Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries

Magazine Overview

This issue of SAGA magazine, titled "Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries," features articles by John A. Keel that delve into the history and nature of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), alleged alien abductions, and ancient prophecies. The magazine explores the idea that Earth and its inhabitants may be under observation or control by an unknown entity.

Father of UFOLOGY

The article begins by referencing a short story by Frederic Brown about flying saucers and their seemingly benevolent alien pilots, which ultimately reveals itself to be a cookbook, serving as a metaphor for deception. It then introduces Charles Fort as the "father of modern ufology," who collected and published accounts of strange events and scientific anomalies in the 1920s. Fort suspected that Earth was owned by something or somebody, a sentiment echoed by Ivan T. Sanderson, who suggested Earth was a "gigantic farm" and humans were the "crop."

The Mysterious Prophecy

This section discusses a bizarre rumor prevalent in the mid-1960s, particularly on college campuses, about flying saucers landing and kidnapping hundreds of students, mostly females, who would then vanish without a trace. The rumor also suggested that relatives and friends of the missing students were brainwashed, erasing all memory of them. This idea was sometimes attributed to Jeanne Dixon, who later issued an emphatic denial. The rumor gained traction at a time when UFO sightings were increasing and information about them was scarce. The article notes that amnesia was often seized by UFO witnesses, and that a number of people had apparently been kidnapped by UFOs, making the rumor sophisticated for its time.

Curious Backlash

John Fuller's 1967 book, based on the hypnotic testimony of Betty and Barney Hill, is presented as a significant event. The Hills recounted being subjected to a medical examination aboard a flying saucer in New Hampshire. Fuller's book implied that aliens could induce amnesia, as the Hills had no conscious memory of the events until hypnosis. A condensed version in a national magazine supported the abduction rumor. The Hill case produced a backlash, with other people coming forward with similar stories of being stopped on lonely highways and taken into structures for examination, often with vague memories. The article points out that such experiences of "strange distortions of reality" have been recorded for 2,000 years, appearing in occult and religious lore, and medieval fairy tales. The "long needle" theme recalled by Mrs. Hill is noted as appearing in stories dating back 500 years. The author suggests that someone has been periodically collecting and inspecting human beings.

The Memory Benders

This section highlights that over the past seven years, psychiatrists, doctors, and scientists have gathered evidence of a force capable of producing amnesia and other "horrendous effects." The article suggests that the historical record indicates this inspection process is ongoing and may be hereditary, with individuals whose great-grandfathers had UFO experiences being more likely to have similar encounters. Certain groups, such as those with Indian blood, Catholics in specific countries, and younger individuals (20-year-olds), are noted as being more susceptible. The phenomenon is described as selective, operating on many levels and using various frames of reference, with the "flying saucer concept" potentially being just one such frame, akin to "secret caverns of the fairies."

The article criticizes a "small clique of evangelistic types" for acting as "unwitting propagandists" for the idea that UFOs are real spaceships from other planets, stating there is no more hard evidence today than in 1947, but a "modern mythology" has been built. It notes that people with spiritualistic beliefs, witchcraft, and black magic also experience similar "dreams" and amnesia, blaming spirits or the devil. The author posits that the true source of these phenomena conceals itself by creating manifestations that support various belief systems, allowing it to operate mysteriously while people search for "wonderful visitors from space."

The Nine-Pointed Star

This part of the magazine discusses how religious and occult beliefs are often based on the claims of prophets who report hearing voices or meeting supernatural entities. These entities sometimes identify as messengers or gods and have historically conveyed a message of impending doom, with only a selected few being saved. The article mentions a worldwide wave of prophecies in 1844 and another in December 1967, both predicting the end of the world. It notes that isolated tribes in the Pacific, Africa, and South America share similar beliefs. These messengers promise to return, and modern "spacemen" suggest they will evacuate the chosen few to a safer planet. The Hopi Indians call this "Purification Day," and other tribes call it "The Harvest." Ancient Navajo legends state that the first sign of the approaching end will be the appearance of a nine-pointed star. The Toltecs, Mayas, and Aztecs of South America had calendars that calculated the end would come in 1844. The Bible's prophecy of a sudden, unexpected end is also mentioned.

Has It Happened?

The article questions whether these prophecies have already occurred, referencing archaeological evidence of past civilizations that vanished abruptly. It suggests that these ancient peoples might have also been warned. The author proposes that perhaps, once the planet is heavily populated, these forces will fulfill their promise by removing the population, and a cycle will begin again with the survivors. This scenario is likened to farm animals breeding and expanding, despite knowing their ultimate fate. Ivan Sanderson's view of Earth as a "farm" and Charles Fort's view of humans as "property" are reiterated. The article notes that the world did not end in 1844 or 1967, but the warnings continue. It mentions that nine-pointed UFOs have been seen, and many ancient prophecies seem to be coming to pass. The author questions whether humanity will escape its fate this time, fly to another planet, or if it's just another cycle, concluding with a thought-provoking question about volunteering to go with hypothetical space ships.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the idea of a hidden intelligence or force manipulating human events, the nature of UFOs as potentially more than just alien spacecraft, and the cyclical nature of prophecies and potential global catastrophes. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards simplistic explanations of UFO phenomena, suggesting a deeper, more ancient, and possibly manipulative force at play. The author emphasizes the historical continuity of these experiences and prophecies, linking them to a long-term, perhaps even biological, control or observation of humanity. The issue encourages readers to question conventional narratives and consider the possibility of a grand, ongoing cosmic experiment or game.