Pegasus - 1987 April

Magazine Overview

PEGASUS, April 1987 issue, published by SIGAP (Surrey Investigation Group on Aerial Phenomena), established in 1967. This newsletter provides updates on various news items related to UFOs and related phenomena since the February newsletter.

News Items

Public Interest in UFOs and Reports

The Sunday Times announced an increase in public interest in UFOs and a rise in UFO reports. The SIGAP News editor is seeking copies of this report.

Russian Radio Transmissions and SETI

BBC's 'Tomorrow's World' reported on March 5th that Russian radio astronomers have detected what may be artificial radio transmissions from nine different stars. This discovery is linked to the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program, suggesting that planetary systems are common and that extraterrestrial civilizations might be communicating.

New Chip Boosts Search for Extraterrestrials

On March 20th, The Times reported on a miniature chip developed at Stanford University in California. This chip is designed to boost the search for intelligent messages from outer space and will be part of a system analyzing information from the 85-ft diameter radio telescope in Goldstone, California, as part of the SETI program. The chip contains 34,000 transistors and can perform 80 million operations per second. It has already detected an artificial signal from the Pioneer 10 spacecraft outside our solar system. The chip will become operational by 1989 and will be moved to the 1,000-ft diameter radio telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, to improve the chances of establishing contact.

Dr. Jacques Vallee's Investigations

Dr. Jacques Vallee, a French mathematician, astrophysicist, and computer scientist, is investigating a claimed 'Close Encounter' and plans to report his findings. He notes a large number of alleged Close Encounters being reported from North and South America. Dr. Vallee believes UFOs travel between dimensions and that the intelligence behind them is attempting to 'condition' us.

Colin Wilson on UFOs and Parallel Realities

Writer Colin Wilson's thoughts on UFOs and parallel realities are presented. In an introduction to a book called "The Goblin Universe," Wilson suggests that humanity is likely the youngest civilization in the galaxy, with potentially billions of years older and more advanced civilizations observing us and altering our perceptions.

The "Circles in the Fields" Enigma

The article revisits the 'Circles in the fields' enigma. It references P.D. Ouspensky's 1912 theory that beings in a two-dimensional world would perceive a hand pressing paper as five circles. Ouspensky theorized a fourth dimension inhabited by intelligent beings who interact with us, and that phenomena considered miraculous might be the product of encounters with beings from this fourth dimension. The circles might be 'playing games' or part of something larger beyond our comprehension.

F.C. Taylor's Reports

SIGAP member "Busty" Taylor, an amateur pilot and driving school owner, submits reports on crop circles and UFOs. He has observed and filmed unusual aerial phenomena and many circles from the air. While acknowledging that UFOs could be aircraft and circles could be unusual wind movements, he suggests, referencing Dr. Vallee and Colin Wilson, that they might not be.

August 3rd, 1985 (7 p.m.)

While on a pleasure flight, F.C. Taylor and companions spotted five circles in a corn field. The center circle was about 50 feet across, with four smaller ones outside, arranged in the shape of the five on a dice.

August 4th

Despite poor weather, F.C. Taylor managed to take photographs of the circles. Later, he returned by helicopter to film them, noting their beauty. He also encountered a reporter from 'The Advertiser' who was interested in the sightings.

August 5th (12:15 p.m.)

F.C. Taylor flew over the circles again and met with reporters. He noted that a helicopter crew seemed to know what to expect, equipped with cameras.

October 13th (two months later)

F.C. Taylor learned that the Army helicopter crew knew about the circles because John Heaton's brother had informed them. Lt. Col. Edgecombe showed Taylor a photograph.

August 6th, 1985

TVS contacted F.C. Taylor for a statement about the site. When asked if a UFO made the marks, he replied, 'no comment'. He is still seeking answers.

September 25th, 1986 (8:50 p.m.)

Driving near Thorney Down (Porton Down), F.C. Taylor observed an orange object hovering ahead, described as having a broad fan shape. It appeared to be about a mile across with dark bands moving downwards at about 12 per second, similar to television interference. The object disappeared after 15-20 seconds.

December 22nd, 1986 (7:30 p.m.)

While driving through Appleshaw, F.C. Taylor and Mr. Thomas saw a very bright object descending between clouds, appearing car headlight-sized at about two hundred feet but seeming 3 miles away. Mr. Thomas described it as a shooting star, confirming they both saw something.

March 15th, 1987

An investigation into the compass bearing of the Appleshaw sighting suggested it was in line with previous circles found at Goodworth Clatford.

Philip Creighton on "Bent Spoons, or Bent Reality?"

This section, extracted from FLYING SAUCER REVIEW Vol. 17, No. 4 (July/August 1971), discusses the increasing importance of 'parallel worlds' as an explanation for UFO origins. Creighton addresses the mind-brain problem, suggesting that mind and brain are dimensionally incommensurate. He proposes that phenomena like psychokinesis, teleportation, and paranormal metal-bending are manifestations of an underlying process related to a 'many-world' theory.

The Many-World Theory

According to Professor Hasted, the 'many-world' theory suggests an infinite number of 'worlds' co-existing in infinite dimensions, which are mutually orthogonal and do not interact. However, mind or consciousness can receive sense impressions from more than one world. This theory can explain phenomena like teleportation, where objects appear to pass through solid matter.

Implications of the Many-World Theory

If the many-world theory is true, objective reality is conditional and contingent on mind. Agreement about the objective world is due to automatic telepathy. Discrepancies arise when telepathic direction of attention fails. This theory suggests that we may be ignorant of our true situation until inconsistencies arise.

