Wild Places - No 2

Magazine Overview

'The Wild Places' No. 2 is the second issue of 'The Journal of Strange and Dangerous Beliefs'. This issue delves into a variety of topics on the fringes of belief and investigation, including crop circles, alien contact, spiritualism, and the nature of belief itself. It features articles by various authors, including Jenny Randles, Andy Roberts, Clive Potter, Philip Mantle, Andrew Walmsley, and Dr. John Shaw, with contributions and comments from ufologists and academics.

Circular Logic by Jenny Randles

Jenny Randles discusses the crop circle phenomenon, tracing its early investigation and the prevailing 'whirlwind' hypothesis proposed by Dr. Terence Meaden. She recounts how this scientific approach was challenged by publications like 'Flying Saucer Review' (FSR), which began to promote more sensational explanations, including alien involvement. Randles notes that this shift, partly fueled by media hype and the involvement of figures like Pat Delgado and Colin Andrews, led to a proliferation of 'pseudo-circles' and hoaxes, which she argues have critically injured serious research into the phenomenon. She expresses frustration that weather-based research initiatives have not been mounted due to the focus on publicity and 'catching a circle in formation', rather than scientific study. Randles believes that the true phenomenon is natural and long-standing, and that proper research will eventually persuade science, even if it means fewer and less spectacular circles.

When I'm Calling Cthulhu

This article explores the enduring influence of H.P. Lovecraft and the 'Cthulhu Mythos'. The author draws parallels between Lovecraft's horror stories, which often feature hidden worlds and ancient cosmic entities, and contemporary UFO phenomena such as abductions, crashed aliens, and Greys. The article highlights how Lovecraft's work has inspired a dedicated following, including role-playing games and magazines like 'Dagon'. It discusses the tendency for some to view Lovecraft as an 'initiate' privy to hidden universal truths, a phenomenon compared to the perception of Houdini as a medium. The piece also mentions 'The Esoteric Order of Dagon' and its publication 'Starry Wisdom', which delves into magical systems and beliefs related to Lovecraft's work.

End Times Bulletin: Alien Contact or Armageddon?

This section presents four case studies investigated by BUFORA and the Independent UFO Network (IUN), focusing on individuals who claim to have had 'alien contact' and received information about the future of Earth. The cases include Gary Harlow, who believes he is instrumental in fulfilling biblical prophecies; David Rogers, who has experienced 'missing time' and clairvoyance, foreseeing a nuclear holocaust; and Patricia Mee, who feels 'different' and has received information about other civilizations and a three-planet system.

Graham Allen recounts a typical 'missing time' experience and subsequent mental communications about physics and reality, leading him to believe that Earth is about to undergo severe physical and spiritual changes, with 1992 marked as a significant year.

Comments by Clive Potter, Philip Mantle, and Andrew Walmsley suggest that these experiences might represent contact with another form of consciousness rather than strictly extraterrestrial beings, possibly occurring in altered states of consciousness or the collective unconscious. They note the increase in messages concerning impending doom and the convergence of various prophecies and messages around the concept of 'End Times' and 'Armageddon', often pointing to 1992.

Dr. John Shaw offers a psychological perspective, suggesting that individuals like those quoted are 'sensitive' and are expressing warnings about impending global problems through symbolic forms, such as UFOs and alien beings. He cautions against taking specific dates like 1992 literally, noting that many such predictions have failed. He concludes that while the form of the message may be symbolic, the underlying warning about the planet's state is significant.

Subterranean Homesick Greys by Andy Roberts

Andy Roberts examines the prevailing narrative in American ufology, characterized by the concept of 'greys' inhabiting underground bases, often in collusion with the U.S. government. Roberts argues that this scenario, which has become widely accepted, is largely a product of modern oral tradition and media dissemination, heavily influenced by the work of Budd Hopkins and Whitley Streiber. He suggests that the homogenization of UFO stories, particularly the focus on 'greys' and abductions, is a result of authors and investigators shaping the narrative. Roberts posits that the 'grey' has become a staple of UFO lore, and that the interpretation of experiences as alien contact is influenced by UFO mythology and regression hypnosis.

