Approved For Release 2000/08/11 Parapsychology Abstracts International 03055. 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. : Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R00040012 16 Vol. 6, No. 2, December 1988 03059. Garzia, Pierangelo. Survival: Belicf 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 spontancous 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 prcexistent 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), 87(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), : CIA-RDP96-00792R0004001 20001 -0
Vol. 4, No. 2 December 1986 01915. Kornwachs, Klaus. “Parascience" and philosophy of science. Zeitschrift fiir Parapsychologie und Grenz- gebiete der Psychologie, 1975, 17(2/3), 125-142. 14 refs Using the concepts that have been developed by the philosophy and sociology of science, two special cases of “parascience,” namely, parapsychology and the theory of the Ancient Astronauts, are discussed. The author tries to analyze more precisely the connection between the or- ganizations, the behavior of the people involved, and the levels of knowledge in the related theories. - DA 01916. Mischo, Johannes. Are psychic phenomena when treated according to quantitative and statistical models a “roulette” for “supernatural” consequences? Pt. II: A critical examination of card sequences. Zeitschrift fiir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1975, 17(4), 201-218. 4 refs; 16 tables In this article, another objection to the quantitative and statistical model of experimental parapsychology is discussed. According to this objection it has not been demonstrated that target sequences in ESP experiments form stochastic sequences. Copious material from target sequences achieved in diverse ways (thorough hand shuf- fling of closed and open decks, random gencrators ZG/1 and Psi Recorder 70) is analyzed, the result being that genuine stochastic sequences are produced only by the Psi Recorder 70. The author is of the opinion that the basic requirements’ and conditions for experiments with stochastic sequences should be examined in cach before conclusions are drawn from results that differ from mean chance expectation. - DA 01917. Bender, Hans, Hampel, Rainer, Kury, Helmut, and Wendlandt, Susanne. The "Geller-effect" ~ an in- vestigation in interviews and questionnaires. Part J. Zeitschrift fir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1975, 17(4), 219-240. 18 refs; 1 table In January 1974, Uri Geller demonstrated his worldwide disputed experiments in "spoon bending" and re-setting in motion of damaged clocks and watches on television ("Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen"). Afterwards, the daily paper Bild asked readers to keep pieces of cutlery and defective clocks and watches ready at a given time when Geller was to concentrate on these objects. The ex- traordinary public reaction -- a unique example in the field of social psychology and probably of parapsychology as well -- became an object of investigation in interviews and questionnaires. A casual sample, gathered from equal regional distribution, was selected for 80 interviews out of 2,550 reports (1,100 addresses from TV in the Federal Republic of Germany and in Switzerland, and 1,450 letters to the editor of Bild). On the basis of this material a questionnaire was set up to ascertain, in its first parts (A and B), the alleged event (the re-setting in motion of defective clocks and watches and the deforma- tion of pieces of cutlery) in a differentiated way. In its third general part C, questions were included as to opinion and knowledge concerning parapsychology and the attitude towards the “occult surroundings” (Umfeld), that is, to UFOs, to life after death, to reincarnation, to astrol- ogy, etc. as well as opinion on the economical and political perspectives of the future ("the fear factor"). A personality questionnaire (the concise Freiburger Personlichkeits-Inven- tar [Personality Inventory] = FPI-K) was added. In a pre- liminary test, reports from 150 persons were collected. In the main investigations another 850 were obtained. By the high quota of responses of mailed questionnaires (72% in the main test), the strong motivation of the people ques- tioned was demonstrated. The first part of the publication presents the results of parts A and B.of the questionnaire, completed by examples of cases extracted from’ interviews and letters. They make it appear highly probable that gen- *” Approved For Release-2000/08/44-2CE uine PK phenomena took place. In the main test, 402 persons reported 599 instances of clocks and watches set into motion again; t5L persons cited 243 deformations of pieces of cutlery, among them 36 persons pretended that a picce of cutlery broke. Twenty-four percent of those re- porting on watches stated that the phenomena happened spontancously, for cutlery cascs, the same affirmation is given by 17%. Fifty-six reporters of watch cases and 30 reporters of cutlery cases repeatcd the experiment; the quota of success was 79% and 56%, respectively. As to the data of social state, the Geller sample differed only in re- spect to age and sex from the general population (show- ing a majority of persons over 60 ycars, and of women) -- a fact that may depend on the time of the day when the Bild-experiment took place. The casually presented material is interpreted