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Newsletter of the
PARAPSYCHOLOGY
FOUNDATION, INC.
VOLUME 10, No. 8
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1963
U.S. SPACE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL REVIEWS
TELEPATHIC PHENOMENA AS "ENERGY TRANSFER'
.
PARIS .- The possible use of tele-
pathic means of communication in
future space flights, and research done
in this field, were reviewed here by
Dr. Eugene B. Konecci, Director, Bio-
technology and Human Research, Of-
fice of Advanced Research and Tech-
nology, in the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration. Dr. Konecci
presented this information as part of a
"Bioastronautics Review, 1963," at the
Fourteenth International Astronautics
Federation meeting (September 26 to
October 1).
Dr. Konecci's remarks were part of
a "Comparative View of 'Psychophysio-
logical Phenomena' Related to New
Space Flight Communications Media."
He said: "A concerted effort directed
toward a highly interesting problem
- in modern science the nature and es-
sence of certain phenomena of electro-
magnetic communication between liv-
ing organisms is reportedly being pur.
sued with top priority under the Soviet
manmed space program. Until recently,
these phenomena have been generally
ignored by Western scientists; however,
the many hypotheses involved are now
receiving increased attention in world
literature."
The speaker, who is chairman of
the Bioastronautics Committee of the
International Astronautics Federation,
also said:
.
"Specific U.S. experiments in energy
.. transfer. phenomena or the relationship
.between the physical fields of particles
and the non-demonstrable 'personal'
psi-plasma field, are being carried out
or planned_under_various_advanced
concepts. This approach is necessary
in order to test the validity of the
theory and to possibly reach common
points of empirical evidence which can
be extrapolated to future applications
in space.
Dr. Konneci summarized his views
concerning research in the Soviet Un-
ion in this particular field of potential
communication. Avoiding the word
"telepathy," he said:
"To the Soviets these applications
mean a 'thought register.' an 'electronic
hypnotizer'. and . 'thought transference
over distance'; and to Western scientists
and engineers the results of valid ex-
"perimentation"irrenergy transfer could
lead to few communications media and
advanced emergency techniques as well
as biocybernetical aids for integrating
with a conceptual design of an ultimate
operational flight system."
Present Study
Dr. Konneci confirmed that the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration is engaged in research in this
area, stating: "Such a design could
result from.a present NASA study on
data subsystems and certain astronaut
self-contained sensor systems. This vit-
ally important OART [Office of Ad-
vanced Research and Technology]
study involves the function of the
psycho-physiological information ac-
quisition, processing and control sys-
tems (PIAPACS)."
Following this technical summary,
. Dr. Konneci asked the question which,
presumably, his audience was framing
in its mind, "What does this all mean?"
He answered as follows:
"Well, the U.S. understands that the
Soviet researchers, under the sponsor-
ship of their Academy of Sciences, have'
established at least eight known re -;
search centers specializing with the
phenomena of energy transfer-all on.
an academic-scientific level. The re-
searcher's responsibility, say at Lenin-
grad University or at the Institute of
Neurophysiology, is to investigate, find
out how it works and devise .means of
practical application. If the results of
conducted experiments are half as good
as some claim, then they may be the
first to put a human thought into orbit
or achieve mind-to-mind communica-
tion with humans on the moon.
. "The Soviets further concede that
their approaches have to be physio-
logical, not psychological, and using
everything from electronic apparatus to
cybernetical methods and techniques to.'
probe and control such brain-mind!
mysteries as energy transfer phenomena'
or 'biological radio communication.'"?
The U.S. space research official
added that "no known rational ex-
planation has yet been. formulated as
to the modus operandi of these, unique
means of gaining information and aid-
ing communication." He pointed out
that "this vacuum exists because of the .
inherent difficulties in studying energy
transfer, principally due to the absence
of controlled repeatability in the labora-
tory. Therefore, one of the principal
goals of modern conceptual research
in energy transfer or bio-energetics is
to conquer the problem of . repeat-
ability."
. "Most Critical Experiment"
The speaker then referred to work
undertaken by an American researcher,
Dr. Andria Puharich, who, he said,
was "validly experimenting" with tele-
pathic phenomena "for the 'why, what,
where, who and when' answers." Dr.
Konecci said Dr. Puharich had in-
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dicated that "perhaps the most critical
quisition, Processing and Control Sys-
tem (PIAPACS).
experiment could be performed with
man-in-space and under conditions
... The speaker also reviewed the multi-
where gravity-free conditions could be- . orbital flights performed in the Soviet . tries are not necessarily new, the pheno-
maintained for prolonged periods." He
Union by Cosmonaut Lt. Col. Valery
F. Bykovsky and Cosmonette Valentina
· Tereshkova as a Space Team. He then
compared water control and other sup-
port systems, as well as the protective
equipment utilized in the USA and
USSR.
added: "For example, in the region
of space between earth and the moon,
the U.S. finds a null gravitational point
where the respective attractions of the
moon and the earth are approximately
. equal. A manned orbital laboratory
could be an ideal platform from which
to conduct experiments in 'energy
transfer.'" Detailing possible telepathy
experiments on a man-made satellite in
outer space, Dr. Konecci said:
.
"In this case the human receiver
would be in the space platform, and
the sender on earth would be sub-
jected to high gravitational force con-
ditions. Under these circumstances, the
neurophysiologist [Puharich] stated, the
U.S. would expect to find the most re-
markable increase in 'thought trans-
ference' or interaction of energy trans-
fers for communication techniques be-
tween humans and/or flight control
equipment."
Dr. Konecci's talk at the meeting.
of the International Astronautic Fede-
ration covered many aspects of inter-
national activities in Bioastronautics.
He described it as an attempt "to por-
tray the peaceful but prime interests,
efforts and achievements of the USSR
and the USA, thereby stimulating many
other participating countries toward
the major . challenges and significant
tasks remaining for extended manned
space flight." He said: "The space
accomplishments to date give factual
evidence of the needs, the rewards and
the vital communications so necessary
for the valid and successful exploration
and exploitation of space by man."
"Efforts for Validation"
The talk began with an evaluation
of the mission of the last manned
Mercury mission, that of MA-9 with
. Astronaut Gordon Cooper at the con-
trols for twenty-two orbits. The speaker
described the Environmental Control
System utilized by Cooper, and then
detailed the accomplishments and ob-
jectives of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, including its use. with men on the moon."
of private enterprise in research and
Dr. Konecci's talk contained terms
tion. Thus, he referred, without offer-
production of equipment; specifically, .. that require some degree of clarifica-
he described the activities of NASA's
Psychophysiological Information Ac- ing .definitions,. to "non-demonstrable
The remarks concerning possible
utilization of telepathy in orbital com-
munication were part . of the talk's
section on communication problems.
Dr. Konecci concluded his references
to research in this field as follows:
"In general,, some of the experi-
mentations as conducted or planned in
the USSR, the USA and other coun-
mena represented throughout all their
efforts for validation does exist in
nature. What is and will be new is
the quantitative approach to the prob-
lem areas. The precision and authen-
ticity with which each researcher,
wherever he may be, carries out his :
experimentation will determine the suc-
cess of research with respect to the
formulation of laws for energy transfer,
general information theory, telergic
power and action-at-a-distance on
material systems."