The article traces the origins of the 'underground dwelling' and 'government conspiracy' themes back to Richard Shaver's pulp fiction stories from the 1940s, which also featured cave dwellers tampering with humans. Roberts highlights how these themes predate the more widely known UFO paranoia of the 1950s. He also discusses Bob Lazar's claims about working at Los Alamos and encountering crashed UFOs and dead aliens, illustrating how such narratives are spread and accepted within the UFO community, often through radio shows and word-of-mouth.

Reviews

This section includes reviews of two books:

• 'Turmoil In The Toybox' by Phil Phillips: Reviewed by John Grant, this book is described as discovering 'smut' and latent satanism in children's toys, such as Gummie Bears and My Little Ponies, linking them to Lucifer worship and the undermining of childhood morality. Grant expresses strong disapproval of the book's premise and its potential impact on children.

Journal Listings

A comprehensive list of publications related to ufology, paranormal research, and strange beliefs is provided, including their titles, publishers, addresses, and subscription details. These include 'Foaftale News', 'Folklore Frontiers', 'Fortean Times', 'Hidden History', 'International UFO Reporter', 'Journal of UFO Studies', 'Kindred Spirit', 'The Lamp of Thoth', 'The Leading Edge', 'The Ley Hunter', 'London Earth Mysteries Circle Journal', 'Magonia', 'Meyn Mamuro', 'MUFON UFO Journal', and 'Northern Earth Mysteries'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the exploration of 'strange and dangerous beliefs', particularly concerning UFO phenomena and alleged alien contact. The magazine appears to favor a critical and analytical approach, distinguishing between scientific investigation (like Dr. Meaden's work on crop circles) and more sensationalized or speculative interpretations driven by media hype and popular belief. There is a clear emphasis on the sociological and psychological aspects of these beliefs, questioning how they are formed, disseminated, and accepted within communities. The editorial stance seems to lean towards a skeptical but open-minded investigation of these phenomena, encouraging readers to draw their own conclusions while providing them with diverse perspectives and resources for further research. The journal also highlights the growing concern about impending global crises, as reported by individuals claiming alien contact.

Title: Two Worlds
Issue: Vol. 2 No. 1
Date: March 1991
Publisher: Two Worlds
Country: UK
Price: £2

This issue of 'Two Worlds' magazine presents a diverse collection of articles and columns exploring fringe topics, with a strong emphasis on UFOs, conspiracy theories, New Age beliefs, Spiritualism, and crop circles. The magazine adopts a generally skeptical yet open-minded approach, encouraging critical thinking and dialogue.

Key Articles and Columns

Cross Talk

The 'Cross Talk' column begins by noting the decline of the 'Satanic Child Abuse' industry in the media, attributing this to publications like 'The Mail' and 'The Independent'. It also mentions the exclusion of Maureen Davies from her powerbase, the Reachout Trust. The column then critiques the 'New Age Bulletin' by Roy and Ray Livesey, highlighting their fundamentalist fears about World Government and their strong anti-Catholic stance, particularly their labeling of Pope John Paul II as 'the antichrist'. Prophecy Today is also discussed for its concerns about the Gulf War and its interpretation of events through a 'New Age' and biblical lens, with Editor Clifford Hill seeing it as a precursor to world evangelization.

The 'Last Trumpet Newsletter' is presented as a more traditional conspiracy theory source, linking the Gulf War to the Illuminati and Masons. The column also touches upon 'Christianity Today' and 'Alpha Christian News, Analysis and Insight', noting their focus on detecting 'demonized' individuals and their sometimes controversial views on homosexuality.

Talking to Strangers

This section critically examines Spiritualism, contrasting it with the 'wacky world of UFO contacts'. The author, while acknowledging past involvement and respect for Spiritualist churches, questions whether Spiritualism still offers sufficient evidence for the survival of the human personality. The piece contrasts the past era of materialization and ectoplasm with the current state of 'platform clairvoyance', which is described as a predictable, one-way communication process lacking genuine dialogue or verifiable evidence. The author suggests that mediums may be deluded or that 'there's nobody there at all', despite individual instances where survival might have been suggested.

