...merely the hook that draws us...

Today, Coast to Coast features a link in the news section, to an article in the Guardian Unlimited, entitled, 'About as spooky as a tea-towel' about a Victorian-era Spiritualism photography exhibit. Predictably perhaps, the author rather ignorantly and dismissively compartmentalizes and trivializes the photographs:

[The] Seeing Is Believing show is a disappointing exhibition about the unexplained. What is really inexplicable is the mediocrity of many photographs in the show: Claire Strand's arty portraits, with their smoky grey auras; Florencia Durante's figures and rooms, with their scribbles and arcs of yellow light. The furniture flies about, but we know too much to be more than mildly entertained by pictures like this any more.

We 'know too much?' I'm not sure 'mild entertainment' is the point of this exhibit, or any generally art/cultural exhibit for that matter. The obvious manipulation of photographs isn't the point, but even if it was, is it to be dismissed? Spiritualism's trickeries and hoaxes, fraudulent devices and practices, mixed with the rabid investigations, contain far more than meets the eye. There are elegant dynamics of gender politics, religion, etc. that deserve more than a glossed-over glance.

I suggest reading Kate Hawley's thoughtful ruminations on the subject in her article Photography and the Occult at The Revealer: ...focusing purely on the silliness is a mistake. These photographs reveal a great deal about their time, and our own.

Agreed.

UFO trivia question. Win a prize. Maybe.

I have been searching for a particular UFO case, which involved my high school history teacher, and host-parent of my good high-school-foreign-exchange-student Emmanuel Charrier. All the time I spent around this man, I never knew he was involved in a well documented UFO case--I wish I had been able to talk with him about it. He and his wife have since died.

While browsing a UFO bargain book at B&N about 12 years ago, I came across a case involving military (air force, I assume) subjects in a jet. The gist of it was that an unidentified object (and closely observed, as I remember) was persuing the jet. One of the witnesses' names (my aquaintance) was Walter (or Walt) Teuscher. Because of the unique name, age/timeframe, military connection (I know he was in the military) I am certain the witness and my teacher are the same person.

I am almost positive the case was one of Hynek's, and that it took place in or around the 1950's. I may be off on the spelling of Teuscher's last name--strangely, I recall it being spelled 'Teuscherer' but that doesn't seem to be a valid spelling at all. I will be digging out my dusty yearbook and trying to find the correct spelling--I will update. I have not been able to find this case listed in any of the online or printed resources. I'm so mad I didn't purchase the the book or at least document the case. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

amongst a cloud of ectoplasm

At Flickr, '*Tom*' has posted family photos he discovered in an old suitcase. Spiritualism-era photos are quite rare, and groups of them such as Tom has found, that have been unpublished and uncirculated are even rarer. They are quite a treasure, and well worth checking out. About this particular photo, Tom writes, "Taken in 1920. My great grandfather was obsessed with this image, and I have found many sketches of this apparition." The group and other commentary can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/chough/tags/spiritualism/

A True Medium Indeed...

Note to self: obtain these magazines. About True Mystic Science Magazine (circa 1938-1939, with a mere 8 issues) From Galactic Central's magazine database: True Mystic Science contained articles on astrology, numerology, graphology, mediums, prophecies, famous crimes and unexplained events and various psychic phenomena. R.T.M. Scott was a frequent contributor, Talbot Mundy had an article on Mystic India in the second issue and Otis Adelbert Kline had articles in the second and fifth issues. Arthur J. Burks appeared in the eighth

