Stoff - 1989 No 2

Magazine Overview

This is the second issue of STOFF, a small, unpretentious UFO magazine published in September 1989. The magazine's full title is 'Stockholms Tidning om Oidentifierade Flygande Föremål' (Stockholm's Newspaper on Unidentified Flying Objects). It is published by STUFO and is in Swedish.

Table of Contents

• The issue features several articles and sections:
• WINFIELD BROWNE: A CONTACT MAN
• THE POLLEN KING'S STORY FROM 1946: A PRESS CLIP
• HALLUCINATIONS: A COMMON PHENOMENON
• AND MUCH ELSE!!

Editorial (Ledare)

The editorial highlights that this is the second issue of STOFF, emphasizing its aim to be a small, unpretentious publication that encourages reader contributions, letters, and discussions. It states that the magazine will also report on local UFO cases, though acknowledges that observations in the Stockholm area are not frequently reported to them. The editorial welcomes articles from readers and is open to other UFO organizations and enthusiasts. The name STOFF is explained as 'Stockholms Tidning om Oidentifierade Flygande Föremål'.

The editorial then shifts to discuss quasi-religious movements and the tendency within ufology to solely attribute UFOs to alien spacecraft. It argues that this popular view, often promoted by media and certain figures, is not always accurate and can deter those with more open perspectives. The editorial criticizes a form of 'ufo culture' that involves people believing UFOs are vehicles from Venus or Mars, inhabited by benevolent beings. It mentions a recent lecture in Stockholm by an American named Winfield Brownel, who spoke about Venusians and other strange theories, and notes that such speakers often sell accompanying literature at high prices. The magazine promises a more detailed report on this lecture.

The editorial concludes by urging readers to be critical of claims, even if they sound plausible, as knowledge in ufology is often limited.

Membership Fees for 1989

The magazine lists the membership fees for STUFO for 1989, including options with and without 'UFO-Aktuellt' (UFO-Current Affairs).

Winfield Brownel Lecture Report

This section details a lecture given by Winfield Brownel at Vasa Gymnasium on September 7, 1989, reported by Elsie Molin. The lecture began with the chairman of the organizing group, Antakarana, speaking, though his voice was difficult to hear. Brownel's wife, Wathea Sims, then sang three songs to set an 'American' mood. Winfield Brownel's lecture focused on the importance of love for fellow humans and then transitioned to discussing space beings, stating they are everywhere and that anyone could be one. He claimed his wife and he had traveled to Venus via spaceship years ago. He mentioned other contactees like George Adamski, Daniel Fry, and van Tassel, and promoted his own book 'UFOS' for 165 SEK. Brownel spoke of a future 'planet of love' and that those who do not evolve will be moved to another planet. He referred to many attendees as 'Star people' sent to assist humanity. The report notes that Brownel, who is 84 years old, needed to sit down at one point. The chairman announced seminars with reduced prices. Brownel continued his lecture, stating that spaceships came to Earth because scientists experimented with atomic bombs and that the beings are here to protect humanity. He described 'Ashtar' as the 'chief manager of the space ships' destined for Europe. He mentioned that some beings are small, others large, and that they sometimes abduct people or take them for rides. Spaceships can become invisible in the fourth dimension or make themselves visible. Some ships are as large as small planets, potentially carrying 300,000 people. The report claims that the last six presidents had been contacted privately by extraterrestrials, with Eisenhower spending an afternoon with them.

Following the lecture, slides of American newspaper clippings were shown, followed by a break. After the break, Brownel answered more questions, discussing beings from the sixth dimension who can travel without spaceships by visualizing their destination. He also explained that spaceship travel takes 3.5 hours to reach light speed and another 3.5 hours to decelerate. The chairman then spoke about a book on faster-than-light travel. The lecture concluded with Brownel channeling 'Ashtar', who spoke about love and the 'new age'. The report ends with the chairman mentioning a new book, 'Star Peace', and upcoming trips and films.

The reporter, Elsie Molin, reflects on why Brownel shares these stories, questioning if he believes them or is a charlatan. She recalls his mention of traveling to Venus and observes the audience, mostly around 60-70 years old, seemed interested and eager. She concludes that the topic is similar to spiritism, with beings speaking through mediums, and that this might be a modern form of it, far removed from serious UFO research.

Competition (Tävling)

A competition is announced, repeating a riddle from the previous issue. Two winners will receive Bellman lottery tickets. The riddle involves calculating a person's age based on a cryptic description.

Delays (Förseningar)

The magazine acknowledges that this issue is delayed due to minimal personal resources. However, two new volunteers have joined to help produce the magazine, and they are looking for more people to help with layout and assembly.

Reflections on the 'Saucer Cult'

This section offers a critical perspective on the 'saucer cult' or 'tefatsrörelse', calling it an outdated branch of ufology. It suggests that new generations of 'easily fooled' people continue to support this commercialized religion. The author argues that this genre has failed because prominent figures like George Adamski, Daniel Fry, and Billy Meier have not convinced a broad audience, only a small group of dreamers and fanatics. The author believes this is economically profitable but detrimental to serious ufology, which is more restrained and less spectacular. By alienating influential people with 'bluff and deception', the serious side of ufology is also affected.

