MAGONIA

Magazine Overview

MAGONIA, Issue 20, is a publication focused on parapsychology and related phenomena. The issue contains reviews of two books: 'Psychic Nexus; psychic phenomena in psychiatry and everyday life' by Berthold Eric Schwarz, and 'UFO UK' by Peter Paget.

Book Review: Psychic Nexus by Berthold Eric Schwarz

The review of Berthold Eric Schwarz's 'Psychic Nexus' highlights its exploration of psychic phenomena within the contexts of psychiatry and everyday life. The book, published by Van Nostrand in New York in 1930, is described as a collection of articles written over twenty years, primarily for small-circulation journals. The reviewer notes that the book's main purpose is to encourage psychiatrists and psychotherapists to consider the possibility of psi-related experiences in their practice, though it is unlikely to convert skeptics. The reviewer commends Dr. Schwarz's argument that psi research does not require extensive funding or travel, as examples are often found locally. The reviewer suggests that chapter three, detailing examples of telepathy experienced by the doctor's infant daughter, would be of particular interest to non-specialists. The reviewer found the first chapter, which examines fundamentalist sects and their practices like snake-handling, fire mastery, and strychnine drinking, to be the most interesting. Schwarz interprets these feats as symbolic assertions of control over both external and internal nature by people living in precarious environments. The final paper in the book concerns Stella Lansing.

Book Review: UFO UK by Peter Paget

Peter Paget's 'UFO UK', published by New English Library in London in 1980, is critically reviewed. The reviewer dismisses the book as "yet another string of newspaper cuttings, pasted together without rhyme or reason, and all very boring." The reviewer questions the decision by publishers to produce such material when potentially useful and original works, such as those by Nigel Watson, are reportedly rejected.

Other Content

The issue also includes a brief mention of a hypnagogic imagery experience followed by a fugue state and dissociation, with communications from a dissociated part of the personality being received. This is presented as a potential example of how these phenomena might interconnect. The reviewer dismisses a section on the 'bicameral mind' on pages 145-6 as nonsense and an example of the author's ignorance of modern anthropology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the exploration of psychic phenomena, parapsychology, and UFO reports, viewed through the lens of psychiatry and everyday life. The editorial stance appears to be critical of poorly compiled or unsubstantiated material, as evidenced by the harsh review of 'UFO UK', while also advocating for an open-minded yet discerning approach to the study of psi phenomena, as exemplified by the positive reception of Dr. Schwarz's arguments.