Phenomenon Times - 2011 12

Magazine Overview

Title: The Phenomenon Times
Issue: December 2011
Publisher: The UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia
Focus: Reporting on recent news and studies outside mainstream scientific endeavor, with a broad, cross-disciplinary approach to paranormal events.

President's Report by Larraine Cilia

Larraine Cilia, President of UFO-PRSA, opens with Christmas greetings and thanks Mary Rodwell for a presentation on 'Triggers of consciousness,' which explored the connections between religion, spirituality, and E.T. contact. Cilia then details a UFO investigation conducted by a team of 6 (4 men, 2 women) in the Blue Mountains on October 21st-22nd. During a night watch, they observed and filmed orange and white lights moving between mountain peaks. Using Google Maps to check the coordinates, they discovered what appeared to be a 'huge ship' floating in an artificial lake near a disused mine in the Nattai area. The report includes coordinates: -34.051592, 150.450273.

During the early hours of Saturday morning, the team continued monitoring. Aaron, Kellie, and the author kept watch. They experimented with 'calling out,' a method used in spirit searches. The sky became active with streaks of light, initially thought to be meteors, but no meteor shower was reported online. At approximately 4 am, a large flash lit up the sky like daylight for a split second, after which all activity ceased.

On Saturday night, the team moved to an old abandoned hospital for a paranormal investigation. This location had been visited before, and unexplained phenomena had been encountered. The mission involved setting up equipment and monitoring from a base station. Part of the investigation included baseline testing with an EMI and digital thermometer. Despite no power to the buildings, the EMI meter spiked significantly, indicating potential paranormal activity. Kellie attempted communication, and the meter responded to simple yes/no questions. The team reported a lengthy conversation with an 'unseen energy,' recorded on video, which will be featured in a future episode of 'Eerie Encounters.' Cilia expresses belief in evolving to a higher vibrational level and communicating with other worldly beings.

Vice President's Report by Kellie Pataky

Kellie Pataky, Vice President, quotes George Bernard Shaw: “You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'” Pataky recounts the same night watch and hospital investigation as Larraine Cilia, corroborating the observations of strange lights and the flash. She notes that while there was constant 'activity' from 10 pm to 3:30 am, everything became eerily quiet after the large flash at 3:35 am.

At the hospital, the investigation found the grounds deteriorated due to vandals. The team conducted baseline tests and took photos. Dom set up a monitor room with multiple cameras, while Larraine, Michelle, and Aaron performed EMI and thermometer readings. Pataky describes a significant spike on the EMI meter, even without power. Larraine asked a question, and the needle shot to its highest reading, prompting the others to film. Pataky asked a series of questions, receiving answers via the meter's reading (low for NO, high for YES). They had a 'great conversation for over 20 minutes, all recorded on video.'

Later, they conducted a music challenge using Eskimo Joe's song "Black Fingernails, Red Wine" in the corridors, hoping to capture something on camera. Dom is preparing a YouTube piece for promotion. The investigation concluded the following afternoon. Pataky wishes members a happy Christmas and New Year and looks forward to an exciting 2012.

Eerie Encounters Update by Dominic McNamara

Dominic McNamara, Director, provides an update on the 'Eerie Encounters' series. The series aims to disseminate information to a wider public audience. TVS is transitioning to digital broadcast in early 2012, and 'Eerie Encounters' is slated to be part of the first week of digital programming, beginning March 1st, 2012. The first series DVD #1 will be produced according to old rules, while subsequent series will be widescreen 16:9 HD. McNamara confirms the license contract is signed and the first series will air in March 2012, with reminders to be sent. Four additional episodes are boarded for the 2012 season, with improvements in production and post-production. UFO-PRSA will produce more episodes annually, making them available to members first. McNamara thanks the cast, crew, and supporters.

Eerie Encounters: Personal Accounts

Incident 1: Zimbabwe, 1973

The author recounts a severe toothache experienced in 1973 in Zimbabwe. Unable to find relief, they heard footsteps outside their building and then inside their roommate's room and their own bedroom. Although they didn't see anyone, they felt a comfortable heat around their head. Upon waking the next morning, the toothache was gone. At the dentist, a pus-filled pocket and the affected tooth were extracted. The author experienced no toothache for the three days prior to the dental visit, a fact that surprised the dentist.

Incident 2: Warnham, England, January 3rd, 2008

Around 2:30 am, the author was awakened by a dragging sound outside their flat. Looking out the window, they saw a glowing young lady in a shiny white gown at the foot of their bed. The figure had pure, clear eyes and radiated a bright white silvery glow confined to her being. No words were exchanged. The author connected this vision to the sound outside, which was later identified as a Coca Cola can being blown by the wind. The vision lasted 30-60 seconds and then vanished. The sound recurred later but without the apparition. The author related the experience to their husband, who later disposed of the can.