Editorial Note
BACKGROUND TO KONECCI TALK
It should be noted that, although he
refrained. from using the word, Dr.
Konecci, in the talk reported above,
.appeared to be referring to possible
person-to-person or even instrument-to-
instrument tele pathy. Certain sources of
the speaker's information on research
in the' Soviet Union are indicated by
a comparison of his remarks with
material that has appeared earlier else-
where. . Dr. Konecci said "the U.S.
understands" that the Russians had
"established at least eight known re-
search centers" in this field, and con-
cluded: "If results of conducted experi-
ments are half as good as some claim,
then they may be the first to put a hu-
man thought into orbit or achieve mind-
to-mind communication" with humans
on the moon." Striking similarity exists
between these remarks and a report
from Leningrad, by Normal Lee Konecci.
Browning in the Chicago Tribune
(June 16, 1963, p. 1), saying that
Russia had "established at least eight
known research centers," and that "con-
ducted experiments which, if the results
are half as good as the Russians claim,
indicate that they may be the first to
put a human thought in orbit or
achieve mind-to-mind communication
'personal' psi-plasma." This term oc-
curs in the book Beyond Telepathy,
(New York, 1962), by Andrija Pula-
rich, who states that "plasma" as he
uses it does "not stem from" traditional
uses of the word. He adds: "My usage
stems from the observed fact that the
individual experiencing a mobile center
of consciousness feels directly and often
observes his form as being that of the
normal human body. When individuals
see an apparition they also see it in the
form of the human body. These facts
have one thing in common, whether
looked at subjectively or objectively,
there is form. This is perhaps the only
level at which we have any idea as to
the nature of the psi plasma." There
appears to be an indirect link between
Dr. Puharich's use of this term and
the frame of reference used by Dr.
NEWSLETTER OF THE
PARAPSYCHOLOGY FOUNDATION
Published bi-monthly . by the Parapsy-
chology Foundation, Inc. Eileen J. Garrett,
President; Martin Ebon, Administrative Sec-
ratary. 29 West 57th Street, New York 19,
N. Y. Telephone: Plaza 1-5940. Joint sub-
scription to Newsletter and International
Journal of Parapsychology, $6 for one year,
Sil for two years. Printed in U.S.A. Copy-
right -1963 by Parapsychology Foundation,
lac. All rights reserved.
৳357
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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1963
NEW YORK. - Aldous Leonard
Huxley, the renowned novelist and
essayist, died on November 23, 1963,
in Hollywood, California, after a long
illness. He was sixty-nine years old.
Almost alone among the leading writers
of contemporary fiction, Mr. Huxley
probed the psychic experience and its
relation to modern life. Mr. Huxley's
interest in parapsychology and kindred
subjects was expressed in his later
literary works, The Devils of Loudon
(1952) and The Doors of Perception,
(1954), as well as in many articles and
essays. He was born in Godalming,
Surrey, on July 26, 1894, into a dis-
tinguished English family whose mem-
bers made their mark in Britain's intel-
lectual life: Thomas Huxley, his grand-
father, friend of Darwin and populari-
zer of evolution; Matthew Arnold, the
poet, who was a great-uncle; Sir Julian
Huxley, the biologist, his brother; and
a half-brother, Andrew Huxley, who
won this year's Nobel Prize for phy-
siology.
Aldous Huxley had planned to follow
the scientific vocation of his family. At
the age of seventeen, however, he was
stricken with an eye affliction (kera-
titis), which forced him to terminate
his formal scientific training. He later
attended Balliol College, Oxford Uni-
Photographs on this page were taken by
Dr. Humphry Osmond in Stockholm last
August; see report on page 7.
ALDOUS HUXLEY
versity, where he took his degree in
English literature.
After. a brief career in journalism,
Mr. Huxley wrote his first novel,
Crome Yellow, (1921). It became an
immediate bestseller and established his
reputation as a brilliant satirist of
modern life. This was followed by a
series of satirical novels which included
the well known' Antic Hay (1923),
Point Counter Point (1928), Brave
New World (1932), Eyeless in Gaza
(1936) and Ape and Essence (1949).
These solidified his position as one of
the most witty, erudite, and versatile
of twentieth century writers.
Brave New World is perhaps the
most widely-known of these novels. It
demonstrated Mr. Huxley's gift for
prophecy in its satire of a future civili-
zation where extreme forms of thought
and birth control are practiced. It
foretold such contemporary phenomena
as pep pills, television, subliminal per-
suasion, and . the widespread use of
propaganda. This novel marked the
high point of Mr. Huxley's literary
reputation.
To many modern critics, Mr. Hux-
ley's didactic tendencies appeared to
inhibit the perfection of his craft as
a novelist. They noted that his fiction
was overburdened by his learned and
eloquent discourses. But to others, the
encyclopedic knowledge which Mr.
Huxley revealed in these novels added
to their depth and richness. Most critics,
however, appear to divide . Huxley's
works into the early, satiric period of
the 'twenties and early 'thirties, and the
later, mystical period covering the last
thirty years of his life. This distinction,
however, appears arbitrary when the
early novels are reexamined. Their
satire usually scores the emptiness of
modern, materialistic life; their skeptic-
ism is applied to the hedonistic view
of living rather than the spiritual as-
pects of existence. His later work may,
therefore, be regarded as an extension
and a development of ideas which are
latent in his early works.
In his novel, Time Must Have A
Stop (1945) Mr. Huxley dealt directly
with the problems of psychic pheno-
mena. The voluptuary hero dies of a
stroke and enters the non-sensual world.
His attempts to communicate with
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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1963
friends through a medium and his
after-life experiences boldly extended
the limits of the novel's subject. They
reveal Mr. Huxley's mature interest
in psychic phenomena. At the time of
this novel's publication, Edmund Wil-
son, the noted American critic, re-
marked that "the whole thing has been
given plausibility" and that it was
"quite a brilliant performance" though
. one may not be prepared to accept
Mr. Huxley's views.
Aldous Huxley's interest in science
and in its relation to psychic pheno-
mena grew deeper with time. He re-
gretted the scientific training which
his near-blindness had forced him to
miss, but he nevertheless undertook
experiments with the cactus drug mes-
caline, describing his experiences with
the hallucenogenic state in The Doors
of Perception (1954). To this book
he brought the aesthetic awareness and
sensibility of a literary artist, the open-
minded curiosity of a scientist, and the
metaphysical speculations of a philo-
sopher. Although it is a pioneer work
in the subject, it remains one of the
foremost accounts of the heightening
of visual perception and the trans-
formations of consciousness which such
drugs may produce.
Mr. Huxley was extremely prolific
and found his craft of writing agree-
able, although his health was never
excellent. In recent years he wrote
essays and articles for leading popular
publications, among which were "Drugs
that Shape Men's Minds" (Saturday
Evening Post; Oct. 18, 1958) and "The
Case for ESP, PK and Psi" (Life;
January 11, 1954). These helped to
give wide publicity and readership to
parapsychological studies.