J.W. Dunne's Theory of Time

The article references J.W. Dunne's model from "An Experiment with Time" and "The Serial Universe," which proposes an infinitely complex structure of time with infinite temporal dimensions. This is presented as similar to Hasted's theory.

Areas of Poor Understanding

Creighton points to several areas where understanding is poor, including:

1. Human Memory: The search for physical memory traces ('engrams') has been unsuccessful. Lashley's 'law of mass-action' suggests memory is distributed throughout the cortex.
2. Psychical Phenomena: Psychokinesis, teleportation, paranormal metal-bending, psychic surgery, thoughtography, and spirit communications are seen as manifestations of the many-world theory.
3. Non-human Intelligence: Encounters with beings from other 'worlds' are considered likely, with awareness increasing as general awareness of other beings grows.
4. Synchronicity: Meaningful coincidences, where inner experience relates to the outside world without apparent causality, are common and studied by C.G. Jung.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, crop circles, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), and theoretical explanations for these phenomena, particularly the concept of parallel or multi-dimensional worlds. The editorial stance appears to be open to these unconventional explanations, presenting research and personal accounts that challenge conventional scientific understanding. There is a clear interest in exploring the implications of quantum physics and theoretical models for understanding anomalous phenomena.

Title: Flying Saucer Review
Issue: 19
Volume: 25
Date: 1979
Publisher: Flying Saucer Review
Country: United Kingdom
Price: £0.50
ISSN: 0015-4727

This issue of Flying Saucer Review features a lead article on a bizarre UFO sighting over Preston, Lancs, and explores theoretical physics concepts related to synchronicity and the nature of reality.

Bizarre "Boxcar" Over Preston

This article, contributed by Ray Rimell, details an unusual experience reported by Mr. Frederick S. Iredale in November 1975. While driving on Ringway, Preston, Lancs, at approximately 08:20 a.m. on a clear day, Mr. Iredale observed a strange "aeroplane" flying low and slowly in front of his car. He described the object as having no visible registration letters, no tapered fuselage, no windows, no doorway, and no undercarriage or cockpit visible. Its sides were parallel, resembling a long, rounded cigar tube, with a parallel-sided wing joined by two struts to a tailplane. Mr. Iredale stated that the machine was on an eastbound course while he was travelling northbound. He was unable to recognize the aircraft type and found no similar illustrations in books, even after making inquiries at Ringway and BAC Warton. The latter suggested it might be an Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, but Mr. Iredale disputed this. Rimell judges Mr. Iredale to be a sincere person who witnessed an unusual UFO, noting similarities to the "Flying Boxcars" described by John Keel in his book UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse. Mr. Iredale had no prior knowledge of American sightings or Keel's book. The sketch accompanying the article is based on a redrawing of Mr. Iredale's original and has been vetted by him. The author questions what experts might make of the object's characteristics, particularly the tailplane and absence of usual aircraft features.

Synchronicity and the Nature of Reality

The article "Signs of Death" discusses how superstitions and omens, though often irrationally based, can be incorporated into people's lives as aids, particularly when they involve inherently random or uncontrolled events like bird movements or divination procedures. It suggests a special type of thinking that utilizes random processes for quantum principles at the macroscopic level. The author posits that synchronicity might not be limited to individual minds but could also operate at the level of 'group mind' or societal consensus, conditioning external reality.

The implications of synchronicity phenomena are presented as being very similar to Professor J.B. Hasted's 'many-world theory'. The author acknowledges that the many-world theory might seem preposterous from a logical standpoint but argues that if it holds truth, then our perception of the world is far more limited than we are conditioned to believe. The world is described as a 'wonderland' where all things are possible, subject to imagination and a developed sense of freedom and spontaneity. The author concludes that thanks to the many-world theory, they will view things differently, considering the possibility that objective reality is plastic and can adjust to expectations.

Theoretical Physics and the 'Super-Universe'

Concluding the discussion, the article quotes Dr. Pierre Guérin, who suggests that modern theoretical physics may be incomplete. Guérin notes that many physicists are becoming convinced that current ideas of Space, Time, and Energy are inadequate. While classical physics is built on the intuitive framework of a three-dimensional space and a unidirectional flow of time, Guérin proposes the existence of a 'Super-Universe' that is not necessarily more extensive but in which other dimensions of Time and Space exist. These dimensions could allow for the circumvention or transcendence of the laws of our familiar physics, without violating them within our three-dimensional space.

References

The article includes a comprehensive list of references, citing works by John Taylor, J.B. Hasted, J.W. Dunne, P.D. Ouspensky, C.G. Jung, and Jean-Claude Bourret, as well as scientific papers from Nature concerning holographic models of temporal recall and associative memory.

Other Mentions

Briefly mentioned are other UFO-related incidents, including a possible attempted abduction near the village of Idole and an aerial object seen and drawn by artist John Petts. The Nantycaws affair is cited as a suggestion for drivers to exercise caution, especially at night, due to the potential stress caused by the sudden appearance of humanoids.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes the intersection of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs) with theoretical physics and philosophical concepts. The editorial stance appears open to unconventional ideas, particularly those that challenge established scientific paradigms, such as the many-world theory and the potential for consciousness to influence reality. The magazine promotes a view of the universe as a 'wonderland' where possibilities extend beyond conventional understanding, encouraging readers to consider a more fluid and less mechanistic view of existence. The inclusion of numerous academic references suggests a commitment to exploring these topics with a degree of intellectual rigor, even when dealing with speculative subjects.