Eight Martinis - No 03

Magazine Overview

Title: *eight martinis*
Issue: 3
Date: March 2010
Theme: Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV) in development and in use.

This issue of *eight martinis* magazine delves into the intricacies of Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV), presenting a collection of articles, experiments, and insights from practitioners and researchers in the field. The publication aims to showcase the state of the art of remote viewing, its practical applications, and the underlying psychological and cognitive processes involved.

Editorial Introduction

Daz Smith, the editor, welcomes readers to the third issue, expressing gratitude for the positive feedback and contributions received for previous issues. He notes the significant interest in CRV, with many practitioners emerging. The issue features contributions from prominent figures like Ingo Swann and Lyn Buchanan, as well as examples from 'The Remote Viewing Unit' in Australia. Smith acknowledges the challenges faced by the remote viewing community, including skeptical attempts to discredit the subject, but highlights successful experiments and the importance of industry collaboration.

Key Articles and Features

The Role of Sketches in Controlled Remote Viewing

Lyn Buchanan explains that sketches in CRV are not direct representations of the target or the viewer's conscious perception, but rather how the viewer's subconscious mind 'sees' the target. These sketches can exaggerate important elements and diminish or ignore unimportant ones, providing valuable information for intelligence analysts. The article includes examples of sketches from practice sessions, some at a preliminary level and others from advanced CRV work, including clay models.

Remote Viewing Processes and Layers of Meaning

Ingo Swann discusses the concept of multiple layers of meaning in remote viewing. He posits that signals are processed into meaning categories before mental images are formed. This process is crucial for understanding how remote viewers can access information beyond the five physical senses. Swann introduces the 'Analytical Overlay' concept and details the five steps involved in signal-to-noise theory as applied to the human nervous system. He also highlights the significance of absent meaning-memory, using the Hella Hammid experiment as a prime example where a viewer's lack of experience with nuclear reactors led to a teapot being perceived.

A Remote Viewing Experiment

Sandra Hilleard shares her experience with a remote viewing experiment where she attempted to relay perceived information through an acrylic painting rather than just sketches or words. After an initial disappointment with a target of the Eiffel Tower, she conducted a 'Psi-session' focusing on painting a scene of two wooden sailing boats. To her surprise, the feedback revealed that the painted scene was indeed the target, demonstrating the effectiveness of painting as a method for conveying detailed remote viewing data.

Frontloading and Throughput in Remote Viewing

This section, though not a full article, is mentioned in the table of contents and likely discusses the initial setup and information flow within a remote viewing session.

The Road Ahead

This article, also listed in the table of contents, likely explores future directions, advancements, or challenges within the field of remote viewing.

Searching...

This title suggests an article related to the process of searching for targets or information through remote viewing.

The Cassandra Syndrome

This article, listed in the table of contents, likely addresses a specific phenomenon or challenge within remote viewing, possibly related to the perception or interpretation of information.

Remote Viewing & Project Stargate; An interview with Lyn Buchanan

This interview with Lyn Buchanan, a former Controlled Remote Viewer for the U.S. military, provides insights into his experiences with Project Stargate and his transition to training and consulting in remote viewing.

Remote Viewing Websites & blogs

This feature likely highlights online resources and communities dedicated to remote viewing.

Ah, the Wonderous Joy of Doing Demo Sessions

This article probably discusses the experience and benefits of conducting demonstration sessions of remote viewing.

Remote Viewing Documents: DIA Grill Flame Report - January 1983

This section presents a specific document related to remote viewing, the DIA Grill Flame Report from January 1983, suggesting an analysis or discussion of its contents.

Models: The Kursk Submarine and Petra

The magazine showcases clay models produced by advanced CRV practitioners. One model depicts the Kursk submarine, with the viewer describing the front being 'blown outwards' and a 'dirty water smell,' which later correlated with the actual cause of the disaster. Another model represents the city of Petra in Jordan, with an actual map provided for comparison.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the practical application, methodology, and psychological underpinnings of Controlled Remote Viewing. There is a strong emphasis on the role of the subconscious mind, the interpretation of meaning, and the use of sketches and other creative mediums to convey remote viewing data. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting and advancing the field of remote viewing, encouraging collaboration, and sharing knowledge and experiences among practitioners. The magazine also addresses the challenges posed by skepticism and the importance of rigorous research and understanding of cognitive processes.

