EVP Newsletter - No 25 - 1981

Magazine Overview

Title: EVP NEWS
Issue: No 25
Date: January 1981
Publisher: Not specified
Country: England
Language: English
Price: $1.50

This issue of EVP NEWS, the 25th in the series, is dated January 1981. The compiler, Alan Cleaver, begins by wishing readers a Happy New Year and good luck for 1981. He notes that this is the first issue since the decision to move to a bimonthly publication schedule due to a lack of news and material. Ironically, he finds himself with an abundance of material for this issue. Cleaver uses a quote from Shakespeare's Macbeth to frame the nature of electronic voice phenomena (EVP), imagining an irate EVP researcher addressing the voice entities in a similar manner to Macbeth's encounter with the witches.

He signs off, humorously noting the start of snowfall and the potential freezing of his printing ink.

INDEX

• The index lists the following content:
• Page 1: Reply to Spencer Wilson interview
• Page 2: Reply to Spencer Wilson interview
• Page 3: EVP News desk
• Page 4: The need for hard evidence - G. G. Bonner
• Page 5: The need for hard evidence - G. G. Bonner

Response to Spencer Wilson Interview

This section features responses from two subscribers to a report on Alan Cleaver's visit to Spencer Wilson and his theory.

Michael Vinter writes about Spencer Wilson's 'doppelganger theory,' which Vinter believes is unsupported, relying only on coincidence or responses that sound like the experimenter. Vinter shares his own experience with EVP, recalling a similar phenomenon at the Rollright Stones where he received a 'rough, gruff, hoarse' voice that seemed to inform him that raw 'voice material' was needed. He suggests that entities use indistinct muttering and remodulate it into speech. Vinter posits that providing a mass of background 'mush' or pre-recorded material is what entities use to work with, and that absolute silence will yield nothing but faint whispers. He believes entities use energy forms, possibly a combination of piezoelectricity and the subconscious areas of the experimenter's central nervous system (c.n.s.), to achieve this remodulation. He emphasizes that muscle contractions generate minute electrical activity in the brain, which could be a factor.

Vinter suggests that for future experiments at the Rollright Stones, the experimenter should use a second recorder and play a cassette of prerecorded 'mush' as raw voice material. He believes this might yield valuable results, though a single test may not be conclusive. Regarding the 'Time factor' in receiving voices, Vinter notes considerable evidence supporting its importance, suggesting that voices received at dawn might indicate quartz or silicon building up an energy charge from daytime warmth and releasing it later, similar to electrical storage heaters.

Cyril Luck also responds, finding the visit to Spencer Wilson interesting and asking if Wilson would be willing to write an article expanding on his 'doppelganger theory' as connected with EVP. Luck notes that Mr. Wilson claims entities have offered valuable help and advice, easing personal problems. This is presented as unusual, prompting a request for details of meaningful messages received, if Mr. Wilson is willing to share without divulging personal information.

Luck highlights the message received by Elwyn James, which included a greeting, a person's name, and a reference connected to that person, making it valuable for researchers. He also finds the episode with boys in a school, where EVP was connected to visual phenomena, to be unique.

He addresses the mention of 'voices of gnomes,' suggesting that, similar to Conan Doyle's fairy photos, such claims should not be dismissed lightly. He references the book 'The magic of Findhorn,' where commune members claimed to have seen and spoken to 'the little people,' and notes the fantastic results obtained at Findhorn in producing large vegetables and flowers in soil where theoretically nothing should grow. Luck concludes that these claims should not be dismissed simply because they cannot be substantiated by personal observation.

