Skywatch - No 29 - 1974 06-08

Magazine Overview

Title: Skywatch
Issue: No. 29
Type: Quarterly
Date: June/July/August, 1974
Publisher: CONTACT (S A)

Editorial: The Purpose of Human Lives

The editorial poses the fundamental question about the purpose of human lives, noting that few people, young or old, have received a satisfactory answer. It emphasizes the desirability and necessity for the young, especially, to grow up with an understanding of their purpose, enabling them to walk with awareness and help materialize a happy future through directional thinking. The editorial posits that a person is the sum of their thoughts and actions, and understanding this creative process can transform one's awareness of life and its possibilities. It urges readers to be aware of the needs of those seeking answers, as receptivity may be fleeting. The piece concludes by stating that human experience is a universal opportunity to develop soul individuality, and that resistance and stress are necessary for developing character, with this process occurring "now within the human family."

Between You and Me: UFO Landing Sites and Substances

By Brinsley le Poer Trench, this section continues a discussion on UFO incidents, referencing the Maury Island affair and Kenneth Arnold's sighting. Trench notes that UFOs and their occupants have been dropping 'earthly' substances and artifacts, as opposed to 'out of this world' materials, for years, citing John Keel. The article intends to explore these cases in more detail, highlighting how authorities often dismiss them as hoaxes due to the presence of earthly substances.

Several cases are detailed:

• Glassboro, New Jersey, USA (1964): A small quantity of potassium nitrate was found at an alleged landing site. The U.S. Air Force discredited the incident, despite evidence of holes in the ground and damaged trees consistent with eyewitness accounts.
• Kuusamo, Saapunki, Finland (January 1971): A blinding light appeared at tree-top level, causing snow to melt and refreeze into strange, dark green crystals. Analysis revealed the presence of aluminium, which was unusual in snow.
• Brazil (various cases): Professor Hulvio Aleizo analyzed substances from several UFO landing sites in Brazil, finding them to be 'earthly' in character. A case in Baleia (September 14, 1967) involved an unpleasant smelling, crumbling black powder found on a football field after a UFO landing, which contained iron, aluminium, magnesium, and silica. Another site near Villa Constitucion yielded magnesium, carbon, aluminium, and iron. Octaviano Souza Bueno reported a luminous object landing near Campo Grande in 1948, with three entities collecting soil samples that were later found to contain silica, magnesium, and alumina.
• Florence, Italy (October 27, 1954): A formation of strange glowing objects was observed over a stadium, and shining flakes fell on the crowd, analyzed as iron, calcium, magnesium, and silicon.
• Kearney, Nebraska, USA (1957): A fertilizer salesman reported a UFO landing, and police found an oil-like fluid at the site.
• Cherry Creek, New York State, USA (August 19, 1973): Harold Butcher witnessed an egg-shaped object land, emitting a reddish vapour and a beep-beep sound, leaving behind a strange odour and a shimmering purplish liquid composed of silicon, iron, and aluminium.

Trench also discusses the phenomenon of 'foreign looking men' who resemble humans and wear similar clothing, often appearing at landing sites to take photographs and measurements before eyewitnesses can report their observations. An example from 1909 is cited, where Mr. Lethbridge encountered a cylindrical object with 'foreigners' taking measurements. Another case from 1897 in Michigan involved a farmer seeing an aerial object that dropped a wheel-like object composed of aluminium.

The article concludes that UFO occupants have been dropping 'earthly' substances and garbage for decades. It briefly mentions the Ummo business as a recent and baffling affair, promising further discussion in a future article and his book, 'The Eternal Subject'.

Pioneer 10 Reports: Mission to Jupiter

This section details the findings of the Pioneer 10 spacecraft's flyby mission of Jupiter. The craft successfully navigated a solar shock wave and a radiation belt one million times more intense than Earth's Van Allen belt, though some instruments were damaged. NASA officials were impressed by the spacecraft's efficiency, noting that a slightly closer approach would have been catastrophic. Key findings include over 340 close-up photos of Jupiter, superior to Earth-based telescope images. The planet's surface magnetic field was found to be eight times Earth's, weaker than predicted, and reversed in polarity. Data also indicated the presence of helium in Jupiter's atmosphere, and scientists believe its moons (Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede) may also have atmospheres. The temperature difference between Jupiter's day and night sides was surprisingly small, around -207°F, and no debris was found orbiting the planet as some theorists had expected. Pioneer 10 is continuing a five-year mission, with rendezvous planned for Saturn in 1976 and Uranus in 1979.

