BREVCIRKELN

Magazine Overview

This issue of BREVCIRKELN, titled "Serie H Brev Nr 4" and published by ANNA - LISA HELLE, focuses on the topic of "DE HYPNOTISKA HALLUCINATIONERNA" (Hypnotic Hallucinations). The main article delves into the groundbreaking research of Dr. John Björkhem, a theologian and Doctor of Philosophy, who conducted extensive experiments on hypnosis and its effects on the human psyche.

Dr. John Björkhem's Research on Hypnotic Hallucinations

The article highlights Dr. Björkhem's doctoral dissertation, presented about twenty years prior, which was considered a significant scientific event. His interest in hypnosis stemmed from its ability to provide deep insights into the human mind and reveal latent personality traits. Björkhem emphasized the profound responsibility that comes with using hypnosis, suggesting that only ethically and intellectually superior individuals should practice it. He conducted over 16,000 experiments with approximately 1,500 volunteers, exploring the vast and often inexplicable forces within the human soul.

Björkhem aimed to present his findings in a factual and non-sensational manner, acknowledging the public's skepticism towards occult matters. The fact that his research was permitted as a doctoral dissertation indicated a growing recognition of the importance of scientific investigation into these areas. In an interview, Björkhem stated that hypnotic hallucinations and related questions had long been overlooked by science, allowing charlatans to exploit the field. However, he noted a recent trend of physicians using hypnotic phenomena therapeutically, though comprehensive scientific research was still lacking. He believed that a thorough understanding of the human psyche's reactions was impossible without hypnosis, as the capacity for hallucination under hypnosis seemed nearly unlimited and was the only experimental method for studying it.

His experiments revealed the immense power of human imagination and the ability to distort sensory perceptions. While acknowledging the cost and effort of such research, Björkhem argued that the results offered profound insights into human potential.

The Process of Hypnosis and Past Life Regression

The article describes the process of inducing hypnotic sleep, which can take between half a second and four minutes, and does not necessarily require staring into the subject's eyes; it can even be done over the phone. Björkhem's dissertation focused on empirical material, with his sessions structured after ancient mystery traditions, yoga, spiritualism, and shamanism. He suggested that these practices might shed light on the origin of the belief in reincarnation, though not necessarily confirming its reality.

Björkhem clarified that his research was purely psychological, analyzing the *process* of hallucinations rather than their content, as he believed science was not yet equipped to fully resolve all issues related to them. He stressed that his work was about the psychological phenomenon of hallucinations, not about analyzing the content of these hallucinations themselves.

Case Studies of Past Life Regression

The document presents several case studies from Björkhem's sessions, illustrating the phenomenon of regression into past lives. A subject, A.J., was regressed to various ages, experiencing childhood and even pre-birth states. The article details how the subject's physical appearance, voice, and demeanor changed to match the age being regressed.

One notable case involved A.J. being regressed to the age of 5, then to 5 years before birth. In this state, the subject identified as Reinhold Strandberg, born in 1870, and recounted details of his life. Further regression led to the identity of Måns Jeppa, born in 1830, who described his life in Hemmersdynge. Another regression revealed the identity of Måns Persson, a fisherman from Lysekil, born in 1795. The deepest regression reached the identity of "Roslagsbjörn," who described sailing on a bark around 1750, traveling to various seas, and even mentioned the practice of using captured people for food.

After these regressions, A.J. was returned to normal consciousness, with no memory of the experiences, only feeling as if he had slept soundly.

The Nature of Reincarnation and Identity

The belief in reincarnation, or living multiple lives, is prevalent, particularly in the East. The article explains that individuals seeking to recall past lives often enter a trance or self-hypnosis. Björkhem's experiments aimed to reconstruct this process, showing how subjects could vividly relive their youth, childhood, and even pre-birth experiences.

During these regressions, subjects often reported a sensation of shrinking. As they were regressed further back, towards their birth, they might become pale, their breathing shallow. Upon returning to normal age, some subjects exhibited a certain 'mimicry' of their past-life personalities, or could be made to recall the experiences through suggestion. These new personalities often felt alien, and the subjects had no idea where the information came from. Resistance to these personality shifts, such as a woman being regressed into a male persona, was common but ineffective.

Björkhem noted that when attempts were made to verify the details provided by these 'past personalities' through church records and archives, they often yielded accurate historical accounts, but the specific individuals named were rarely found. This led to the complex question of whether these were truly past lives or manifestations of the subject's own subconscious.

The Indian Rope Trick and Other Phenomena

The issue also discusses the intriguing Indian rope trick, a feat that has captivated audiences for centuries. The article recounts a description by the Arab traveler Ibn Batuta of a magician who made a boy disappear up a rope and then reassembled his dismembered body. The trick's fame led to significant prize money for its explanation. An American journalist, S. Ellmore, claimed to have witnessed and documented the trick in India, but it was later revealed to be a fabrication.

Björkhem recounts a session where a subject, R.S., experienced a vivid hallucination involving a desert, a growing tree, and a horse that climbed a rope. The hallucination escalated with a butcher climbing the rope and dismembering the horse, with R.S. reacting with extreme distress. The hallucination was eventually removed, leaving R.S. with no memory of the event but a feeling of having slept well.

Negative Hallucination and Time Perception

Another experiment involved negative hallucination, where 14 people were made imperceptible to a hypnotized subject. The subject could not see, hear, or feel them, demonstrating the power of suggestion. Remarkably, the subject could still distinguish between their own belongings and those of the 'invisible' people, a feat Björkhem found astonishing.

The article also highlights the uncanny ability of hypnotized individuals to measure time accurately. In one instance, a subject was instructed to say a word and then present a tulip exactly 403 seconds later. The subject, upon waking, had no memory of the instruction but performed the action precisely on time.

Biorythm and Oysters

The concept of 'life's periodicities,' or biorhythms, is explored through an experiment with oysters conducted by biologist Frank A. Brown Jr. Oysters, normally synchronized with tidal movements, were placed in a controlled laboratory environment with constant light and water levels. Despite this, they continued to open and close their shells in sync with the tides of Long Island, even though they were located far inland in Evanston, Illinois. This phenomenon suggested an external influence, possibly the moon's position, affecting the oysters' biological rhythms.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are hypnosis, hallucinations, past-life regression, and the mysteries of the human consciousness. The editorial stance appears to be one of scientific inquiry into phenomena often relegated to the occult or sensational. The publication champions the importance of rigorous scientific investigation into these complex aspects of human experience, even when they challenge conventional understanding. The article concludes with a quote from Hamlet, suggesting that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in philosophy, underscoring the vastness of the unknown that science is beginning to explore.