Ask the Editor (Frågelådan)

This section invites readers to submit questions, promising answers if known. The address for submissions is provided.

Pollenkungen: I Saw a Saucer Land

This article recounts the story of Gösta Carlsson, an SJ-worker, who claims to have encountered beings from a spacecraft on May 18, 1946, near Ängelholm. He describes seeing a spaceship in a clearing and interacting with its occupants. He initially wrote a report for the defense staff but did not send it, fearing he would be institutionalized. He states he is no longer trying to make money from his story and that he has proven he is not mentally ill. He describes the beings as similar to humans but with a more Mediterranean appearance and developed female forms. He mentions seeing men with short hair and sideburns, a fashion he later adopted. He observed five women and six men working on the ship. One woman winked at him. After about an hour, the ship left. He later experienced what he describes as a 'dream' where his consciousness was transferred to the spaceship, and he received explanations about their communication methods and travel capabilities. He mentions that the beings had to bury two deceased crew members and wrapped them in branches due to concerns about Earth bacteria. He also found a ring and observed burnt circles in the grass where the ship had landed. He later became interested in pollen and discovered a secret method for making pollen extract.

Radio Waves

This section continues Gösta Carlsson's account, describing a nocturnal experience where he was inside the spaceship and observed a woman concentrating, with a TV screen displaying changing text. He was told this was their communication method, as radio waves were too slow for their travel speed. He also mentions a feeling of paralysis during these experiences, similar to what astronauts report. He claims to have found a ring and observed burnt circles in the grass where the spaceship had landed. He later had his soil samples analyzed, which showed no radioactivity but contained ash fragments and burnt roots. He notes that 25 years later, the landing marks were still visible.

Press Clippings

This section includes a brief statement from Gösta Carlsson asserting that he does not read science fiction but is interested in scientific work, and that he is recounting what he has personally seen and experienced. It also references Whitley Strieber's work on similar experiences.

Commentary on the Case

This commentary notes that Gösta Carlsson has altered details of his story over time, particularly regarding a 'quartz rod' which he now claims is kept in a foreign bank vault.

Books on Hallucinatory Experiences

This section, written by Elsie Molin, reviews several books that deal with hallucinatory experiences. It begins by stating that such experiences are common and not necessarily indicative of mental illness.

• Whitley Strieber's 'Närkontakt' (Communion): The author suggests this book is interesting for comparison with other accounts of hallucinatory experiences. Several types of hallucinations are described:
• Eidetic images: People, especially children, with photographic memories who can recall images in detail.
• Hypnagogic images: Images seen on the retina when falling asleep, which can include realistic scenes but usually disappear quickly.
• Pseudohallucinations: Similar to hypnagogic images but appearing in the air, perceived as distinct from reality.
• Hallucinations: Images so realistic that they are indistinguishable from reality.

• Astrid Gilmark's books: Gilmark, who claims to be psychic, developed the ability to 'see' and 'hear' deceased individuals. Her books convey messages from the departed. A story from her book 'Jag vet' (I Know) describes an out-of-body experience during surgery where she resisted returning to her body.

• Mikael B Sabom's 'I dödens gränsland' (In the Borderland of Death): This book explores near-death experiences (NDEs) based on interviews with patients who were clinically dead but revived. Sabom categorizes NDEs into transcendental (e.g., tunnel of light, deceased relatives) and autoscopic (e.g., observing oneself and medical procedures). The report notes that the exact cause of NDEs remains unknown.

• Agneta Uppman's 'Ut ur kroppen' (Out of the Body): Uppman describes frequent out-of-body experiences, often preceded by sleep paralysis. These experiences involve floating and traveling, but are described as more fantastical than realistic compared to Sabom's accounts. Her twin sister in England also has similar experiences.

• Elinor Rohlin's 'En värld i världen' (A World in the World): Rohlin experiences numerous hallucinations, often triggered by her thoughts, readings, or interests, such as spiritism. She describes seeing angels and other figures. The section also discusses telepathic hallucinations (experiencing events before they happen) and precognitive hallucinations (visions of future events), citing examples of her experiences.

• Whitley Strieber's 'Närkontakt' (Communion) revisited: The article discusses Strieber's book, which is described as strange and filled with terrifying hallucinations. It mentions his experiences of being taken from his room, encountering small, strange beings, and the commonality of such 'room' experiences in abduction accounts. Strieber also undergoes hypnosis to recall hidden memories, sometimes resulting in visions related to his previous writings on nuclear war. The article questions if Strieber can telepathically influence others and mentions experiments on dream telepathy. It also touches upon collective hallucinations, where multiple people experience the same phenomenon.

• Telepathic Hallucinations: The article mentions Strieber's experience of a blue light and a subsequent event where he thought the chimney was on fire, leading to a loud bang heard by his family. It also discusses a collective hallucination described by GNM Tyrell, where a couple saw a house that did not exist.