"The dogmatists of our own day
refuse to accept the factual evidence
for ESP, or to consider the hypotheses
based upon that evidence. From their
own experience or from the recorded
experience of others (history), men
learn only what their passions and their
metaphysical prejudices allow them to
learn."
Aldous Huxley, "A Case of
Voluntary Ignorance," Esquire,
October, 1956
In April of 1954, Mr. Huxley pre-
sented a paper, "The Far Continents
"Herbert Spencer's idea of tragedy
(in' T. H. Huxley's words) was a
beautiful generalization murdered by
of the Mind," at the Symposium of
Philosophy and Parapsycholog, and at ..... an ugly fact. Spencer's scholastic soul
tended the International Study Group
of Unorthodox Healing; both confer-
ences were held at St. Paul de Vence,
France, under the auspices of the Para-
psychology Foundation, Inc.
In 1961, he visited the Foundation's
European Headquarters once more, this
time to attend the "Conference on
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Experi-
mental Parapsychology."
In 1962, Mr. Huxley suggested to
Mrs. Eileen J. Garrett, President of
the Parapsychology Foundation, that
the Foundation undertake a thorough
study of apparent paranormal elements
in hypnosis research during the nine-
teenth century; the project, designed to
prompt future studies in hypnosis and
parapsychology, is now under way in
various countries in Europe and in the
United States.
Mr. Huxley was always prepared
to lend his great intellect and prestige
to parapsychological studies, uninhibit-
ed by popular prejudice or misinter-
pretation of his views. In this, he fol-
lowed the traditions of his family by
goes marching along, and the tendency
to prefer the high, hallowed generali-
zation to the odd, low, presumptuous
datum is still to be met with, even in
the most respectable scientific circles.
In terms of currently accepted theories
the facts of parapsychology 'make no
sense.' What is to be done? Should we
shut our eyes to them in the hope that,
if we don't look at them, they will go
away and leave us in peace? Or should
we accept them?"
Aldous Huxley: "Exploring the
Borderlands of the Mind," The
Observer, London, October 22,
1961
assisting in the opening up of new
areas of thought.
Mr. Huxley lived for many years.
in Southern California, having found
the climate of his native England in-
compatible with his health. After his
first wife, Maria Nys, died in 1955,
he married Laura Archera, a concert
violinist, in 1956.
S. Y.
.
FOUNDATION PRESIDENT RECALLS
HUXLEY'S VARIED INTEREST
The following observations were tion. He was his own man-he was
made by 'Mrs. Eilcen J. Garrett, in
New York:
"The soul of Aldous Huxley was
akin to that of Plato-like Plato, he
believed in a world of absolute time
and essences reaching backwards and
forwards, in and out of time and space.
Mountain peaks and thunder clouds
he met, and studied their mystic light
and meaning. He saw clearly into reali-
ties that other men with objective sight
did not know, and inhaled from each
its own mystery. He looked deep down
into the mirror of mind and gave us
liberally, in the written word, what he
saw.
"Now he has slipped away from
life and the reminiscences, having ex-
amined human beings and their frail-
ties, without causing strife and competi-
closely in contact with nature, and
drew happy informative ideas from
his long walks in England, the country
of his birth, and in California, where he
lived with the sun in later years. Cali-
fornia for him had a newness, a vitality
in its mountainous grandeur, and also
he felt close to the flux of life with
its varied conditions and perpetual
activities that mark Hollywood. He
watched with passion, amusement, and
with pleasure to his senses, the dis-
proportionate life of California. He
witnessed and embodied the actions of
the world on himself and others. He
was charmed and fascinated, while
his other self shrank from the elements
of strife and disintegration.
"I had met him briefly about 1926.
but was immensely intrigued with his
play 'The City of Light,' produced in
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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1963
1931-not one of his best, but written
with tongue in cheek and a little bitter-
ness, to rid himself of the degeneration
into which psychical research had
floundered, especially within physical
' mediumship. He had, at first, been
taken in by the dark room séances,
which taught him much. At first hand,
. he saw the fakery and nonsense within
the dark seance rooms.
..
.
"I. visited with him often in his
: California home, since his first wife
Maria was close to me, and understood
from her own inner reasons much about
. my own 'ploddings' in the field of
psychical research. The vague and un-
known region of mysticism compelled
him, but it was the existence of the
various levels of consciousness, the sub-
liminal of F .. W. H. Myers and the
psychical researchers, the race memories
and heredity of the biologists, the ec-
stasy of the Christian mystics and the
samadhi of the Orient that presented
an abundant world of cosmic con-
sciousness, as well as large tracks of
intelligence and activity, which com-
manded his-attention and pen. To enter
them, make use of them, and bring
them into a permanent relationship
with the conscious ego of the world,
was his self-appointed task. Always, he
desired that the large and harmonious
tapestry of life should prevail over the
petty and discordant. The root truths,
the qualities of persuasion and the un-
balance in each and every dogma in-
trigued and interested him. He sought
to strip them of their deformities and
clothe each in harmony, humor and
peace.
WORLD ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE
ELECTS DR. HUMPHRY OSMOND
REHOVOT (Israel) .- The World
Academy of Art and Science has elect-
ed Dr. Humphry Osmond, Princeton,
New Jersey, to become a Fellow Mem-
ber of its .150-member agency. The
World Academy has been set up as a
the author of The Chemical Basis of
Clinical Psychiatry (1961). Dr. Os-
mond has pioneered in the use of psy-
chedelic drugs in psychiatric research.
The present membership of the
World Academy of Art and Science. in-
"trans-national forum where the vital . cludes at least three other authorities
problems of mankind can be discussed
objectively, from a global point of view
whose ideas and work have connected
them closely with parapsychological
studies: Mr. Aldous Huxley (Berkeley,
Calif.), author and essayist; Dr. Hein -.
rich Meng (Basle, Switzerland), psy-
chohygienist; and Dr. Solco W. Tromp
(Leiden, Netherlands), bioclimatologist.
STOCKHOLM .- Dr. Humphry Os-
mond, internationally known psychiat-
rist and parapsychological researcher,
attended the meeting of. the World
Academy of Arts and Sciences here
last July. The meeting provided him
with an opportunity to meet many
of the prominent members of the -or-
ganization, to which he had recently
been elected, and to participate in its
proceedings.
Among the personal meetings . and
consultations of Dr. Osmond were talks
with Mr. Aldous Huxley, the writer;
Dr. Albert Hofmann of Sandoz Labora-
· tories, Basel, Switzerland; Prof. Ernesto
Rogers, well-known architect, and sev-
eral other participants with special
interests in psychopharmacology and
and parapsychology. On the last day
of his stay in Sweden, Dr. Osmond
visited Dr. Sten Martens at the Beck-
anha Hospital.
CALIFORNIA SOCIETY
ELECTS OFFICERS
BERKELEY .- The California Soci-
cty for Psychical Study has just com-
pleted its sixth year of activity, at the
same time announcing its newly elected .