in analogy to the hypothesis that the fascination which obviously emanated from Geller caused PK reactions among persons interested in occult phenomena, The astonishing reaction which appeared in many countrics is one of the symptoms of the present “wave of occultism.” - DA 01918. Betz, Hans D. Experimental investigation of yn-" ~ usual metal-bending effects. Zeitschrift fiir Parapsy- chologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1975, 17(4), 241-244. Experiments are described which show genuineness of unusual metal-bending effects induccd by certain subjects in an as yet unknown way. The experiments are extremely simple and can be assessed without ambiguity. Systematic Studics are possible which should enable us to test whether the phenomena can be understood on the basis of present scientific knowledge. - DA 01919. Droszdiok, Siegfried. A measuring method fer the investigation of paranormal metal-bending effects. Zeitschrift fiir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1975, 17(4), 245-249. 1 fig It is suggested that the paranormal bending of metals should be investigated by means of ultrasonic devices. Ex- perimental investigations have shown that after applying an ultrasonic head of about one cm in size to the metal object it is possible continuously to record flaws in the material, the pressure of the hands on the object, and the occurrence of a plastic state in the material. Thus, the proposed ultrasonic testing is suitable to establish either fraudulent manipulations or genuine effects. - DA ITALIAN LANGUAGE (Editor: Paola Giovetti) LUCE E OMBRA 01920. Garzia, Pierangelo. The work of time. Luce e Ombra, 1984 (Jul/Sep), 84(3), 209-213. 5 refs The author affirms that paranormal phenomena, par- ticularly those supporting the hypothesis of survival, are an important but difficult research field. The exclusion of these phenomena can mean a great limitation of our glo- bal knowledge. When will man accept the reality of sur- vival? In this article the author tries to give an answer to this intriguing question. - DA 01921. Iannuzzo, Giovanni. Toward a paranthropology: Paranormal phenomena and magic. Luce e Ombra, 1984 (Jul/Sep), 84(3), 214-230. 28 refs ' The author analyzes the relationship which seems to exist between paranormal phenomena and magic, and ex- presses his opinion that psi phenomena are magical in Structure, and therefore outside a scientific view of the Approved For Release 2000/0811 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400120001-0 019. mit Jace dea dee 019: the 75 1 Con grez and ticle thor parz Sus} was not bers prac with The the ogra 0192 wor cal 264. 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Vol. 5, No. 2) December 1987 02460, Luttenberger, Franz.  Fricdrich Zéllner, Spiritualism, and four-dimensional space. Zeitschrift fir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1977, 19(4), 195-214. 19 refs In 1877-1878, the astrophysicist Friedrich Zéllner un- dertook a scientifically motivated investigation of spiritualistic phenomena with the American medium Henry Slade. At a visit in Great Britain in 1875 he had met Crookes and other spiritualists and had become acquainted with such manifestations. With his experiments he in- tended to prove a rather speculative theory of a four- dimensional space which had developed out of his con- siderations about the impossibility of bringing to congruity symmetric bodies in our concrete space, an idea which can be traced back to Kant. Zillner made efforts to design ex- periments with enduring results which were caused une- quivocally paranormally—in his terms four-dimensional-- efforts; among others we find the famous knot-test. His reports contain descriptions of about fifty manifestations. In his opinion the proper cause of the phenomena were invisible intelligent four-dimensional entities, Zollner’s theory of space and his interpretations indicate his rather mechanical view of life, and show--against his intentions--a strong influence from scientific naturalism. Eventually an effort is made to outline some pre-conditions for such in- vestigations at these times by a comparison between Ger- many and Great Britain. - DA/G.H. 02461. Renninger, Mauritius. An actually existent fourth dimension of space as a model for the explana- tion of psychokinetic phenomena? — Zeitschrift fiir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1977, 19(4), 215-226. 2 figs; 10 refs By model considerations between spaces of dimensions differing by unity the author tries to demonstrate that the hypothesis of an actually existent fourth dimension of space—as formulated just a hundred years ago by the Ger- ‘man astrophysicist Friedrich Zéllner—is able to bring most of the psychokinetic phenomena nearer to a physical un- derstanding than any other initial point. - DA ITALIAN LANGUAGE (Editor: Paola Giovetti) LUCE E OMBRA 02462. Ludwiger, Jllobrand von. Personally verified apport phenomena. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 85(3), 173-180. 11 refs Account of the physical medium Jons Dave, who was particularly endowed with the ability to produce apport phenomena. As with some other mediums, Dave's paranor- mal capacities developed after an accident during the war: he was seriously wounded, with the destruction of hypo- physis, Von Ludwiger relates some very specific and inter- esting personal experiences with Dave and describes his clairvoyance capacities. This material is from his still un- published book. Today Dave does not work as a medium; he is a painter and healer. - DA 02463. Marabini, Enrico. minism and free-will. 85(3), 181-188. 