Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries

Magazine Overview

This issue of SAGA magazine, identified as issue number 14, presents a compelling exploration of the connections between ancient myths and modern UFO phenomena, under the title "Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries" by John A. Keel. The content delves into the concept of the "Ambrosia Factor" and its parallels with contemporary UFO contactee experiences, suggesting a unified underlying force or phenomenon.

The Ambrosia Factor

The article begins by discussing the ancient myth of ambrosia, a drink given to mortals by gods, which was believed to cure ailments, grant immortality, and bestow divine powers. This concept persisted through the Middle Ages in tales of fairies and little people, where individuals claimed to have been taken to underground palaces and offered a thick, sweet substance identical to ambrosia. These encounters were often accompanied by a sense of time compression and memory alteration, suggesting hypnosis or external manipulation.

Scholars and historians of the past speculated that these experiences were not due to actual fairies but to a mysterious force that caused hallucinations or induced trance states. The fluids consumed might have acted as a precursor to LSD, leading to complex hallucinations and clouded memories, a phenomenon akin to possession.

With the rise of spiritualism after 1848, the article posits that the 'enchanting force' found a new avenue through spirit mediums, who would enter an unconscious state and allow their bodies to be used by external intelligences, making the old fairy game unnecessary.

Return of the Gods

The narrative shifts to the 1930s with the emergence of George Adamski, a Polish emigre who became a guru in California. Adamski's story gained prominence with the appearance of flying saucers in 1947, which he claimed were piloted by extraterrestrials. Steeped in esoteric religions and self-hypnosis, Adamski readily embraced the UFO mystery. He reported face-to-face meetings with tall, long-haired Venusians and even claimed to have been taken aboard their craft to the moon. During these encounters, he was offered a colorless liquid that tasted like water but was denser, similar to a thin oil, which he later associated with the ancient ambrosia.

Adamski's publicizing of his experiences made him a controversial figure, denounced by early "scientific ufologists" but taken more seriously in Europe. His story, along with others, began to reveal commonalities in UFO contact experiences.

Route to the Stars

Throughout the 1950s, the flying saucer phenomenon mirrored the old fairy games, with alleged sightings near water sources and mischievous pranks. Many UFO contactees, like Howard Menger, who claimed to have met an entity in shining armor, followed Adamski's example. However, their public accounts were often met with ridicule and harassment, with the public viewing them as clowns or lunatics.

Common elements in contactee experiences included a sudden, blinding flash of light, the materialization of an object or entity, and the witness being rooted to the spot, unable to move. This state was often followed by a trance and a significant time lapse, with the witness discovering that hours had passed when only minutes seemed to have elapsed. This phenomenon is linked to hypnosis and the introduction of false memories.

Academics like Dr. Jacques Vallee and Gordon Creighton proposed that the same force generating ancient myths of gods is still active, now manifesting as the UFO phenomenon. They suggest that what witnesses see is less important than the force that makes them see it.

Don't Drink the Water

Contactees worldwide have reported consuming liquids aboard spacecraft, described variously as tasteless, heavy, sweet, or unpleasant. The article draws a parallel to the advice given in medieval folklore: refuse food and drink from fairy people. The experience of Antonio Villas Boas in Brazil is detailed, where he was bathed with a wet sponge using a clear, thick liquid, and later offered a drink that was clear, thick, and odorless, which he initially mistook for oil.

This is linked to the ancient Greek and Roman belief that gods used ambrosia as an ointment during bathing. The practice of anointing with oil predates Christianity, with Christ himself being anointed before crucifixion. Boas's experience is presented as an intriguing parallel to this ancient ceremony.

Larry Foreman of California also claimed to have tasted ambrosia, describing it as a "berry punch." More recently, in May 1969, Brazilian soldier Jose Antonio was offered a dark-green, bitter liquid from a stone cube after being taken to a cavern-like room by humanoids, which made him feel better. Woodrow Derenberger reported a similar positive effect after drinking a liquid given by a ufonaunt.

Can These Things Be?

The article explores the consequences of these encounters. Those who drank ambrosia on Mount Olympus were said to gain increased intelligence and heightened perceptions. Similarly, modern UFO contactees often report dramatic changes, including increased IQ, development of psychic abilities, and acquisition of new knowledge. However, the article also notes that some undergo reverse changes, becoming nervous wrecks, experiencing divorces, job loss, and bankruptcy.

Ancient gods were known to cause havoc in the lives of those they met. The article questions whether the modern UFO phenomenon is merely an updated version of these ancient interactions. It suggests that the gods of old were accepted as residents of this planet, and it may not be necessary to assume extraterrestrial visitors. These entities, it is proposed, have always been present, manipulating human lives and beliefs in spiritual and supernatural matters.

Modern religions are seen as modified versions of ancient rites. The fairies of the Middle Ages, believed to live under the seas, are also linked to evidence suggesting that modern UFOs might originate from Earth's oceans rather than outer space.

The author concludes by stating that humanity is trapped in basing its understanding of the phenomenon on witness testimony, which may only reflect what witnesses are conditioned to see and remember. Trips to other worlds might be metaphorical, induced by "sips of ambrosia" rather than by advanced extraterrestrial technology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the blurring lines between ancient mythology, folklore, and modern UFO sightings. The editorial stance, as presented by John A. Keel, is that the UFO phenomenon is not necessarily about extraterrestrial visitors from outer space but could be a continuation or re-emergence of ancient terrestrial forces or intelligences that have always influenced humanity. The concept of "ambrosia" serves as a central metaphor for transformative experiences, whether divine, supernatural, or technologically induced, that alter perception and consciousness. The magazine seems to advocate for a re-evaluation of UFO experiences through the lens of ancient human beliefs and psychological manipulation, suggesting a cyclical nature to these encounters.