Wild Places - No 5

Magazine Overview

Title: The Wild Places
Issue: No. 5
Date: July/August 1992

This issue of "The Wild Places" is a magazine focused on paranormal phenomena, UFOs, and related topics, with a particular emphasis on exploring the boundaries of belief and the nature of evidence. It includes articles on unexplained encounters, psychological interpretations of experiences, and the role of censorship in disseminating information.

Articles

Talking to Strangers

This editorial piece reflects on a weekend spent at the IUN UFO Conference in Sheffield. The author highlights the opportunity to interact with prominent figures in the UFO field, including John Keel and William Moore, noting their differing perspectives on cases like Roswell. The article also mentions speakers Jenny Randles on Rendlesham and Ana Ralph Noyes on crop circles, as well as discussions with Robert France and Graham Allen about 'New Pilgrims' who believe themselves key to humanity's transformation. The author suggests that some aliens may be living among us and communicating telepathically, linking these ideas to Rennes le Chateau and end-of-world prophecies.

The Haunted Mountain by Joyce Cooper

This article recounts several strange episodes reported on or near Ben Macdhui, the highest mountain in the Cairngorms of Scotland. It details Peter Densham's experience in 1945, where a thick mist descended, followed by unexplained noises and a sense of overwhelming fear, causing him to flee. The piece also references an 1831 account by Sir Thomas Lauder of a 'Spectre of the Brocken' and the mountain's reputation for being haunted by the 'Big Grey Man'. Norman Collie's 1925 lecture about his unnerving experience is mentioned, as is Alexander Tewnion's 1943 encounter where he fired his gun at a strange shape. George Duncan reported seeing a tall figure in a black robe, and Joan Grant described a psychic experience of a malign entity. Wendy Wood recounts hearing a loud voice and heavy footsteps while on the Lairig Ghru Pass. The article concludes by questioning the identity of the 'Big Grey Man' and suggesting that while it's unlikely to be a human or animal, its existence is supported by consistent descriptions.

End Times Bulletin

This section critiques "Prophecy_Today," described as an extreme religious magazine. The author highlights its editorial policy statement, which views the current world situation as a threat to mankind's existence, leading to violence, disorder, and a potential for worldwide destruction. The magazine's solution is to adhere to the Bible and the Holy Spirit, positioning itself as a prophetic voice. The author draws parallels between this mindset and that of UFO contactees, noting the shared sense of mission and being 'chosen.' The article points out "Prophecy_Today's" focus on disasters, wars, and death, linking it to a belief in resurrection through destruction. The author suggests an underlying human urge for dramatic change, regardless of the cost.

Cross Talk

This piece discusses the recent revelations of child sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic clergy, cautioning against using these allegations to dismiss the existence of Satanic child abuse. The author argues that abuse can occur in any walk of life and belief group, and vigilance should not be compromised by personal prejudices. The article also commends a Christian group at the Cornish Festival of Mind, Body and Spirit for their open-mindedness, contrasting them with a 'zany evangelical bookshop' whose stock might not be fully understood by its suppliers. The author raises concerns about a network of shops peddling 'dangerous nonsense,' including books on 'curing' homosexuality, and calls for the identification and scrutiny of those behind them.

That Which Cannot Be Said - Censorship and the Paranormal by Leslie Price

Leslie Price explores the concept of censorship in relation to paranormal research and religious beliefs. He provides examples of material that was not published due to potential controversy or to avoid upsetting readers, such as George Zorab's article on the Resurrection of Jesus and Mike Taylor's critique of Agnes Sanford. The author also discusses how esoteric sections within organizations like the Theosophical Society have been subject to censorship, and how publishers like Theosophical Publishing House discreetly alter texts to remove outdated or offensive remarks. The article touches on the difficulty of accusing deceased mediums of fraud and the legal risks involved in such accusations. It also mentions how the SPR archives in Cambridge are largely inaccessible, and how the SPR and ufology can exhibit biases towards certain types of evidence. The author notes the presence of sexologists in psychical research and the potential for investigations to be compromised by personal relationships between mediums and researchers.