Meetings and Events

First Meeting for 2012: February 8th
Location: Campbelltown Arts Centre, Corner of Camden Road and Appin Road, Campbelltown, NSW 2560.
Entry: $6.00 for members, $10.00 for non-members.
Doors open: 6:45 pm for a 7:00 pm start. Coffee & tea provided.

EERIE ENCOUNTERS DVD #2 will be available for pick up from the December meeting. Pre-sale orders can be made to a committee member. Excerpts can be viewed on the UFO-PRSA YouTube channel.

Meeting Calendar 2011: A list of Wednesday meeting dates for 2011 is provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a belief in the existence of paranormal phenomena, UFOs, and extraterrestrial or interdimensional beings. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging investigation and the dissemination of information outside mainstream scientific circles. There is a strong emphasis on personal experiences, eyewitness accounts, and the use of technology (EMI meters, cameras) in paranormal investigations. The society also appears to be involved in media production, with the 'Eerie Encounters' series and DVD releases, aiming to share their findings with a wider audience. The overall tone is one of exploration, wonder, and a quest for truth in the unexplained.

This issue of Psychic Perception features a cover story titled "Past Lives," focusing on the research of Dr. Raymond Moody concerning Near-Death Experiences (NDEs). The magazine also includes reports on UFO sightings and paranormal investigations.

Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)

The article "Past Lives" by Kellie Pataky delves into Dr. Raymond Moody's extensive research on NDEs, building upon his previous work. Moody's book "The Light Beyond" is highlighted, which compiles over a thousand case histories of individuals who have clinically reached the point of death and survived. Initially, Moody believed NDEs were rare, but his research, including polls and lectures, revealed a much higher frequency, with an estimated eight million adults in the United States having experienced an NDE.

• The article presents a breakdown of common NDE elements based on polling data:
• Out of body: 26%
• Accurate visual perception: 23%
• Audible sounds or voices: 17%
• Feelings of peace, painlessness: 32%
• Light phenomena: 14%
• Life review: 32%
• Being in another world: 32%
• Encountering other beings: 23%
• Tunnel experience: 9%
• Precognition: 6%

Dr. Moody's explanations for these traits are detailed:

A Sense of Being Dead

Individuals often experience floating above their bodies, feeling fear or confusion, and may not initially recognize their own physical form.

Peace and Painlessness

Despite experiencing intense pain before death, patients often report a profound sense of peace and pleasure during an NDE, possibly due to the brain releasing pain-stopping chemicals.

Out-of-Body Experience

This involves a shift in perspective, where the individual feels they are rising from their body and observing it. They often report having a spiritual body with shape and form, sometimes described as a cloud of colors or an energy field.

The Tunnel Experience

Following bodily separation, a portal or tunnel may appear, propelling the person into darkness towards a brilliant light. Some report going up stairways or through ornate doors, accompanied by sounds like a 'whoosh' or an electric vibration. A fifteenth-century painting by Hieronymus Bosch, "The Ascent into the Empyrean," is cited as a visual representation of this experience.

People of Light

Upon emerging from the tunnel, individuals typically encounter beings of light, described as having an intense, permeating luminescence that fills them with love. This light is perceived as brighter than earthly light but not painful to the eyes.

Communication

Communication during NDEs is telepathic and nonverbal, leading to immediate understanding, even with friends and relatives who have passed away. Some describe beautiful pastoral scenes.

The Being of Light

After encountering beings of light, the NDEer usually meets a Supreme Being of Light, often identified as God or Jesus by those with Christian backgrounds, or Buddha or Allah by others. This Being radiates immense love and understanding.

The Life Review

The Being of Light typically guides the NDEer through a panoramic, three-dimensional review of their entire life, showing not only their actions but also their effects on others. This review helps individuals gain perspective, with love and knowledge identified as the most important takeaways.

Rising Rapidly into the Heavens

Some NDEers do not report a tunnel experience but rather a 'floating experience' where they rapidly ascend into the heavens, observing the universe from a satellite-like perspective.

Reluctance to Return

Many NDEers find the experience so pleasant that they are reluctant to return to their physical bodies, sometimes expressing anger at being brought back. However, most are happy to live, often citing reasons like family responsibilities. They may be offered a choice to return or stay by the Being of Light or a deceased relative.

Different Time and Space

NDEs often involve a distortion of time, described as 'being in eternity,' and a breakdown of spatial boundaries, allowing individuals to instantly transport themselves mentally to different locations.

An anecdote is shared about an elderly woman who, while being resuscitated, accurately described a nurse breaking a glass vial in another room, demonstrating an awareness beyond her physical body.

UFO Sightings and Paranormal Investigations

Special Presentation - Marrickville

This section details a presentation given by UFO-PRSA at Urchin Bookstore in Marrickville, Sydney, featuring guest medium Sharon Hood. The event attracted over forty people and lasted from the evening until nearly midnight. The presentation included a slideshow of photographs, an episode of "PI" about an investigation at the Quarantine Station in Manly, and a production titled "Paranormal Investigations" by Aaron Bishop. The event was considered a success, leading to new members.