10 refs Discussion of determinism and free will. Marabini considers the modern scientific trends of biology, neuroen- docrinology, and of some currents of academic psychology, and points out that all these conceptions can describe a Man’s being between deter- Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), vO Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R00040012 28 part -- and only a part -- of human reality. In fact, when man considers himself as a living being in the matrix of the universe, he realized the significant and conscious reality of his existence. Humans understand that both these views are real, even if in order to be communicated they need different methods. - In particular states of consciousness, humans can ac- tivate his symbolic and intuitive functions, expand into ir- rational (extrarational), realms and enter into realities com- pletely different from the biophysical and rational world. A human being is subject to biophysical and biopsy- chical laws, and in this sense his life is determined. But in the “horizontal” position where causes and effects are at the same level, he can catch a glimpse of a “vertical” dimension. Participating in the harmony of universe, free from materiality, man can reach the reai freedom of spirit. - DA : 02464, Ravaldini, Silvio. On mediumship. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 85(3), 189-196. In this article the author points out the circumstances which, in the field of mediumship make the scientific con- trol of the medium and his or her phenomena difficult and sometimes impossible. He, reviews some materialization phenomena and cases of direct voice in which he was present, cites the hypothesis of “disintegrated personalities” and intends to deal on another occasion with this subject, in order to see if an alternative hypothesis could explain phenomena of an apparently spiritistic nature. - DA 02465.. Morrone, Cobaltina. On the frontier of para- psychology. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 85(3), 197-201. The author identifies “border-parapsychology” with a particular aspect of parapsychology that deals with humanity in toto and human destiny, trying to face the intriguing and age-old problem of survival through the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the full range of paranormal phenomena -- those that are rationally ex- plainable by positivistic hypotheses, and those that unfor- tunately are nearly always ignored, which do not have any logically and rationally acceptable justification and seem to support the hypothesis of survival after death. In par- ticular he points out mediumistic phenomena at a high level, both physical and intellectual, and recalls some per- sonal experiences. - DA 02466. Iannuzzo, Giovanni. History and the myths of parapsychology. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 85(3), 202-219, 37 refs The author analyzes some problems in the history of parapsychology, such as the origins of spiritualism, the foundation of psychical research, and the advancement of experimental parapsychology. He Suggests that many of the current opinions -- expressed by a number of students -- about the history of parapsychology are misrepresenta- tions. There exists a "mythology" of the history of para- psychology that must be modified and corrected. There- fore, he emphasizes the importance of historical researches in the field of parapsychology. - DA METAPSICHICA RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PARAPSICOLOGIA 02467, Assennato, Pericle. Our research (and our soul). Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 101-103. The author summarizes the principal trends in the ficld of parapsychological research. He reminds us that in Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400120001-0
“* "approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R00040042 Vol. 5, No. 2 December 1987 02460. Luttenberger, Franz. Friedrich Zollner, Spiritualism, and four-dimensional Space. Zeitschrift fir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1977, 19(4), 195-214. 19 refs In 1877-1878, the astrophysicist Friedrich Zollner un- dertook a scientifically motivated investigation of spiritualistic phenomena with the American medium Henry Slade. At a visit in Great Britain in 1875 he had met Crookes and other spiritualists and had become acquainted with such manifestations. With his experiments he in- tended to prove a rather Speculative theory of a four- dimensional space which had developed out of his con- siderations about the impossibility of bringing to congruity symmetric bodies in our concrete space, an idea which can be traced back to Kant. Zéllner made efforts to design ex- periments with enduring results which were caused une- quivocally paranormally--in his terms four-dimensional-- efforts; among others we find the famous knot-test. His reports contain descriptions of about fifty manifestations. In his opinion the Proper cause of the phenomena were invisible intelligent four-dimensional entities. Zéllner’s theory of space and his interpretations indicate his rather mechanical view of life, and show--against his intentions-a strong influence from scientific naturalism. Eventually an effort is made to outline some pre-conditions for such in- vestigations at these times by a comparison between Ger- many and Great Britain. - DA/G.H. 02461. Renninger, Mauritius. An actually existent fourth dimension of space as a model for the explana- tion of ps chokinetic phenomena? Zeitschrift fiir Parapsychologie und Grenzgebiete der Psychologie, 1977, 19(4), 215-226. 