MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 043

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Newsletter, dated September/October 1993, is the 43rd edition. It focuses on UFO phenomena, alien abductions, and related psychological and scientific inquiries. The newsletter includes reports on a MUFON Symposium presentation, observations on space missions, and announcements for local paranormal study groups.

From the State Director

The State Director reflects on a summer spent complying with OSHA rules and exploring Outcome-Based Education, which delayed efforts to start a new MUFON group. He mentions working on new cases involving entities and a procedure applied to humans. The highlight of the summer was the MUFON Symposium in Richmond, Virginia, with the next year's symposium scheduled for Austin, Texas. He singles out Dr. John Mack's presentation as particularly impressive due to his academic stature.

Dr. John Mack's Presentation on Abductions

Dr. John Mack, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a MUFON Board member, is working on a book about abductees. He was introduced to the field by Budd Hopkins and found his perspective changed after meeting abductees. Dr. Mack's psychiatric training allows him to distinguish between genuine experiences, delusions, and 'displacement' phenomena. He notes that his medical school superiors are not supportive of his work.

Dr. Mack discusses the reliability of memories under hypnosis, stating that accuracy increases with the significance of the event to the person. He provides an example of a man whose conscious recollection of an abduction differed from his hypnotic memory, particularly regarding sexual contact and the nature of the information received.

He asserts that psychopathology cannot account for abductions, a statement he finds significant coming from a researcher with psychiatric qualifications. He also notes a potentially higher rate of sexual abuse background among abductees compared to the national average.

Dr. Mack classifies information from abductions into three categories: empirical (photos, scars), technological (conceivable but not enactable), and incomprehensible within the Western worldview (aliens appearing as animals, UFOs as helicopters). He suggests that many abductees experience a collapse of space-time and speak of other dimensions.

He addresses the challenge abductees face in accepting their experiences as real, especially when they shatter their sense of reality. Dr. Mack believes that the phenomenon emphasizes moving beyond a purely physical definition of reality and that expecting it to reveal secrets through the 'crudity of Western science' might be a logical error.

• Dr. Mack identifies five types of trauma associated with abductions:
• Trauma I: Being taken against one's will, feeling frightened and humiliated.
• Trauma II: Isolation, due to reluctance to share experiences.
• Trauma III: The shattering of one's worldview, the feeling that such events 'can't be'.
• Trauma IV: The ongoing nature of the phenomenon, with the uncertainty of when it will happen again.
• Trauma V: Physical distress, such as headaches and gynecological problems, corresponding to procedures performed during abductions.

He notes that abductees often experience spiritual dimensions, healings, environmental warnings, and a developing sense of humankind as part of a larger cosmic community. Some feel a connection to aliens as spiritual guardians and report past-life experiences, sometimes feeling a need to integrate an 'alien self' with their physical self.

Dr. Mack concludes that any theory of abduction must account for five fundamental dimensions: consistency of stories among unrelated individuals, association with UFOs, related physical phenomena, reports from very young children, and the absence of psychopathological explanations. He posits that the phenomenon, occurring amidst growing threats to Earth's living systems, may represent a joining of species for an evolutionary purpose, possibly a correction for humanity's destructive impact on the planet.

Richard Moss, State Director, notes that the complete document is available in the 1993 PROCEEDINGS from MUFON.

MINNESOTA MUFON Meetings

• Announcements are made for two upcoming meetings of the Minnesota MUFON chapter:
• Saturday, September 11, 1993
• Saturday, October 9, 1993

Both meetings are scheduled to be held at The Irish Well, 1975 University Ave. at Prior, St. Paul. The schedule includes social time from 1:00-1:30 p.m. and the meeting from 1:30-5:30 p.m., followed by discussion in the lounge.

