Tidskriften Spektra - 1977 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of SPEKTRA (Volume 1, Issue 1, 1977) is a Swedish magazine focused on paranormal phenomena, mysteries, and alternative perspectives. The cover features a striking blue emblem with a stylized face and the magazine's title, alongside a prominent headline about ghosts in a hotel and other intriguing topics like "Pursued by inexplicable fires" and "Human psychic powers." The issue includes a photograph of Eric Brännholm and actor Halvar Björk, linked to the haunted rectory in Borgvattnet.

Editorial Stance and Aims

The editorial, "Detta vill vi med SPEKTRA" (This is what we want with SPEKTRA), penned by Carl-Axel Jonzon, sets a clear tone for the magazine. It emphasizes a desire for a "NEW newspaper, a way of thinking!" The editorial criticizes humanity's destructive tendencies and calls for a re-evaluation of our path, advocating for a focus on preserving life. Spektra aims to cover topics such as UFOs, parapsychology, hypnosis, telepathy, ESP, New Age philosophy, and survival problems, seeking to awaken readers to these issues and encourage a new way of thinking.

Articles and Features

"Vad är folktro?" (What is folk belief?)

By Tea Sannebrant, this article questions the scientific dismissal of folk beliefs. It contrasts the scientific view of folk belief as "superstition" arising from ignorance with the persistent presence of such beliefs across cultures. The author recounts personal experiences with dice-throwing and card-guessing, linking them to parapsychological research, and questions why these are considered trivial by mainstream science while other phenomena, like moving objects, are studied. The article touches on a personal encounter with a mysterious, swirling, blue-white dim figure, raising questions about its nature and its relation to scientific explanations.

"Personbil utan förare i vansinneskörning på holländska vägar." (Driverless car in a mad dash on Dutch roads.)

This article details the classic mystery of Vincent Mansfelt's self-driving car in Eidhoven, Netherlands, on September 13, 1934. The car was found miles away, locked, with the alarm set, and no driver. The report recounts multiple witnesses, including police, who saw the car driving erratically without anyone at the wheel, and the subsequent investigation that yielded no explanation.

"Jan Ove Sundberg presenterar sin specialspalt i Spektra: 'Rapport från det okända'" (Jan Ove Sundberg presents his special column in Spektra: 'Report from the unknown')

This introductory column by Jan Ove Sundberg introduces his new section dedicated to exploring mysteries and unexplained phenomena. He references Charles Hoy Fort and the concept of "Forteana," promising to cover topics like the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, UFOs, and other strange occurrences that defy conventional scientific explanation.

"I medeltidens England: Kom de gröna barnen från en underjordisk värld?" (In medieval England: Did the green children come from an underground world?)

This article investigates the historical mystery of the "green children" of Woolpit, England, dating back to the 12th century. It recounts the story of two green-skinned children who emerged from a cave, their integration into the local community, and the theories surrounding their origin, including the possibility of an underground or even extraterrestrial world.

"Om människans roll på planeten Tellus" (On the role of humans on planet Tellus)

This article, part of a series, discusses the role of humans in the universe, tracing their evolution from ancient times. It critiques religious interpretations and suggests that humanity has been misled. The author posits that advanced civilizations existed millions of years ago and that humans may be descendants of beings from another planet, placed on Earth as a form of exile. It touches upon the concept of "cause and effect" as a fundamental law.

"Prästgården blev spökhotell och räddar avfolkningsbygd!" (The rectory became a ghost hotel and saves a depopulated village!)

This feature focuses on the haunted rectory in Borgvattnet, Sweden, and its transformation into a "ghost hotel" by Eric Brännholm. The article details the paranormal experiences reported by visitors and former residents, including actor Halvar Björk. Brännholm explains his motivation for turning the rectory into a tourist attraction, aiming to revitalize the local economy. The piece also touches upon the historical accounts of hauntings and the various theories attempting to explain them.

"De psykiska krafternas gåta. Natur, växelverkan och överföring av psykisk energi." (The riddle of psychic powers. Nature, interaction, and transmission of psychic energy.)

This article, attributed to Alfred Herrman, explores the nature of psychic forces, contrasting them with material forces. It discusses phenomena like life, hypnosis, telepathy, telekinesis, and precognition, suggesting that psychic energy is distinct from material energy and capable of independent choice. The article delves into the complexities of brain function and the transmission of signals, questioning the purely material explanations for these processes and hinting at connections to unknown zones of the universe or parallel universes.

"Gåtan med andlig helbrägdagörelse" (The riddle of spiritual healing)

This section examines spiritual healing and clairvoyance, suggesting that these abilities stem from psychic energy. It discusses the concept of "soma" (the human body's self-healing mechanism) and how it can be influenced by psychic emanations from healers, sacred places, or even inanimate objects. The article also briefly mentions Kirlian photography and its potential to reveal energy fields around the body.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Spektra are the exploration of the unexplained, the questioning of mainstream scientific and religious dogma, and the search for deeper truths about human existence and the universe. The magazine adopts a stance that is open to paranormal phenomena, historical mysteries, and alternative interpretations of reality. It aims to challenge readers' perceptions and encourage critical thinking about topics often dismissed by conventional sources. The editorial clearly states its intention to present a "NEW way of thinking" and to address issues that are vital for the future of life.

Title: SPEKTRA
Issue: 1977
Date: 1977
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Cover Headline: Unexplained fires cremate people and destroy homes

This issue of SPEKTRA delves into the perplexing phenomenon of unexplained fires, exploring cases where individuals and objects spontaneously combust, leaving authorities baffled and searching for answers. The magazine presents a collection of documented incidents, suggesting a pattern of mysterious events that defy conventional scientific explanation.

