OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: February 1989
Cover Headline: MIND EXERCISES THAT BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated February 1989, features a prominent cover story on the connection between mind exercises and boosting the immune system. The magazine also dedicates significant space to exploring the phenomenon of alien abductions through a detailed article titled "TRUE CONFESSIONS" in the "FORUM" section, authored by Pamela Weintraub.

Forum: True Confessions

The article by Pamela Weintraub delves into the results of a December 1987 questionnaire sent to over 2,000 Omni readers, designed in collaboration with UFOlogist Budd Hopkins. The questionnaire aimed to identify and study individuals who claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials. The data was analyzed by Robert Swiatek, with assistance from physicist Bruce Maccabee and Don Berliner of the Fund for UFO Research.

Key findings from the analyzed questionnaires indicated that a substantial portion of respondents reported experiences related to UFOs and potential abductions. Specifically, 75 percent had seen a UFO, 42 percent experienced 'missing time' (periods of amnesia), and 33 percent reported unexplained wounds or scars. Additionally, 39 percent reported seemingly unexplained fear of certain places, 31 percent experienced odd spatial displacement, 41 percent had recurring dreams about UFOs, and 65 percent believed UFOs might be extraterrestrial in origin.

The article highlights that a small percentage of respondents (4% of males and 11% of females) provided details that closely aligned with established 'abduction lore,' including specific types of scars and temporal or spatial anomalies, qualifying them as 'probable abductees.'

Budd Hopkins and fellow UFOlogist David Jacobs provided a 'primer' for those considering investigating their own abduction experiences. This primer emphasized the profound and life-altering nature of such investigations, warning that acknowledging an abduction experience would permanently change one's relationship with friends, relatives, and the world.

The article also touches upon the scientific and psychological perspectives on these claims. Physicist Bruce Maccabee views the questionnaire as a valuable 'mother lode' of data for studying the phenomenon. However, UFO skeptic Philip J. Klass expresses skepticism, suggesting that the questionnaire's respondents are likely predisposed to believe in UFOs, thus biasing the results. He argues that such claims, if true, would represent a national emergency requiring FBI investigation.

Further research into the psychological underpinnings of abduction experiences is being conducted by Ohio University psychologist Steven Jay Lynn. He is investigating whether the UFO abduction experience is rooted in modern myths and whether individuals prone to fantasy are more likely to report such experiences. Lynn's study involves subjects pretending to have experienced missing time after seeing mysterious lights, to see if those exposed to the Omni questionnaire's themes spin more elaborate abduction stories.

For those interested in learning more, the article directs readers to obtain a written report from the Fund for UFO Research, Inc.

Credits

The magazine includes a detailed credits section listing photographers, artists, and sources for images used throughout the issue, spanning pages 9 through 130. Notable contributors include Mike Mitchell, Randy Mayor, Gervasio Gallardo, Elle Schuster, Brad Holland, William R. West, Tim White, Steven Hunt, Barry Blackman, Joanie Schwarz, Kunio Owaki, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Photo Researchers, Peter Caranicas, Department of Defense, Parallan, Focus on Sports, The Bettmann Archive, Paul Peck Photography, Al Assid, Art Resource, Skokloster Castle Museum, Gene Coleman, Roy Morsch, Derinis Kunkel, Jeff Lavaty, Geoffrey Chandler, Bill Bachman, Diaria Weston, Jen and Des Barlett, Carol Gillot, Steve Krongard, Tom McCarthy, and Lucasfilm Ltd.

Advertisement

A prominent advertisement on page 127 promotes "Foltène," described as "Europe's Answer To Thinning Hair." It offers a program for fuller, thicker, healthier-looking hair and provides instructions for obtaining a free sample or ordering the product.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of the mind, body, and unexplained phenomena. The cover story focuses on the power of the mind to influence physical health, specifically the immune system. Complementing this, the "Forum" section delves into the psychological and cultural aspects of UFO abduction experiences, presenting both believer and skeptic viewpoints. The magazine appears to maintain an editorial stance that is open to exploring unconventional topics, providing a platform for research and discussion on subjects like UFOs and alien encounters, while also acknowledging skeptical perspectives and the potential for psychological explanations.