The Phantom Limb

I thought this was old news...the idea that mirrors help to diminish phantom limb pain. From the article, it seems researchers seem to believe that the restored image of the limb, and its tricking of the brain may be the underlying magic, but I would guess that most of, if not all, of the subjects in this medical study make use of a prosthesis. So--why doesn't this fooling-the-brain work just as well when the healthy leg and prosthetic device are identical? If the idea is to fool the brain, why should it matter if the limb is clothed or unclothed? I would imagine that as adults, we spend most of our visual time viewing our legs clothed rather than unclothed, and that this--pants, shoes-- is a normal or natural state of perception.
There is a fairly famous bit of parapsychology that was included on that Leonard Nimoy hosted 70s documentary, in which kirlian photography reveals the whole energetic imprint remains around a leaf that has been cut. The human body likewise 'knows' its entire physical self, energy is still directed around physically missing areas. Of course pain is likely to occur in this field--it still belongs to the body. Directing such energy would logically be the answer to pain alleviation. That is why the mirror seems to be magical. Mirrors are water energy in the classic chinese medicine system, and a very appropriate choice in dispersing the fire energy that likely led to a lost limb. Mirrors have ancient usages in absorbing and redirecting energy, and also are involved in occult transformation. I would guess that the mirror method would work even in a blind subject study--even if the patient wasn't able to view the 'wholeness' or even if the mirror wasn't set up in a particular position so as to 'fool the brain.' I would also speculate other forms of energy work might work just as well in relieving phantom limb pain.

They must have wormhole technology...

In this new article, about hieroglyphs and UFOs, I reference an article at crop circle connector, noting an aesthetic similarity between some features in the notorious CARET document's linuguistic primer, and crop circles which have been proposed as relayers of information about Comet Holmes. I was originally just interested in presenting the physical similarities, but in reading the full text carefully, a remarkable case is made. It's here: http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/anasazi/time2007g.html

{Chapter IV--Fore-Gleams of the Future}

While perusing the bookshelves at B&N the other day, I came across a a book I immediately recognized from a distance--for its rather generic but memorable cover; recently I have been noticing online reprints of occult and esoteric related items by Kessinger Publishing ...the covers are all the same, bright yellow borders with large black-on-white text. I was so happy to find one of these to look over in person.

Then, upon looking at the title, my heart nearly stopped. It may be the most lovely and perfect title to a book that I have ever read, every dreamed, ever needed. Immortality and Our Employments Hereafter: With What a Hundred Spirits, Good and Evil, Say of Their Dwelling Places.

If that in itself doesn't sell the book, then one need not read on...

According to my little bookscouting scanner that I happened to have with me, there were used copies available at amazon, so I decided to order it instead of forking out $30 to B&N. To my amazement, one of the copies was an 1880 9th printing, offered for a little over just $9. The seller warned it was literally falling apart, with all manner of damage, but honestly, for me that just enhances it. So, I purchased it, and have to say that it is the most precious book I own. Some Chapter Titles: {Chapter XIII--Evil Spirits: Their Plans, Their Doings, and Their Destinies} and, {Chapter XIX--Crystal Drops: Facts and Fancies of Many in Spirit Life.}

As the title would indicate, much of the entire text is dedicated to dialogue regarding the physicality/tangibility/aesthetic aspects of the spirit world. That is something I love about the early Spiritualism communications--the almost childlike, basic, straightforward inquiries into the literal nature of the afterlife, along with the spirit responses--it's like they really understood how we on this side so desperately want to have an idea of what death & the otherworld is like. It's an element lacking in modern day mediumship. The mediumistic/trance/seance transcripts in this volume really deliver; I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Spiritualism, mediumship, ghosts, or Victoriana.

The reprint (ISBN 0548039216) is about 32$ new, and starts at 19$ used at Amazon. Unfortuantely, though, if you want a turn of the century/Spiritualism-era copy, they start at under about $200 at Alibris. What a kick ass cool present though.

All the hard roaches will be staying, however...

Book Manifesto: An Open Letter to Miss Oprah Winfrey on the Occasion of Revealing Her Favorite Things
Oh. my. god. I just wrote a hilarious poem at AC. I can't wait to read the comments there telling me it sucks because it doesn't rhyme.

What the world needs now....

cannot possibly be another blog. As my father used to say..."it can't be, it just can't be...BUT IT IS." You may ask yourself, how did I get here? this is not my beautiful wife. Same as it ever was.