. The "Hyde" part is described as a 'farrago of dreams, symbolism, and mediaeval alchemical mysticism,' where Jung appears to lose touch with objective reality and conflates fiction with fact. This "Hyde" personality is noted for his interest in cabalistic idea-associations and a tendency to interpret UFOs through a lens of psychological symbolism rather than empirical data.

This document, identified as 'Appendix 3 - Page 3', discusses aspects of UFO phenomena and their interpretation, particularly in relation to the work of psychologist Carl Jung. The content appears to be an excerpt from a publication focused on ufology or related psychological and philosophical topics.

UFO Shape and Cosmic Affinities The text begins by quoting a source (p.33) that suggests the common lens-shaped form of UFOs might be influenced by the concept of 'psychic wholeness.' This wholeness, according to historical testimonies, is characterized by 'cosmic affinities.' The quote draws a parallel between the shape of UFOs and the appearance of astronomical objects like stars and galaxies, which are described as 'mainly lens-shaped agglomerations.' The author posits that this could be an instance where 'primordial ideas' are influenced by contemporary 'acquisitions of consciousness.'

Confusion Regarding Jung's Views Following this, the text poses a rhetorical question: "Is it any wonder if reporters and reviewers are confused as to what Jung 'really' thinks about flying saucers?" This implies that Jung's views on the subject might be complex or have been subject to misinterpretation.

Analysis of a Translation of Jung's Work The subsequent section focuses on the accuracy of a translation of Jung's work, specifically mentioning a translator named Hull. The translation is described as reading well and being 'reasonably accurate.' However, a significant exception is highlighted concerning Jung's use of the term 'Wesenheiten' in Chapters IV and VI. Jung used this German word to refer to UFOs as 'beings' or 'entities.' The translator, according to the text, suppressed this specific terminology, opting instead for the more general terms 'objects' or 'phenomena.'

The author argues that this substitution obscures a crucial aspect of Jung's work: his 'independent rediscovery of the space-animal theory.' The implication is that by translating 'Wesenheiten' as 'objects' or 'phenomena,' the translator has hidden Jung's more specific and perhaps controversial assertion about the nature of UFOs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The document touches upon themes of UFO morphology, the potential psychological and philosophical underpinnings of belief in UFOs, and the critical importance of accurate translation in understanding complex theories. The editorial stance appears to be critical of translations that might dilute or misrepresent the original author's intent, particularly when it concerns significant theoretical contributions like Jung's 'space-animal theory.'