Heaven and the Dying Brain by Susan Blackmore

Susan Blackmore examines the phenomenon of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), challenging the traditional 'Afterlife Hypothesis' that views them as journeys to another realm. She argues that the common features of NDEs – the tunnel, light, out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and life reviews – can be explained by the 'Dying Brain' hypothesis. This theory posits that physiological changes in the brain, such as anoxia (lack of oxygen) or endorphin release, can induce these experiences. Blackmore suggests that the vividness and reality of NDEs stem from the brain's decision-making process about what constitutes 'real,' and that anoxia can create stable patterns that the brain interprets as reality. She also proposes that OBEs can be constructed from memory and imagination when sensory input is disrupted. While acknowledging that NDEs can lead to profound transformations, Blackmore attributes these changes to a glimpse of the truth of 'no-self' rather than an encounter with an afterlife. She concludes that while the transformation is genuine, the explanation for it lies in the brain's processes, not in a literal journey to heaven.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "The Wild Places" consistently explores the intersection of the paranormal, unexplained phenomena, and the human psyche. There's a recurring theme of questioning established narratives, whether they are religious doctrines, scientific explanations, or societal norms. The magazine seems to adopt a critical yet open-minded stance, presenting various accounts and theories while also offering skeptical analysis, particularly in Susan Blackmore's article on NDEs. The issue also highlights the challenges of disseminating information in these fields, as evidenced by the discussion on censorship and the critique of religious publications that promote fear and division. The editorial stance appears to favor evidence-based inquiry and a willingness to challenge conventional beliefs, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths or reinterpreting widely held experiences.

This issue of "Wild Places" (Issue 18, dated 1993) is a substantial publication focusing on paranormal phenomena, UFOs, and related fringe topics. It features a prominent "News from the Front" section, which acts as a comprehensive review of numerous specialized journals and newsletters from the paranormal and UFO communities. Additionally, the issue includes an in-depth article by Nigel Watson that draws parallels between the psychological insights of Marcel Proust and the phenomenon of alien abduction experiences. A "Further Reading" section provides recommendations for books on Near-Death Experiences.

"News from the Front" Section

The "News from the Front" section is a major component of this issue, offering brief reviews and descriptions of a wide array of publications. These include:

• AKLO: A journal of fantastic horror, featuring Lovecraft and other writers.
• Ancient Skies: Focuses on biblical material and ancient astronaut theories, with a piece on the Chavin Temple in Peru.
• Annals of the Enquiring: Covers occult topics like Rennes-le-Chateau, ball lightning, and magnetism.
• Anomaly: A journal of research into the paranormal, featuring articles on poltergeists, haunted castles, and the meaning of 'genuinely paranormal'.
• Cambridge UFO Research Group Newsletter: Includes original reports, reprints, UFO photos, and cartoons, with material on Raelianism and Swedish abductions.
• Christian New Age Quarterly: Explores differences between Christian and New Age concepts, and reviews a book critical of the New Age.
• Corruption Chronicle: Described as lively and challenging, covering UFO and conspiracy material, urban legends, and mass murderers.
• Cosmic Current News: A quarterly publication with BVM reports and reprints.
• The Crop Watcher: Focuses on crop circles, with surveys of definite and possible hoaxes.
• Dark Lily: A British magazine covering the Left-Hand Path, with a wide range of advertising.
• Delve: Features obscure reprints, including Tesla and 'Alternative 3'.
• Earthquest News: Focuses on psychic questing and historical research.
• Elsewhen: Dedicated to Gene Roddenberry, with features on topics like Giant Rock, time travel, and the 'Hidden People' of Iceland.
• Enigmas: Covers crop circles, Arthur's Seat, the Telluric Force, Nessie sightings, and Canadian abductions.
• Evidence: A journal supporting psychic science, with features on physical mediumship.
• Fate: A long-standing magazine with features on Sai Baba, UFOs in the Caribbean, and a classic FATE story.
• Flying Saucer Digest: A Fifties-style publication with content on UFO sightings, landings, and crashes.
• Fortean Times: Features T.Lobsang Rampa, crop circles, spontaneous human combustion, and more.
• Ghost Trackers Newsletter: Focuses on actual experiences of ghosts.
• Global Link-Up: A New Age magazine covering healing, dolphins, and sacred geometry.
• International UFO Reporter: Critiques the U.S. 'skeptics' organization (CSICOP) and discusses hoaxes and crop circle links.
• The Journal of Borderland Research: Covers fringe sciences, including multiple wave oscillators and solar power innovations.
• Journal of UFO Studies: A large book-like publication with in-depth articles on the UFO phenomenon, including abduction studies.
• Kindred Spirit: A New Age quarterly covering personal and planetary healing, with features on 'Flying Shamans' and healers.
• The Ley Hunter: Explores levels of reality and credulity, with material on leys, ancient shamanism, and Nazca lines.
• Lobster: Described as the best magazine on conspiracies and conspiracy theories.
• Magonia: Features an article on 'Crash Retrievals' and cat abduction stories.
• Mercian Mysteries: A journal covering electromagnetic material and spontaneous abilities.
• The Messenger: Covers Blavatsky, Melchizedeck, Dead Sea Scrolls, UFOs, and psychism.
• The Missing Link: Features UFO contactee and channelling material, historical items, and humour.
• Mundo Update: Sheets based on the writings of UFO researcher Laura Mundo.
• The New Abyss: A strange issue dealing with police problems, with tangential mentions of Hollow Earth.
• Northern UFO News: Covers the R4 programme, UFOlogists, and crop circles, including the 'alien wasp' case.
• Notes from the Hangar: A journal of speculative, belief-oriented material, including articles on Antarctic maps and Area 51.
• Orbiter: Features reprints on abductions and 'silencing', and original features on UFOs at Gulf Breeze.
• Pendragon: An Arthurian magazine with articles on documentary evidence and Welsh mythology.
• Psi Review: Covers ghosts, UFOs, psychic phenomena, and parapsychology.
• Rattlers Tale: A publication of short fiction and new age/paranormal features.
• Revelations of Awareness: Focuses on UFO-entity channelling, conspiracy material, and cosmology.
• The Scientific and Medical Network Newsletter: Provides information from the New Age wing of British science.
• Secrets: A UFO newsletter that also delves into right-wing conspiracy, racism, and anti-Semitism.
• The Skeptic: Features skeptical viewpoints, paranormal trends, and critiques of UFO phenomena.
• Skeptics UFO Newsletter: Focuses on the work of Philip Klass.
• The Star Beacon: Features articles on the Philadelphia Experiment and cosmic school topics.
• Strange Magazine: A large-format journal covering Fortean topics, UFOs, and mysteries like the Siberian Snowman.
• UFO Magazine: Deals with right-wing conspiracy material, including claims about foo-fighters being primitive Nazi UFOs.
• UFO Brigantia: Features articles on abductions, UFO crashes, and Roswell.
• The UFO Bureau Newsletter: A lively newsletter with news, personalities, and sighting reports.
• UFO Seeing Eye: A Canadian newsletter with articles on UFO material and crop circles.
• Voices From Spirit: Features interviews with historical figures and paranormal entities.
• Would You Believe?: A mix of historical reprints and new material on UFO and Fortean topics.

