El Ojo Critico - No 46 - Primavera 2005

Magazine Overview

This issue of 'El Ojo Critico', number 46, published in Spring 2005 by Grupo Fénix from La Coruña, Spain, features an in-depth investigative report titled 'El Negocio de la Fe' (The Business of Faith). The main cover headline announces 'Un infiltrado en el fraudulento mundo de los videntes y santeros' (An infiltrator in the fraudulent world of psychics and healers).

El Negocio de la Fe

The central piece of this issue is an exclusive excerpt from a book by Juan Gonzalo, published by Martínez Roca. The book recounts the author's year-long experience as an undercover journalist infiltrating the world of psychics, healers, fortune-tellers, and curanderos in Spain. Gonzalo, who does not give interviews, allowed EOC to reproduce a chapter, which has generated significant buzz within both paranormal and skeptical communities in Spain.

The author explains his motivation for writing the book: to expose the everyday reality of how individuals, including celebrities, politicians, and successful entrepreneurs, use their public image and perceived spiritual practices as a business to profit. He highlights how these figures, often seen as role models, are in reality very different and that their association with esoteric services can mislead the public into believing in the efficacy of these practices. He aims to alert people to this deception and the extortionate practices of some clairvoyant and santeria shops.

The article details how 'faith merchants' exploit the association with famous people to attract more clients, who then pay exorbitant amounts for services. These merchants often boast about celebrity clients to lend credibility to their services. The author emphasizes that his intention is not to attack genuine religious beliefs but to expose the fraudulent commercialization of faith.

He recounts his personal journey in creating the persona of 'Juan Gonzalo', a psychic and santero. This involved extensive research, placing national ads offering services, setting up a post office box, and renting a small shop in Madrid. He also prepared his appearance with typical santeria attire. His investigation involved attending an esoteric fair in Madrid, where he made initial contacts with santeria vendors, including Elizabeth from 'Botánica la India Juana' and Óscar from 'Merlín y Morgana'. He also gathered information about a competitor, 'Santería Milagrosa', which he was told was fraudulent.

Through phone consultations and personal meetings, the author gathered testimonies and information about prices, methods of deception, and the motivations of clients. He notes the collective mindset of consumers in this sector, who expect to pay for services, and how he had to invent a 'spiritual mandate' to convince them that his services were free. He also highlights the common questions and concerns of clients, which provided him with material for his investigation and allowed him to conduct surveys without their knowledge.

Viajes y leyendas (Travel and Legends)

This section features several articles exploring mysterious places and historical figures:

La magia de las ciudades perdidas (The Magic of Lost Cities)

This article delves into the concept of lost cities, from fictional portrayals by authors like Julio Verne and H. Rider Haggard to archaeological sites like Angkor Wat and Troy. It discusses how explorers in the 19th century sought increasingly remote locations for lost cities and treasures. The article also touches upon John Cleves Symmes's theory of a hollow Earth and his novel 'Symzonia'.

It then focuses on the legend of the lost city of Iarchas, which is said to have been built by the Rillyti and used for obscure rituals. The narrative shifts to Apollonius of Tyana, a 1st-century philosopher and mathematician, and his journey to find the 'city of the gods' in the Himalayas. Apollonius described inhabitants who were 'of our Earth but not from our Earth', possessing advanced knowledge and technology, including a model of the solar system and 'living wheels' that transported messages from the gods. His experiences are interpreted in various ways, from spiritual enlightenment to contact with extraterrestrials.

La capital olvidada de los Hsiung-Un (The Forgotten Capital of the Hsiung-Un)

This article explores the mysterious civilization of the Hsiung-Un, a people who inhabited Central Asia. It discusses their possible connection to the Huns and their advanced culture, with a capital located in the Tarim Basin. The text mentions discoveries of ancient structures, including a pyramid and a palace, and the possibility of a 'cataclysm of fire' that destroyed their civilization. The use of advanced detection devices like the SIR-CX-SR is mentioned for locating hidden structures.