• Strieber's abilities: The article notes that Strieber's experiences often occur at night or under hypnosis. He claims to be able to influence electrical devices, causing short circuits. The author suggests that Strieber sometimes tells untrue stories, which complicates the interpretation of his book.

Call for Articles

The magazine requests submissions of articles from talented writers for discussion and debate.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of STOFF include UFO sightings, extraterrestrial contact experiences, and the nature of consciousness and perception, particularly concerning hallucinations. The magazine appears to adopt a critical yet open stance towards UFO phenomena, encouraging reader participation and discussion while also cautioning against uncritical acceptance of claims, especially those that are commercialized or lack evidence. The editorial explicitly warns against the 'ufo culture' that promotes simplistic explanations and emphasizes the need for critical thinking. There is a clear distinction made between serious UFO research and what the magazine terms 'charlatanism' or 'bluff'. The publication seems to aim for a balanced approach, presenting various accounts while maintaining a degree of skepticism and encouraging a more grounded investigation of the subject.

This issue of STOFF, dated December 1989, focuses on the "UFO SVERIGES RIKSSTÄMMA 1989" (UFO Sweden National Conference 1989). The magazine is published by STUFO in Sweden and is in Swedish.

Rikstämman 1989 Report

The Rikstämman 1989 took place in April at ABF's Z-hall in Stockholm. Approximately 200 people attended the event, which began at 10 AM with internal UFO-Sverige negotiations until 12 PM. The ufology seminar commenced at 1:30 PM and concluded at 7:30 PM, making it a long but evidently rewarding day for those involved. While there were mixed reviews, the positive feedback predominated. A moment of panic occurred when it was discovered that ABF had failed to provide the advertised 8mm film projector, which Gösta Linderholm was supposed to use for his film. This, along with an hour's delay in the program, created some pressure. However, the situation was resolved when two staff members "sacrificed" their time to retrieve a projector from a member's home. The rest of the day consisted of a reasonably balanced mix of presentations, most of which were of good quality.

Due to the success of this event, UFO-Sverige has been entrusted with organizing the conference again in 1990. The details of how this will be managed are currently unclear, but members are encouraged to contribute ideas for the program. Planning should begin immediately, and suggestions are welcomed.

Suggestions for Future Events

One suggestion is to extend the debate panel time from one hour to two hours. It was noted that the atmosphere became lively towards the end of the debate, only for it to conclude.

Call for Writers and Submissions

The magazine is actively seeking skilled writers for articles. Anyone with contributions for the ongoing debate is encouraged to submit their viewpoints. Submissions should be addressed to:

STOFF-Artiklar
STUFO
Box 137
145 01 NORSBORG

Furthermore, STOFF emphasizes the importance of diverse opinions within the UFO field, stating that no single entity should monopolize the title of "UFO expert" given the limited knowledge about UFOs. Readers are invited to send their best contributions and insights to:

STOFF-Insändare
STUFO
Box 137
145 01 NORSBORG

Book Reviews and Recommendations

The issue includes a section discussing books related to the paranormal and psychological phenomena. Harald Schjelderup's book "Den dolda människan" (The Hidden Human) is reviewed. The author covers topics such as psychoanalysis, hypnosis, automatic writing, trance states, personality splitting, spiritualism, hallucinations, precognition, and psychokinesis. The final chapter, "Vad händer med oss?" (What happens to us after death?), is highlighted. The book is described as easy to read and very interesting.

Other books mentioned include those by Astrid Gilmark and Elinor Rohlin, who are described as spiritists interested in seeing spirits of the deceased, fairies, and biblical scenes. Whitley Strieber is mentioned for his interest in seeing terrifying figures, suggesting his subconscious is a cauldron from which such images emerge, potentially leading to a horror novel. The reviewer notes that these books, from a UFO research perspective, hold value.

It is mentioned that most of the books discussed are available at the City Library, with the exception of Elinor Rohlin's book, which costs approximately 84 SEK.

Announcements and Contact Information

Advertisements are discussed, with the organization (likely STUFO) being a non-profit entity with limited turnover, thus not subject to tax or VAT. This allows them to offer advertising space for free, with advertisers contributing to the organization instead. Symbolic amounts are charged for ad space: 200 SEK for a full page, 110 SEK for a half page, and 65 SEK for a quarter page. Advertisers are encouraged to make a contribution equivalent to the symbolic fee.

Contact information for STUFO is provided:

Address:
STUFO
Box 137
145 01 NORSBORG

Telephone:
0753-858 57

Postgiro:
440 19 83 - 4

Next Issue Information

Regarding the next issue, it is stated that if all goes well, it will be published at the beginning of December 1989. It is also noted that STOFF will only publish a maximum of three issues in 1989 due to time constraints.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO conferences, the importance of diverse opinions in ufology, and the exploration of paranormal and psychological phenomena through books. The editorial stance appears to be one of openness to various viewpoints and a desire to foster debate and participation within the UFO community. There is a clear emphasis on community involvement, seeking contributions from writers and readers alike, and promoting the organization's activities and events.