President and re-elected officers.
The Society's new President is Mr.
Wilson R. Ogg, Legal Department,
University of California. The other of-
ficers are: Mr. Irvine Dickey, Vice
President; Mrs. Carol McQuilling, Re- .
cording Secretary; and Mrs. Helene
Smith, Secretary-Treasurer.
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·
"It was these moments and intuitions
of the human mind that caused him
to seek me out through the years. The
deeper self of Aldous Huxley has yet
to be examined and understood -- the
power and vitality of the single thought
that could multiply itself to produce
a new essay, a play, another book. In
spite of his limited sight, he was a giant
among writers, who understood the
. basic and the complex, for no sooner
did an idea present itself, then the
nimble mind of Aldous Huxley set the
springs of his creative self in motion,
which will continue to flow down the
years from which his visable image has
departed."
(For other obituaries, please see page 11.)
HUMPHRY OSMOND
on the highest scientific and ethical
level, and outside of all group
interests."
'President of the organization is Lord
J. Boyd Orr, Scotland; Dr. Hugo
Boyko is Secretary General.
Dr. Osmond a leading researcher in
psychopharmacology and parapsychol-
ogy whose main scientific contributions
lie in the field of psychiatric research,
is Director of the Bureau of Research
in Neurology and Psychiatry (New
Jersey Neuro-Psychiatric Institute). He
has for several years been an Adviser-
Grantee of the Parapsychology Founda-
tion, New York, N. Y .; a number of
his articles have appeared in the Inter-
national Journal of Parapsychology.
Together with Dr. A. Hoffer, he is
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PLANS PARAPSYCHOLOGY UNIT
SANTIAGO, Chile. -- The State
University of Chile is planning the
establishment. of a Parapsychological
Department within its School of Psy-
chology. Although basic policy decisions
in this matter have been made-a
parapsychological chair was established
on September 1,, 1962, and remains
· available-administrative details re-
main to be clarified.
If the project of a Parapsychology
Department comes to fruition, direction
of the unit is expected to be in the
hands of Dr. Brenio Onetto-Baechler,
at present Research Assistant at the
Psychiatric Clinic of the State Uni-
versity. Dr. Onetto has spent some
time earlier as a visiting researcher
at the Parapsychology Laboratory,
Duke University; he has been par-
ticularly interested in experiments in-
cluding the use of chemical compounds,
as well as in psychokinesis.
Dr. Onetto has been instrumental in
establishing
the Parapsychological
Society of Chile here. The group was
officially established November 10,
1962; it now has about forty members.
It is an organization of scientifically-
oriented individuals that hold meetings
twice a month. To become a regular
member, one must have university de-
grees and a parapsychological paper is
required. The Society's rules resemble
those of the Parapsychological Associa-
tion in the United States. Information
on international activities is presented
at these meetings and research methods
are discussed.
Lecture on Trance States
A recent lecture, on August 24, by
Dr. Julio Dittborn (Associate Professor,
Psychiatric Clinic, State University)
dealt with "Trance States and Dif-
ferent Types of Consciousness." Dr.
Dittborn gave a preliminary or "opera-
. tional" definition of trance as "a pure
psychological status, spontaneous or
provoked," which "eventually allows
. the appearance into consciousness of
unusual or suggested elements which
may lead to alteration of the sense
of reality." He also referred to studies
in "spontaneous trances" in the waking
state, to neurophysiological studies and
to various hypnagogic and hypna-
pompic types of trances.
Dr. Onetto gave a lecture on "Classi-
fications of Paranormal Dreams". on
September 28. He referred mainly to
Dr. Louisa E. Rhine's classification
of dreams in her book ."Hidden Chan-
articles in the journal of Parapsychol-
ogy, 'as well as to other classifications.
"Different types of dreams and related
psychoanalytical and anthropological
work were mentioned. The speaker
urged collection of spontaneous cases.
The Chilean Society is closing the
year's activities with a meeting on
November 23, devoted to the planning ..
of bibliographical material, and with
a year-end dinner on December 7.
Activities will be resumed next March.
MONTHLY MEETINGS IN ZURICH
ZURICH. The Swiss Parapsycho-
logical Society (Schweizer Parapsycho-
logische Gesellschaft) is continuing a
program that combines qualitative and
quantitative research with lectures and
conferences.
At present, the Society maintains a
schedule of between two and four an-
nual conferences, with the participation
of scholars in such areas as biology,
theology, mysticism and psychology.
Monthly meetings offer a forum for
talks on a wide variety of subjects.
Among those who have spoken at
membership meetings are Dr. Gebhard
Frei (Beckenried, Switzerland), who
lectured on "Phenomena of Posses-
sion"; Dr. Kurt Trampler (Munich),
"Spiritual Healing"; Prof. Hans Bender
(Freiburg i. Br., Germany); "Con-
temporary Parapsychological Studies";"
Mrs. Aniela Jaffé (Zurich), "Parapsy-
chology and Analytical Psychology";
Mr. H. N. Banerjee (Sri Ganganagar,
Rajasthan, India), "Parapsychology,
East and West"; Dr. Karl Müller
(Zurich), "The Spiritualist. Position";
Dr. G. Kronert, "The Bible and Para-
psychology"; P. Cyrill v. K. Krasinski,
"Notes on Tibet"; Ania Teillard,
"Dream, Vision, and the Beyond";
Prof. Richard Weiss, "Ethnological
Aspects"; Alfons Rosenberg . (Horw-
Lucerne), "The Role of Symbolism."
Other speakers were: Dr. Gerda
Walther, Munich; Prof. Peter Hohen-
warter,. Vienna; Pastor Werner Meyer
(Küsnacht, Zurich) ; Dr. Karl Daumer,
Munich; and Dr. Friedemann Horn.
Dr. Hans Naegeli of Zurich is Presi-
dent of the Swiss Society; Miss Eleo-
nore Barth, Secretary. Dr. Peter Ring-
ger, founder and, for many years, Presi-
dent of the Society, has retired. The
Society maintains a library of some
200 volumes; its address is Fraumun-
sterstrasse 8, Zurich 1.
THREE LECTURES
IN VIENNA
VIENNA .- The Austrian Society for
Psychic Research has concluded its
summer holiday period and began a
new lecture program in October. Talks
scheduled will cover reviews of para-
psychological studies in Austria and
abroad, notably in neighboring Ger-
man-speaking countries.
Earlier in the year, the Society's
President, Countess Zoe Wassilko-
Serecki, delivered a "Critical Appraisal
on Reports of European Spiritualists."
The speaker reviewed a variety of cases,
evaluated investigative controls and
suggested improved research methods.
Dr. Peter Ringger (Switzerland)
lectured on "Psychic Experiences dur-
ing Personal Mescalin Experiments."
His talk dealt with the apparent stim-
uli which psychedelic substances may
exert on extrasensory impressions.