La ciudad negra (The Black City)

This section describes Khara-Hot, an ancient city in the Gobi Desert, also known as the 'black city'. While orthodox history attributes its destruction to the Ming dynasty in 1372, alternative sources suggest a more mystical end. The ruler, Khara Bataar Janjin, known for his 'black magic', angered the Chinese emperor. In a dramatic confrontation, Janjin allegedly used dark magic to transform the surrounding landscape into a desert, burying his own troops and himself, and terrifying the invading Chinese army. Attempts to recover the city's treasure have been made over centuries.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on investigative journalism, exposing fraud, and exploring mysteries, legends, and historical enigmas. The editorial stance appears to be critical of commercial exploitation of beliefs and interested in uncovering hidden truths about historical and paranormal phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on debunking sensationalism while still engaging with intriguing subjects like lost cities and ancient civilizations.

Title: Viajes y leyendas
Issue: 11
Volume: 1
Date: March 2005
Publisher: Mundo Misterioso
Country: Spain
Price: 4.50 Euros
ISSN: 1699-7538

This issue of "Viajes y leyendas" explores a diverse range of topics, from ancient legends and religious movements to contemporary popular culture and military research.

Lost Cities and Ancient Legends

The magazine delves into the legend of a "black hero" and a lost treasure in the sands, with shamans attempting to break a curse. It also examines the enduring myth of Prester John, a legendary Christian prince from the Middle Ages. Explorations into his supposed kingdom led to expeditions, including one by Portuguese in 1520 to Ethiopia, where the monarch had no knowledge of him. The article speculates on the origins of this legend, suggesting it might have stemmed from a minor bishop or ruler whose reputation was magnified. A 1994 article by J.J. Snyder about a mysterious black castle-fortress in the Nubian desert is also mentioned as a potential link to these legends.

Further exploration into lost cities includes the concept of 'parahistory' and 'metaphysical cities' as proposed by Guillermo Terrera, referencing places like Thule, Agharthi, and Shamballah, with Cerro Uritorco as a central point. The text also touches upon the discovery of an unusual crystal in Brazil, found in a region known as 'the forbidden land', which exhibited peculiar infrared properties.

Sikhism: The Fifth Religion of the Planet

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to Sikhism, detailing its origins and practices. It begins by commemorating the passing of Yogi Bhajan (Herbajan Singh Calza Yogiji) in Española, New Mexico. Yogi Bhajan was instrumental in establishing Sikhism in the West, gaining official recognition for the movement in the US in 1971 and leading the "Happy, Holy and Healthy" organization for over 30 years. The article highlights Sikhism's status as the fifth largest religion globally, with nearly 30 million followers.

The founder, Guru Nanak, established Sikhism in the 15th century as a new revelation, distinct from Hinduism and Islam. He rejected the caste system, bloody rituals, and practices like 'sati'. The article explains the meaning of 'Sikh' as 'disciple' and describes the distinctive appearance of Sikhs, including their turbans and the 'five K's': Kes (uncut hair), Kanga (comb), Kachha (cotton underwear), Kara (steel bracelet), and Kirpan (sword or dagger).

The sacred scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, compiled by Guru Arjun Dev, is presented as the central text, revered in every gurdwara. The article also touches upon the egalitarian nature of Sikhism, where women have equal rights in religious practices, and the community's emphasis on social issues and service.

Popular Saints and Folk Devotion in Argentina

The magazine explores the phenomenon of popular saints in Argentina, individuals who, despite lacking official church recognition, are venerated by the public. The singer Gilda, who died in a traffic accident in 1996, is presented as a prime example, with a shrine dedicated to her in Entre Ríos province. Her song 'No es mi despedida' is seen as a premonition of her death.

Another figure is Rodrigo Alejandro Bueno, known as 'El Potro', a 'bailanta' music idol who also died in a traffic accident. Shrines dedicated to him feature offerings like beer bottles and cigarettes.

