Skywatch

Magazine Overview

Title: Skywatch
Issue: No. 13
Date: June/July/August 1970
Publisher: Contact (S.A.)
Type: Quarterly magazine focusing on UFOs and related phenomena.

Editorial

The editorial, titled "Life moves ever onward and upwards in cycles which form an eternal spiral," discusses the concept of progression and adjustment in life, comparing it to moving to a higher standard in school. It emphasizes the shedding of the old and the embrace of the new, leading to a period of rest and joy. The editorial highlights the readiness of teachers to impart knowledge beyond current human comprehension and appeals to members of the organization to focus on contact with "people of outer space" for peace and progress, mentioning the upcoming International Skywatch Day.

Let Your Lamps Shine by Brinsley Le Poer Trench

Brinsley Le Poer Trench, author of "Operation Earth," addresses the perception that UFO activity has decreased. He acknowledges that while national press coverage is low, sightings are still being reported to organizations like Flying Saucer Review, BUFORA, and Contact (U.K.). Trench notes that UFO activity tends to concentrate in certain areas and then shift. He points out that significant sightings, like the Trinidad Island case in 1958, often go unreported in the British press due to timing and news priorities. He explains that journalists often face editorial hurdles to publish UFO stories, especially during the "silly season" when news is scarce. Trench assures readers that UFO activity is ongoing globally, citing a recent "flap" in Norway with landings that received national attention there but not in the UK. He states that the amount of UFO sightings worldwide is greater than ever, with increased ground-level activity and a phenomenal number of people being contacted, including through ESP. A particular focus is placed on the controversial idea of contacting people in dreams. Trench shares personal anecdotes and mentions receiving numerous letters from people worldwide describing similar dreams of encountering "great Light Ships" and "flying saucers," often involving friendly occupants and a blue light. He notes that this phenomenon is becoming frequent and warrants consideration. He also references his book "Operation Earth," which discusses Edgar Cayce's predictions about planetary cleansing between 1958-1999 and Nostradamus's prophecy for 1999, considering them the greatest seers since Atlantis. Cayce's trance visions are described as diagnosing and curing disabilities and foreseeing planetary events, including parts of Earth being submerged and Atlantis rising before 1999. Trench speculates that these dreams might be preparing people for eventualities predicted by Cayce, such as evacuation by flying saucers and giant light ships during natural catastrophes.

Telepathic Work by Alice A. Bailey

This section, extracted from "Telepathy & The Etheric Vehicle," Chapter XI, p. 75, by Alice A. Bailey, discusses "Certain Warnings" regarding telepathic tendencies and "Four Categories of Communications." Bailey cautions that people often misinterpret their telepathic experiences as highly important, when they may be self-related or unimportant. The four categories of communications are:

1. Messages from the subconscious: These arise from the recipient's own subconscious, often mistaken for external messages. This accounts for 85% of so-called inspired writings.
2. Impressions from the soul: These are translated by the personality and carry a high vibration, but are not necessarily new or of major importance.
3. Teachings from a senior disciple: Given on inner planes to a disciple under training, these bear the impress of the senior disciple and can be valuable, often containing information unknown to the recipient. This accounts for 5% of teachings.
4. Communications from a Master to His disciple: This accounts for 2% of telepathic receptivity. Western students are reminded that Eastern students are generally more telepathically receptive.

The section concludes by mentioning "THE HIGHEST EMANATING IMPRESSION" from Shamballa, which influences great cycles and cyclic waves, and how humanity, as a "RECEIVER OF A MULTITUDE OF IMPRESSIONS," is increasingly responsive to sattvic or rhythmic impressions from the highest sources, conveying the Purpose of Sanat Kumara.

International Sky-Watching Weekend

This event was scheduled for June 13th-14th, 1970, in Natal, South Africa, with groups concentrated in two main areas: the Drakensberg and the coast. The purpose was to commemorate the twenty-third anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's UFO sighting and to attempt telepathic contact with "space beings." Local groups were to culminate their efforts on Saturday, June 13th, between 3 and 3:30 p.m. (S.A. time), with other "Contact" groups worldwide also sending thoughts towards the skies. Contact of a different nature was planned between members of the Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria branches meeting at the Loteni Parks Board Camp in the Drakensberg. Other skywatching groups were to be formed in Himeville, Warner Beach, Shelley Beach, Durban North, and Hillcrest.

An extract from "Other tongues - Other Flesh" by George Hunt Williamson is included, featuring a message from beings who claim to have come centuries ago, possibly from Saros, and have returned. They state that "apples" were "salted away" until needed, and that time is now. They identify themselves as space beings and children of the Creator, emphasizing brotherhood and sisterhood.

Sightings

This section reports several UFO sightings:

• February 25, 1970 (Pretoria News): Five people from Roodepoort reported seeing a copper-coloured unidentified flying object travelling from north to south at "tremendous speed." Mr. I. Langenstrase, who witnessed the event, expressed a change in his belief about flying saucers.
• March 15, 1970 (Durban, Natal): Mrs. G.C. Gifford observed a UFO from her balcony that was "circular in shape with a very bright light in the centre." A red ball rotated clockwise within the light, surrounded by blue and rainbow shades. The object remained stationary for 20 minutes before receding slowly to the north-east. The object appeared very close to Earth.
• February 3, 1970 (Durban): Mrs. P.N. Chester-Browne reported a sighting while listening to her radio program.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the idea of ongoing UFO activity and the potential for contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. There is a strong emphasis on spiritual development, telepathic communication, and the idea that humanity is on the cusp of significant changes or revelations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, encouraging readers to consider unconventional ideas and to prepare for future contact. The publication also seems to align with esoteric and occult teachings, as evidenced by the inclusion of material from Alice A. Bailey and discussions of prophecy and spiritual evolution.