Prof. Hans Bender (Freiburg i.Br.)
lectured on "The Sociology and Psy-
chology of Hauntings." The talk con-
tained a number of case histories, in-
cluding recent Swiss haunting phen-
omena, with special reference to ele-
ments of interpersonal relations and
specific social settings.
The Austrian Society for Psychical
Research maintains an active Library
and a Secretariat.
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NEW RESEARCH FOUNDATION
..
DURHAM, N.C .- Functions and as-
sets of the Parapsychology Laboratory
of Duke University are being trans-
ferred to the Foundation for Research
on the Nature of Man. The transfer
began more than a year ago, when the
Foundation was established; it is sched-
uled to be completed in the autumn
of 1965, coincident with the retirement
of Dr. J. B. Rhine, the Laboratory's
Director.
.
Financial assets have already been
absorbed into the new Foundation,
while other Laboratory property has
been transferred to the Foundation's
research affiliate, the Institute for Para-
psychology, whose Director of Research
is Dr. Louisa E. Rhine. The Labora-
tory's collection of over 10,000 spon-
taneous case histories, as well as its
quarterly Journal of Parapsychology,
have thus been transferred.
Dr. J. G. Pratt, until July 1 the
Laboratory's Assistant Director-and
often regarded as Dr. Rhine's most
likely successor-was officially separat-
ed from the staff of the Parapsychology
Laboratory on that date. Dr. Pratt is
understood to have favored retention
of a small parapsychology center within
the framework of Duke University,
stating that such an arrangement
"would not conflict in any way with
plans for the new Foundation."
Dr. Pratt left the United States in
mid-October, following a visit to the
University of Virginia (Charlottesville)
and the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (Cambridge), for a two
months' tour of Europe. Dr. Pratt's
itinerary called for consultation with
parapsychologists in Western and East-
ern Europe, including research activi-
ties with Dr. Milan Ryzl, Prague, with
whom Dr. Pratt had colloborated in
the past in his capacity as a staff
member of the Duke University's Para-
psychology Laboratory. Dr. Pratt has
completed a book, Parapsychology: An
Insider's View of ESP, scheduled to be
published in the spring of next year;
a second book, now in preparation, will
deal with parapsychological researches
in the United States, and in Western
'and Eastern Europe.
West Duke Building, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Home of the Parapsychology Laboratory
J. G. van Agtmaal
Utrecht University, 'Main Building
(See Report on Page 8)
Commenting on current and impend-
ing changes, Dr. Rhine has stated that
"our center has long ceased to be an
actual Duke center, adding that it "has
progressively become connected with
workers elsewhere and has withdrawn
from its former ties within the Uni-
versity." Speaking at Duke University
last May 7, Dr. Rhine referred to the
transfer of the Laboratory as a "gradu-
ation" after "thirty-six years of para-
psychology on this campus."
Dr. Rhine pointed out that' the
"larger, world-wide responsibilities" of
the Laboratory could not readily be
undertaken by the University admin-
istration, particularly as "there is no
way of assuring that future administra-
tions. would accept them if the present
one did." In September, Duke Uni-
versity was placed under the direction
of its fifth President since its founda-
tion in 1924. He is Dr. Douglas M.
Knight.
· Newsweek, reporting on Dr. Knight's
appointment and the University's scho-
lastic standing, noted that "its para-
psychology lab, headed by Dr. Joseph
R. Rhine, is a famous pioneer in the
field of extrasensory perception, and
the Duke Marine Laboratory is a leader
in the specialized field of biological
oceanography." However, the editors
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8
.
added, "to praise a school for ESP
and oceanography is, in terms of status,
like praising a socialite for his minia-
ture golf instead of his polo."
In an interview with the Durham
.Morning Herald (September 4), Dr ..
Knight said that he would "look very
carefully at the administrative structure
of the university and see how it best
fits my way of working and the way
I like to operate with other people."
The newspaper report added:
"In answer to still another question,
he said he would favor the university's
continued support of Dr. J. B. Rhine's
research work in the controversial field
of parapsychology. However, he noted
that Dr. Rhine is "a very enterprising
man (who) is out raising his own
endowment for his own enterprise
right now," and added that 'if that
comes along, as I fully expec it will,
he'll have the independence that I
think he and his workers really want."
Two trends appear to have coincided
in creating a situation favoring the
transfer of the Parapsychology Labora-
tory outside the Duke University frame-
work. First, there is the apparent feel-
ing on the part of certain University
officials that the Laboratory, as an
independent unit, tended to overshadow
in its appeal to public interest some
of the more standard academic features
of Duke University. Second, there is
Dr. Rhine's desire to direct a Labora-
tory enjoying fully independent and
permanently secure status, allowing
free cooperation with, and assistance
to, other workers in parapsychology
around the world. Such independence
would seem to be assured within the
framework of the Foundation for Re-
search on the Nature of Man. (See
Newsletter, July-August, 1962, "New
Foundation to Study the Nature of
Man".)
According to the Laboratory's Para-
psychology Bulletin, the Foundation is
engaged in raising funds that would
match an offer of $1,000,000-this
amount would be forthcoming if, from
other sources, the amount of $3,500,000
is raised by December 31, 1967. The
Foundation has been deeded a 50-acre
tract; Duke University has transferred
$200,000 originally earmarked for re-
search in parapsychology; Mr. and
Mrs. William Perry Bentley (Dallas,
Texas) authorized the later transfer of :. stitute.
a trust fund of $100,000; stock valued
at $101,200 has been received from
the W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Carolina a strong ceniral organization
Foundation (Chicago).
A
.. to help workers around the world
through the difficulties they face, will
be carried forward with vigor and
confidence."
REORGANIZATION PLANNED
BY UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT
UTRECHT, Netherlands. - The
forthcoming retirement of Dr. W. H. C.
Tenhaeff, Director of the Parapsycho-
logical Institute in the State University
of Utrecht, is expected to bring about
a realignment in the organization and
structure of parapsychological studies
in the Netherlands. Prof. Tenhaeff has,
for many years, been an outstanding
figure in psychical research in Holland;
he has pioneered in many fields of
parapsychological studies, and will
doubtless continue to be active in para-
. psychology beyond the date of his
formal retirement as the Institute's
Director.
Prof. Tenhaeff, who will celebrate
his 70th birthday next January 18, is
a psychologist by training. His doctoral
thesis, in 1933, was on the theme of
"Clairvoyance and Empathy," and was
the first thesis on a parapsychological
subject in the Netherlands. The Tijd-
schrift voor Parapsychology, a leading
journal in its field, was founded by
Prof. Tenhaeff in 1928. His interest in
psychic research goes back to his stu-
dent days, when, at the age of seventeen
in Rotterdam, he became interested in
spiritualistic phenomena. He has lectur-
ed in virtually all parts of Europe,
and the number of his books published
and also translated into various langu-
ages is extensive.