The article also discusses 'Difunta Correa', a popular saint who died of thirst and hunger in the late 19th century, and whose shrine is adorned with water bottles. Other folk saints mentioned include Telesita, Carballito, Juana Figueroa, and various children who died tragically, such as 'Pedrito Hallado' and 'El almita perdida'. The cult of Maradona, with an 'Iglesia Maradoniana', is also noted.

Finally, the devotion to the 'Virgen Desatanudos' (Our Lady Undoer of Knots) is described, with a painting in the San José del Talar church in Buenos Aires attracting thousands of visitors seeking relief from life's problems.

Secret Weapons and Exotic Research

A section titled "Extrañas armas secretas del arsenal USA" (Strange secret weapons from the US arsenal) discusses the US military's research into advanced weaponry. This includes investments in teleportation technology and the potential use of antimatter as a future military material, capable of producing powerful explosions without radioactive fallout. The article also mentions a rejected 1994 proposal for an "aphrodisiac bomb" intended to induce homosexuality among enemy troops, as well as research into non-lethal chemical agents to attract insects or create persistent bad breath for enemy detection.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of mystery, the unexplained, and alternative belief systems. It bridges ancient legends with contemporary phenomena, religious movements with folk devotion, and scientific research with speculative theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting diverse subjects without necessarily endorsing them, encouraging readers to explore the 'journeys and legends' of the world.

This issue of LOS CONFIDENCIALES (EOC), dated May 2005 (Issue 26), focuses on a wide array of paranormal and scientific mysteries, with a significant tribute to the late Fernando Jiménez del Oso. The magazine explores topics ranging from popular beliefs and parapsychology to cutting-edge scientific enigmas and the legacy of a prominent investigator.

Popular Beliefs and Paranormal Phenomena

The issue begins by examining the proliferation of popular saints in America, suggesting a fusion of pre-existing cults with Catholicism. It highlights figures like 'San Son' and 'San La Muerte,' describing their iconography and purported powers, noting that these popular devotions often coexist with official Catholic practices.

A significant section is dedicated to 'psychic attacks,' defined as invisible, negative parapsychological influences. The article details how individuals can unconsciously or consciously inflict such attacks, leading to physical or mental distress. Symptoms like fatigue, aggression, and depression are listed, with the piece also noting that fear of these attacks can be worse than the attacks themselves, sometimes leading to psychosomatic illness.

Scientific Mysteries

Under the heading 'The 13 mysteries unexplained by modern science,' published by 'New Scientist,' the magazine presents several perplexing phenomena:

• The Placebo Effect: Discusses how inert substances can produce real physiological effects, with studies suggesting it can be effective in up to 70-100% of cases, though the exact mechanisms remain unknown.
• The Horizon Problem: Questions how distant regions of the universe, which could not have been in causal contact since the Big Bang, exhibit remarkably similar temperatures.
• Ultra-Energetic Cosmic Rays: Highlights cosmic rays with energies far exceeding theoretical limits predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity, posing a challenge to current physics.
• Homeopathy Results: Reports on a study by Madeleine Ennis that found ultra-diluted histamine solutions, consistent with homeopathic preparations, had a significant effect on basophils, despite containing no detectable molecules of the active substance. This challenges conventional chemical and physical understanding.
• Dark Matter: Explains that dark matter is invisible and undetectable by electromagnetic radiation, posing a major challenge in cosmology known as the 'missing mass problem.'
• Methane on Mars: Recounts the Viking mission's detection of methane, which initially suggested the possibility of life, but was later dismissed by NASA as a 'false positive.'
• Tetraneutrons: Mentions the detection of six particles composed of four neutrons bound together, defying known physics.
• Pioneer Anomaly: Describes a small, unexplained acceleration experienced by the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft, causing them to deviate from their expected trajectories.
• Dark Energy: Discusses the accelerating expansion of the universe, attributed to 'dark energy,' a hypothetical form of energy with negative pressure.
• The Kuiper Cliff: Refers to a sudden drop in the density of objects beyond Neptune and Pluto, possibly indicating the presence of a tenth planet.
• The 'Wow' Signal: Details the reception of a mysterious 37-second radio signal from outer space in 1977, whose origin remains unknown.
• Non-Constant Constants: Explores research suggesting that fundamental physical constants, like the fine-structure constant, might vary over cosmic distances.
• Cold Fusion: Briefly touches upon the controversial claim of achieving nuclear fusion at room temperature, first reported in 1989, which has largely failed to be replicated.