This issue of "YOUNG SKYWATCHERS" (Volume 11, Issue 11) dated March 19, 1970, focuses on UFO sightings and astronomical education, with additional content on spiritual communications and physics. The cover headline highlights "Strange Flying Objects" over the city.

UFO Sightings in Salisbury, Rhodesia

The issue details several unexplained aerial phenomena observed in Salisbury, Rhodesia. Jim Conway and the narrator reported seeing a bright ball, similar to a star but much brighter and the size of a football, shoot across the sky at high speed one clear moonlight night. This event coincided with their radio making an unusual noise.

Further reports include Mrs. S. Pink and Mr. R. Armstrong, who observed "three silver objects circling at great height about a black object." The black object then rapidly moved towards the sun, with the silver objects following. A resident of Belvedere, who wished to remain anonymous, described seeing four objects, with the black one leading the three silver ones.

Mrs. Marjorie Begbie of West Belvedere reported seeing a strange bright light over what she believed to be Warren Hills, noting that she had seen a similar light the previous night, and her servant had also witnessed it.

In response to these sightings, the meteorological office in Salisbury stated that no weather balloons had been released. Air Traffic Control at Salisbury Airport reported an aircraft overflying at 3,500 feet, describing it as a scheduled flight that would only be visible for a short period.

Astronomy for Children

This section introduces a series of talks on Astronomy, defined as 'a study of the stars'. It explains that people believe 'space people' come from other planets and solar systems. The text defines a solar system as a central sun with planets orbiting it, and a galaxy as a vast collection of stars.

It describes stars as gaseous bodies emitting light and heat, and planets as cooled-down masses of gas that reflect light. Our Earth is given as an example of a planet. The nine known planets in our solar system are listed: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The article promises a detailed discussion of each planet in the next issue.

Extracts from the Book: "THE COMING OF THE GUARDIANS"

Compiled by Meade Layne M.A., this section presents communications from Lao-Tse, a philosopher from ancient China (c. 604 B.C., or lived between 550-600 B.C.). Lao-Tse is described as having belonged to a wealthy family, spent time in the Imperial Library, and later became a roaming sage. His sayings were compiled by disciples. He had a wife and seven children, and according to custom, several concubines. At fifty, he joined the mystical school of the White Brotherhood and died at eighty-two.

Lao-Tse's communication, conveyed in 1948, discusses visitors from space who come "in quest of knowledge." He states they are not here to interfere but might intervene if a world war employing nuclear energies occurs, as atomic forces have disturbed their "sphere of existence." Any intervention would be "wholly impersonal." He describes these beings, referred to as "Etherians," as "vastly superiors in science" but not necessarily in superiority or inferiority, as different planes have different developments. The Etherians are described as large people, up to fifteen feet in height, belonging to the human order of evolution, and their forms resemble those seen and photographed in the skies and on Earth.

Lao-Tse explains the Etherians' current presence in large numbers is due to civilizations reaching their height before collapse, allowing the Etherians to make an "examination and final record." He also notes they have been alerted and disturbed by humanity's release of atomic energies. He suggests that past civilizations have failed and passed out of existence, implying the same fate for the current one.

A second communication is presented from Arakashi, identified as a Guru who lived and died in the Punjab District of India around 1320-98 A.D., with Buddhistic teachings. Communicating in 1950, Arakashi discusses physics, stating that conventional physics views three-dimensional form as substantial. However, he posits that physical-chemical objects are mostly space and that space/ether is denser than known substances. He explains that atoms do not touch and are held together by fields of attraction and repulsion. Using a bar of iron as an example, he illustrates how heat increases the vibratory rate of molecules, causing them to move apart and the iron to become liquid or vapor, without changing the fundamental substance of iron.

Arakashi further elaborates on the nature of life and matter. He states that a human body contains all known elements and that the mind, through deep meditation, can segregate chemicals and project them into a "thought-form mold" to create a three-dimensional object. He suggests that "space-time" is subjective, personified activity projected from the self. On the gross earth plane, these impulses are chemical particles. A more subtle field, the Etheric plane, provides energy for solidified matter. Deterioration and "death" occur when the channels for absorbing etheric energy fail. Matter merges with other matter through attraction, and explosions are a result of this merging process, involving breakdown and regrouping.

Meetings for the Next Few Months

The magazine lists upcoming meetings for skywatchers in various cities:

• Durban: An International Skywatch weekend in June (details on Page 9), followed by monthly meetings on Friday, July 17th, and Friday, August 21st, both at 8 p.m. at The Centre, 3rd Floor, Prince of Wales Building, 384 Smith Street.
• Johannesburg: Meetings are scheduled for Monday, June 8th; Saturday, July 13th; and Monday, August 10th, all at 8 p.m. The meeting place is 17, Westmeath Road, Parkview. New attendees are advised to contact Mrs. Neslie Schmultz.
• Pretoria: Meetings are on Friday in June and Friday in August. The venue is Theosophical Hall, 424 Skinner Street. All are welcome. Chairman is Mr. Johan Jacobs, P.O. Box 215, Pretoria.
• East London: Meetings are held at irregular intervals. Interested individuals should contact Chairman Mr. E.E. Buttner at 88, Frere Road, East London.

The correspondence address for the Secretary is P.O. Box 2320, Durban.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), the promotion of astronomical knowledge for younger audiences, and the exploration of spiritual and philosophical concepts related to the nature of reality, consciousness, and extraterrestrial or higher-dimensional beings. The editorial stance appears to be open to reporting on unexplained phenomena while also providing educational content and exploring esoteric ideas, suggesting a broad interest in the intersection of science, spirituality, and the unknown.