Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries

Magazine Overview

Title: Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries
Issue: SAGA, Vol. 14
Date: October 1973
Publisher: SAGA
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of SAGA magazine, under the banner "Ancient Astronauts Modern Mysteries," features an in-depth exploration of the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon, primarily authored by John A. Keel. The article highlights the public's intense interest in the mysterious disappearances that have occurred in this region, an interest that surged following a 1967 television appearance by zoologist Ivan Sanderson and Keel.

Meanwhile, In The Bermuda Triangle

The article begins by recounting the public's overwhelming reaction to a discussion of the Bermuda Triangle on the Alan Burke television show in 1967, which led to a flood of mail and a sustained public hunger for information. It acknowledges the pioneering research of Vincent Gaddis and Ivan Sanderson, whose work on the subject has been heavily borrowed by subsequent authors, leading to the Bermuda Triangle becoming a high-profile topic in media.

Despite the public fascination, the article notes the emergence of debunking books. It contrasts the explanations offered by skeptics, who attribute disappearances to ordinary storms and natural occurrences, with the more mysterious aspects of the phenomenon. Ivan Sanderson's research is highlighted, revealing that the Bermuda Triangle is part of a larger, lozenge-shaped pattern of similar areas around the world, including the "Devil's Sea" off the coast of Japan, where a Japanese government expedition to investigate also vanished.

Agonic Lines and Magnetic Anomalies

A central theme is the connection between the Bermuda Triangle and "agonic lines." These are geographical lines where magnetic compasses point to true north, unlike most locations where they deviate. The North American agonic line is traced from Lake Superior through several U.S. states into the Atlantic, where it intersects the Bermuda Triangle. The article explains that pilots and navigators must account for these deviations (isogonic lines) in their courses.

Pilots operating in the Bermuda Triangle region have reported peculiar magnetic aberrations, including "dead spots" where radio signals fail and compasses spin erratically. These dead spots are not stationary but seem to move, often straddling the agonic lines. This malfunction affects not only magnetic compasses but also gyro instruments and artificial horizons, which are supposed to be immune to magnetic interference. The article posits that these "dead spots" involve forces beyond ordinary electromagnetism, possibly akin to the EM pulse from an atomic explosion or atmospheric anomalies associated with earthquakes.

UFOs and Electromagnetic Effects

The article discusses the long-held theory among flying saucer enthusiasts that UFOs radiate powerful magnetic fields. While acknowledging that UFOs are sometimes visually present when compasses malfunction, the author suggests the phenomenon is more complex. The simultaneous failure of compasses, radios, and gyro instruments in the dead spots points to energies that extend beyond the normal electromagnetic spectrum.

Other Theories and Land Disappearances

Charles Berlitz, author of a best-selling book on the Triangle, is mentioned with his theory that the lost continent of Atlantis was located in the Atlantic and powered by a generator that still periodically emits energy waves causing destructive effects. The article also introduces the idea of "land-locked triangles," suggesting that sudden disappearances are not confined to the sea. Numerous land disappearances are recounted, including instances of cars enveloped in mysterious fog and transported hundreds of miles. Pilots in the Bermuda Triangle have also reported similar unnatural fog.

One notable land incident is the disappearance of David Lang in Gallatin, Tennessee, on September 23, 1880, which occurred near an agonic line. The article also links the Great Flying Saucer Wave of October 1973, which began in Georgia, to an agonic line.

The Link to Paranormal Manifestations

The author, John A. Keel, draws a connection between paranormal manifestations and magnetism, citing the clustering of events along agonic and isogonic lines as evidence. This includes not only disappearances but also the appearance of phantom cats, hairy monsters, and spooky spacemen. The article suggests that living directly on an agonic line might pose a danger from these unknown forces.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The article concludes by urging readers to investigate compass deviations in their own areas, suggesting that local surveyors might provide information. It implies that understanding these magnetic lines could be key to comprehending unexplained phenomena and advises readers to consider moving if they live directly on an agonic line where their compass needle behaves erratically.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, the role of magnetic anomalies (specifically agonic lines) in unexplained disappearances, and the potential link between these phenomena and UFOs or other paranormal events. The editorial stance appears to favor exploring unconventional explanations and connecting seemingly disparate anomalous events through underlying geophysical or energetic forces, rather than solely relying on conventional scientific explanations.