The status of the Utrecht Institute
is indicated by Prof. Tenhaeff's own
role in it. In 1951, he was appointed
lecturer in parapsychology at Utrecht
University .at a salary provided by the
State; prior to this, from 1933 onward,
he had been an unsalaried lecturer in
parapsychology at the University. In
1953, Prof. Tenhaeff was appointed
extra-ordinarious Professor of Para-
psychology and' Director of the In-
However, in spite of the increased
acceptance that parapsychology has en-
joyed in the Netherlands and elsewhere
during the past decade, the Utrecht
Institute has thus far retained only
indirect links to the operational core
of the University. As a respected and
tradition-oriented institute, the Uni-
versity of Utrecht has apparently used
the ten years' of the Institute's ex-
istence to examine the potential ac-
ceptability of parapsychological studies
within the confines of its own academic
structure.
Although plans are still fluid, there
are indications that parapsychology
may become formally integrated into
the established organizational pattern
of the University of Utrecht during the
coming year. If this should occur, a
chair might be established within the
University in the autumn_of_1964,
either specifically for parapsychological
studies or, at least, for research in a
wider field-such as, possibly, inter-
personal communications-of which
parapsychology would form a major
segment.
At present, the Parapsychological In-
stitute in the University of Utrecht is
one of three major areas of para-
psychological research in the Nether-
lands. The other two are the Nether-
lands Society for Psychical Research,
established in 1920 by the late Prof.
G. Heymans and at present under the
chairmanship of Prof. J. Kistemaker
(this Society continues publication . of
the Tijdschrift voor Parapsychologie) ;
and the Parapsychological Study Coun-
coils of Amsterdam, the Hague, Haar-
lem and Rotterdam, which work closely
with the academically-oriented Amster-
dam Foundation for Parapsychological
Research (publishers of the bi-monthly
Spiegel der Parapsychologie).
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Dr. Rhine views the role of the new
organizational framework for his work
in terms of a future international posi-
tion. He has stated: "It seems likely
that this plan to build here in North
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-
SOVIET PHILOSOPHY JOURNAL
EXPLORES "EYELESS VISION"
.
MOSCOW .- Soviet scientific dis-
cussion of alleged "eyeless vision" on
the part of Miss Rosa Kuleshova
(Nizhniy Tagil, Urals), which has con-
- tinued for nearly a year, has just re-
sulted in the publication of a hypo-
thesis concerning these phenomena in
Voprosy Filosofii (Questions of Philo-
sophy), a monthly issued by the In-
stitute of Philosophy of the USSR
Academy of Science.
The author the paper dealing with
the Kuleshova data in A. S. Novomei-
sky, Magister of Pedagogical Sciences
and member of the Pedagogical In-
stitute of Nizhniy Tagil. Miss Kule-
shova has been credited with "digital
vision," the ability to distinguish colors
and read "texts with the tips of her
fingers. Mr. Novomeisky, one of the
scientists who have conducted experi-
ments with Rosa Kuleshova, believes
that, like eyesight, the tactile sight is
an electric, or electromagnetic pheno-
menon.
Degrees of "Resistance"
In distinguishing colors by touch,
both Rosa and other subjects, with
whom (after the discovery of Rosa)
experimentation has been carried on,
unanimously stress that, as their fingers
glide over differently colored surfaces,
they experience different degrees of re-
sistance. For instance, they identify the
. yellow color by its "smoothness, light-
ness and softness"; sky-blue appears to
them as also "quite smooth," but
"harder than the yellow"; red is "cling-
ing," and it "draws the fingers to its
surface," etc.
.
.
This leads Novomeisky to the tenta-
tive conclusion that "under the influ-
ence of exposure to light, surfaces of
different color become electrified, but
the electric potential of each one of
them is different; accordingly, as they
come into contact with the electrified
skin surface of the fingers, they produce
different sensations. Hence, the hand
glides easily over some colored sur-
faces, while being 'resisted' by other
ones (even if they are covered with
a glass plate.")
That theory, Novomeisky points out
further, "appears to find confirmation
in that the identification of color tones
improves if, from. time to time, the
subject rubs his fingers on a woolen
cloth. Moreover, there are . subjects
completely unable to distinguish color
by touch unless they do so."
Novoreisky believes that his hypo-
thesis of the electromagnetic or electric
nature of the dermal-optic sense is cor-
roborated by the fact that "the [tactile]
perception of colors has improved
whenever we have put the sheets of
colored paper on a stand resting on
porcelain insulators. When, on the other
hand, the subject's hand was grounded,
the tactile identification of colors first
became less perfect and then ceased."
The author of the article then adds:
"Dermal-optical sensations arise as
... a result of the stimulation of skin
receptors by agents inadequate to these
receptors. As a result, images kindred
in type to tactile ones, and not the
light and color sensations, arise in man's
mind. It is on the basis of these images
that he decides on the color, without
any direct perception of it. Thus, the
dermal-optic sense allows him to dis-
tinguish colors by indirection."
[Although detailed accounts of the
Kulcshova experiments have been lack-
ing, a number of Western observers
have expressed skepticism concerning
the validity of the phenomena and
have questioned the quality of control
conditions under which these experi-
ments have apparently taken place.
Prof. W. A. H. Rushton, Trinity Col-
lege, Cambridge (England) writing in
Rosa Kuleshova, engaged in "eyeless reading" .of a newspaper.
Sovfoto
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the Journal of the Society for Psychical
Research, London (September 1963)
states that Miss Kuleshova's fingertips
would have to embody a "remarkable
mechanism" in order to produce the .
phenomena which have been reported.
Prof. Rushton writes that, in order to
receive and record appropriately, the
"little nerve twig that runs from the
finger tips" would have to act as the
equivalent of "a lens, three normal cone
pigments and a computer which ex-
tracts from the living image just those
space-time features that the retina ex-
tracts, and encodes them in such a way
that eventually the brain, receives just
that information." He adds: "Only one
such mechanism is known and only one
is likely to exist; it is a normal eye." --- A
detailed review of published Russian
data on the Kuleshova case will be
published in a forthcoming issue of the
International Journal of Parapsychol-
ogy, New York.]
"NAUTILUS" HOAX EXPOSED
NEW YORK. - Unconfirmed
French reports that the U.S. atomic
submarine Nautilus had engaged in
highly successful ship-to-shore telc-
· pathy experiments in 1959, have been
described by the magazine This Week
as "unfounded."
Under the title "The Great Nautilus
ESP Hoax," the Sunday newspaper
``supplement reprinted excerpts from a
'best-selling French book, Le Matin des
Magiciens, by Louis Pauwels and
Jacques Bergier. The excerpts gave al-
leged details, including direct quota-
tions of dialogue, 'concerning sixteen
days of experiments with Zener cards
between a "Westinghouse Special Re-
search Center" at Friendship, Mary-
land, and the Nautilus, stationed
"1,200 miles away and hundreds of
feet under the ocean."
The authors of the book also quoted.
Ansel E. Talbert, a military writer of
the New York Herald Tribune as com-
menting on telepathic communication
with submarines and interplanetary
vessels. Pauwels and Bergier made the
claim that "in less than a year, these
influential laboratories have obtained
greater results than in all past centuries
in the realm of telepathy."
