SPI Enigmas - no 22

Magazine Overview

Title: ENIGMAS
Issue: 22
Date: November-December 1990
Publisher: STRANGE PHENOMENA INVESTIGATIONS (S.P.I.)
Country of Publication: Scotland

Editorial

The editorial expresses frustration with "4th division mediums" in Spiritualist Churches, who provide "drivel" and "trivial made up" information, potentially disillusioning newcomers. The author shares personal experiences of witnessing such demonstrations, highlighting the difference between genuine spiritual communication and basic body language reading or generalizations. The piece questions the point of gaining spirit communication if it is trivial and suggests that some mediums may be picking up information telepathically from the sitter rather than from deceased spirits.

Dechmont Revisited by Ken Higgens

This article revisits the 1979 UFO sighting by Robert Taylor at Dechmont Law, Livingston, Scotland. It notes that SRUFO (Scottish Research into Unidentified Flying Objects) has found local witnesses who reported seeing large orange lights in the sky around the time of Taylor's sighting. Several accounts are detailed, including a man driving to work who saw a large floating orange light, and another who saw a large orange ball approaching his car. A woman near Bangour Hospital heard a "hissing noise" and saw a bright light. The article highlights that the Livingston Development Corporation is erecting a plaque to commemorate the incident, a suggestion made by S.P.I., marking the first official recognition of such an event in Scotland.

The Cosmic Joker by Jenny Randles

This article explores the concept of the 'Cosmic Joker,' which refers to remarkable coincidences that seem to go beyond mere chance. It presents several anecdotes, such as a milkman stopping a runaway car with brute strength, a farmer experiencing a sudden storm after praying for rain, and a man in New York being knocked down by a car only to have it roll over him again. The author discusses how researchers believe these events are not random but guided by something, likening it to a "collective consciousness." Examples include a Brighton magistrates court with amusingly appropriate names for defendants and a Sydney wedding where the bride, groom, and best man were all lawyers. The article also touches on the idea of 'jinxes' and how seemingly unrelated events can be linked, citing the case of Brenda Rawson's lost engagement ring being found years later by a relative who happened to be metal detecting in the same area.

Cropping The Circle by Ron Halliday

This piece details an investigation into crop circles that appeared on the Ardblair Estate near Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland, on June 21, 1990. The author, along with Malcolm Robinson and Lorraine Anderson, visited the site after the landowner, Mr Laurence Blair Oliphant, had harvested the area. The journalist who reported the story confirmed the appearance of two circles. A Scottish dowser, David Cowan, took measurements and provided information about the site's history. The article describes the field's location and the potential support for a 'vortice theory.' Dowsing rods revealed a strong energy field at the site.

Communion Movie Review by Philip Mantle

This review discusses the film adaptation of Whitley Strieber's book 'Communion.' The reviewer notes that the movie, starring Christopher Walken and Lindsay Course, takes a less sensational, more docu-drama approach, which is credited for lending a more authenticated feeling. The film depicts Strieber's abduction experiences with 'visitors' and his struggle to come to terms with them. The reviewer praises the actors' performances and the film's handling of the subject matter, considering its low budget. However, it is suggested that the movie might be better suited for a small screen viewing and that it doesn't offer definitive conclusions about the nature of the visitors.

Witches: A Hysterical Theory by Anthony North

This article examines the historical witch hunts, particularly the events in Salem, Massachusetts. The author questions whether the mass accusations and executions were a result of genuine witchcraft or mass hysteria, suggesting that the latter is more likely. The article discusses the concept of 'vagal inhibition' as a medical explanation for how a belief in a curse could lead to death. It also explores the idea that entities can be manifested by the human mind, referencing a hypnosis experiment where a student seemingly communicated with Socrates. The author concludes that while witches might have been able to place curses and manifest entities, the sheer number of alleged witches (nine million women) is mathematically improbable, suggesting an alternative explanation involving the populace's superstitious fears.

