Parapsychology Abstracts International . ; Vol. 7, No. 2: December 1989 that the strict application of the double-blind method of- formed. The sensoriality in time would be peculiar to all, fers the researcher the guarantee of absolute objectivity in living and nonliving beings; the one in space would belong estimating results, - DA/R.A.W. only to living beings, even if potentially present in the nonliving ones. Clairvoyance would consist in the sen- 03616. Rigato, Mario. The Possibility of suggestive in- soriality in time (retrocognition and _precognition); clair- fluences in certain analgesic effects of mag- voyance in the present, or cryptesthesia, would in reality netotherapy: A boundary problem between para- be a perception of the immediate past, displaced only by a psychology and unquestioned sciences. Quaderni di few moments as to the present. On the basis of time sen- Parapsicologia, 1986, £7(1), 46-48. soriality, it would have formed intuitive thought which js The clinical effects of pulsed magnetic fields are always creative and leads to the evolution of all beings; on easily controllable by means of radiography and other ob- the basis of space Sensoriality, it would have developed ra- jective data. On the other hand, the purely analgesic ef- tional thought, which in itself isn’t creative but only aims fects declared by the patient are not controllable. Some at settling fixed relations, or laws, among beings. The in- authors suggest that a Placebo effect is present. On this teraction between the two s¢nsorialities and the two forms problem an expcrimental research program is presented to of thought offers us the whole of reality. - DA/RA.W. be carried out in coHaboration with the Parapsychology Laboratory of The University of Utrecht. The aim is to 03619. Martelli, Aldo. Experiences of collaboration with point out some aspects which could involve academic or- certain prestidigitators in the investigation of some thodoxy as well as parapsychology. - DA/R.A.W. presumably paranormal cases. Quaderni di Para- Psicologia, 1986, I7(1), 61-68. 03617. Bersani, Ferdinando, and Travisan, Bruno. Ex- On several occasions, during our investigations and periences with psycholinguistic PK, Quaderni di Para- experimental researches on some Supposed paranormal Psicologia, 1986, 171), 49-53. 1 ref : phenomena, we availed ourselves of the collaboration of Last year we Presented a new method that could two conjurors: Vanni Bossi and Alexander. In our detect some possible PK effects catalyzed by the interpreta- opinion, such collaboration is useful and advisable, Ob- tion of semirandom acoustic signals recorded on a tape re- viously, one should consider certain difficulties, deriving, corder. In a previous Study we investigated the possibility for instance, from the conjurors’ engagements. of perceiving linguistic patterns in suitable nonlinguistic We agree with Vanni Bossi that it is not enough to acoustic events. The two essential conditions in order to have at our disposal a “tout-court” good conjuror. It is obtain such effects were: (a) the availability of sounds also necessary that the conjurer is practiced, not only in that could be listened to over and over again on a tape conjuring tricks in general, but also with those tricks that tecorder, and (b) the Propensity of the subject to under- “paranormal” Subjects could perform. Stand that what they are listening to is a linguistic mes- Thanks to Alexander’s collaboration, we investigated a sage. Supposed phenomenon of water creation. The Subject was As we showed last year, the hypothesis can be formu- a 15-year-old girl. This case proved to be a trick as the lated which says that a condition can be produced during girl, thanks to her extraordinary skill, was able to put out the linguistic interpretation that is particularly conducive + the salivary secretion through her imperceptibly half-open in order to produce some PK effects by which a lips. We also investigated a case of an 11-year-old boy “nonintentional" modification of acoustic patterns could who had been described as the protagonist of many extraor- result in better equating the acoustic event to a linguistic dinary ESP and PK Phenomena. In our presence, the boy model produced by the subject’s mind. This hypothesis was able only to make a thermometer mercury rise, by also fits with Stanford’s “conformance behavior” model. In means of a “trick,” unconscious perhaps, but soon revealed. our set-up, the physical target of the PK is the electronic Moreover, in 1978, in Milan, Alexander caught Geller bend- device by which the acoustic events are processed. ; ing a key by hand, simulating PK. He was able to In other words, our present investigation involves the Teproduce the success in the same way, possibility of detecting some modifications in the electronic We made use of the