This issue of 'eight martinis' is dedicated to the exploration of remote viewing, with a particular emphasis on the concept of 'frontloading' and its implications, presented from a system analyst's perspective. The magazine features articles by Teresa Frisch, Lyn Buchanan, Rick Hillard, and Daz Smith, covering various facets of remote viewing, its development, applications, and challenges.

Frontloading and Throughput in Remote Viewing by Teresa Frisch

Teresa Frisch, an RN and IARP member, discusses the evolution of remote viewing since its declassification and its increasing integration into a more structured commercial market. She argues that 'frontloading,' when done properly, can enhance the utilization of both viewer and customer resources by focusing the viewer's work and minimizing fatigue. Frisch likens frontloading to 'retasking' a session, suggesting that viewers accustomed to retasking might benefit from trying frontloading. She proposes a comparative analysis of results with and without frontloading to assess its impact on accuracy, detail, site contact, and viewer fatigue. Frisch also shares Lyn Buchanan's 'Ten Commandments of Frontloading,' which emphasize that frontloading should not impart target information or 'task the answer,' but rather guide the viewer on where to focus their efforts.

Lyn Buchanan's Ten Commandments of Frontloading

1. Frontloading must NOT impart target information.
2. Frontloading must NOT "task the answer."
3. Frontloading must ONLY tell the viewer where to put his/her best efforts.
4. If you cannot frontload without polluting, then don't frontload.
5. If the viewer wants/needs frontloading, then give it. But make sure it is properly done.
6. If the viewer does not want frontloading, then don't give it.
7. If the viewer wants frontloading, but is totally incapable of receiving it without causing pollution, then give frontloading as though it were a double-blind session.
8. If you are doing a session for research, don't give frontloading.
9. In all other cases, don't give frontloading unless you need to.
10. If you do give frontloading, make a written record of it.

The Road Ahead by Lyn Buchanan

Lyn Buchanan draws an analogy between the early days of the automobile and the current state of remote viewing, emphasizing that acceptance is key to progress. He recounts his experience as a school bus driver in rural Texas, where the advice 'If ya ain't stopped yet, ya ain't stuck yet' became a guiding principle. Buchanan argues that just as the automobile faced resistance and skepticism, remote viewing is currently in a similar phase. He highlights that the pioneers who embraced and utilized the automobile in practical ways paved the way for its widespread acceptance. Similarly, he believes that remote viewers must persevere through challenges, such as ridicule and disbelief, to gain acceptance for their skills. Buchanan encourages viewers to push forward, viewing the rough roads as opportunities for new vistas, rather than hiding their abilities.

Searching... by Daz Smith

Daz Smith details a case where he used CRV for the FINDME GROUP, an organization that assists police with missing person cases. He describes a blind remote viewing session to locate a missing person, providing data that included the person being dead, driven to a location in hills with a specific linear area, approximately 20km from the last known location, and south of it. His GPS coordinate, based on his analysis, was off by a few miles. However, the remains were later found in the Dublin mountains, identified as Ken Fetherston, who had been murdered. Smith acknowledges that while his GPS was not precise, the case demonstrates the accuracy of remote viewing in describing locations and helping to narrow down search areas. He notes that CRV is designed to avoid naming locations to prevent analysis, which presents a challenge in 'search problems' where missing items are often in remote, nondescript areas.

The Cassandra Syndrome by Rick Hillard

Rick Hillard introduces the 'Cassandra Syndrome' as a modern term for precognition, drawing from Greek mythology. He explains that precognition is frequently reported among remote viewers, but like Cassandra, viewers often face disbelief regarding their prophecies. Hillard shares his experience with a precognitive target related to a disaster at BP Refinery in Kwinana, Australia. He describes the process of receiving a 'cue' and the subsequent feeling of knowing what might happen. He also discusses the importance of picture targets for calibration and establishing a running percentage of accuracy. Hillard recounts a specific incident where he had to wait over 18 months for feedback on a session, which ultimately involved a fatality on the British Mallard tanker, aligning with his precognitive data.