Oförklarliga bränder kremerar människor och förintar bostäder (Unexplained Fires Cremate People and Destroy Homes)

The lead article, "Oförklarliga bränder kremerar människor och förintar bostäder," investigates the ancient and mysterious nature of fire, positing that it may possess an unknown force capable of spontaneous combustion. The text references ancient chronicles and historical accounts that suggest fire is a natural force whose secrets have never been fully grasped by science.

The Mystery of the Flaming Eldars

The article highlights the phenomenon of spontaneous ignition, where objects, buildings, and even people can burst into flames without any apparent external cause. This phenomenon has been observed globally, leaving scientists and fire experts powerless.

The Case of the Flaming Eldars

A family of ten living near Cape Town, South Africa, has been living in fear due to inexplicable fires erupting in their home. Draperies, clothing, and even Bibles have spontaneously ignited. The family has been forced to move multiple times. Police investigations, including forensic analysis of burnt items, have yielded no chemical explanations for the fires. The family believes they are being persecuted by an evil force. The fires reportedly began on May 5, 1975, and have occurred at least a hundred times since. The mother, Andrecia van Reenen, recounts instances of curtains and a child's bed catching fire, and even their family Bibles burning simultaneously. City Notary Donald Anderson and Pastor Jacobus van Zyl have witnessed some of these events, with the pastor attributing them to mysterious and evil forces.

The Hackler Family Fire

Shifting to the USA, the magazine recounts a series of inexplicable fires that plagued the William Hackler family in Odon, Indiana, in 1951. An insurance investigation by Travelers concluded that no flammable substances or electrical appliances were the cause. Over a period of three hours, nine fires broke out in the house, destroying various items, including a wall almanac, overalls, and a book that burned from the inside out. By 11 PM, twenty-eight locations in the house had experienced fires. The family was forced to demolish and rebuild their home. The insurance company's report stated that no theory seemed plausible, leaving the case as mysterious to authorities as it was to them.

The Cherry King Incident

In Glendive, Montana, USA, on January 10, 1958, Mrs. Cherry King experienced curtains in her living room spontaneously igniting. Similar incidents occurred in the kitchen and a bedroom. Fire Captain Smith investigated but found no cause. Despite disconnecting all electrical appliances and airing out the house, the fires continued. Over the following week, five more fires broke out, affecting clothing and a tablecloth. Mrs. King's daughter and boyfriend were injured by the fires.

The Dominion Golf and Country Club Fires

Seven years prior to December 1941, a series of unexplained fires occurred at the Dominion Golf and Country Club near Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Fires started with a piece of paper igniting in a locker room, followed by tablecloths catching fire. The club's owner, Nicholas Whits, and his staff attempted to extinguish the fires, which spread rapidly. The fires were described as having peculiar patterns, leading local newspapers to attribute them to various 'pyromaniacs.'

The Case of Mary Reesner

On the morning of July 2, 1951, Mrs. Pamela M. Carpenter in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, found her mother, 67-year-old Mary Reesner, dead in her armchair. The door to her mother's room was locked, and the doorknob was extremely hot. The room was unbearably hot, despite the windows being open. Mary Reesner had been cremated, leaving only ashes. Investigations by fire experts and pathologists concluded that an unimaginable heat had cremated her, a phenomenon that defied scientific understanding of fire. The cause remained undetermined.

The Case of Eva Ola Godfrey

In the summer of 1965, fire experts were called to the home of Eva Ola Godfrey in Wichita, Kansas, USA. The 76-year-old woman was found cremated by fire, yet her clothing remained undamaged. An investigative commission worked on the case for three months without success.

The Casanova Cabaret Fire

On January 6, 1939, authorities in Le Havre, France, investigated a fire that destroyed the Casanova cabaret, resulting in two deaths and eight injuries. Witnesses reported seeing white, finger-like flames dancing along the floor and up the walls. The cause of the fire remained a mystery.

Fire Rain in Lapland

An article from the Swedish newspaper "Nordiska Dagbladet" on July 29, 1938, describes a fire disaster in the small village of Parajäevaara in northern Lapland. Glowing spheres resembling fire descended from a cloudy sky, setting fire to everything flammable in the village. One person was cremated, and several others were severely burned. Five houses were completely destroyed. Local residents dismissed theories of ball lightning, as they heard no explosions.

Fire Rain in Australia and New Zealand

Reports from "Otago Witness" and "The Sydney (Australia) Herald" in November and December 1902, detail a fire catastrophe over a sixty-day period in Australia and New Zealand. Fireballs rained down from dark storm clouds, igniting villages and causing widespread destruction and injuries. A meteorologist from Sydney stated that it was an entirely unknown phenomenon, not ball lightning.

The Mystery of Nordmanneröd

Since June 15, 1942, unexplained fires have occurred in a forest area in Nordmanneröd, a few kilometers east of Uddevalla in Bohuslän, Sweden. For 34 years, fires have continued to break out in this area. The 126th fire occurred in the summer of 1975. Police have spent thousands of hours investigating but have found no clues. Criminal Inspector Sven Axelsson stated that the fires seem to occur by supernatural means, with no witnesses or evidence found, not even a match. The fires have damaged homes, barns, and large forest areas.

UFO-Sverige and Cosmic Fantasy

The issue also includes information about UFO-Sverige, featuring an emblem for sale. Additionally, it promotes "Kosmiska Fantasier Nr. 1 (Cosmic Fantasy Nr. 1)," an album of relaxation and meditation music by composer and pianist Jan Sandell.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained fires, spontaneous human combustion, and paranormal phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of investigation and reporting on these mysterious events, presenting them as factual accounts that challenge conventional understanding. The magazine encourages readers to share their own experiences with the paranormal, suggesting an openness to phenomena beyond ordinary explanation.