two conjurors’ opinions also in "processing" of the acoustic signals previously recorded. In order to examine (as deeply as possible) about 30 experi- our pilot attempts the subject was requested to listen ments, They involved metal bending and of other kinds, (using headphones) to suitable signals, and his emotional selected among over 200 experiments performed during ig involvement was monitored via an electronic device called Some years with half a dozen “maini-gellers," and with the “oracie," wherein the Subject asks the “oracle” to speak Professor Bersani’s collaboration. We chose that experi- about some personal questions. In other words, the acoustic ments because we considered them valid as far as their signals can be used as targets for a short projective test in paranormal “genuineness” was concerned. which the subject is particularly involved, In order to im- Tn this case, we should be satisfied with the con- Prove the psychological connéction between the electronic jurors’ posterior judgment that is given on the basis of our device and the Subjects, we introduced some modifications account. In fact, we cannot have them at our disposal al! into the circuits with respect to the previous instrumenta- throughout the experiment. The explanations for the tion, and we also introduced feedback by means of a small phenomena, that the conjurors gave Separately, partly coin- light that flashes when the “oracle” Speaks. With these cided, partly contrasted, and only two were judged tenable, modifications we have conducted an extensive investigation ‘on the basis of our experimental experience. In some with quite a large number of subjects. No PK effect was cases, then, the conjurors admitted that, if things had ac- detected. Nevertheless, experimentation is still going on in tually gone as we had described, the only explanation they order to obtain a very large amount of data, - DA/RAW. could give was the Operator's inattention. - DA/R.A.W. 03618. Dettore, Ugo. A hypothesis of clairvoyance. Quad- 03620. Cassoli, Piero. A contribution to the study of ernt di Parapsicologia, 1986, 17(1), 54-60, pranotherapy. Quaderni di Parapsicologia, 1986, /7(1). We hypothesize a sensoriality in time (past and fu- 69-89. 43 refs; 1 table . ture) on the pattern of which the Scnsoriality in space . The author, a physician, discusses problems concerning (present), peculiar to the five known senses, would have “healers.” For many years he has becn investigating only 12 | -0 Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400120001
Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R0004001 20001-0 Exceptional Human Experience is the Self" (p. 6). Everyone moves on a different path, and he classifies the various experiences as occurring to those on the following 7 paths: the way of Beauty, the way of action, the way of il- lumination, the way of dance and ritual, the way of science, the way of devotion, and the way of the will, He does not conceive of these ways as set courses--on the contrary, “it is a Process that engages us in ever new situations" (p. 7). Each in- dividual, in proceeding along a way to the Self, “comes into contact with an entirely new realm that transcends the confines of individuality--the transpersonal level” (pp. 8-9) In seven chapters, each devoted to one of the above ways, he describes that way and provides many published examples to illustrate it. At first glance, these tan- talizing quotations annoyingly are not referenced, but the citations are listed y page number at the end of the book. It is the aim of this worthwhile book to change our image of ourselves and others through the study of these transpersonal experiences. Moreover, "transpersonal states... are communi- cated and resonate in those who are exposed to them, even in written form" (p. 11). © Finally, "descriptions of higher states evoke in many the desire to experience them. This desire is not a passing whim, but a deep aspiration that may take the shape of a Way to the Self” (p. 11). - RAW. SCHOLARLY OVERVIEWS $4507. Alvarada,. Carlos: S. Parapsychology and ‘Teligion: Recent contributions from Italy. Journal of thei wociety for Psychical Research, 1990 (Jul), 56(820), 221- 225. 