Tribute to Fernando Jiménez del Oso

A substantial part of the magazine is dedicated to a necrological tribute to Dr. Fernando Jiménez del Oso, who passed away on March 27, 2005. He is remembered as a beloved investigator and disseminator of paranormal topics, including ufology, the occult, and ancient cultures. His career spanned television, radio, and writing, with notable contributions including the popular TV series 'Más Allá' and 'La Puerta del Misterio.' His background as a medical doctor and psychiatrist lent credibility to his work. The tribute highlights his ability to listen, his genuine interest in the human being, and his philosophical approach to enigmas, often characterized by a sense of wonder and questioning rather than definitive answers. His influence on subsequent generations of paranormal researchers is emphasized.

Investigations and Controversies

• Javier Sierra Leaves 'Mas Allá': Reports that Javier Sierra has stepped down as director of the magazine 'Mas Allá' following his marriage, but will continue to collaborate with the publication.
• New Books by Manuel Carballal: Announces that Manuel Carballal is preparing two books: one aiming to debunk paranormal frauds worldwide, and another focusing on angels.
• 'Enigmas... de la Rosa de los Vientos' Book Project: Details a forthcoming book titled 'Enigmas,' which will compile discussions from the radio program 'La Rosa de los Vientos,' featuring Juan Antonio Cebrián and collaborators Carlos Canales, Bruno Cardeñosa, and Jesús Callejo.
• 'Who is Juan Gonzalo?': Discusses speculation surrounding the identity of 'Juan Gonzalo,' author of the book 'El Negocio de la Fe,' noting that despite various theories, his identity remains a subject of debate within the paranormal community.
• Carlos Fernández and his book on TCI: Mentions that Carlos Fernández, described as a leading Spanish investigator of anomalous phenomena, is negotiating with publishers for a new book focused on Trans-Communication Interface (TCI).
• 'The Belmez Faces' Fraud Theory: A report from a paranormal investigation congress in Granada features presentations by Javier Cavanilles and Paco Máñez, who argue that the 'Belmez Faces' are a fraud orchestrated for financial gain, involving the local community and media. They criticize the lack of critical investigation by some media outlets and suggest the phenomenon has been sensationalized for commercial purposes.
• Investigadores, mercenarios y vividores: Announces a forthcoming book by Jose Manuel García Bautista that aims to expose the economic interests and personal motivations behind prominent figures in paranormal investigation, following the line of a previous controversial article.
• 'LA FOTO': Features a photograph from 1997 of Gabriel Carrión, Manuel Carballal, and Iker Jiménez, presented as a humanizing glimpse into the lives of well-known mystery disseminators.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of popular beliefs, scientific mysteries, and paranormal investigation. There's a clear interest in debunking hoaxes and critically examining claims, as evidenced by the articles on the 'Belmez Faces' and the skepticism towards certain homeopathic results. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the unexplained, while maintaining a critical perspective and valuing rigorous investigation. The tribute to Fernando Jiménez del Oso underscores the magazine's respect for dedicated researchers who approach the unknown with curiosity and a deep interest in the human experience. The recurring theme of 'enigmas' and 'mysteries' is central to the publication's identity, catering to an audience fascinated by the unexplained aspects of the world and beyond.

Title: Paranormal
Issue: 36
Issue Date: April 2005
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish

This issue of 'Paranormal' magazine focuses on the critical examination of alleged paranormal phenomena, with a strong emphasis on debunking and uncovering potential frauds. The cover headline, "Fenómenos arquitectonicos, geológicos, físicos... fraudes..." (Architectural, geological, physical phenomena... frauds...), sets the tone for an issue that seeks rational explanations for events often attributed to the supernatural.

