Ovni Presence - No 50 - February March April 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: OVNI-PRESENCE
Issue: 50
Date: Février - Mars - Avril 1993
Publisher: Sos Ovni
Country: France

This special issue, number 50, is dedicated to the theme of UFO abductions, a topic that was gaining traction in the French media at the time. The cover prominently features the magazine's title and a special focus on "ENLEVEMENTS" (abductions), with a striking illustration depicting a humanoid alien and a human.

Editorial and Contents

The "Edito" section marks the 50th issue of Ovni-Présence, highlighting two significant subjects: the passing of Aimé Michel, a historical figure in French ufology, and the theme of UFO abductions. The editorial notes the growing interest in abductions from major French media outlets and aims to explore the phenomenon's origins, its potential manifestations in Europe, and its connection to non-ordinary states of consciousness, as suggested by Bertrand Méheust.

The issue's cover illustration is noted as being from a 1935 science fiction magazine, predating key UFO events and science fiction narratives about alien abductions.

Key Articles and Features:

• Portrait: Un homme hanté par l'insondable (A Man Haunted by the Unfathomable) by Bertrand Méheust: This article is a tribute to Aimé Michel, describing him as a unique philosopher who was deeply contemplative of existence and the 'unfathomable.' Méheust recounts Michel's intellectual journey, his philosophical ideas influenced by Bergson and Pascal, and his unique perspective on human destiny and cosmic evolution. Michel's work is presented as a blend of profound thought and a fascination with the unknown, often using the 'saucer' as a metaphor.

• Interview with Aimé Michel: In this extensive interview conducted in December 1990, Aimé Michel reflects on his early involvement with ufology, his first book on flying saucers published in 1954, and his later disillusionment with the field, particularly with the 'soucoupologie' (saucerology) community. He discusses the 'Invisible College,' an informal network of researchers, and his role in its formation. Michel expresses a desire to move beyond the UFO topic, feeling that he had explored it thoroughly and that others were better equipped to continue the research.

• Au dossier des enlèvements: Quelques points de repères (On the Dossier of Abductions: Some Reference Points): This section provides an introduction to the phenomenon of alien abductions, defining it based on common narrative elements. It outlines three foundational abduction cases:
• The first case (1957, Canada) involved an anonymous witness reporting an abduction to a distant planet.
• The AVB case (February 1958, Brazil) detailed farmer Antonio Villas Boas's encounter with beings from a landed UFO, including forced sexual contact.
• The Hill case (September 1961, USA) is presented as the third and most impactful case, involving Betty and Barney Hill's abduction and subsequent hypnotic regression revealing details of medical examinations.

• Eléments historiques (Historical Elements): This article traces the evolution of abduction reports from the mid-1960s onwards, noting a significant increase in cases following the publication of Budd Hopkins's and Whitley Strieber's works. It suggests that factors like media attention, hypnotic regression techniques, and a growing societal interest in the phenomenon contributed to this surge.

• Leo Sprinkle, le teilhardien de la soucoupe (Leo Sprinkle, the Teilhardian of the Saucer): This piece profiles Leo Sprinkle, an American psychologist who became a prominent researcher of abduction cases. Sprinkle viewed UFO experiences through a Teilhardian lens, seeing them as part of a cosmic plan for human evolution. He also emphasized the therapeutic and humanitarian aspects of his work, organizing annual meetings for abductees and researchers.

• Clips & Claps: This section includes:
• L'ÉVÉNEMENT LITTÉRAIRE: A review of the book "OVNI - Vers une anthropologie d'un mythe contemporain" (UFO - Towards an Anthropology of a Contemporary Myth), edited by Thierry Pinvidic, which explores UFO phenomena from a humanities perspective.
• Bulletin de commande: A form to order the aforementioned book.
• OPERATION 50%: An offer for a 50% discount on back issues of Ovni-Présence.
• CONGRÈS ANNONCÉS: A list of upcoming UFO-related conferences in France, Italy, and the USA.

Other Content:

• Sommaire (Table of Contents): Lists the articles and features in the issue.
• Ovni-Présence n° 50 - Février - Mars - Avril 1993: Information about the publication, including contact details and subscription information.
• Portrait: A photograph of Aimé Michel with Bertrand Méheust.
• Notes et références: Footnotes and references for the articles.
• Golden Books: An advertisement for a specialized bookstore.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly emphasizes the historical and philosophical dimensions of UFO phenomena, particularly abductions. There's a clear focus on the personal experiences of researchers like Aimé Michel, highlighting their intellectual journeys and their struggles with the mainstream scientific community. The magazine seems to adopt a stance that acknowledges the reality of the phenomenon while also exploring its deeper psychological, philosophical, and even spiritual implications, often through the lens of figures like Teilhard de Chardin. The editorial approach appears to be one of in-depth investigation, seeking to understand the 'why' and 'how' of these events, rather than just cataloging sightings. The inclusion of historical context and personal reflections suggests a desire to ground the often-speculative topic of UFOs in a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework.

This issue of Ovni-Présence, dated March 1993, features a prominent cover story titled "Un ravissement nocturne en Provence" (A Nocturnal Rapture in Provence), authored by Bertrand Méheust. The magazine delves into personal testimonies, research analyses, and debates within the ufology community.