11 refs i The author discusses the relationship of para- peycholo y and religion within the context of a 988 conference on the subject held at Bologna in 1988. The proceedings of this conference comprise an entire issue of the Italian Journal Quaderni di Parapsicologia (1989, vol. 20). Alvarado briefly sum- marizes and then comments on the apers. Andreas Resch presented an overview o ideas about psychic phenomena in the Catholic Church. Giorgio Gafgliardi and Marco Margenelli sum- marizes psyc ophysiological studies of 5 children claiming to have had visions of the Virgin Mary since 1981 at Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. Reginalda Thorel’s paper was about psi_ phenomena _ as- sociated with St. Catherine of Sienna and Gian- carlo Rosatio and the same for Sai Baba. Emilio Servadio theorized the psi phenomena are partly transcendental and partly physical. Sergio Ber- nardi spoke of the different levels of reality in Eastern philosophy and religion. Alfonso di Nola rejected a transcendental world and postulates that all paranormal phenomena, inclu ing so-called miracles, are explicable in terms of human psi. Filipo Liverziani differentiates between mediumis- tic and saintly levitations. The author Suggests that parapsychology is not sufficiently well ad- vanced to answer some of the questions raised at the conference. He also warns that one should not confuse “ignorance of causal mechanisms with evidence of transcendental realities or nonphysical properties” (p. 224). He also points to our lack of nowledge concerning the naturalistic context of miraculous phenomena: If para r Approved Fo Rele } f } se Dovid08/11 : Cia RDP 104 Vol. 9, No. 1 June 1991 going to be meaningful for issues such as the study of miracles or the influence of religious en- vironments on the manifestation of psychic phenomena it will have to pay more attention to its subject matter as it occurs outside of the laboratory” (p. 224). - R.A.W. SURVEYS 04508. Hixon, Lex. Coming Home: The Experience of En- lightenment in Sacred Traditions. Los Angeles: Jerem P, Tarcher, 1989. 215p. Bibl. notes: 210- 14; 11 illus This book is about spiritual enlightenment but, as Ken Wilber points out in the Foreword, Hixon’s approach is fresh. He takes 10 of the world’s major spiritual traditions and in each case presents its teachings and precepts with the aim of eading the reader to "release [him- or herself] into spirit as it manifests itself through each of those traditions" (p. xiii) Hixon is not concerned with the historical and doctrinal trappings of these dis- ciplines but with the timeless awareness that is at the core. Each discipline serves as a vehicle for realization, or as Wilber puts it, “experimental prac- tices. They are experiments to perform (and thus see through form). They are something to do and then be, not something to merely think and then believe" (p. viii.) Hixon himself writes: "These es- says present several universes or languages of Spirit whose central theme is Enlightenment. Each is unique, yet all are rich with mutual cor. Tespondences because they reflect one primal awareness. The spiritual dimension of culture is not an array of dogmatic world views bristling with contradictions but a spectrum of contempla- tive practices, equivalent in essence, which lead toward experience rather than toward doctrinal assertion. Coming Home attempts to open various doors into this spiritual dimension" (p. xi). ‘The teachings covered are the European and Asian Approaches of Heide ger and Krishnamurti,” "Ramakrishna of Bengal,” "Ramana Maharshi,” "Zen Ox-herding," "Plotinus and the Metaphysics of Spiritual Quest,” "Jewish Soul Masters of the Hasidic Way,” "Letters of Saint Paul," "Teachings of the Contemporary Sufi Bawa Muhaiyaddeen,” "The Oracle Text of the J Ching," uy an oward the Turiya of Advaita Vedanta.” - RAW. 04509. Laski, Marghanita. Ecstasy: In Secular and Religious Experiences. Tarcher, 1990, c1961. 191 refs; 12 tables Jeremy Tarcher has initiated a new series of reprints entitled “Library of Spiritual Classics.” Ecstasy certainly belongs in this category. It is a report of an empirical survey Laski made of ecstatic experience, not wanting to prejudge such experiences as being either supernormal or morbid as other writers seemed to have done. After read- ing the literature on ecstasy, she devised a ques- tlonnaire and gave it to 63 acquaintances to obtain 60 who replie affirmatively to her first question, which was "Do you know a sensation of transcen- dent ecstasy"? ‘She also searched published texts for accounts of ecstatic experience, dividing them into two SRoge literary and religious. In the first 290792ROG0460120004b0d of Los Angeles, CA: Jeremy P. 544p. 2 graphs; Index: 534-544,
Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400120004-0 chologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1972, 14(4), 244-251. 33 refs In a survey of the literature concerning parapsychic phenomena and drugs, the author concludes that obviously only the use of so-called hallucinogens (such as LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, and, with reservations, hashish and marijuana) is associated with parapsychic abilities, whereas the use of opiates (such as opium, heroin, and morphine) does not seem to touch this field. It is hypothesized that because of the different pharmaco-psychological functioning of hallucinogens, intoxication by these substances might be rather suitable for stimulating the aggressive and instinctive parts of man. They seem to be a characteristic feature of psi abilities also. Opiates, on the other hand, do not seem to affect this sphere because these substances are mainly narcotizing. The effects of cocaine, amphetamines, tranquilizers, and soporifics cannot be judged on the basis of the surveyed literature. It is shown that the possible relevance of drug use to parapsychology is completely ignored by most textbooks dealing with drugs, the authors of which are mainly medical men, psychiatrists, or pharmacologists. — G.H. 01396. Schmidbauer, Wolfgang. On the psychology of the oracle. Zeitschrift fiir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1972, 14(4), 222-234. [Originally published in Psychologische Rundschau, 1970, 21, 88-98.] 30 refs The author describes various practices of oracles with reference to ethnographic reports and attempts to sketch a model that optimally includes psychological aspects in these reports. The function of trance within the oracle and its sociopsychological moorings (shamans) are pointed out. An analysis of oracular practices with principles derived from projective tests shows certain structural similarities with the situation in which a person secking advice finds himself. — DA/R.A.W. ITALIAN LANGUAGE LUCE E OMBRA (Editor: Paola Giovetti) 01397. Di Simone, Giorgio. The “Entita A.” case. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jan/ Mar), 85(1), 22-29. 8 refs After a long preamble mostly dedicated to the historical and technical aspects of the seances of “Mister X” (a trance medium whose name he is not allowed to mention), the author underlines the great importance of the revolutionary contents of these seances, which took place in Naples more than 30 years ago (about 1950-1980). These contents are extremely logical, rational, and coherent, and the author collected them in several books, first of all Rapporto dalla dimensione X, (Roma 1973/84). The author mentions also the experiments he organized (1971 and 1974) in order to check the independence of the supposed communicating “entity” (Entita A) from the medium (comparative analysis of the voices with the “voice-print” method and an EEG of the medium, awake and during his speaking-trance). — DA 01398. Lannuzzo, Giovanni. Parapsychology and anthropology: A note. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jan/ Mar), 85(1), 30-34. 18 refs The author analyses the connections between parapsychology and anthropology, and asserts that these connections should be of different kinds: accounts of psi phenomena should be evaluated according to both parapsychological and anthropological patterns, and accounts of psi phenomena also should be evaluated only from the parapsychological point of view (a “parapsycographical” pattern). Experimental methods, utilized in some field researches, are considered insufficient. The author suggests a new methodo- logical approach in which “paranormality” is considered a cross- cultural event. According to this model, it seems to be necessary, in psychical research, to utilize the methods and conceptual patterns of the “human” sciences. — DA 01396-01401 01399. Ravaldini, Silvio. A pioneer of psychical research: Alex- andre N. Aksakof. Luce ¢e Ombra, 1985 (Jan/ Mar) 85(1), 43-54. 8 refs The author describes the life and work of onc of the pioneers of psychical research, Alexandre Aksakof. His activities were directed at establishing the reality of paranormal phenomena. His early work was published in Germany, due to the censorship exerted in Russia by religious and lay authorities. Aksakof was an alert experimenter and had the occasion to be present in the seances of two great mediums: D.D. Home and Florence Cook. In the year 1874, Aksakof founded in Germany the journal Psychische Studien, which later had a great importance for both theoretical study and for practical experimentation. Later he published (1890) his important book, Animism and Spiritism, which can be considered a positive answer to the book, Spiritism, of E. von Hartmann, which practically denied the physical phenomena. Aksakof devoted nearly all his life to promulgating spiritualistic ideals in a world where materialism was dominant, and left an important legacy, both as man and as researcher. — DA/R.A.W. 01400. Giovetti, Paola. The possession case of Siano (Catanzaro). Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jan/ Mar), 85(1), 55-59. 