Dimensions: A Casebook of Alien Contact - Above Top Secret

in the final analysis.Many of us will disagree with this rather simplistic and superficial view of social problems, but thepoint made here is the illustration of a mechanism through which phenomena such as UFOsightings and contacts with paranormal entities can play a role far beyond their local impact. ForFrance at the end of the nineteenth century, as for Portugal in 1917, the apparitions of themysterious Lady were in many respects social and political turning points, deeply influencing thecollective psyche.Another interesting observation concerns the nature of the state of trance experienced byBernadette. One doctor had decided to expose her as a mental case and performed a fascinatingexperiment. This man, Dr. Douzous, witnessed a cnadle flame applied to Bernadette's hand forfifteen minutes, measured by his watch. When she finished her prayers he could observe the glow ofecstasy leaving her face.I asked her to show me her left hand. I examined it most carefully, but could not find theleast trace of burning anywhere on it. I then asked the person who was holding the candle tolight it again and give it to me. I put it several times in succession under Bernadette's lefthand but she drew it away quickly, saying, "You're burning me." I record this fact just as Ihave seen it without attempting to explain it.Shining BeingsEvans-Wentz, who knew equally well the traditions of Tibet and those of Scotland, was one of thegreatest students of folklore in this century. After all his life travels he came to California and spenthis last years near San Diego, where he befriended the local Indians and diligently studied theirculture and traditions. He made some interesting discoveries in California and left many notes inmanuscript form. They contain interesting ideas on the relationship between religion andparanormal phenomena.The most interesting theory put forth by Evans-Wentz is a further development of the observationthat ancient gods are continued under new names as myths evolve from civilization to civilization.Could it be, he asked, that every land has its own psychic and telluric forces, contributing to theappearance of certain spirit entities, regarded by human beings as gods and goddesses? Could theparallelism between Mormonism and ancient Indian beliefs be an example of such a process?Frank Waters had pointed out before Evans-Wentz that the early white settlers in America hadbecome very closely Indian in spirit and feeling. He writes in Masked Gods:They had confronted here that great psychic entity which was the spirit-of-place, the heart ofa new continent. It shattered them completely. But each succumbed in a different way.The vision of God and Jesus experienced by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Latter-DaySaints, was in fact, Evans-Wentz believes, a vision of the Shining Beings (known in other parts ofthe world as Devas). These Shining Beings appeared to Indians during secret rituals performed onhigh places or sacred mountains. Thus, the Winnebagos tell of a youth who climbed the mountain,eager to find wisdom. He fasted for twelve days, and a spirit came to him, giving him knowledgeand teaching him wonderful words that brought health, welfare, and long life. He came back to hispeople with a song expressing this newly discovered wisdom, and the song began:In to solitude went IAnd wisdom was revealed to me.Saith the Spirit,Dream, oh, dream again,