Personal Testimony: A Nocturnal Encounter in Provence

The central piece is an interview with a woman named Françoise, who recounts a profound experience that occurred in June 1980 in the Vaucluse region of France. While sitting by her window one evening, she experienced a blinding flash of light and telepathic communication from beings who claimed to be from outside the solar system. She describes a feeling of peace and reassurance, and the beings explained that they were communicating telepathically. Françoise also mentions other unusual experiences, including stones being thrown from her window and electrical disturbances in a house, as well as a premonition of danger in another location. She recounts a two-hour 'blackout' or missing time in Sardinia and expresses anticipation for a message promised by the beings in 1995.

Bertrand Méheust, in his analysis, categorizes Françoise's experience as potentially "pre-UFO" or "pre-religious," noting its unique blend of elements that don't fit neatly into standard UFO or religious narratives. He suggests it might stem from a "wild sacred" state, a less structured form of the numinous.

Research and Debate: The Work of Thomas Eddie Bullard

The issue features a significant discussion with folklorist Thomas Eddie Bullard, who has extensively studied UFO abduction accounts. Bullard's research, based on a large corpus of cases, highlights the consistent structure and recurring motifs found in abduction narratives, even in early accounts from the 1950s and 60s. He argues that the remarkable consistency, despite variations in cultural contexts, suggests a phenomenon that is not merely folklore evolving organically. Bullard emphasizes that the structure of these narratives is remarkably stable, with specific episodes like medical examinations appearing in a fixed order, which he finds surprising for typical folklore.

Bertrand Méheust engages Bullard in a critical dialogue, questioning whether the observed structure is inherent to the phenomenon or an artifact of the research methodology and the dominance of American cases in Bullard's study. Méheust probes whether Bullard's "ideal-type" structure might be a rationalization of chaotic material, and whether the emphasis on American cases might be imposing a local order on a global phenomenon. Bullard defends his findings, asserting that the order is present in the narratives themselves and not imposed by researchers, and that the core structure has remained consistent over time, with superficial details evolving.

Critiques and Perspectives on Ufology

Jean-Luc Rivera contributes a critical analysis of Jacques Vallée's work, particularly his book "Révélations." Rivera questions Vallée's use of statistics, his interpretation of the Cergy-Pontoise case, and his alleged failure to adhere to his own research principles, such as sharing data and verifying information directly. Rivera points out discrepancies between Vallée's claims and statements from individuals involved in the cases he discusses.

Bertrand Méheust also engages in a debate about the nature of abduction narratives, contrasting the European skeptical view of folklore development with Bullard's findings of a stable, structured phenomenon. He questions why abductors would consistently choose such a narrow range of narrative elements if they were purely imaginative.

Lexicon and Other Features

The magazine includes a lexicon defining terms like "Abductee," "Abduction," "Enlèvement," "Hypnose," "Missing time," "Ravi," and "Théophanie." It also features brief reports on UFO sightings in Switzerland, including an incident in Zurich involving a landed craft and small humanoids, and observations of lights near Nyon and Lausanne. A section on "Actualités" discusses the "Aluminum Man" photograph, debating its authenticity and potential as a photomontage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly emphasizes the personal testimony of experiencers, particularly Françoise's detailed account of her encounter. It highlights the ongoing debate within ufology regarding the interpretation of abduction phenomena, weighing the roles of cultural influences, psychological factors, and the possibility of an objective, underlying reality. The editorial stance appears to favor rigorous, critical analysis while remaining open to the possibility of genuine, unexplained phenomena, as evidenced by the detailed discussions and the inclusion of diverse perspectives from researchers and skeptics alike. The magazine promotes a nuanced approach, encouraging further investigation and open-mindedness.

This document, identified as page 1 of an issue of 'Les Cahiers Martiens', primarily serves as a contact information page. It is published by the Observatoire des Parasciences, with a postal address at PO Box 80057 - La Plaine, FR - 13244 Marseille Cedex 01, France. The contact email provided is [email protected].

Online Resources

The page lists several URLs related to the publication:

• A general article link: `http://articles.lescahiers.net/?z=i2040`
• A link to 'Ovni-Présence': `http://lescahiers.net/CatalogueMartien/OP.html`
• A link to 'Anomalies': `http://lescahiers.net/CatalogueMartien/Anomalies.html`

Copyright and Publication Notice

A significant portion of the page is dedicated to a legal notice, presented in both French and English, concerning the digital version of the publication. It explicitly forbids the retrieval and online posting of the digital version on any website, blog, social network, personal site, or amateur site. The notice states that the sole authorized online publication is that appearing on the AFU (Archives For the Unexplained) website. Any other unauthorized publication is considered counterfeit and subject to prosecution for copyright infringement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

While this page does not contain articles or editorial content in the traditional sense, the presence of sections like 'Ovni-Présence' and 'Anomalies' suggests that the magazine's focus is on UFO phenomena and related unexplained events. The strong emphasis on copyright protection and controlled online dissemination indicates a concern for maintaining the integrity and exclusivity of their published content, likely to protect their intellectual property and control the narrative or presentation of their material.