1 ref. The author interviewed Dr. Pericle Assennato, a retired magis- trate who long ago (1936) was present when an exceptional case of possession took place in a little village of South Italy, Siano near Catanzaro. Three years earlier the dead body of a young man, Giuseppe Verardi of Catanzaro, had been found under a bridge. The investigation concluded that it was suicide. Three years later, Maria Talarico, 17, a young girl of Siano, passed over the bridge and had a sudden and strange metamorphosis that lasted 36 hours: Her voice changed and became that of a man, she insisted that she was Giuseppe Verardi and acted as if she were. She did not recognize her parents, but she did recognize the ‘mother of Giuseppe and revealed that Giuseppe did not commit suicide but was killed. She mentioned the names of the killers, as well. The population of the whole village assisted in uncovering the facts. After 36 hours Maria went under the bridge, took the position the dead body of Giuseppe had had, and “awakened” without remembering anything. After that, a new investigation concluded fora case of murder. Dr. Assennato gives his interpretation of this interesting case. — DA META PSICHICA RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PARAPSICOLOGIA 01401. Crosa, G. Report of the First International Congress on Parapsychology of the Italian-Swiss Center for Advanced Studies. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1969 (Jul Dec), 24(3/4), 109-116. Thanks to the hospitality of the Italian-Swiss Center for Advanced Studies (Campione d'Italia), the First International ‘ Congress on Parapsychology of Campione d'Italia was held on March 29, 1969. The general topic was Mysterious Psychic Phenomena. Introductory speeches were made by Mr. F. De Baggis, Mayor of the host town; Dr. Naegeli-Osjord, President of the Schweizer Parapsychologische Gesellschaft; and Mr. E. Men- goli, President of the Associazione Italiana Scientifica di Meta- psichica. In this report we have the main features of the papers presented by four M.D.s and psychiatrists (Crosa, Granone, Naegeli-Osjord, Cassoli) and the theologian Resch are summarized. During the evening session some slides about hypnosis (with commentary by Granone) and one about Ted Serios were pro- jected, followed by a discussion masterly directed by Prof. Beonio Brocchiert. In addition to the previously mentioned speakers, presentations were made by two medical doctors, Inardi and Buscaino; a newspaperman, Altavilla; and a theologian, Pisoni, who cleverly aroused the participation of the public. The Proceed- ings have been published by Silva of Rome. — DT/R.A.W. Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA; RDP96-00792R000400120001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/11 Parapsychology Abstracts International 03085. Costa, Alfonso. About the visions of dying per- sons and survival. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 260-270. 15 refs The attention recently addressed to near-death ex- periences has confined to the background a phenomenon to which much more attention was paid in the past: that of visions of dying persons. Reconsidering once again two books which can be considered as classics of this matter, the author re-opens a discussion about this specific phenomenon. He classifies deathbed visions in four classes: (1) visions of dead people whose death was known to the dying person; (2) visions of dead people whose death was unknown to the dying persons but not to the present ones; (3) visions of dead people whose death was unknown both to the dying persons and to the present ones; (4) collective visions shared by both the dying person and the one who is looking after him or her. In considering the typical characteristics of these classes and in trying to explain the facts, both naturalistic and spiritistic hypotheses are dis- cussed. Finally, the possibility is suggested that sometimes alien "beings" able to induce psychic experiences are truly present. - DA 03056. Iannuzzo, Giovanni. The fifth parapsychologi- cal meeting in Bologna. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 271-275. On May 9-10, 1987, the Parapsychological Study Center--CSP-held its fifth meeting in Bologna. The author presents a critical synthesis of the works presented for the occasion by the various researchers. The most important was the debate held by the scholars belonging to the two parapsychological movements: the positivists and the spiritualists. - DA 03057. Simone, Giorgio di. Jacopo Comin: Evidence on the "Entity A" case. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 276-281. In this article, the author relates Jacopo Comin’s opinion about the “Entity A,” in particular as concerns all the data leading us to consider such an entity as most likely independent from the medium and from people as- sisting at the séance. In one of his letters Comin wrote: “We are in the presence of a Teacher in the highest sense of the word, who undertook the burden of an high spiritual teaching for the few able to understand it.” - DA 03058. Ravaldini, Silvio. The Riccardi case: A “drop- in” communicator. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 87(4), 307-319. 