EVP Newsletter - No 17 - 1979

Magazine Overview

Title: EVP NEWS
Issue: No 17
Date: July 1979
Publisher: EVP Newsletter
Country: England
Focus: Devoted to the study of the Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP).

Editor's Personal Update

The editor announces a new job as a junior reporter in Erith, Kent, and requests that correspondence be sent to his Rugby address for the next two and a half years. He expresses hope that having a steady job will allow him to return to EVP research with renewed zeal. He also mentions hearing about a newcomer, Mr. Myall, achieving good results with EVP, contrasting this with his own years of experimentation without success.

Index of Contents

The issue features an index indicating a series of articles starting on page 1 by G. Bonner, FHA, continuing the work of Mike Vinter, and an interview between Esotera & Jurgenson.

Article: Gilbert Bonner, FHA - Disseminating Knowledge

This section highlights Gilbert Bonner's role as a researcher dedicated to disseminating his knowledge of EVP to others. Bonner states his belief that his research, begun in 1972, has led to advances in understanding EVP and can assist other researchers. He intends to publish statements based on his work and that of others in the field since 1958. Bonner is described as unafraid to challenge existing scientific models if EVP knowledge demands it, emphasizing the need for an open mind and the setting aside of emotional bias and personal beliefs. He notes the hostility of parapsychologists, suggesting their concepts of man and creation are limited, and that EVP has profound implications for scientific knowledge.

Bonner also touches upon the phenomenon of different people hearing different words in the same EVP recording. While some attribute this to white noise, Bonner suggests a different explanation, citing an instance where one person heard voices in English and another heard the same voices in French. This "double dubbing" is explored further in his article, "Interpretation and Conditioning". Readers are invited to send comments or letters to Bonner via EVP News.

Article: Interpretation and Conditioning

This article, attributed to G. Bonner and dated July 3rd, 1979, addresses the issue of differing interpretations of EVP voices. It notes that since 1969, researchers and critics have observed that EVP voices can be heard differently by different people. An example is given of a recording attributed to Winston Churchill, which could be heard as "Mark you make believe my dear yes" or "Mark you make thee mightier yet." Critics suggested this ambiguity proved the voices were imagined.

Bonner explains that while researchers knew the voices were real, the problem of interpretation perplexed them. He relates this to the psychology of communication, where masking phenomena can occur even in normal speech. Experiments by Kulpe and David Bruce demonstrated that listeners' interpretations could be influenced by clues given to them. Bonner emphasizes that tape recorders, copy-and-repeat techniques, and listening training are essential for verifying interpretations, especially when sentences have unusual rhythm, pitch, or grammar. He reiterates that this phenomenon is not unique to EVP and occurs in normal voice recordings, indicating a breakdown in communication between the ear and the brain. He stresses the need to train the brain for critical, relaxed listening without preconceived hypotheses, accepting new patterns of communication that may not fit conventional logic or grammar.

Article: Gilbert Bonner Criticises the Critics

In a preview for the next month's issue, Gilbert Bonner is quoted criticizing those who fail to recognize their own conditioning and lack of free thinking, likening them to "Jehovah witnesses of science" who threaten progress.

Article: Michael Vinter - Who is Behind the Voice?

Michael Vinter's work is discussed, focusing on identifying the source of EVP voices. Vinter considers several possibilities:

• A) Telepathy: This is seen as a property of the subconscious that can act across time and space.
• B) Spiritualist Concepts: Vinter suggests voices might be constructs of mental energy, aligning with Spiritualist ideas of a mental world controlled by thought, where speech originates as an idea before physical production.
• C) Discarnate Modulation: The discarnate could modulate voices via subconscious mental areas, similar to trance mediumship, but using other sound sources. If voice traces are not forming, the material quality is deemed unsuitable.
• D) Encapsulated Thought Forms: Dick Sheargold's theory proposes that individuals build up mental images of people during life, which gain autonomy and persist after death. These figures might greet the deceased, supporting Spiritualist doctrines.

The article notes that these concepts align with Spiritualist beliefs, where deceased individuals like "Old Uncle Bill" or "Aunt Fanny" might appear as remembered.

Amendments and Observations to the Foregoing

This section presents Richard K. Sheargold's research, which largely agrees with the author's findings that paranormal voices result from metamorphosed or remodulated natural sounds. The difference lies in Sheargold feeding pre-recorded "voice mush" into his recorder, while the author uses a similar mush "on station" by feeding the loudspeaker output back through the microphone, creating a closed circuit. The author suggests that the remodulation process may occur within the electromagnetic field of the recording head. Attempts to obtain independent verification from Mr. Dick Smith of Truro have encountered difficulties, possibly due to the complexity of the author's descriptions.

Reviews and Publications

• The Fortean Times: Reviewed as a valuable magazine covering strange phenomena, with book and magazine reviews. Available for £3.00 per year subscription or 75p for a sample copy.
• The Mediumship of the Tape Recorder: A detailed survey of EVP, available for £1.50 to EVPN readers.
• EVP Newsletter: Published monthly by Alan Cleaver, priced at £1.20 per annum.

Continuing the Interview: Esotera (E) and Friedrich Jurgenson (J)

This segment continues the interview with Friedrich Jurgenson, the discoverer of the voice phenomenon.

• Predictions and "Telephone to the Beyond": Jurgenson believes the "dead" understand human skepticism and will only communicate clearly once the bridge is stabilized. He hints at a need for a scientific demonstration method to prove EVP's reality.
• Regular Radio Broadcasts: Jurgenson suggests that communication could eventually occur via regular radio and television broadcasts, with announcements from known voices, but only after the phenomenon is accepted.
• Live Television Pictures: The possibility of live pictures from the beyond is raised, but Jurgenson cautions against shocking people. He uses the hypothetical example of Einstein appearing live on TV, emphasizing the need for careful preparation.
• Timeline: Jurgenson cannot provide a timeline, stating it depends on his information gathering and the efforts of other experimenters.
• Konstantin Raudive's Death: Jurgenson expresses deep personal loss over the death of Konstantin Raudive, calling him an irreplaceable friend and researcher who made significant contributions to EVP research and its acceptance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature, interpretation, and potential future of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). The editorial stance, as reflected in the articles and interviews, is one of advocating for open-minded scientific inquiry, challenging conventional scientific skepticism, and exploring the profound implications of EVP for our understanding of consciousness and reality. There is a strong emphasis on the need for rigorous research methods and a willingness to accept phenomena that defy current scientific paradigms. The issue also highlights the community aspect of EVP research, with mentions of specific researchers, publications, and the impact of key figures like Konstantin Raudive.