The column also touches upon the 'drift' of Spiritualism towards Christianity and the 'New Age', and the author expresses a desire for effective dialogue with the deceased, inviting contributions.

Mixed Messages

This section features a letter from Matt Hopkins critiquing Hilary Evans' article 'The Ultimate Myth'. Hopkins argues that Evans, along with other researchers like Sprinkle and Vallee, suffers from a 'visual defect' of seeing the UFO/contact experience as inherently positive and purposeful, failing to acknowledge the darker aspects and potential malevolence of alien encounters. Hopkins contends that the evidence suggests humans are under siege from 'very nasty beings' and that self-interest, not altruism, motivates these entities.

Another letter from Peter A. Hough challenges Hilary Evans' generalization that close encounter and abduction percipients believe they are being visited by extraterrestrials. Hough, based on his interviews, states that percipients often react with guarded objectivity and do not necessarily interpret their experiences as alien visitation, especially when hypnosis is involved in recalling memories.

Eddie Tooke writes about his transition from dialectical materialism to a belief in survival after death, emphasizing that such beliefs are not subject to empirical proof but rather to statistical probability. He recounts an experience at a Spiritualist meeting where a medium provided seemingly accurate, albeit limited, information, which he interprets as evidence for survival.

News from the Front

This section reviews a selection of magazines and journals related to UFOs, Forteana, and the paranormal. Publications reviewed include:

• Annals of the Enquiring: A new UFO/Fortean magazine with potential but lacking depth.
• Australian Parapsychological Review: Praised for its solid, professional material, including articles on healing and near-death experiences.
• Brimstone: A 'Satanic' magazine described as rude, tasteless, and entertaining.
• Caveat Emptor: Features an interview with Dr. David Jacobs on abduction and a retrospective on Howard Menger.
• The Cereologist: Focuses on crop circles, discussing the 'Bratton Castle Disaster' and the 'Crop Circle Belief System'.
• Crop Watcher: A skeptical publication on crop circles, emphasizing para-meteorological explanations.
• Dark Lily: Covers contacts, fringe paganism, and the Sorcerer's Apprentice Fighting Fund.
• Foaftale News: Praised for its fascinating 'friend of a friend' stories, particularly an article on the 'Black Volga' child abduction legends in Poland and Russia.
• Folklore Frontiers: A well-presented magazine covering various folklore and mystery topics.
• Fortean Times: Considered the best-presented magazine in the field, though criticized for relying on tabloid sources.
• Hidden History: A pleasant mix of ancient history, archaeology, and mysteries.
• International UFO Reporter: Criticized for its focus on the Roswell Crash, deeming it stale and over-researched.
• Journal of UFO Studies: Described as serious and substantial, but dense and perhaps too academic for some.
• Kindred Spirit: A New Age magazine with a lot of advertising, featuring interviews on dance and trance channeling.
• The Lamp of Thoth: A publication focused on 'the occult', covering attacks by Evangelicals and providing inside information.
• The Leading Edge: Described as 'off-the-wall' material on UFO abductions and conspiracy theories.
• The Ley Hunter: A professional 'Earth Mysteries' magazine with a New Age slant, featuring interviews on cultural anthropology and dreams.
• London Earth Mysteries Circle Journal: A varied magazine covering topics like Stonehenge and Rosicrucianism.
• Magonia: Covers the Satanic Child Abuse Mythos and other topics with high-quality writing.
• Meyn Mamvro: Focuses on ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall.
• MUFON UFO Journal: Features extensive coverage of crop circles and a theory on alien abductions.
• Northern Earth Mysteries: Praised for its informed and intelligent research without a 'New Age' slant.
• Northern UFO News: A reliable source for UFO news and reviews.
• Pagan News: Reports on anti-Pagan attacks and activities.
• Pendragon: Covers Arthurian history and mythology.
• Rattler's Tale: A magazine covering the paranormal, Forteana, SF, and Gaia.
• Saucer Smear: A newsletter focusing on UFOs, with commentaries on Roswell, Gulf Breeze, and MJ-12.
• SKOOB Occult Review: Features occult and esoteric material, including interviews and historical pieces.
• The Skeptic: A professional magazine tackling demonology, past-life regression, and other subjects, with humor but lacking in-depth knowledge.
• Strange Phenomena Investigations: A lively magazine featuring active investigators and various paranormal reports.
• UFO Brigantia: Praised for its editorial comments and input from foreign ufologies.
• The UFO Debate: A publication featuring historical pieces, crop circles, and abduction material.