Super Civilizations Abound in Space

This article reports on claims of receiving radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. The National Enquirer reported that Russian experts are certain that signals received since 1970 are from another planet and transmitted by civilized beings. Soviet astrophysicists from the Radiophysical Institute in Gorky and the Institute of Space Research described the signals as having a consistent pattern and regular transmission, leaving no doubt of their artificial origin. They believe these signals may carry information that can be decoded, suggesting the existence of at least 10 other civilizations in our solar system. The article also references a lead feature in The London Observer Colour Supplement about super civilizations, mentioning Dr. Frank Drake and Carl Sagan's work, and Duncan Lunan's acceptance of orbiting space probes but not flying saucers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), extraterrestrial intelligence, and the nature of consciousness and human purpose. The editorial stance, particularly in the lead article, leans towards a spiritual or philosophical interpretation of human existence, emphasizing personal growth and the development of individuality. The 'Between You and Me' section adopts a critical, investigative approach to UFO evidence, focusing on material analysis and witness accounts, while acknowledging the possibility of 'earthly' explanations for many phenomena. The inclusion of space exploration reports like Pioneer 10 suggests an interest in scientific advancements alongside more speculative topics. The magazine appears to bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and metaphysical exploration, encouraging readers to consider broader possibilities about life, consciousness, and humanity's place in the universe.

This issue of 'Contact' magazine, identified by its page numbering as page 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, focuses on paranormal phenomena, UFOs, and alternative scientific theories. The content includes a commentary on the intended visit of Israeli psychic Uri Geller, a book review of Bruce Cathie's 'Harmonic 695', reports on UFO sightings, and announcements for upcoming meetings of 'Contact South Africa'.

In Passing: Uri Geller

The 'In Passing' section introduces Uri Geller, an Israeli psychic whose visit to South Africa is anticipated. The article notes that much startling information has been written about Geller, and readers can look forward to demonstrations of his alleged powers, including telekinesis, psychokinesis, levitation, dematerialization, and rematerialization. The author acknowledges that while some scientists dismiss Geller as a fraud, few skeptics are prepared to investigate his claims without prejudice. Geller was born in Tel Aviv on December 20, 1946, and discovered his abilities at age seven, moving watch hands and sensing thoughts. He kept his abilities private until age 22, when he began giving demonstrations as a mentalist after contacts with show people.

Geller was 'discovered' by Dr. Andrija Puharich, a medical doctor with expertise in physical science and electronics. Puharich organized research committees of scientists to study unusual phenomena. In 1971, Geller underwent tests by Puharich under scientific control and was later investigated by the Stanford Research Institute and the Max Planck Institute in Germany. A significant event mentioned is Geller and Puharich's encounter with a UFO in the Negev Desert, where Geller reportedly entered the spacecraft and reappeared with an ink refill that had disappeared from Puharich's pen. The article suggests Geller and Puharich are considered liaisons between Earth people and extraterrestrial beings. A book on Uri Geller's UFO experiences is forthcoming.

Sightings Over South Africa

This section reports a UFO sighting on March 13, 1974, in Roodepoort. Mrs. E.A.B. Wilson and a friend observed a huge, spherical object glowing bright orange-red in the eastern sky, which they felt was due to ESP. The object appeared to be hovering over Braamfontein, and three small white, saucer-shaped objects descended from it. These objects remained visible for two to three minutes.

Skywatching Week

The magazine notes that Skywatching Week for the Southern Hemisphere, held from April 27th to May 4th, yielded no reported sightings. The conclusion drawn is that the 'saucers decided to give us a miss this year'. Readers with sightings to report are encouraged to send them to the Hon. Secretary, Contact South Africa, P.O. Box 743, Durban, 4000.

Book Review: Harmonic 695 by Bruce Cathie

This section reviews 'Harmonic 695' by Bruce Cathie, a New Zealander known for his previous book 'Harmonic 33' (1968), which proposed a discovery of the earth's magnetic grid governing world phenomena. In 'Harmonic 695', Cathie and co-author Peter Temm suggest that other scientists may have known about this grid system for a long time and possess significant knowledge, making them powerful. The book explains that 'Harmonic 695' relates to the geometric reciprocal of light, which forms the basic building blocks of the universe. The authors are interested in harmonic values of anti-gravity, light speed, and mass reciprocals, believing they are integral to the UFO grid system from which UFOs draw power.

Bruce Cathie claims to have discovered a harmonic equation that could produce anti-gravity. The authors state they forward their discoveries to scientific and independent bodies to prevent vital knowledge from being lost. They also mention several attempts to scare or bribe Cathie away from his research. The book also discusses UFO sightings in New Zealand and mysterious antennae in the Auckland area, linking them to Cathie's grid lines. The authors ponder if a specific organization is behind these phenomena, potentially using equipment in New Zealand to communicate with UFO occupants or maintain the grid system.

The review highlights that the authors connect religion and UFO phenomena, suggesting magnetic grid forces were used to part the Red Sea. The book is described as fascinating and offering a unique approach to understanding a universal puzzle. The review concludes with an analogy about the bumblebee flying despite aerodynamic limitations, suggesting it operates by a 'higher law'.

Meetings for the Next Few Months

This section provides a schedule of upcoming meetings for 'Contact South Africa' in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria. It lists dates and times for June, July, and August, along with contact persons and venues for each city. The general correspondence address is Secretary, P.O. Box 743, Durban.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are psychic abilities, UFO phenomena, and alternative scientific explanations for physical and historical events. The editorial stance appears to be open to investigating and reporting on these subjects, presenting claims from individuals like Uri Geller and Bruce Cathie, while also acknowledging skepticism. The magazine encourages reader participation through reporting sightings and attending meetings, fostering a community interested in the unexplained.