"Fascinating Story"
Side by side with these excerpts,
This Week (September 8, 1963) noted
that the "fascinating story" that the
U.S. Navy had "successfully com-
municated from land to atomic sub-
marine through the medium of extra-
sensory perception" had "been circulat-
ing with wider and wider acceptance
here and abroad." The magazine said
it had checked with Pauwels and Ber-
gier, who admitted that they "had
elaborated on reports they had heard,
but not verified." Specifically, they
had "given the submarine a name."
The magazine quoted Pauwels as writ-
ing, "It couldn't be just an 'atomic
submarine,' but the Nautilus, which
is best .known to the French public."
The Nautilus' first skipper, Capt.
William R. Anderson, now retired from
the Navy, provided this comment: "Al-
though the Nautilus engaged in a very
wide variety of activities, certainly
these did not include experiments in
mental telepathy. The report by Messrs.
Pauwels and Bergier is completely
false .. .. On July 24, 1959, the date
these gentlemen allege the Nautilus put
to sea . . . she was in fact high and dry
in dock at Portsmouth, N. H., under-
going her first major overhaul."
. Never Took Place"
The authors had also named Col.
William H. Bowers, USAF, as being
engaged in the experiment. Col. Bowers
stated that: "the experiment in which
I was alleged to have participated never
took place . . . " Further, the "quota-
tion" from Mr. Talbert "turned out
not to be his words, but the authors'
interpretation." Talbert, according to
This Week, reported that U.S. scientists
had "not overlooked the national de-
fense possibilties of ESP." The maga-
zine added that the Nautilus story,
"widely accepted as true, is unfounded
and puts ESP and our defenses in a
bad light."
When the reports on the alleged
experiments first began to be circulated,
the Parapsychology Foundation, Inc.,
undertook an investigation into the
origin and possible factual basis of it.
.It appeared originally in the French
popular science magazine. Science et
Vie (February 1960) in an article by
Gerald Messadie, entitled "The Secret
of the Nautilus." Inquiries were ad-
dressed by the Foundation to the
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, the
General Electric Company, the Bell
System, the U.S. Department of the
Navy, the U.S. Air Force, and various
private companies and researchers
whose names, in the article and in the
Pauwels-Bergier book, were juxtaposed
with the Nautilus report. The alleged
experiment was also mentioned in a
reference work. Histoire de la Magie,
by François Ribadeau Dumas, pub-
lished in France. The author, upon
inquiry, stated that his source had
been the article in Science et Vie.
The reports emanating from Paris,
concerning the Nautilus experiments,
aroused the interest of Russian re-
searchers. In late 1959 and early 1960,
a prominent member of the Institut
Métapsychique International in Paris,
Raphael L. Kherumian, sent clippings
of the Science et Vie article, and of
an article by M. Bergier in the monthly
magazine Constellation (December
1959) to . Prof. Leonid L. Vasiliev,
Department of Physiology, University
of Leningrad. In his book Experimental
Research in Thought Suggestion (Len-
ingrad, 1962), Prof. Vasiliev acknow-
ledges having received these clippings,
summarizes the alleged experiments,
but states in a footnote that such re-
ports must be treated with caution,
having been denied in Washington and
by other authoritative U.S. sources.
Source Unknown
The magazine Science et Vie did not
receive a report on the alleged Nautilus
experiment from its regular New York
correspondent, nor from the news
feature syndicate Science Service, to
which it subscribes. Its editors have
not disclosed their source. Meanwhile,
U.S. Government agencies have re-
ported in detail on such experiments
as actually did take place; see, "U.S.
Air Force ESP Experiments Use Elec-
tronic Equipment," Newsletter, March-
April 1963.
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=
IN MEMORIAM
BARBARA MCKENZIE
TUNBRIDGE WELLS, England .-
Mrs. Barbara Mckenzie, who, with her
husband J. Hewat Mckenzie, estab-
lished and administered the British Col-
lege of Psychic Science, died on Oc-
. tober 20 shortly after reaching the
age of 93.
Born in Elgin, Northern Scotland,
on October 17, 1870, the daughter of
George and Barbara Hendry, she mar-
ried Mr. Mckenzie in 1895. While
living in Wood Green, a London sub-
urb, the Mckenzies became interested
in spiritualism, while also devoting
time to the Quaker-sponsored Adult
School Movement.
By 1900, Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie
had joined the London Spiritualist Al-
liance. Barbara Mckenzie was instru-
mental in helping found the Girls'
Club (originated by the Women's Adult
School Movement). The Mckenzies
also became active in the Labor Party.
They moved to London in 1914 and
increased their psychical researches.
However, while deeply interested in
her husband's work, Mrs. Mckenzie
was also active in causes of her own.
She lectured in favor of women's suf-
frage; at one time, following a mine
disaster, she visited the deepest coal
mine in Wales, and afterwards worked
for better mining conditions.
.
·
It was in 1920 that Barbara Mc-
Kenzie helped her husband in found-
ing the British College for Psychic
Science. A 25-room house in Holland
Park, London, was set aside for the
College's activities. Mrs. Mckenzie was
. its first Secretary. In 1929, Hewat
Mckenzie began to withdraw from the
direction of the College. On his sudden
death in August of that year, Mrs.
Mckenzie. took over its direction as
Honorary Principal and guided its af-
fairs until 1930. That same year, she
retired to the Tudor Estate at Han-
worth, although she retained her inter-
GIOVANNI SCHEPIS,
.
President of the Italian Society for
Parapsychology, died in Milan on De-
cember 1; his life and work will be
reviewed in the next issue of the News-
letter.
ests in the British College for Psychic
Science, the Edinburgh Psychic Col -.
lege, the London Spiritualist Alliance,
and other groups.
From 1953 until her death, Mrs.
Mckenzie lived a very secluded life in
Tunbridge Wells. Although suffering
from arthritis and defective eyesight,
· she maintained her interest in national
and international affairs, as well as in
all aspects of psychical research and
modern parapsychology.
Mrs. Eileen J. Garrett, President,
Parapsychology Foundation, stated in
New York:
"I respected Barbara Mckenzie more
than any woman with whom I have
been- connected within the field of
psychic research. If Hewett Mckenzie
had the dream for the College of
Psychic Science, it was his wife, Bar- .
bara, who built the edifice with. the
smooth but granite stone of her per-
sonality. She had the tranquility and
comprehension to deal with the prob-
lems that related to each sensitive who
worked there, and I know that through
the years, she retained the respect,
devotion and admiration of all those
who knew her. Her words, calm, com -:
forting, and sustaining were like a
flash of inspiration in my young and
highly motivated days at the College.
'Use your intuition,' she advised, "it is
more conducive to psychic manifesta-
tion than all the solutions in mathe-
matics, besides it cannot be forced.'
In common with all those who worked
beside her, I owe her a debt of grati-
tude."
-
MARGARET MURRAY
. LONDON,-Dr. Margaret Murray,
noted authority on witchcraft, arch-
eology and folklore, died here No-
vember 13 at the age of 100.