Remote Viewing & Project Stargate: An interview with Lyn Buchanan

This interview with Lyn Buchanan, a former member of the US Army's psychic spying program, Project STARGATE, provides insight into the development and application of Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV). Buchanan explains that CRV is a science developed at Stanford Research Institute, based on connecting the conscious and subconscious minds, and was used for espionage. He differentiates CRV from 'remote viewing' as a more general, less scientific term. Buchanan details the CIA's involvement in funding the research due to Soviet psychic capabilities and discusses how CRV was developed. He highlights that while the program was classified, the CRV process itself was not, allowing him to teach it after leaving the service. The interview covers the CRV training process, its applications in business, law enforcement, and even personal development, and its potential use in investigating anomalous phenomena like UFOs. Buchanan shares three significant events he experienced: preventing a rocket attack on Mecca, witnessing a Russian 'destruction machine,' and a profound personality assessment that led him to believe he encountered Jesus.

Ah, the Wonderous Joy of Doing Demo Sessions. (Or: Distractions? What Distractions?) by Lyn Buchanan

Lyn Buchanan recounts his experience doing remote viewing sessions for a Japanese TV production. He describes the challenges of frontloading, including a session where he had to identify the manufacturing location of an object, which he initially misidentified due to a slight error in dowsing. He also details sessions conducted with a celebrity who had no prior knowledge of remote viewing and faced distractions from the camera crew and translator. Buchanan explains the protocol for his demo sessions, which involve deep concentration and specific mental exercises. He discusses a precognitive session about an earthquake, where his emotional response to the event interfered with his ability to take credit for the accuracy of his descriptors. He also shares a successful session describing Magic Mountain at Disneyland and a less successful one at Cal Tech. The article concludes with Buchanan's experience participating in a brainwave study at New Mexico State University to analyze the neural activity during remote viewing sessions.

Controlled Remote Viewing by Daz Smith

Daz Smith presents a declassified 1983 CIA document, Project Grill Flame, authored by SRI International. He explains that this document showcases Ingo Swann's remote viewing work, including his session on a secret biochemical warfare facility. Smith highlights that the document provides historical context for CRV, demonstrating its operational use and including client evaluation sheets. He addresses detractors who question the use of CRV by accomplished viewers like Ingo Swann, asserting that this document proves Swann did utilize the technique.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the practical application, scientific rigor, and societal acceptance of remote viewing and Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV). The articles consistently emphasize the importance of proper methodology, such as frontloading, and the challenges posed by skepticism and disbelief. There's a strong undercurrent advocating for remote viewing as a legitimate and valuable tool, whether for intelligence gathering, problem-solving, or personal development. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting the advancement and understanding of remote viewing, encouraging practitioners to persevere and to educate others about its capabilities, while also acknowledging the need for scientific validation and ethical considerations.

This document, titled "eight martinis" with issue number 41 and published in 1981, details the findings of a three-year evaluation program (FY '81-'83) conducted by SRI International for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and Army INSCOM. The program focused on assessing the potential of remote viewing (RV) for intelligence applications, aiming to enhance U.S. capabilities and understand the threat posed by similar Soviet/East Bloc applications.

RV Trends

SRI International's program sought to develop techniques to improve the accuracy and reliability of RV, transfer these to Department of Defense (DoD) personnel, apply RV to operational tasks, and integrate it into the overall intelligence mix. A significant part of the program involved codifying a promising RV training procedure developed by RV consultant/practitioner Mr. I. Swann. This procedure focuses on controlling factors that introduce 'noise' into the RV product. The basic components of this procedure include repeated target-address presentations with quick-reaction responses, the use of a specially-designed, featureless viewing chamber to minimize environmental overlays, and a strictly-prescribed, limited interviewer patter to minimize interviewer overlay.

The document outlines six stages of RV contact with a target site, showing a progression from general ambience to specific analytical aspects:

1. Major gestalt: Overall impression of the site.
2. Sensory contact: Initial sensory impressions.
3. Dimension, motion, mobility: Perceptions of size, movement, and activity.
4. Quantitative aspects: Numerical or measurable details.
5. Special qualitative aspects: Unique or specific characteristics.
6. Significant analytical aspects: Deeper analysis and interpretation.

