The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters

by Story, Ronald

  From Bryant’s claim of birds, however, the Air Force investigators extrapolated that all the Lubbock sightings could be explained by birds. In one of the reports, the investigators wrote, “It was concluded that birds, with street lights reflecting from them, were the probable cause of these sightings…”

  The problem is that strings of lights in the night skies were seen all over west Texas. From as far north as Amarillo to as far south as the Midland-Odessa area, reports of these sorts of sightings were made. Birds and the newly installed sodium-vapor lamps in Lubbock do not provide an adequate explanation.

  What is relevant here, however, is that Air Force officers made a long, complex investigation of the sightings. Ruppelt later made it clear that he believed there to be a plausible, mundane explanation for the sightings. In a 1960 revision to his book, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, Ruppelt said the Lubbock Lights were explained by “night flying moths reflecting the bluish-green light of a nearby row of mercury vapor street lights.”

  Of course, that explanation didn’t explain the photographs. Ruppelt wrote that he never found an explanation for them. “The photos were never proven to be a hoax but neither were they proven to be genuine.”

  —KEVIN D. RANDLE

  References

  Randle, Kevin D. Conspiracy of Silence (Avon Books, 1997).

  Ruppelt, Edward J. The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (Doubleday/Ace Books, 1960).

  _______. “Lubbock (Texas) lights” in Story, Ronald D., ed. The Encyclopedia of UFOs (Doubleday/New English Library, 1980).

  Wheeler, David R. The Lubbock Lights (Award Books, 1977).

  lucid dreams These are vivid dreamlike experiences in which the person retains normal waking awareness, as well as a certain degree of control over the elements of dream imagery and the narrative sequence. There are both Eastern and Western yogic practices which facilitate the process of achieving the power to create lucid dreams. This phenomenon is comparable to, but not identical with the more common experience of out-of-body journeys or “astral travel.” Some ET contacts are made through lucid dreams, and often involve transfer of spiritual teaching or messages for humanity.

  —SCOTT MANDELKER

  M

  Maccabee, Bruce (b. 1942). Bruce Maccabee has been a research physicist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (formerly the Naval Ordnance Laboratory) in Washington, D.C., since 1972. Originally from Rutland, Vermont, he received his B.S. degree in physics, from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) in 1964, and his M.S. and Ph.D. (also in physics) from the American University (Washington, D.C.) in 1967 and 1970 respectively.

  Bruce Maccabee

  Dr. Maccabee is the Chairman of the Fund for UFO Research, the MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) State Director for Maryland, and is a member of the Scientific Board of the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). He has written dozens of papers related to UFO history and case investigations, and has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows. He has also been a consultant to the National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, and Time-Life Books.

  Dr. Maccabee is the coauthor (with Ed Walters) of UFOs Are Real, Here’s the Proof (1997) and the author of The UFOFBI Connection (2000).

  Address:

  Box 277

  Mount Rainier, MD 20712

  U.S.A.

  E-mail:

  brumac@compuserve.com

  POSITION STATEMENT: From my studies of old and recent reports, and from direct involvement with several UFO investigations, I have become convinced that there is something real and new behind the UFO phenomenon. Although I tend to be a “nuts-and-bolts” man, I would not yet throw out the possibility that some reports which remain unidentified after investigation (i.e., “true UFO” reports) are psychological in nature. I don’t think we have enough information at this time to be able to identify the source or sources (such as extraterrestrial, interdimensional, time travelers, etc.) of the phenomena which give rise to UFO reports. However, I think it is time for the scientific community to admit there is some new phenomenon involved.

  —BRUCE MACCABEE

  Mack, John E. (b. 1929). John Mack, M.D., is professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founding director of the Program for Extraordinary Experience Research (PEER). Dr. Mack is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, A Prince of Disorder (a 1976 biography of T. E. Lawrence), but is best known as a UFOabduction researcher and the author of the bestselling 1994 book, Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens.