Remembering UFOs of Times Past: A Psychological Perspective

Nigel Watson's article explores the connection between the works of Marcel Proust and the phenomenon of alien abduction. Watson posits that Proust's detailed examination of consciousness, memory, and the subconscious mind, particularly his concept of involuntary memory, can shed light on the psychological processes involved in abduction experiences. Proust's ability to recall deeply buried childhood memories and fears, often triggered by sensory input (like the madeleine cake), is compared to how UFO encounters or supposed memories might be invoked by seemingly unrelated events. The article highlights how childhood fears, as depicted in Spielberg's "Poltergeist," can manifest in adult interpretations of UFO experiences. Watson suggests that ufology, like art, offers a way to access the 'unconscious imagination' and express concerns about ourselves and the planet.

The article also touches upon the broader intellectual climate of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, noting the rejection of positivism and the rise of thinkers like Freud, Bergson, and Einstein, who emphasized subjective experience and the relativity of perception. Proust's vision of life is characterized by a sense of constant motion, attraction, and separation, and the human experience as a series of revolutions. The article concludes that Proust's work, by mapping the 'obscure zones' of phenomena, offers a unique perspective on reality and imagination.

Further Reading

The issue includes a "Further Reading" section listing several books related to Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), including works by S.J. Blackmore, D. Lorimer, R.A. Moody, and M.B. Sabom. This section provides bibliographic details for readers interested in exploring the topic further.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are diverse, encompassing UFO sightings, abduction experiences, paranormal phenomena, conspiracy theories, New Age beliefs, and the psychological underpinnings of these experiences. The "News from the Front" section demonstrates a broad interest in the paranormal field, reviewing a wide spectrum of publications from the skeptical to the highly credulous. The editorial stance, as suggested by the inclusion of Susan Blackmore's research (who is noted for breaking away from 'fruitless lab-work') and the critical review of CSICOP in "International UFO Reporter," appears to be open to exploring unconventional ideas while maintaining a degree of critical inquiry. The inclusion of a quote from "Voices From Spirit" about alien rectal exams, while presented with a degree of irony, also indicates a willingness to engage with even the most unusual claims within the field. The article on Proust suggests a deeper, more psychological approach to understanding these phenomena, moving beyond simple acceptance or rejection.