Sighting Reports

Two UFO sighting reports are included:

1. Reserve Creek, NSW (27-02-2006): A family traveling by car reported a large, terrifying object, approximately the size of a football field with swirling colors, that followed their car for about 40 km. It descended directly above their car, causing them to scream and retreat inside before it disappeared.
2. Cabramatta, Sydney, NSW (10-11-2011): Two individuals driving in CBD of Cabramatta observed a bright yellow object, like a fireball, dropping rapidly from the sky. It then hovered above houses before vanishing without a sound or trace. They noted the object had two red lights and one yellow light.

Eerie Encounters

Information is provided about the availability of "Eerie Encounters" DVDs from The UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia. Disc One is available for $20.00, and Disc Two, featuring episodes 'Shadow people' and 'Superman,' will be released soon. Excerpts are also available on YouTube.

RACE (Research of Australian Close Encounters)

A brief mention of RACE and its research into Australian Close Encounters is made, with a reported sighting from Melbourne suburbs involving a bright light that changed shape and broke into three flickering lights.

Factfinder: Fisher's Ghost (Part 3)

This ongoing investigation by Michelle Uznik discusses findings related to the 'Fisher's Ghost' case. During an investigation at a historical building, mediums Kellie and Sharon Hood perceived a group of people from the early 1900s, including James Quigley, Lillian, Poppy, Gregor, and Frank. Research into historical records for the Campbelltown district between 1880 and 1920 revealed deaths for three men named James Quigley, but difficulties in tracing the other names due to lack of surnames or commonality. The investigation also uncovered the drowning deaths of two sisters, Lillian and Irene, who attended the school in 1900.

Crop Circle News

A report on an impressive crop circle measuring almost 400 ft in diameter, consisting of over 100 individual circles, is featured. The circle is located near the neolithic settlement of Windmill Hill. The image is credited to Olivier Morel.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores phenomena beyond conventional understanding, including NDEs, UFOs, and paranormal events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting research, witness accounts, and historical investigations without overt skepticism, encouraging readers to consider these phenomena as real and worthy of study. The inclusion of multiple investigative teams (UFO-PRSA, RACE, and the Factfinder series) suggests a commitment to documenting and disseminating information on these topics within the Australian context.

This issue of the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia's publication, identified by page number 21 and a date reference of Christmas Day 1915, delves into an ongoing investigation. The primary focus appears to be an incident connected to the Bourke family, photographed at Quandong on Christmas Day 1915. The magazine highlights the complexities of historical investigations, particularly when dealing with limited information and potential misinterpretations of witness accounts.

Investigation into the Quandong Incident

The article discusses the challenges faced by an investigator named Kellie. A key point of interest is that the girls' family involved in the incident was from Hay, not the local Campbelltown area. This suggests that the school attended by these individuals may have accommodated boarders, implying that the people observed around the tree during the incident might not have been residents of the immediate vicinity. Kellie also notes the importance of the time period she is investigating, acknowledging that the lack of age information for the people seen around the tree could significantly impact the search parameters. To refine the investigation, Kellie plans to adjust these parameters, considering that the individuals could have been younger or older adults than initially assumed.

The investigator also mentions that the next issue will feature information received from one of the group's recent investigations, indicating a continuous effort in exploring paranormal and UFO-related phenomena.

Community Advertising and Society Promotion

Page 22 of the publication is dedicated to "Community Advertising." This section includes advertisements for several local businesses and services:

• Ivy Florist: Located at Macarthur Square, Campbelltown, offering floral services.
• Flowers by fax: Based in Narellan Town Centre, advertising itself as "The flower expert" with worldwide delivery.
• Elizabeth's Crystal Garden: Specializing in "Beautiful Crystals at Affordable Prices," with contact details for Elizabeth Thorn, a website, and an eBay store. Their store details are also listed for Campbelltown.
• Michelle Usnik Family Research: Offering services such as Printed Histories, Presentation Pedigree Charts, Printed Biographies, and Gift Certificates/Charts.

Additionally, the magazine actively promotes the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia (UFO PRSA). It encourages readers with Facebook accounts to add the society as a friend or join their Facebook group by searching for 'UFO PRSA'. This serves as a call to action for community engagement and information sharing within the paranormal research community.

Historical Context and Visuals

The issue includes two significant photographs. The first, presented with the text on page 21, is a contemporary image of "Present day Quandong House." The second, a historical photograph, depicts "The Bourke family at Quondong, Christmas Day 1915 (Courtesy - CAHS)." These visuals provide a tangible link to the historical period and location central to the investigation discussed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around meticulous historical investigation, the challenges of interpreting limited evidence, and the importance of adjusting research methodologies based on new information. The editorial stance appears to be one of thoroughness and open-minded inquiry, encouraging readers to engage with the society and its research efforts. The inclusion of community advertising suggests a local focus and an effort to support local businesses while promoting the society's activities.