  In 1990, after meeting veteran alien-abduction researcher Budd Hopkins, Dr. Mack began working with people who seem to have experienced encounters with unknown intelligences. In 1993 Mack founded PEER to continue this work, and to explore the varieties of extraordinary experience. His latest book is called Passport to the Cosmos: Human Transformation and Alien Encounters (1999), wherein he tries to demonstrate “how the alien abduction phenomenon offers a revolutionary new way of understanding reality and our place in the universe.” Mack asserts that “the alien abduction phenomenon ushers in a new era in human consciousness, a time in which we must be willing to embrace the idea that alien visitation is occurring on some level.” According to the publisher’s summary: “Passport to the Cosmos reveals the naiveté in our assumption that our world is devoid of spirits and beings who can cross the barrier we have built up between the material and immaterial worlds. The book leads us through the possibility that the alien abduction phenomenon is a cosmic wake-up call to humans that we do indeed live in a multidimensional world.”

  Address:

  P.O. Box 398080

  Cambridge, MA 02139

  U.S.A.

  Web site:

  www.peermack.org

  Mack’s abductees Because of his stature, as a Harvard professor of psychiatry, and his influence on the UFO community and others who have read his bestselling book, Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens (1994), Dr. John Mack’s abductees deserve special attention. Each case is summarized here in the order it appears in Mack’s book, followed by a special commentary by Joe Nickell.

  CASE NO. 1

  Ed’s case was important to Dr. Mack because of the timing of his experience (during Ed’s teenage years) and the vivid recall of his abduction during hypnosis. Ed says he first learned of his abduction in 1961, two months before Betty and Barney Hill had their encounter.

  A female alien—to whom he was forced to give sperm—told Ed that our planet would soon be destroyed if humanity continued on its present course. She conveyed to him that human disharmony with nature was the cause of the impending disaster. Ed has taken her message seriously and is working to communicate what he has learned to those who are willing to listen

  CASE NO. 2

  Sheila was experiencing “spiritual” dreams that had begun shortly after her mother’s death. Sheila was seeing a psychiatrist to help her with this undue stress, but had difficulty explaining these dreams to her doctor once she became convinced they weren’t dreams after all, but actual alien abductions.

  Sheila had a difficult time distinguishing fantasy from reality, but through the use of hypnosis she was able to relive the traumatic abduction experiences and bring out the repressed feelings that were affecting her life.

  CASE NO. 3

  Scott’s most vivid memory of abduction which involved terror, paralysis and extraction of sperm occurred in 1992. Other abductions had occurred throughout his childhood, which caused physical trauma including headaches and seizures.

  As an adult Scott has undergone an important personal transformation which has enabled him to confront and move through his abduction experiences. Scott now considers himself to be both human and alien. He also envisions an apocalyptic catastrophe in the near future. Scott says the aliens come from a dying world—a fate that will be ours, unless we soon change our ways.

  CASE NO. 4

  Jerry’s abduction experiences were mainly sexual in nature, including many reproductive procedures and involvement with the hyb
rid entities. These sexual abductions have caused havoc with Jerry’s human relationships, because she has difficulty differentiating between normal sex and being raped.

  Despite the anguish of there sexual experiences with the aliens, Jerry has become spiritual in nature. She has become a prolific writer of existentialism. Jerry has shown a great deal of fortitude and bravery in confronting the horrendous abduction experiences she encountered and through here writings has regained her dignity and spiritual strength.

  CASE NO. 5

  Catherine is a young woman who has been abducted since childhood and used in sexual experiments by the aliens. In her case, she describes rows and rows of hybrid babies in tank-like incubators.

  Catherine has seen hundreds of other human abductees laying on tables aboard a space craft waiting to be examined by the aliens. She has had the unique experience of reliving a past life as an Egyptian painter named “Akremenon.” Catherine learned from this reincarnation that all life is connected and that we can’t exist without each other. The aliens wanted to convey to her not to be so frightened of them but to work with them. Since then, Catherine’s attitude has changed from fear to “active acceptance.”