2 figs; 7 refs The author brings to our attention a case of spiritis- tic identification. In fact, during a séance held in 1948 a drop-in communicator told the sitters he was a priest who died in Canton, Ohio in 1929. In telling his name the communicator added he was shot dead by a woman inside his church. Successively in 1949 and 1950, always as a drop-in communicator, he confirmed what was previously said but used different words. Researches made in America by Dr. Stevenson’s assistant proved the com- municator told the truth, ie, a priest having the same name was shot dead in a church in the same year the communicator told. The article goes on with a detailed analysis, made by the author, about a possible explanation of facts besides the spiritistic one: cryptomnesia, psychometry, and so on. There is the very interesting ap- pendix signed by Dr. M. Biondi in which the above story is viewed from a more materialistic parapsychological point of view. - DT/R.A.W. : CIA-RDP96-00792R00640042600440-= = _——— maa. 16 Nee Pa Vol. 6, No. 2. December 1988 03089. Garzia, Pierangelo. Survival: Belief or research? Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 87(4), 320-324. Three hundred years ago, the Italian scientist and man of letters Francesco Redi (1626-1698) exploded the traditional doctrine about spontaneous generation. In the same way, psychic researchers in the 20th century are en- gaged in exploding the traditional doctrine of conscience as a brain chemical product. Psi phenomena, in their complex whole, show conscience as able to much further extend it- self in connection with those activities allowed by brain activity. Furthermore, conscience could be preexistent to the formation of the biological human organism and may survive its disintegration. The survival theme has always been the domain of faith. For the first time in human history, thanks to psychic research, the survival theme develops from objec- tive facts and rational considerations. Even if, historically, parapsychology can be considered as an “ibridum," form came out from the meeting of religious need and the scientific one. In fact, without this hotchpotch of belief and research, parapsychology would have never been born. Actually we absolutely need a certain part of faith to have the possibility of demonstrating survival for sure without feeling ashamed about it. For mutual admission happens in every knowledge field. Without faith we can- not go further--it being impossible to follow the glimpse of initial purpose. | Without continuous, ceaseless, tireless research, we would already be dead. - DA 03060. Marabini, Enrico. Psi phenomena: Normal or paranormal? Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 82(4), 325- 336. 14 refs; 1 table By this report, the author confronts a basic theme in order to obtain a refitting of the whole problem coming out of the study of psi phenomena, starting from the con- sideration that psi is an event resulting from an expression of human behavior and considering people as animated sys- tems. The author presents a “classifications” conception. He explains what a psi phenomenon is and gives the basis of what particular characteristics such that an event can be considered and classified in this way. Next he discusses the theme. Firstly, he talks about "normality" through its dif- ferent meanings: a “fixed rule" and a “constitutive rule.” This last is the only one which offers the possibility of ra- tionally facing the "normality" argument (and respectively the "abnormality" one) about certain types of events or about certain well-defined human behavior situations. Then he analyzes the word “paranormal” and all the definitions deriving from it that are used to qualify para- psychological discipline. Returning to human behavior, the author points out that to every behavior state there is a corresponding coherent conscious state. Although these are ‘different knowledge positions in themselves, every state is a normal and natural event. Since “psi behavior" is an al- tered state of consciousness, the information and realistic contents involved are necessarily normal expressions of that particular behavior state. Therefore, the uncommonness in the phenomena does not mean they are not normal or deviate or paranormal or supernormal. Rationally it can be asserted that the laws subtending the psi phenomena must be necessarily different from those orthodox science considers and applies in studying other types of natural events. The parapsychologists’ work is to identify them. Otherwise, in order to obtain concrete results, it is neces- sary to the research to study the problem from a different point of view. - DA 03061. Simone, Giorgio di. Metaphysical reality: The spirit “program.” Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 87(4), _Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400120001-0