Recommended Books: "BEYOND 2001" by Sandy Kidd

This section reviews Sandy Kidd's book "BEYOND 2001," which details his work on antigravity propulsion. Kidd, a Dundee engineer, became interested in gyroscopic forces after an incident during his RAF service. The review highlights his persistence in developing his invention, which has reportedly produced results far exceeding those of British Aerospace scientists. The book is described as a significant contribution to the scientific revolution, potentially offering a new era of antigravity technology.

The Aveley Abduction: A UFO Case Report

This report details the 1974 UFO abduction case of the Avis family in Aveley, Essex. The family reported seeing a strange light and a green mist, after which their car stalled and they experienced 'missing time.' Hypnotic regression revealed details of their encounter with entities on a spacecraft. A key point from the report is the entities' explanation of how they can distort perception using magnetic fields to create illusions and project false images. The article draws a parallel to the Bob Taylor 'Livingston Case,' where the object was described as blending into the background. The entities also claim to have created mankind through interbreeding. The report suggests that UFO abductions are a global phenomenon and urges readers to consider the data presented.

Tolbooth Report by Paul Friel

This brief report indicates that it is a submission from SPI researcher Paul Friel regarding SPI's research into Stirling's haunted Tolbooth. It mentions that the research team split into two groups and that further updates will be provided in the journal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, including UFOs, hauntings, psychic abilities, and unusual coincidences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, seeking evidence and informing the public, while also maintaining a critical perspective, particularly regarding the reliability of spiritualist mediums. The publication encourages reader submissions and aims to present a wide range of anomalous events and theories.

This issue of ENIGMAS magazine, dated November-December 1990, presents a collection of articles and reports focusing on UFO sightings, paranormal investigations, psychic phenomena, and historical mysteries, primarily within Scotland.

Tolbooth Report

The issue begins with a detailed "Tolbooth Report" from October 1990, documenting observations by Paul Friel, Heather Ashberry, and David (Manager). The report chronicles a series of timed observations within a building identified as the Tolbooth. Observers describe various psychic impressions, including feelings of warmth, sadness, and images of academic garb, a black cowl, and a royal coat-of-arms with a stag. They also received impressions of a minister named Thomas and a Frenchman named Alain. Sensations of chest problems, tuberculosis, damp straw, and a dim atmosphere were also noted. Later observations in a "Glassroom" involved an apparent physical push and impressions of energy fields around the legs. A possible fire in the building around 1714 and the name "Sheriff James" were also intuited. The observation period concluded with no further phenomena noted.

New Sighting Of Morag

Ron Halliday contributes an article about a recent sighting of "Morag," the alleged creature inhabiting Loch Morar. The report details a sighting by Alistair Mackellaig and his sons, who observed three humps moving on the water. The journalist Ian Abernethy confirmed the story's origin and his previous reports on Morag sightings in the 1970s. The sighting occurred during a fishing competition, with the humps described as moving in a straight line and disappearing together. The article questions whether SPI's "psychic link with Morar" project might have somehow influenced this sighting.

S.P.I. Case Research Work: Mrs Jean Smith

This section concludes the SPI case research report on Mrs Jean Smith, who experienced various psychic manifestations. SPI investigated these incidents, involving experienced researchers and a medium, Mrs Jean Glenn. Mrs Glenn relayed information suggesting Mrs Smith was highly psychic and that spirits were trying to make her aware of their presence. Mrs Smith reported experiences like seeing a "big fat priest" and having someone read over her shoulder. The investigation explored possibilities such as Mrs Smith's high psychic sensitivity, the potential for her to be a liar seeking attention, or temporal lobe activity/hallucinations. Despite extensive documentation, SPI found no definitive cause or solution, and Mrs Smith's health deteriorated, leading to her passing in 1988.