An observation

This section, written by Steve Beatty, discusses the Mars Observer probe that suddenly went silent as it approached Mars after 11 months of flawless operation. NASA and JPL have no explanation. Beatty draws a parallel to the Russian Phobos 1 and Phobos 2 missions, which also lost contact near Mars. Phobos 2 reportedly sent back frames showing a long shadow on Mars, possibly cast by a large, pencil-shaped object. Ed Dames, a remote-viewer, claims an 'ALIEN interrogation' disabled Phobos 2. Beatty speculates that either NASA "killed" the Mars Observer to prevent it from broadcasting findings of intelligent life, or there is an actual alien presence on Mars that does not want to be observed. He notes that the last three Mars probes (Russian and American) never arrived.

Theosophy Society Happenings

• The Theosophy Society in Minneapolis hosts weekly public meetings. Upcoming presentations include:
• September 13: Echo Bodine will present "A Healer's Journey."
• September 20: Michael Flomer will present a video on the Billy Meier story, "Contact From the Pleiades," discussing whether it's the best-documented UFO landing or an elaborate hoax.

An additional presentation will feature footage of a UFO appearing during the total solar eclipse over Mexico City on July 11, 1991, which aligns with ancient Mayan predictions.

Programs begin at 7:30 p.m. with a video presentation, followed by speakers at 8:00 p.m. The Theosophy Society is located at 4401 Upton Ave. So., Minneapolis.

Paranormal Study Group

The first meeting of the Paranormal Study Group is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, at 2 p.m. at The Irish Well in St. Paul. The group aims to foster discussion about paranormal activity and its relation to UFOs, noting that many who report UFO sightings also experience paranormal activity. Wally Moe can be contacted for more information at 437-8995.

And yet another observation...

This section references an article by Charles McDowell in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about the Mars Observer mission. Critics in Washington alleged that NASA sabotaged the $980 million mission to avoid finding artifacts of intelligent life on Mars. An organization of Mars fans, including scientists, accused NASA of ignoring suggestions to take high-resolution photos of potential monuments, such as the mile-long "face" monument and other artificial designs observed in earlier Viking probe photos. Richard C. Hoagland, founder of the Mars Mission, contended that NASA could have addressed these questions by scheduling high-resolution photos. The author concludes that this is now a moot point.

And now, the good news...

This section provides an update on space missions. The Mars Observer is presumed lost, but the Galileo mission to Jupiter is proceeding. Despite a jammed antenna, Galileo successfully completed a flyby of the asteroid Ida, about 1,491 miles from the asteroid. Radio signals confirmed the flyby, though the mission experienced a glitch that caused it to miss three planned photographs. Asteroids are now studied for clues to planetary formation.

Even Erma gets into the act...

This part shares an Erma Bombeck article from the Duluth News-Tribune, which touches upon the division between UFO scoffers and believers. Michael Regimente of Annapolis, Maryland, is mentioned as protesting at the White House for the release of documents proving UFO existence. The article quotes Sacramento clinical psychologist Terence Sanbek, who questions the practicality of communicating with advanced alien civilizations. Erma Bombeck's husband reportedly chose to be a UFO believer because "it's more fun," and Erma cited Carl Sagan's views, while her husband used the Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes as an analogy for the existence of the unknown.

MINNESOTA MUFON Contacts

• Contact information is provided for key personnel:
• Richard Moss: State Director
• William McNeff: Asst. State Director
• Walter Moe: Dir. Para. Studies
• Lynn Bell: Editor/Treasurer

Field Investigators can be reached at Buddy Bauerlein ((612) 822-6631) or Gary Thrash ((612) 755-8981). A 24-hour hotline, SAUCER WATCH, is available at (612) 525-SAUC(ER). Dick Moss is also listed as State Director ((612) 732-3205).

The newsletter subscription rate is $10.00 per year for a minimum of six issues. Correspondence and articles should be directed to Lynn Bell at 1834 No. Asbury St., Falcon Heights, MN 55113.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena, abduction experiences, and psychological interpretations, often challenging conventional scientific paradigms. There's a clear interest in presenting evidence and theories that support the reality of these phenomena, even when they defy mainstream scientific understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging discussion and the sharing of experiences within the MUFON community, while also acknowledging the skepticism and debate surrounding the topic. The inclusion of space mission updates, particularly concerning Mars, suggests a broader interest in potential extraterrestrial intelligence and unexplained events beyond Earth.