  CASE NO. 6

  Joe, a psychotherapist had early childhood abduction experiences. His later episodes became memorable when his child, Mark, was born. It seems the both of them have a dual human-alien existence. Joe perceives his role as a father to keep Mark connected to his “higher self.”

  It seems that the aliens have been involved with Joe’s entire cycle of life and death. They have been available to him, for as long as he can remember, as guides and protectors of his spiritual awareness and growth. As a result of his changing life style, Joe has become more outgoing and has been sharing his experiences and knowledge with the public.

  CASE NO. 7

  Sara, a graduate student, brings a spiritual interest into the understanding of her abduction experiences. She was smart and precocious as a child dabbling in the paranormal: one activity was being able to levitate others. Sara feels like she is involved in a special project of bringing the alien species together with ours through evolution. Once merged, these new hybrid life forms will be more spiritually advanced.

  Sara has one intense abduction experience where she goes through an illusion of a mirror, which becomes a corridor where she meets a reptilian-like alien. It gives her information that is still embedded in her consciousness.

  CASE NO. 8

  Paul expresses himself as a bridge between two worlds. He feels he has the identities of both human and alien forms. Paul has experienced painful, terrifying procedures on his body. He relates an incident of being at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, and remembering what happened there—even though it was nineteen years before he was born.

  Paul’s hypnosis sessions were powerful and intense in that he was able to access knowledge and information that was stored within him, including the need to save our planet. Paul feels he is here to set an example of love and understanding to transform human consciousness for the better.

  CASE NO. 9

  Eva’s mission is one of global healing and peace. Her most powerful abduction experience was when she remembered her past life as “Omrishi” from the thirteenth century. To relive this incarnation was to represent Eva’s journey of her soul.

  Eva had the typical physical examination, but the role of abductions is a process of cleansing the body in order for more knowledge to come through. She feels she became both alien and human so that the melding of consciousness would bring about peace and harmony. Communication and integration of alien wisdom is essential to the advancement of our world.

  CASE NO. 10

  Dave’s abduction experiences occurred at Pemsit Mountain, a big power place of Native American legends and traditions. He considers it the “Magic Mountain.” Dave has gone through the traumatic physical examinations typical of alien abductions, but he has mostly overcome his fears and has become aware of a protective female alien named “Velia,” who has been with him through many previous lifetimes.

  Dave feels connected to past life Indian reincarnations and is a student of power through karate and Chi, which is helping him to gain control of his life.

  CASE NO. 11

  Peter’s abductions seem to evolve from the usual traumatic invasions to complex spiritual experiences involving the expansion of his mind and visions of the future. As an example, Peter passes through some kind of wall of metaphoric expression where he discovers that he has been chosen to participate in a special breeding program of aliens and humans.

  Peter feels that he is “part alien” and that he is here to impart information about the impending disasters that may occur. His role also comprises breeding with the female aliens to create a new race or tribe that would survive any kind of cataclysm.

  CASE NO. 12

  Carlos is an artist who uses the special “light” that he experienced in his abduction encounters. His abductions have been more exploratory in that the aliens change the energy structure of his body. In fact, Carlos refers to the aliens as “light beings.” He uses this new energy to create paintings that activate the need to protect the Earth.

  Carlos expresses his feelings of awe as he relates to his abduction experiences. The nearness of death seems to be a very significant part of Carlos’ life including a rebirth at the age of one. He compares it to a transformation of power in the name of healing, both physical and emotional.

  CASE NO. 13

  Arthur considers himself to be a voluntary abductee. He remembers being abducted, as a nine-year-old boy, while in a car with his mother and siblings. Arthur was not afraid. He was told about the danger facing the Earth’s ecology.