S.R.U.F.O. Case Historys

Ken Higgens of SRUFO (Scottish Research into Unidentified Flying Objects) presents two case histories:

• Case 1: Little Loch Broom, 1978: A couple witnessed a large, brightly lit, silent object, described as the size of an ocean liner, passing over the loch. The object left no vapour trail and was observed for over two minutes. Despite reports to RAF Kinloss, no confirmation was received.
• Case 2: Blairgowrie, 1985: A woman saw a large cigar-shaped object hovering above her house, which then moved off at high speed. Following this, helicopters were seen, and later, men dressed in black entered a neighbor's house. The witness described them as "Jewish (Yidish) in appearance."

S.P.I. Loch Morar Project

Malcolm Robinson details SPI's "psychic" research into Loch Morar in June/July 1990, aiming to determine if a creature similar to "Nessie" inhabited the loch. Using a Ouija board, the team communicated with a spirit named "George" who claimed to be a "spirit guide" and offered to help them see "Morag." The communication was described as rapid and somewhat garbled, with "George" making cryptic remarks about drowning and the locals seeing "something strange." The article concludes by stating that while the Ouija board "Does Work," caution is advised in interpreting its communications.

Leying The Ghost?

John Plowman discusses the concept of "ley lines," distinguishing between energy lines detectable by dowsing and straight lines linking ancient sites. He proposes a method for identifying these leys by selecting an "initial point" (local omphalos) and measuring distances in leagues. Examples are given from Edinburgh and the Pentlands, suggesting that ancient man had a sophisticated understanding of long-distance connections. The article posits that cathedrals, wells, and cairns fit into these lines of sight, and that megalithic earthworks might be ancient features attributed to folklore.

UFO Plaque Plan Praised

This news item reports that Livingston Development Corporation is designing a plaque at the site of the Dechmont Law UFO sighting in 1979, following a suggestion from Strange Phenomena Investigations (SPI). SPI president Malcolm Robinson and SRUFO chairman Ken Higgins praised the initiative, calling Bob Taylor's sighting one of the most important and well-recorded UFO incidents in Scotland.

xmas with CE IV

A brief mention of a musical presentation titled "Abduction" by the Glasgow rock group CE IV, offered as a gift idea for UFO fans.

Anatomy Of A Hoax: Cedric Allingham

Peter Hough examines the Cedric Allingham "Close Encounter" case from Lossiemouth in 1954. Allingham claimed to have met a Martian craft and spoken with a man from Mars. The article reveals that Allingham was later exposed as a hoaxer and a well-known scientific personality and UFO debunker. Robert Chapman, a journalist, was skeptical of the story due to its terrestrial language and poor-quality photographs. The article notes the evasiveness of Allingham's publishers and the difficulty in tracing witnesses, suggesting the book was a "thinly disguised novel."

News Desh

This section provides brief news items:

• D. Scott Rogo: The parapsychology author was found stabbed to death at his home in North-Bridge, USA, with no arrests made.
• Carol Compton: A Scottish woman, previously branded a witch, has written a book titled "Superstition" about her experiences with mysterious fires and strange events.
• GHOST: A film review praising the movie "Ghost" as "incredible" and "unforgettable."
• NESS NEWS: An event where Nessie hunters gathered in Loch Ness, including Lord Sutch, to win £250,000 if they could prove the monster exists. "Oceanscan" detected a large 25ft object using sonar.
• MEETINGS: Philip Mantle visited Scotland for a "Urd Debate" with members of CE IV and SPI. A subsequent meeting with SRUFO members discussed Scottish UFO incidents. SPI also attended an SRUFO meeting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, with a focus on UFOs, psychic phenomena, and historical mysteries, particularly within Scotland. There is a clear interest in investigating and documenting these events, often through the lens of organizations like SPI and SRUFO. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging readers to form their own conclusions while presenting evidence and research findings. The magazine also highlights the challenges in distinguishing genuine phenomena from hoaxes or misinterpretations, as seen in the Allingham case and the discussion around Ouija board communications.