Woodrew Update - Vol 3 No 6

Magazine Overview

Title: The WOODREW Update
Issue: Vol. 3, No. 6
Date: July/August 1984
Publisher: A S.T.A.R. FOUNDATION publication
Country: U.S.A.
Language: English

This issue of The Woodrew Update features a collection of personal reflections, scientific discussions, and societal observations from editors Greta Woodrew and Dick Smolowe, along with contributions from readers.

"Changes" ... A Personal View

The lead article by Greta Woodrew and Dick Smolowe reflects on their move to North Carolina and the process of adapting to a new environment. They discuss their habit of creating schedules and the challenges of unexpected weather patterns that disrupted their planned outdoor projects. They also highlight the importance of family and the concept of a cooperative group of skilled craftsmen assembled for a 'big project,' the S.T.A.R. HOUSE. The article touches upon the idea of 'planning your work and working your plan' and how habits can be difficult to break, even when faced with significant changes.

More Monkey Business

This section addresses the overwhelming response to a previous editorial on the 'Hundredth Monkey' phenomenon. The editors explain Rupert Sheldrake's hypothesis of 'formative causation' and 'morphogenetic fields,' suggesting that living species are more than the sum of their parts and that their evolution is influenced by a collective shaping force. The concept of 'morphic resonance' is introduced as a non-energetic but effective influence that connects all living members. An example of this phenomenon is given with the Blue Tit birds in Western Europe learning to open milk bottles, a behavior that spread rapidly across the continent.

A Part of Nature's Plan

This article explores the scientific prospect of preventing planetary disasters, specifically focusing on the theory that a comet striking Earth was responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. It discusses ongoing scientific efforts to divert comets and asteroids from collision courses with Earth, mentioning methods like using explosive warheads to alter trajectories. The article notes the difficulty in detecting such threats in time and references a personal 'futurism' experienced by Greta involving a comet strike. It also mentions that attempts to dissuade her from speaking out suggested that global efforts to divert such a comet might fail, implying it is part of 'nature's plan.'

Tesla Tidbits

A brief section presents intriguing facts about Nikola Tesla, highlighting his extraordinary sensory abilities, such as hearing thunderclaps from 550 miles away and a watch tick from three rooms away. It mentions his fluctuating pulse, his belief in extraterrestrial life, and his preference for numbers divisible by three. Tesla's death on January 7, 1943, is also noted.

Mountain Musings

Greta reflects on her daughter Ann's journey on the Appalachian Trail and the importance of the family as a 'time-honored unit of strength.' She discusses the Ogatta group's concept of family structure, which involves 'two natural, merging parents' and additional male and female figures who act as 'Mind-Fathers' and 'Mind-Mothers,' providing a broader support system for a child's development. This is contrasted with the traditional two-parent or one-parent families on Earth. The section also references Doris Lessing's novel 'The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five' for its depiction of an extended family model.

On Networking

This section defines 'networking' as people talking to each other, sharing ideas, information, and resources to address concerns that traditional structures have failed to solve. It describes the process of communication that creates links between people and groups through various means like newsletters, workshops, and conferences. The authors consider their 'Update family' a high-quality network of thinking individuals.

On National Finance & the Scenario

This article discusses financial concerns, referencing Alexis De Tocqueville's observation that democracies can collapse when voters discover they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. It highlights the findings of the Grace Commission, stating that all U.S. government income tax revenue is spent on national debt interest and welfare payments, leaving no funds for military hardware or federal facilities. The rapid growth of the Civil Service Retirement System and its significant unfunded liability are also noted.

Environmental Concerns

The magazine addresses environmental issues, citing a Time Magazine article about 'Puzzling Holes in the Forest' in the eastern United States, linking forest damage to high levels of copper, zinc, nickel, cadmium, and lead pollution. It discusses how pollution from industrial factories enshrouds Mt. Mitchell in clouds laden with acidic chemicals, damaging trees. Another section reports on air pollution in Europe, with the Soviet Union identified as a major polluter contributing to acid rain, and notes the Soviet Bloc's disregard for pollution controls due to economic priorities.

Where to Go?

This section provides guidelines for choosing a place to live, prompted by the question of why the editors chose western North Carolina. Factors considered include safety from major cities, proximity to airports, cultural resources, shifting weather patterns, proximity to fault lines or nuclear facilities, the independence level of citizens, crime rates, and the ability to grow one's own food. The importance of water availability is also stressed.

Subscriber Scribings

This segment includes information from Updaters Mary Jo and Walter Uphoff regarding a declassified report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency on Soviet parapsychology research. The report details the Soviet Union's awareness and application of parapsychology, including telepathic communication and telekinetics, for military purposes and mind manipulation. It also mentions the use of mind-altering drugs and telepathy by U.S. covert agencies and discusses the effects of Extra Low Frequency (ELF) waves beamed from Riga, Latvia.

Power Points

This article explores the concept of 'power points' on Earth, where 'etheric energy' is grounded and connected by ley lines. These points are believed to be meeting places between dimensions, capable of influencing life when properly anchored. The author shares a personal experience of their leg becoming 'rooted' to the ground while walking in the mountains, which was identified as a 'power point' by a companion.

Food for Thought & Storage

This section offers helpful tips for indefinite food storage life, recommending whole kernel wheat, vinegar, cocoa mix, herb teas, and seeds. It advises looking for items with anti-oxidant food preservatives and keeping freezer-dried foods on hand.

On Absolutes

This piece discusses the human obsession with absolutes and the Ogatta group's advice to 'blur the lines,' emphasizing subjective interpretations over rights and wrongs. It reinterprets the concept of a 'superpower' beyond military might, suggesting economic, manpower, and 'guts' superpowers. The U.S.S.R. is described as a 'mini-power' with a low standard of living and poor resource utilization, ranking high only in the violation of human rights.

The CIA looks at Psi Research

This section presents excerpts from Jack Anderson's columns regarding U.S. government involvement in psychic research. It highlights concerns about the Soviet Union's lead in psychic research, the CIA's serious consideration of parapsychology, and their interest in 'psychic shields' to protect secrets from Soviet remote viewers. The CIA's 'Grill Flame' remote viewing project is mentioned.

Tilting Toward Change

This article discusses Edgar Cayce's predictions for a 'New Age' and specifically mentions a prediction that the waters of the Great Lakes will empty into the Gulf of Mexico. It corroborates this with scientific findings about the tilting of the Michigan Basin and the potential for the Great Lakes to spill into the Mississippi River. Further scientific evidence from earthquake wave studies suggests the possibility of the western and eastern halves of North America splitting apart.

S.T.A.R. Activities

This brief announcement details Greta Woodrew's upcoming keynote speech at the Colorado Psychotronics Association's Second Annual Conference in Denver. It also lists recent visitors welcomed by the Woodrew Update team.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Woodrew Update consistently explores themes of consciousness, alternative lifestyles, personal growth, and the intersection of science, spirituality, and societal change. The editors maintain an open-minded yet critical stance, presenting information from various sources, including scientific research, personal experiences, and reader contributions. There is a recurring interest in parapsychology, extraterrestrial intelligence, environmental issues, and the evolution of human society and family structures. The publication encourages readers to question conventional norms and consider broader perspectives on reality and human potential.