Phenomenon Times - 2012 02

Magazine Overview

Title: The Phenomenon Times
Issue: February 2012
Publisher: The UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia
Country: Australia
Focus: Reporting on recent news and studies outside mainstream scientific endeavour, in a quest for truth, covering a broad, cross-disciplinary approach to paranormal events.

President's Report

Larraine Cilia, President of the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia, opens the issue with a festive greeting and notes the apparent end of the Mayan calendar cycle. She mentions that Aaron Bishop will present on related topics. Cilia observes that summer holidays often lead to an increase in sighting reports, though many are explainable. She recounts a recent committee trip to Lake Lyell for night sky observation, which yielded no unusual sightings due to light glow. Despite poor weather in the preceding two months, a members' night watch on Razorback was successful, with a group of 10 observing half a dozen satellites and a bright, unidentified light crossing the sky much faster than conventional aircraft. Another bright light was observed later, travelling in an upward arc and leaving a trail, not consistent with a meteorite.

Vice President's Report

Kellie Pataky, Vice President, thanks members for attending meetings. She notes that recent weekends have been affected by poor weather, hindering outdoor research. However, this has allowed for reading, including Christopher Coppes' book 'Messages From the Light,' which focuses on increasing spiritual wealth and the importance of positive intentions. Pataky quotes Coppes, who suggests humanity is on a 'dead-end street' due to excessive self-interest and greed, and must shift focus to long-term collective interest for a more wonderful world. The book offers a non-economic explanation for the Great Recession and is available as a raffle prize.

Eerie Encounters DVD Series Air Date

The first episode of the 'Eerie Encounters' DVD series is scheduled to air on March 14th. The first DVD will be produced under old rules, while subsequent ones will be in widescreen 16:9 HD format.

Eerie Encounters - Article 1: Chuck Wakely

In November 1964, pilot Chuck Wakely had a narrow escape from the Bermuda Triangle during a solo flight from Nassau to Miami. At 8000 feet, he noticed a faint glow on his wings, initially dismissing it as an optical illusion. The glow intensified over five minutes, becoming blinding and causing his instruments to fail, forcing him to fly manually. The wings appeared bluish-green and fuzzy. Once the glow faded, the instruments returned to normal, allowing him to make a safe landing.

Eerie Encounters - Article 2: Reverend Max Hoffman

At the age of five, M. Hoffman of Germany was diagnosed with cholera and buried. The night after his burial, his mother saw his apparition, who claimed he was not dead and instructed her to recover his body from the grave, specifying his position. Upon opening the grave, the child was found as described. Doctors resuscitated him, revealing he had been in a state of suspended animation, with his astral body seeking help. This child later became the well-known medium, Reverend Max Hoffman.

Special Feature: Investigation of the National Archives into the disappearance of Frederick Valentich

This feature, by Keith Basterfield, details the examination of RAAF UFO files released by the National Archives of Australia. The file series A9755, titled 'UFO Reports,' includes documents from RAAF Headquarters Support Command. Some folios are unlocated, and one from 1989 was withheld due to access restrictions. The file contains numerous 'Initial Unusual Aerial Reports' and notes related to the 'Valentich incident.' The RAAF's stance is that it did not investigate the case, but the inquiry mentioned appears to relate to the Department of Transport's accident investigation.

Newspaper Clippings and RAAF UFO Report Forms

The RAAF file includes newspaper clippings from 'The Age' and 'The Sun News-Pictorial' dated October 1978, concerning the Valentich case. It also contains numerous completed 'Initial Unusual Aerial Sightings Report' forms from individuals, dated between January and December 1978, with a cluster in October. A letter from the Department of Transport dated November 1978 refers to a missing aircraft, Cessna 182 VH DSJ, and includes 'Reports of Unusual Aerial Sightings' dated October 21, 1978. A summary of UAS sightings from October 18-23, 1978, lists 21 reports, with a handwritten note indicating 'Valentich 1913hrs SAT 21 Oct.' Another note suggests copying this to the DOT investigator. A minute from October 1978 also mentions 'More fantasies' and details on UFOs, referencing a recent kidnapping of a light aircraft over Bass Strait.

Accident Investigation File

Keith Basterfield requested access to the Department of Transport's accident investigation file (Vic 116/783/1047) into Valentich's missing aircraft. This file was believed to have been destroyed but was found with the National Archives. Basterfield is awaiting advice on its availability, particularly papers from 1978-1981 which are outside the 30-year rule.

Psychic Perception: Past Lives - The Mystery of Lucid Dreaming

By Kellie Pataky, this article discusses research by Stewart Twemlow on out-of-body experiences (OBEs). A 1976 survey published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 1982 found that out of 1,500 responses, 700 reported OBEs. Follow-up questionnaires indicated that individuals reporting OBEs are generally normal. A significant finding was that 142 individuals perceived a totally different place during their OBE, suggesting they might be reporting lucid dreams. The article explains that lucid dreamers often find themselves in unfamiliar environments, while OBE experiencers feel located in a physical space, sometimes in an 'ecsoma' or etheric body. The phenomenon of 'false awakenings' is also described, where individuals repeatedly wake up within a dream state before reaching consensual reality.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, UFO phenomena, and paranormal events, positioning itself as a platform for research outside mainstream science. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a quest for truth, encouraging members to share their findings and experiences. There is an emphasis on spiritual growth and a critique of excessive materialism, as highlighted in the Vice President's report. The publication also aims to document and investigate historical and contemporary cases, such as the Frederick Valentich disappearance and various sighting reports.

Title: Phenomenon Times
Issue Date: December 2011 (with a cover date of 13 August 2011 for a crop circle report)
Document Type: Magazine Issue
Country of Publication: Australia
Original Language: English

This issue of Phenomenon Times explores a range of paranormal topics, including out-of-body experiences (OBEs), UFO sightings, and paranormal investigations. The magazine features personal accounts, reports on specific incidents, and introduces concepts like lucid dreaming.

Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs)

The issue begins by discussing the peculiar nature of OBEs, where an individual becomes aware of something unusual happening. Unlike typical consensual reality experiences, OBEs can involve a sensation of floating near a ceiling. The article references Twemlow's findings, suggesting that a minority of OBEs report the 'ecsoma' (the non-physical body) in a different location from the 'soma' (the physical body).

Two types of OBE experiences are detailed:
1. A gradual separation of the soma and ecsoma, with the ecsoma moving normally within the consensual reality.
2. An immediate manifestation of consciousness into a location floating above the soma, where the ecsoma is suddenly aware of being out-of-body.

Robert Monroe, a prominent figure in 'Astral Travellers', is cited for his experience of suddenly finding himself fully awake, but in an unusual position in his bedroom – floating against the ceiling. He observed his own body lying in bed with his wife and another figure, which he then realized was himself. Monroe reported no sensation of a gradual departure from his body, but rather an immediate shift in awareness to a different location within his familiar bedroom.

These experiences are compared to those reported during near-death experiences (NDEs), where individuals are suddenly located above their bodies and can observe their surroundings. Both OBEs and NDEs occur when the brain is unconscious due to trauma, sedation, or sleep.

Another group, referred to as Tremlow's minority group, experiences entirely different environments and locations from their soma. These experiences are suggested to be more akin to remote viewing or lucid dreaming than NDEs or false awakenings.

The article poses the question of what lucid dreaming is and how it is facilitated, promising further discussion in the next issue.

Crop Circle Report

A report dated 13 August 2011 details a crop circle formation near Beckhampton, Australia. Measuring over 300 feet in length, this design is described as a potential variation of three spheres reported at Morgan's Hill on 6 August. The formation is located west of the Avebury Stone circle, about 2 miles from Cooks Plantation near Beckhampton, an area known for crop circle appearances.

Sighting Reports

Katanning Sighting (00-07-1996 8:00)

A personal account from Katanning describes an experience at age 15. While walking home from local abattoirs (WAMMCO international), approximately 1km into the journey, the narrator observed a metallic object in plain view, appearing to be on fire. The object was flying low, estimated at 150 meters above the ground by tall eucalyptus trees, and travelling south to north at about 15-20 km/hr. The narrator felt panicked by the eerily silent highway but observed the object until it went out of view. Attempts to identify it as an asteroid or meteor were later dismissed due to the object's slow speed compared to typical meteor speeds.

Hill End NSW Sighting (1994)

This report details an experience in Hill End, NSW, around 1994. While at Merlins lookout at approximately 10 pm, the narrator and a friend observed what they initially thought was a spotlight across the river. It was a bright, round light moving side to side. They later realized the distance was significant, and the light was moving over miles from one hill to another for about 15 minutes, with no explanation.

Burragorang Lights

This section describes recurring sightings of a blue-green red light in the sky, observed from a car behind a parents' house. The light is best described as a diamond glistening in sunlight, but visible at night. These lights move slowly and sometimes at incredible rates. The narrator began taking people to witness these lights, and they too became researchers. Using Google Earth and acquired information, the narrator determined the lights originated from the Burragorang area. Friends and the narrator ventured into the valley and detected frequencies on a 396t scanner not registered with the ACMA. They also heard an electrical hum similar to a transformer, which seemed to penetrate their heads. The narrator possesses significant information but is not yet willing to divulge it, planning a deeper 14-day expedition into the area with full equipment. Video footage of one of these lights over the valley has been captured.

Eerie Encounters DVD Promotion

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 'Appaaritions' parts 1 and 2 (Case 4 parts 1 & 2: 'Shadow people' and 'Superman'), will soon be available. Excerpts can be viewed on their YouTube channel.

Factfinder: The Hospital Investigation

This section, written by Michelle Uznik, details the results of a paranormal investigation at a hospital, building on a previous report by Kellie in the December 2011 Phenomenon Times. The investigation involved significant activity, including a conversation using an EMI meter and a session with a psychic board.

A number of spirits reportedly communicated through the psychic board. One recurring spirit, named Janette, is believed to have been a hospital worker. Janette then passed the communication to another spirit who caused tension. This spirit identified himself as William Mesen and claimed to be Janette's father. However, the dates provided by William Mesen made this claim impossible.

William Mesen did provide a date of death. While no death records for William Mesen were found, a Soundex search suggested 'Mason' as an alternative spelling. A search for William Mason in the relevant year yielded a hit for a death registration, and the author is awaiting a certificate to confirm the identity. The investigation also noted tricky spellings of surnames, and the author plans to review footage for accuracy. Future investigations at Q Station will also be covered.

Community Advertising

• The magazine includes several advertisements:
• Ivy Florist: Located at Macarthur Square, Campbelltown, NSW.
• Flowers by fax: Specializing in flowers, with contact details for Narellan Town Centre, NSW.
• Elizabeth's Crystal Garden: Offering beautiful crystals at affordable prices, with details for a store in Campbelltown, NSW, and an eBay store.
• Facebook Promotion: An invitation to join the UFO & Paranormal Research Society of Australia on Facebook.
• Michelle Usnik Family Research: Offering family research services, including printed histories, pedigree charts, and biographies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained phenomena, including subjective experiences like OBEs and objective reports of UFO sightings and crop circles. The magazine adopts an investigative and open-minded stance, presenting personal accounts and research findings without definitive conclusions, often promising further exploration in future issues. There is a clear focus on Australian cases and organizations within the paranormal research community. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging further research and discussion on these topics, as evidenced by the 'Factfinder' section and the call for readers to consider the geometry of crop circles.