  Arthur’s abduction experiences included two different kinds of beings: the “little people,” friendly and loving; and darker ones (Grays) who were more serious. As he matured, he realized that his alien encounters were instrumental in the development of this own sense of responsibility on a personal and corporate level to protect the Earth’s environment.

  —ETEP STAFF

  POSTSCRIPT: Since the appearance of Dr. Robert A Baker’s pioneering article, “The Aliens Among Us: Hypnotic Regression Revisited,” in the Skeptical Inquirer (Winter 1987-88), a controversy has raged over his suggestion that most “alien abductees” exhibited an array of unusual traits indicating a psychological phenomenon known as “fantasy-proneness.” Baker cited the “important but neglected” work of Wilson and Barber (1983), who listed certain identifying characteristics of people who fantasize profoundly.

  Baker applied Wilson and Barber’s findings to the alien-abduction phenomenon and found a strong correlation. Baker explained how a cursory examination by a psychologist or psychiatrist might find an “abductee” to be perfectly normal, while more detailed knowledge about the person’s background and habits would reveal to such a trained observer a pattern of fantasy proneness.

  For example, Baker found Whitley Strieber—author of Communion (1987), which tells the “true story” of Strieber’s own alleged abduction—to be “a classic example of the [fantasy-prone personality] genre.” Baker noted that Strieber exhibited such symptoms as being easily hypnotized, having vivid memories, and experiencing hypnopompic hallucinations (i.e., “waking dreams”), as well as being “a writer of occult and highly imaginative novels” and exhibiting other characteristics of fantasy proneness. A subsequent, but apparently independent, study by Bartholomew and Basterfield (1988) drew similar conclusions.

  Wilson and Barber’s study did not deal with the abduction phenomenon (which at the time consisted of only a handful of reported cases), and some of their criteria seem less applicable to abduction cases than to other types of reported phenomena, such as psychic experiences. Nevertheless, although the criteria for fantasy proneness have not been exactly codified, they generally include such features as having a rich fantasy life, showing high hypnotic susceptibility, claiming psychic abilities and healing powers, reporting ou
t-of-body experiences and vivid or “waking” dreams, having apparitional experiences and religious visions, and exhibiting automatic writing.

  In one study, Bartholomew, Basterfield, and Howard (1991) found that, of 152 otherwise normal, functional individuals who reported they had been abducted or had persistent contacts with extraterrestrials, 132 had one or more major characteristics of the fantasy-prone personality.

  Somewhat equivocal results were obtained by Spanos et al. (1993), although their “findings suggest that intense UFO experiences are more likely to occur in individuals who are predisposed toward esoteric beliefs in general and alien beliefs in particular and who interpret unusual sensory and imagined experiences in terms of the alien hypothesis. Among UFO believers, those with stronger propensities toward fantasy production were particularly likely to generate such experiences.” (Spanos et al. 1993)

  A totally dismissive view of these attempts to find conventional psychological explanations for the abduction experience is found in the introduction to psychiatrist John Mack’s Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens (1994). Mack states unequivocally: “The effort to discover a personality type associated with abductions has also not been successful.” According to Mack, since some alleged abductions have reportedly taken place in infancy or early childhood, “Cause and effect in the relationship of abduction experiences to building of personality are thus virtually impossible to sort out.” (Mack, 1994) But surely it is Mack’s burden to prove his own thesis that the alien hypothesis does have a basis in fact beyond mere allegation. Otherwise the evidence may well be explained by a simpler hypothesis, such as the possibility that most “abductees” are fantasy-prone personality types. (Such people have traits that cut across many different personality dimensions; thus conventional personality tests are useless for identifying easily hypnotizable people. Some “abductees” who are not fantasy prone may be hoaxers, for example, or exhibit other distinctive personality traits or psychological problems.) Mack’s approach to the diagnosis and treatment of his “abductee”” patients has been criticized by many of his colleagues (e.g., Cone 1994).