Editor's Short Editorial

The editor expresses satisfaction with the current issue's balance of research, analysis, skepticism, and speculation. They encourage new writers and emphasize the importance of legible, well-written submissions of approximately 1,000 words. The editor reiterates their own skeptical but hopeful stance. A prediction is made that the upcoming summer will not bring significant proof for crop circles beyond meteorological events or human construction, and that their appearance will be influenced by media interest.

A Short Editorial (continued)

This section discusses the perceived conflict between the beliefs of individual personality survival after death (as in Spiritualism) and Christianity, which posits a waiting period until the last judgment. The author also critiques the New Age movement, viewing it as a form of commercial diversification rather than a genuine spiritual path. The editorial concludes by stating disappointment with the current state of Spiritualism in 1991 and invites debate on the topic.

Mixed Messages (continued)

This section continues with letters to the editor. One letter from Peter A. Hough challenges Hilary Evans' generalization about UFO percipients' beliefs, arguing that many close encounter and abduction witnesses do not necessarily believe they are visited by extraterrestrials. Another letter from Eddie Tooke details his shift from materialism to belief in survival after death, citing a Spiritualist medium's accurate, albeit limited, communication as evidence.

News from the Front (continued)

This section continues the magazine reviews. It includes reviews of:

• Journal of UFO Studies: A serious, substantial UFO journal, but considered dense.
• Kindred Spirit: A New Age magazine with a large advertising section.
• The Lamp of Thoth: A publication focused on 'the occult' and its conflicts with Evangelicals.
• The Leading Edge: Features 'off-the-wall' material on UFO abductions and conspiracy theories.
• The Ley Hunter: A professional 'Earth Mysteries' magazine with a New Age slant.
• London Earth Mysteries Circle Journal: A varied magazine on Earth Mysteries topics.
• Magonia: Covers the Satanic Child Abuse Mythos and other topics.
• Meyn Mamvro: Focuses on ancient sites in Cornwall.
• MUFON UFO Journal: Discusses crop circles and abduction theories.
• Northern Earth Mysteries: Praised for its informed research.
• Northern UFO News: A source for UFO news and reviews.
• Pagan News: Reports on anti-Pagan activities.
• Pendragon: Covers Arthurian history and mythology.
• Rattler's Tale: A magazine covering paranormal, Forteana, SF, and Gaia.
• Saucer Smear: A UFO newsletter with commentaries on key UFO cases.
• SKOOB Occult Review: Features occult and esoteric material.
• The Skeptic: A professional magazine on paranormal topics, noted for its humor.
• Strange Phenomena Investigations: A lively magazine on paranormal investigations.
• UFO Brigantia: Praised for its editorial comments and foreign ufology input.
• The UFO Debate: Features historical pieces, crop circles, and abduction material.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the nature of belief systems (UFOlogy, New Age, Spiritualism, conspiracy theories), the interpretation of anomalous phenomena, and the role of skepticism versus belief. The magazine consistently questions unsubstantiated claims and encourages critical analysis, particularly regarding UFO abduction experiences and the validity of channeling and mediumship. The editorial stance is one of cautious skepticism, acknowledging the possibility of genuine paranormal phenomena while demanding rigorous evidence and clear interpretation. There is a clear distinction made between 'establishment' ufology and the more fringe, often sensationalized, beliefs circulating in smaller publications. The magazine also engages with religious and quasi-religious movements, offering critiques of their doctrines and interpretations of world events.