The 'Belmez Faces' and the Question of Fraud

The lead article discusses the controversial 'Belmez Faces' phenomenon. Paco Mañez, president of the Valenciana Association of Parapsychological Research and UFOs (AVIPO), presents his theory that the 'Belmez Faces' are a fraud. Mañez recounts his initial encounters with the faces in Belmez in 2003 and 2004, noting that they were easy to reproduce. He controversially credits Jose Luis Jordán Peña, known for the UMMO affair fraud, with developing techniques that could mimic these faces using simple methods like water and a brush. Mañez accuses members of the SEIP (presumably the group investigating the faces) of being the material authors of the fraud, suggesting they used his techniques to create more perfect faces after his visits. He details how the SEIP allegedly used his system, wetting the plates with water to create stains that could then be modified. Initially believing the phenomenon might be an innocent mistake, Mañez's conviction evolved to one of conscious fraud as he reviewed the evidence.

Cavanilles, another contributor, echoes this sentiment, lamenting the perceived censorship of paranormal information online and stating that the 'Belmez Faces' phenomenon has been a deception from the start.

Investigating Poltergeist Cases: Rational Explanations

Manuel Carballal, an investigator, contributes a detailed analysis of alleged poltergeist cases, emphasizing the importance of rational explanations. He recounts the case of Patricia, who believed her house in La Coruña was haunted after her roommate died there. Carballal investigated the house, finding no paranormal activity and attributing Patricia's fears to autosuggestion and the psychological impact of the traumatic event. He stresses that while witnesses may genuinely believe they are experiencing paranormal phenomena, their emotional state does not validate the supernatural origin.

Carballal outlines a systematic approach to investigating such cases, recommending the use of a commission of experts (architect, illusionist, psychologist) and basic instrumentation like video cameras, sensitive microphones, and static electricity detectors to rule out mundane causes. He highlights that many poltergeist phenomena can be explained by factors such as:

• Psychology: Autosuggestion, sleep disorders (hypnagogia, hypnopompia), paranoia, and an obsession with the paranormal can lead individuals to misinterpret ordinary events.
• Architecture: Defective materials that expand or contract with temperature changes, air chambers in walls, and structural elements acting as sound conductors can create strange noises.
• Plumbing: Rusty pipes can act as acoustic resonators, and metal fixtures can create unexpected sounds.
• Chemistry: Various household products like paints, varnishes, and glues can produce unexpected events, such as spontaneous fires or random images on surfaces.
• Geology: Seismic activity, unstable terrain, or cliffs can cause objects to move or temperature fluctuations.
• Electromagnetic Effects (EM): High-tension power lines, faulty electrical supplies, or magnetized geological deposits can interfere with appliances and create mysterious occurrences.

Carballal also discusses the role of fraud in paranormal claims, noting that individuals or communities might fabricate phenomena for attention, financial gain, or to boost tourism. He provides an example of a case in Sada, Spain, where strange noises in a seaside cabin were initially attributed to a poltergeist but were later explained by tidal flooding in a subterranean gallery and the natural expansion and contraction of the wooden structure due to temperature and wind.

Other Mentions

The issue also includes a brief mention of Roswell, New Mexico, and how the town has adapted to the ufology trend, with establishments like McDonald's adopting a flying saucer theme. It also references a magazine article from 'FATE' about Roswell.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical and skeptical examination of paranormal claims. The magazine advocates for a rational and scientific approach to investigating phenomena, prioritizing the elimination of mundane explanations before considering supernatural ones. The editorial stance clearly favors debunking alleged paranormal events, highlighting the prevalence of psychological factors, misinterpretations, and outright fraud. The issue aims to educate readers about how to approach such claims with a discerning mind, using the website 'www.fraudesparanormales.com' as a resource against the manipulation of beliefs.