EVP News Desk

This section provides various news items related to EVP research:

• Staffordshire Man: News of a Staffordshire man who claims to have received over 600 voices on tape was reported in Psychic News. Mr. Sam Alsop, 49, an EVP researcher from Pendeford, stated he first heard about EVP in 1971 and decided to investigate last year, now knowing it's a fact. He is also attempting to obtain spirit photographs.
• Michael Vinter's Work: Exciting news is reported from Michael Vinter, who has made 'sustained dialogue with paranormal entities.' Full details were not available at the time of printing but are promised for the next edition.
• Richard Smith's Passing: Towards the end of 1980, Richard Smith, a Spiritualist, trance medium, healer, and EVP researcher, passed away at the age of 62. Despite a heart attack early in 1980, he remained active and followed EVP News with interest. He became interested in EVP in 1974 but heard his first voice three years later. He was never convinced the voices were of the dead. Dick lived in Truro, Cornwall, and was a Hospital Administrator. The newsletter extends condolences to his friends and family.
• London EVP Research Group: An idea for a London EVP research group, initiated by Margo Galway, has unfortunately failed to materialize due to a lack of interest.
• Rollright Stones Research: Alan Cleaver continues his work at the Rollright Stones in connection with the Dragon Project, but reports no further progress. Two earlier experiments at the site did result in EVP samples.

The Need for Hard Evidence in Research

By G. G. Bonner

This article by G. G. Bonner explores the scientific and philosophical underpinnings of paranormal research, particularly EVP.

Bonner begins by referencing new physics, which suggests that space and time are not absolute realities and that the universe may contain 'parallel universes' or antimatter in another dimension. This framework, he argues, makes it easier to accept phenomena like 'voice phenomena' not as occult terms but as part of mainstream scientific research. He touches upon quantum mechanics and the search for a unified field theory.

Bonner expresses a personal opinion that while Jung's theories on the 'collective unconscious' and 'cosmic consciousness' contribute to understanding the mind, they can be taken to illogical extremes without factual evidence. He questions the extent to which the mind can act on physical matter or create thought forms that generate an energy field. He suggests that such an energy field could be utilized by 'entities' from another dimension.

He acknowledges the dilemma faced by psychologists, whose training in materialism may be inadequate for judging paranormal phenomena. Bonner believes that extravagant claims made by spiritualists weaken their case among those trained in scientific methods, as many phenomena have normal explanations. He emphasizes that the serious researcher, aware of the reality of paranormal phenomena, must navigate between rigid materialism and emotion-driven beliefs. The truth, he states, is found through patient trial and error research, with facts, not theories, being paramount.

Bonner poses the question of whether human personality can survive biological death, considering the brain as the organ of the mind. He argues that unless there is a possibility of a 'yes' answer, the voices cannot be considered those of the dead. He also dismisses the collective unconscious hypothesis as an explanation for information supplied by EVP.

He concludes that it is a complex question, and research must continue to gather enough evidence to form a sound judgment.

Date: July 1980 (Note: This article appears to be dated July 1980, while the newsletter is January 1981. It might be a previously written piece or a reference to a past event.)

Publications and Books Mentioned

• FORTEAN TIMES: Described as a magazine of strange phenomena including objects falling from the sky, UFOs, mysterious animals, curious deaths, and anything strange. A one-year subscription for four issues is £4.00.
• PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE UNKNOWN: A book by Robert Rickard and Richard Kelly, featuring a collection of ghosts, UFOs, stigmata, poltergeists, extraterrestrial beings, and other Fortean phenomena. Bob Rickard is the editor of Fortean Times. The book costs £7.95 and is available from booksellers.
• EVP News: The newsletter itself is described as issued bimonthly at $1.50 for twelve issues, available from Alan Cleaver.
• The Ley Hunter: Deals with ancient alignments in Britain and abroad and aspects of geomancy and folklore. Four issues cost £3.60 and are available from Paul Devereux.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of EVP NEWS revolve around Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), the challenges of conducting paranormal research, and the need for empirical evidence. There is a clear editorial stance favoring rigorous investigation and a scientific approach, while acknowledging the potential for phenomena beyond current understanding. The newsletter aims to bridge the gap between staunch materialism and purely emotional belief systems. It highlights the work of various researchers, reports on new developments, and addresses the passing of notable figures in the field. The publication also serves as a platform for subscribers to share their views and experiences, fostering a community of interest in EVP and related Fortean phenomena. The shift to a bimonthly schedule indicates a commitment to maintaining the publication despite resource constraints.