Tidskriften Spektra - 1977 3

Magazine Overview

SPEKTRA is a Swedish magazine, with this issue being Volume 1, Issue 3, dated 1977. The cover prominently features "The Loch Ness Monster" as its main topic, promising an exploration of evidence and theories surrounding the creature.

Articles and Content

The Loch Ness Monster

The magazine dedicates a significant portion to the Loch Ness Monster, presenting a historical timeline of sightings and investigations. It begins with the earliest recorded sighting in 565 AD involving Saint Columba, followed by accounts from 1527, 1919, and numerous sightings and photographic/film evidence from the 1930s onwards. Key figures like Robert Kenneth Wilson, Tim Dinsdale, and Dr. Robert Rhines are mentioned for their contributions to documenting and investigating the phenomenon. The article discusses various theories, including the possibility of the monster being a surviving plesiosaurus, and details expeditions and the work of organizations like the Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau (LNPIB).

"Wolf Children" - A Journalistic Saga?

This section explores the phenomenon of children reportedly raised by animals. It references the myth of Romulus and Remus, and discusses modern cases, such as the 'ape boy' found in Burundi. The article presents skepticism from experts like Professor Knut Larsson and Lars Persson, who view such stories as often rooted in myth or misinterpretation, though acknowledging the theoretical possibility of animal adoption of infants. The case of Kamala and Amala, two girls reportedly raised by wolves in India, is detailed, along with the skepticism surrounding it.

The "Cursed Red Car"

This piece recounts the alleged curse surrounding a red Gräf & Stift car that was involved in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The car, after the assassination, was involved in numerous accidents and deaths, leading to its reputation as a cursed object. The article traces its ownership and the tragic fates of its subsequent owners, culminating in its destruction by bombing during World War II.

Cause Laws Govern Human Destiny

This article delves into the concept of cause and effect (karma) and its influence on human free will. It argues that while humans possess the capacity for free will, their choices are often predetermined by past actions and the universal law of cause and effect. The author suggests that humanity's current trajectory is self-destructive due to a misunderstanding and misuse of this law. The piece also touches upon spiritual knowledge, the limitations of science, and the idea of reincarnation.

Other Content

The magazine also includes a table of contents listing articles on topics such as "Stories about 'wolf children' - often a journalistic saga," "Cause laws govern human destiny," "Death constantly followed the archbishop's red car!", "The monster in Loch Ness that has baffled science for over 1,400 years," and "The divisible human - her bodily self." There is also a note about the magazine not accepting commercial advertisements and a subscription information section.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on mysteries, the paranormal, unexplained phenomena, and alternative perspectives on science and history. There is a clear interest in cryptozoology (Loch Ness Monster), unexplained events (cursed car), and esoteric or spiritual concepts (cause laws, reincarnation). The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and theories while acknowledging skepticism and encouraging readers to form their own conclusions. The magazine emphasizes its independence by not accepting advertisements, suggesting a commitment to editorial integrity.

This issue of 'Det Okända' (The Unknown) from 1977, priced at 9.50 SEK, delves into various unexplained phenomena and spiritual concepts. The cover story, "Den delbara människan - hennes okroppsliga jag" (The Divisible Human - Her Incorporeal Self), explores the idea of humans having an ethereal or psychic body separate from their physical form, and the potential for astral projection.

The Divisible Human and Astral Travel

The article posits that humans consist of both a physical body and an ethereal body, which is the true self. It suggests that through training, particularly relaxation exercises and willpower, individuals can learn to separate their ethereal body from their physical one, enabling astral travel. The author emphasizes that this is a serious endeavor, not a game, and warns those with weak psyches against attempting it. The process involves learning to relax the entire body, starting from the toes and moving upwards, eventually extending to the head. The goal is to achieve a state where the ethereal body can observe the physical body. The author stresses the importance of setting a time limit for such excursions and starting with short trips within one's home before gradually extending the range to other locations and even other worlds. The author also touches upon the concept of energy conservation, suggesting that the physical body consumes energy and that one should avoid excessive emotional states or engagements that drain this energy.

The Curse of Barbara Graham

The magazine recounts the story of Barbara Graham, a blonde woman with piercing blue eyes, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Los Angeles. Before her execution in the gas chamber at San Quentin, she issued a curse upon seven individuals involved in her trial and execution, predicting their imminent deaths. The article details how, over the following years, the judge, prosecutor's assistant, San Quentin's executioner, the prosecutor, and two witnesses all died under mysterious or unfortunate circumstances, seemingly fulfilling Graham's curse. The only survivor mentioned is her lawyer, J. Miller Leavy, who was 70 years old at the time of writing.

The Mystery of the Mummified Cat

This section details the strange case of a mummified cat, buried alive 300 years prior in Sudbury, England, as a superstitious practice to ward off evil spirits. When the cat's remains were unearthed during renovations of a former mining hotel, a series of peculiar disasters followed. These included the bankruptcy of the hotel developers, a fire that destroyed an office where the cat was temporarily stored, another fire that consumed a farm, and a partial collapse of the hotel's roof. In each instance, the mummified cat was found unharmed. The cat was eventually reburied within the hotel premises.

The Shrinking Road

An inexplicable event occurred in England where a road, B1163, was reportedly widened by the road authority. However, after the work was completed, the road was found to be narrower than before, shrinking from 6.3 meters to 5.7 meters in width. Road officials and a taxpayers' organization expressed bafflement and concern over the incident, with no clear explanation found despite investigations.

The Humming Sound

Donald Wood of Dorstone, Herefordshire, England, began hearing a persistent, high-frequency humming sound during a power outage. Initially dismissed as distant machinery, the sound continued and was also heard by his wife. They were the only ones in their village who could perceive it, leading them to question their sanity. The phenomenon later spread to others, including a piano tuner named Tom Berris in Finchley, London, who identified the sound as a combination of three specific musical tones. Scientists, including Dr. Roger Thornton, have been unable to provide a definitive explanation, ruling out psychological causes like blood circulation and deeming the possibility of low-frequency radio waves unlikely due to the required transmission power and antenna size.

The Handprint of Tom Fisher

The article describes a mysterious handprint on the wall of a cell in Carbons State Prison in Pennsylvania, USA. Prisoner Tom Fisher, executed in 1878 for murder, left his handprint on the cell wall, proclaiming it would remain as proof of his innocence. Despite numerous attempts to wash and paint over it, the handprint consistently reappears. Geologists and prison officials are baffled by the phenomenon, with analysis showing no trace of grease or fat, which would be expected from a handprint.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained, the paranormal, and the spiritual. 'Det Okända' consistently explores phenomena that defy conventional scientific explanation, ranging from curses and spectral occurrences to alleged psychic abilities and mysterious physical evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting them as genuine mysteries worthy of investigation and discussion, without necessarily endorsing supernatural explanations but rather highlighting the persistent questions they raise.