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actualises one of these possibilities, ionising a particular atom and giving rise
to a mark at a particular point. As a result, its potentiality changes abruptly. In
particular, it will in general no longer be possible/for it to interact at all other
points of the surface; in actuShsing one possibility, it excludes the others. This
abrupt change in the range of potential interactions open to the photon due to
its actualisation of one of theta
is what
is referred to as the collapse, or
reduction, of the state vector.
\
/
Why do reductions of state vectars only occur during observation inter-
actions and not during all physical iftteracticfns generally? According to the
preceding explanations, a state vector represents the potentiality of a physical
system for interacting with observing apparatus to produce particular results
and the reduction of a state vector represents the actual occurrence of one of
these
potential
interactions. Given
this/lnterpretation of the
terms,
the
question becomes, Why do physical systems only actualise their potential
interactions with observing apparatus /vhenVhey interact with observing
apparatus? Now the answer is obvious/ for it ik only when interacting with
observing apparatus that a physical system can afctuali.se one of its potential
interactions with apparatus. Understood in this w\y, the reductions of state
vectors seem obvious and logical and riot “wholly Mysterious or occult”.
It must be emphasised that the above considerations are not intended as a
physical explanation
of state vectoy collapse, but merely as an
intuitive
explanation which, hopefully, indicates why the presentYuthor at least does
not find these events, interpreted objectively, to be “wholly mysterious” or
“crying out for explanation”. Though no physical explanation of how state
vector collapse occurs can be given, these events do not seem mysterious ifwe
take into account what state vectoi/s, and their reductions, represent.
References
Bohr, N., Essays 1958-1963 on Atomic Physics and Human Knowledge, Wiley- Interference,
New York, 1963.
/
Jammer, M„ The Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 19Y4.
Lawden, D.F., Observing instruments and quantum theory. J. Psychophys. Sys.,5, 73-74, 19$3a.
Lawden, D.F., Scientific explanation of Lave vector collapse. J. Psychophys. Sys., this numbV,
1983b.
I
\
Villars, C.N., Consciousness and quanturn theory i A reply to lawden and Walker. J. Psychophys.
Sys., 4, 401-403. 1982.
Villars. C.N., Reply to Lawden.
J. Psychophys. Sys., 5, 173-175, 1983.
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Joan of Arc's prophecies
JEAN BARRY M.D.
38 Cours du Medoc, 33300 Bordeaux, France
Joan of Arc is not a myth. Her feats of arms are well attested by the Chronicles
on both
sides, and also by the instruments of the Inquisition
trial led by
Cauchon
and
Bedford. The
Proceedings
of
the
“Rehabilitation
Trial”
initiated by Charles VII, in order to prove that her victories were not those of a
witch,
brings fourth men, women,
priests,
warriors, bearing impressive
testimony. Thus
it is very interesting to follow our heroine, not only® her
childhood, but also in her warrior life.
As a parapsychologist,
I am particularly interested by the strength of her
moral nature, her cleverness, her military talent, and, last but not least, her
gifts of premonition and clearsightedness. I intended to write a book on Joan
and parapsychology, helped by a friend of mine in respect of the historical
part.
Here,
I give a short glimpse on the subject:
Joan’s clear-sightedness
is connected both with near future and with
furtherest future. Cases of the first type are certain, testified by history. Cases
of the second, are arguable, often being transmitted by family tradition.
Let us mention first some of the first category:
In Vaucouleurs, talking with Robert de Baudricourt, Commander of the
place, she foretells the French defeat at Rouvray, (later on named the “Day-
time of herrings”) just before the battle was lost, at some 400 kilometres from
there.
„
Going to Chinon, she foretells the place where Charles Martel s sword was
found, very rusted, in the ground, behind the Sainte Marie de Fierbois altar-
table.
_
,
,
Fifteen days before her attack on the fort of the “Tourelles
and a second
time the day before, she foretold she would be wounded. She said: “To-
morrow blood will be drawn from my body, above my breast”. An arrow
pierced, through her armour, the lower part of her neck.
From the high wall of the fortress, the Commander, Sir Glasdale, insulted
her, calling her “milkmaid, harlot”. She answered him: “You insult me, but
you are not far from your death”. Not long after he fell down from the burning
drawbridge, all armoured, into the Loire, and was drowned.
Many other cases are worth telling, all of them historically true. A few more
have not been written in history and are transmitted by family tradition.
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Believe them or not, you shall not be damned for that. They are long range
prophecies.
One of them concerns Etienne de Vignolle, nicknamed “La Hire” by the
Burgundians. This terrible “cadet of Gascony” was a great captain. For those
who don’t know of him, he is still the Knave of Hearts of our playing-cards. As
a pillager himself, he said: “If God was a soldier, he would be a pillager”. An
incendiary of course, he struck his enemies like pigs. This terrific man had the
gift of friendship. As soon as he saw Joan of Arc he said: “I believe in her, I
shall follow here everywhere”.
Such was Joan’s ascendency, that he ceased to swear like a trooper, stopped
his plunders, went to church, and confessed his sins. Joan had predicted to him
that if he fell back into temptation of sacking a town, then the last of the La
Hires would die ruined and miserable. After Joan’s death, he again became a
pillager.
A woman of my acquaintance, Mrs Michelle Nahon, told me that her
grand-father, Jean de La Hire, who asserted he was the last descendant
1 of
Etienne de Vignolle, died in that way, some fifty years ago, as an impecunious
science fiction writer.
Still more striking is an old tradition in the La Tremoille family. Georges de
La Tremoille, the traitor counsellor of Charles VII, who became jealous of
Joan’s glory, had already laid an ambush for her and her seven companions, on
their way from Vaucouleurs to Chinon. Later on, he made it impossible for
Joan and the Duke of Alenqon to take Paris, by withdrawing Gillese Ray’s and
Richemont’s troops.
This was more than five hundred years ago.
In 1933, the old Duchess of La Tremoille called for her family physician,
the
late Dr Datin
(as
I was
told by
his daughter, Dr Grassin’s wife, a
surgeon in Rennes). “I am tired and sad”, said the Duchess. “My son, the
young Duke, died yesterday morning, burnt alive in the hunting-box of a
Scotch Castle. As you can see, Joan of Arc’s prediction, as it was known in our
family, came true.”
And there is a striking confirmation. The young Duke, of course, knew the
prediction, but did not quite believe in it. This was told me by a friend of mine,
the physicist, Olivier Costa de Beauregard; his wife’s mother was a friend of
the late Duke. One day, some time before his death, showing the Countess his
Castle of Serrant, in Anjou, he stopped before his family-tree, on which he
stood alone at the end, and said half sweet half sour: “Look, I am the last, and,
according
to an
old
family
tradition, Joan
of Arc
said,
while
she was
The most well-known of La Hire’s descendants is the XVIIth century mathematician, Philippe
de La Hire (1640-1718).
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imprisoned in Rouen, that the last of the La Tremoille’s would die burned
alive.”
These testimonies are true. What is their explanation? Coincidence? Joan’s
soul crying for vengeance through time and space? Of course not. What they
show
is, once more, Joan’s extraordinary gift for clearsightedness and pre-
cognition. What is very striking in these two cases, is their consonance with the
Biblical statement “The grandfathers have eaten sour grapes, so the grandsons
have aching teeth”.
A friend of mine, Mr. P. Giry, M.D., has prepared a detailed documenta-
tion concerning the very numerous psychic feats that have been recorded of
Joan of Arc.
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