Born in Calcutta, India, Dr. Murray
studied at University College, London,
and became a junior lecturer in Egypto-
logy in 1899. She retired as assistant
professor of Egyptology at University
College in 1935 but continued her
writing and lecturing. She published
her autobiography, My First Hundred
Years, on her birthday, last July 13.
Dr. Murray did first-hand archeo-
logical research in many areas of the
Near East. Among her works is the
book Egyptian Elements of the Grail
Romance. Her studies in witchcraft
led to publication of two books in the
field, The Witch Cult in Western
Europe, which included a detailed study
of the life and death of Joan of Arc,
and The God of the Witches, published
in 1952.
JOHN BJOERKHEM
STOCKHOLM .- Dr. John Björk-
hem's death here last March 29 was
a severe loss to parapsychology in all
of Scandinavia. He was born into an
old Swedish peasant family in Jämshög
on July 20, 1910. While serving in the
Air Force, in 1930, he suffered the
heart illness which eventually caused
his often-expected death.
Alrutz (1868-1925) to the Psycho-
logical Laboratory of Uppsala Univer-
sity, Björkhem engaged in some 30,000
tests, between 1933 and 1940, with
about 3,000 subjects, most of them in"
the hypnotic state.
In 1935, at the 5th International
Parapsychological Congress in Oslo,
Björkhem reported on his findings con-
cering nerve irradiation (Nerustraal-
Björkhem obtained his doctorate in
theology at Uppsala University with a
psycho-historical dissertation on the
Flemish mystic and visionary Antoinette
Bourignon (1616-1680). His later stud-
ies reflected these early interests. With
ningens Problem, 1940). In an introduc-
tion to the German translation of The
Search for Bridey Murphy, he present-
ed his views on reincarnation. A de-
tailed report on his experiments with
rejuvenation, psychometry, ordinary
the help of a grant left by Sidney . and "traveling" clairvoyance, positive
(including the rope-trick, and . the
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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1963 .
JOHN BJOERKHEM
.
mango tree) ,and negative suggestions
in hypnosis, is to be found in his book
De Hypnotiska Hallucinationerna.
His book Det Ockulta Problema
(1939), combining a general introduc-
tion to parapsychology with data on
his own experiments, was translated
into German, Norwegian, Danish and
Finnish. Some of his shorter writings
have been published by the Swedish
Society for Parapsychological Research,
including the pamphlet. Parapsycho -..
logiska Arbeitsuppgifter (Parapsycho-
logical Tasks; 1950) and Hypnos och
Personlighetsforvandling (Hypnosis and
Personality Change; 1959).
In 1952, Dr. Björkhem visited the
Parapsychology Laboratory, Duke Uni-
versity, in order to study methods used
there; however, his delicate health did
not permit him either further extensive
travels or a crowded research schedule.
Among his writings on personality
and social problems is Livet och Man-
niskan (Life and Man; 1959, seventh
edition). His articles in the British
Journal of Medical Hypnotism include
"Psychological Problems Concerning
Hypnosis, Hysteria and the Hysterical
Type of Reaction" (Summer 1953),
and "Alcoholism and Hypnotic Thera-
py" (Summer 1956); in La Tour
Saint-Jacques, "Le développement et
la situation de la parapsychologie en
Suède" (Vol. 15).
LETTER FROM DENMARK
COPENHAGEN. - Following the
summer hiatus, the lecture season of
the Danish Society for Psychical Re-
search began on September 25 with
a talk by Mr. Niels Laub Faaborg, who
spoke_on the subject of "J. C. Lavater
and Spiritualism in Denmark about
1800." The lecture was a review of
. the life of Lavater, minister of the Re-
formed Church, born in Switzerland
in 1741, who was instrumental in de-
veloping spiritualistic circles among
prominent members of the Danish
Court, including Crown Prince Fred-
erik, who later became Frederik the
Sixth of Denmark.
Lectures have been programmed by
the Danish S.P.R. to take place month-
.ly throughout the fall season.
The Society looks back upon a busy . persons met to discuss Mr. Moller's
lecture schedule, earlier in the year.
On February 20, Mr. Peder Möller,
electrical engineer, spoke on "Oint-
ments . and Incense used by Witches
and Magicians." He offered the thesis
that witchcraft had its origin in pre-
Christian civilizations and that the
"witches' sabbath" of later periods was .
a hallucinatory experience produced
by ointments and incense.
The Swedish psychologist and para-
psychologist Martin Johnson spoke to
the Danish Society on March 20, re-
porting on a. three-months' visit to
Holland, where he studied the work
of Dutch sensitives under the guidance
of Prof. W. H. C. Tenhaeff (Utrecht).
Dr. Johnson is a lecturer at the Uni-
versity of Lund, Sweden.
On April 17, Mr. Aage Slomann,
President of the Danish S.P.R., read
a paper on "Pascal Forthuny, One of
the Great Clairvoyants." The lecture
was based on experiments with Mr.
Forthuny, reported in the Revue Meta-
psychique, Paris, by Dr. Eugène Osty.
On April 22, a group of about ten
earlier paper on witchcraft; a discussion
along folkloristic lines took place. On
May 21, a second special meeting was
. held, this time dealing with astrology.
Various viewpoints were expressed,
ranging from endorsement of astro-
logical claims to considerable skeptic-
ism.
Mr. Slomann gave talks outlining
general parapsychological activities be-
fore several groups. On February 4,
.he addressed . the Conseil Spirituel
Mondial; on February 18, he lectured
to the Soroptimist Club: in Elsinore;
on May 16, he delivered a talk before
the Swedish Society for Parapsycho -.
logical Research in Stockholm.
The talk before the Swedish audience
dealt with "Divination and Omens: in
the Light of Parapsychology." The
speaker categorized methods of divina-
tion, in accordance with their suit-
ability for extrasensory perception. He
divided omens into two.groups: natural
events or circumstances which are re-
garded as auguring well or ill for the
future; and events which apparently
cannot be explained by natural causes,
and which seem to augur ill or well
for the future.
TWO ASPR. LECTURES
NEW YORK .- Two.recent lectures
sponsored by the American Society for
Psychical Research dealt with research
in, and criticisms of, various aspects of
parapsychology.
On October 28, Dr. Bernard Grad,
Department of Psychiatry, McGill Uni-
versity, Montreal, spoke on "A Scien-
tist's Experiments with Psychic Heal-
ing." His talk dealt with wound heal-
ing in mice, as well as with experiments
.apparently indicating that certain ac-
tions of a "healer" are capable of in-
fluencing the development of plants,
notably barley seed. His lecture was
illustrated with graphs and provided
both a qualitative and a statistical ap-
praisal of the data offered by his
experiments.
On November 18, the Society of-
fered a lecture by Dr. Robert H.
Thouless, Emeritus Reader in Psychol-
ngy of Cambridge University and a
former President of the Society for
Psychical Research (London), as well
as of the British Psychological Society.
His subject was "Critics and Experi-
menters in Psychical. Research," a re-
view of some of the methods employed
and apparent successes recorded by
psychical researchers, and of the critic-
items of some of their techniques voiced
during the history of psychic studies,
mainly in Great Britain.
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