2 figs; 10 refs By model considerations between Spaces of dimensions differing by unity the author tries to demonstrate that the hypothesis of an actually existent fourth dimension of space—as formulated just a hundred years ago by the Ger- man astrophysicist Friedrich ZOliner--is able to bring most of the psychokinetic phenomena nearer to a physical un- derstanding than any other initial point. - DA ITALIAN LANGUAGE (Editor: Paola Giovetti) LUCE E OMBRA 02462. Ludwiger, Jilobrand von. Personally verified apport phenomena. Luce ¢ Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 85(3), 173-180. 11 refs Account of the physical medium Jons Dave, who was particularly endowed with the ability to produce apport phenomena. As with some other mediums, Dave’s paranor- mal capacities developed after an accident during the war: he was seriously wounded, with the destruction of hypo- physis. Von Ludwiger relates some very specific and inter- esting personal experiences with Dave and describes his clairvoyance capacities. This material is from his still un- published book. Today Dave does not work as a medium; he is a painter and healer. - DA 02463. Marabini, Enrico, minism and free-will. 85(3), 181-188. 10 refs Discussion of determinism and free will, Marabini considers the modern Scientific trends of biology, neuroen- docrinology, and of some currents of academic psychology, and points out that all these conceptions can describe a Man’s being between deter- Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 28 In fact, when man considers himself as a living being in the matrix of part -- and only a part — of human reality. the universe, he realized the significant and conscious reality of his existence. Humans understand that both these views are real, even if in order to be communicated they need different methods. _ In particular states of consciousness, humans can ac- tivate his symbolic and intuitive functions, expand into ir- rational (extrarational), realms and enter into realities com- pletely different from the biophysical and rational world. A human being is subject to biophysical and biopsy- chica! laws, and in this sense his life is determined. But in the “horizontal” position where causes and effects are at the same level, he can catch a glimpse of a “vertical” dimension, Participating in the harmony of universe, free from materiality, man can reach the real freedom of spirit. A . 02464. Ravaldini, Silvio. On mediumship. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 8.5(3), 189-196. In this article the author points out the circumstances which, in the field of mediumship make the scientific con- trol of the medium and his or her phenomena difficult and sometimes impossible. He, reviews some materialization Phenomena and cases of direct voice in which he was present, cites the hypothesis of “disintegrated personalities” and intends to deal on another occasion with this subject, in order to see if an alternative hypothesis could explain phenomena of an apparently spiritistic nature. - DA 02465. Morrone, Cobaltina. On the frontier of para- psychology. Luce e Ombra, 1985 (Jul/Sep), 85(3), 197-201. The author identifies “border-parapsychology” with a particular aspect of Parapsychology that deals with humanity in toto and human destiny, trying to face the intriguing and age-old problem of survival through the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the full range of paranormal phenomena -- those that are rationally ex- plainable by positivistic hypotheses, and those that unfor- tunately are nearly always ignored, which do not have any logically and rationally acceptable justification and seem to Support the hypothesis of survival after death. In _par- ticular he points out mediumistic phenomena at a high level, both physical and intellectual, and recalls some per- sonal experiences, - DA 02466. Tannuzzo, Giovanni. History and the myths of parapsychology. Luce e Ombra, 1985 Qul/Sep), 85(3), 202-219. 37 refs The author analyzes some problems in the history of parapsychology, such as the origins of spiritualism, the foundation of psychical research, and the advancement of experimental parapsychology. He suggests that many of the current opinions -- expressed by a number of students -- about the history of parapsychology are misrepresenta- tions. There exists a “mythology” of the history of para- psychology that must be modified and corrected. There- fore, he emphasizes the importance of historical researches in the field of Parapsychology. - DA METAPSICHICA RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PARAPSICOLOGIA 02467, Assennato, Pericle. Our research (and our soul). Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 101-103. The author summarizes the principal trends in the field of parapsychological research. He reminds us that in Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400120001-0