Remote viewers are trained to become proficient in handling each stage, leading to greater detail and utility in the RV product.

RV Data

The current state-of-the-art in remote viewing, as represented by Ingo Swann (the originator of the technique), has reached a point of differentiating and identifying technological facilities, considered a Stage IV process. The document presents examples of the level of detail and discrimination attained during this research/training phase, noting that such quality results are seen on a routine basis, exceeding chance expectation. Additional viewers, both within SRI and the DoD (Army INSCOM), have progressed through various stages up to Stage III.

Several figures illustrate RV data for specific targets:

• Figure 1 (U) Glen Canyon Dam, Utah: Shows a response depicting a canyon, a dam, buildings, and a road.
• Figure 2 (U) Radio Telescope Array, Socorro, New Mexico: Depicts a desert environment with a radio telescope array, including a large dish antenna and buildings.
• Figure 3 (U) Sahara Oilfields: Illustrates oil wells, pumping equipment, and buildings in an oilfield setting.
• Figure 4 (U) Antenna Array, Lost Hills, California: Shows an antenna array, possibly a radio tower, in a flat area.

Value of Data

The investigations have shown that remote viewing, conducted by both SRI and Army INSCOM personnel, has in many cases provided meaningful descriptions of targets of interest to the intelligence community. Evaluation by intelligence community specialists indicates that remote viewers can generate useful data corroborated by other intelligence. While the information is often fragmentary and imperfect, it is best utilized in conjunction with other resources. Although precise accuracy and reliability are still being established, the data generated by the RV process appears to exceed chance correlation or acquisition by ordinary means, thus constituting an exploitable information source.

Specific Case Example (JS #17)

On April 9, 1981, a remote viewing session (JS #17) was conducted with Remote Viewer #002 and Hal Puthoff monitoring. The target was described as a biological warfare facility. The viewer perceived elements such as windows, brown flat-roofed buildings, a group of buildings, and a valley. Later descriptions included "chemicals & gasses," "Biological warfare," and specifically "Mustard gas WWI." The facility was described as a "terrible place" with connotations of medical, biological research, human use, and a prison facility. It was likened to a decompression chamber or contamination chamber, consisting of five complex chambers within a large hangar-like building, made of reinforced steel and concrete, with tanks. The location was described as being outside a compound with hills, barracks-like buildings, a water tank, and an airstrip approximately two miles to the northeast.

Another remote viewing session (SG1B) described a large hangar-like building with various colored lights (purple, lavender), a wet floor, people in rubber boots, inside stairs, an elevator, a ramp, lift forks, and a voltage control panel. The viewer noted signs with phonetic characters "pra noy usnetzov" and blinking red lights, possibly indicating "exist markers." The exterior was described as having hills or mounds, barracks-like buildings, a water tank, and an airstrip.

Instructions to Analysts

Analysts are instructed that the information provided is from a new and potentially valuable source of intelligence. They are advised that the data is likely a mixture of correct and incorrect elements. Descriptive elements are generally more reliable than labels or judgments. Gaps or additions in the data should not be taken as indicators of inaccuracy. Analysts are recommended to first get an overall 'flavor' of the response before detailed analysis. Questions regarding the data should be directed to SG1J DIA (DT-1A) at SRI International.

Summary Evaluation Sheet

The summary evaluation sheet indicates that for the target site, the "Geographical locale description" was rated as "Good," "Large-scale manmade elements" as "Excellent," and "Small-scale manmade elements" as "Good." "General target ambience" and "Relevant specific activities" were rated as "Marginal" and "Useful" respectively. "Personality information" was "Unknown." The "Overall utility" was rated as "Very Useful."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this document are the exploration and application of remote viewing for intelligence purposes, the development of techniques to enhance its accuracy and reliability, and the evaluation of its potential as an intelligence source. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious optimism, acknowledging the potential of RV while emphasizing the need for rigorous evaluation, corroboration with other intelligence sources, and further research to establish its precise accuracy and reliability. The document highlights the progress made in training viewers and the generation of useful, albeit sometimes imperfect, data.