MAGONIA Supplement

Magazine Overview

Title: MAGONIA Supplement
Issue Date: 21 March 2001
Issue Number: 35
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Clarion Scrawl: UFOs and Intellectual Embarrassment

Martin S. Kottmeyer's article, "Clarion Scrawl," critiques the tendency for prominent intellectuals to produce "embarrassing" work when they engage with the subject of UFOs. He posits this as a corollary to Clark's First Law. Kottmeyer cites several examples:

• Robert J. Lifton: His work suggesting abductions were a "mythic version of child abuse" is characterized as speculation based on hearsay.
• Carl Jung: While Jung's book on the saucer myth has historical value, Kottmeyer argues that the idea of UFOs as mandalas is contradicted by the typical experience of fearful encounters, which are inconsistent with a symbol of tranquility.
• Gerald Heard: Oxford and Cambridge philosopher Gerald Heard is mentioned for his notion that super-bees from Mars piloted saucers.
• Arthur Koestler: In his book *Janus: A Summing Up*, Koestler included questionable claims, such as the coining of the word 'ufology' in 1946, and seemed to respect the opinion of UFO investigator Aimé Michel, who Kottmeyer suggests was being tongue-in-cheek.
• Steve Allen: Creator of the PBS series "Meeting of Minds," Allen discussed flying saucer belief but made a chronological error, stating the first UFO was sighted in the "early fifties."

Kottmeyer's motivation for this analysis stems from a recent example involving Weston La Barre's *The Ghost Dance*. La Barre, in a footnote, discusses Leon Festinger's study *When Prophecy Fails*, which documented how religious proselytizing intensifies when prophecy fails. The study focused on Marian Keech (a pseudonym for Dorothy Martin) who received messages from "Sanandra of the planet Clarion" predicting a world flood. When the predicted event did not occur, the group sought the press rather than hiding in shame. La Barre notes the "characteristic impermeability of paranoia to cognitive feedback."

Kottmeyer expresses frustration with La Barre's footnote, particularly the speculation about the identity of Sanandra and the planet Clarion. He points out that "Clarion" rhymes with "Marian," but notes that Marian Keech was a pseudonym for Dorothy Martin, and Festinger himself disguised the names of the people in his book. La Barre's suggestion that "Clarion" might be a daily newspaper and his comment about Sanandra speaking "good middle-western American English" are seen by Kottmeyer as misguided.

Kottmeyer then attempts to answer La Barre's question about the identity of Sananda. He notes that the name is modern and not found in prominent ancient myths. Plugging "Sananda" into Google reveals many channeling instances. He suggests two possible origins for the name:

1. San Andreas Fault: The Clarionites in the original prophecy observed "fault lines in the earth's crust that foretoken the deluge," which would submerge the West Coast. This links the name to a geological event.
2. Santana Dharma: This Sanskrit term refers to the eternal laws of family, truth, or religion, and is associated with Hinduism. Kottmeyer finds this meaning suitable for a theosophical context.

He acknowledges that these theories are vulnerable to disproof if contradictory evidence emerges. Kottmeyer concludes that while he respects intellectuals, they are often obliged to get UFO matters wrong, and are better suited to subjects that truly matter.

Beware of Greys bearing gifts

This short box describes an "amazing close encounter" witnessed by the editor in the Princess Square shopping centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, in December 1999. The editor notes that nobody else seemed to notice anything unusual, questioning if this was due to the "Oz Factor."

Editorial

The editorial addresses a confusion from a previous issue where Georgina Bruni mistook Bob Easton for Kevin McClure. Jenny Randles clarified that both Bob Easton and Kevin McClure are mentioned in her book *Sky Crash*. The editorial also notes that Bob Easton should not be confused with James Easton, who has conducted extensive investigations into the Rendlesham affair but is conspicuously absent from Bruni's book. The editor expresses the complexity of the Rendlesham business.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue primarily focuses on a critical examination of how intellectuals and academics approach the subject of UFOs, often with what the author deems flawed or embarrassing results. It highlights the importance of scrutinizing sources, pseudonyms, and the etymological origins of names associated with UFO lore. The editorial stance appears to be one of rigorous analysis and a desire for clarity, particularly concerning complex cases like the Rendlesham affair. The "Beware of Greys" box introduces a personal encounter, hinting at unexplained phenomena and perceptual anomalies.