THE PARABHATURAL ASPECTS OF MODERN UFOLOGY
Stavros Chatzopoulos, PhD
Revised article presented in Unlocking the Truth, Issue 11, October 2021
In two previous papers (Chatzopoulos 2020A, 2020B), the two main hypotheses regarding the possible origin of UFOs (ATIA) were examined, along with thoughts on the possible future direction of contemporary ufological research.
The main arguments against the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) are that: the universe is vast, the distances between different planetary systems are extremely large, and even traveling at speeds equal to that of light, the travel times would be enormous. The large, long term number of UFO sightings and the completely non logical behavior of the phenomenon (Caravaca, 2016) suggest that UFOs cannot have a purely extraterrestrial origin. The Extradimensional Hypothesis (EDH) maintains that UFOs originate from another dimension of reality. The very notion of a dimension separate from our own is difficult to grasp. The problem arises from our inability to perceive alternative 3-D realities that are clearly separated from ours.
In this article, we will refer to a series of pieces of information (1946–1963) that come from “fringe science” domains of paraphysical knowledge, which we are not yet able to verify scientifically. These sources refer to the dimensional origin of the phenomenon. Since they cannot currently be confirmed, such data must be placed in the realm of the “archives of the impossible”, to be analyzed at some point in the future.
The Paraphysical Aspects of Ufology The terms “dimension” or “plane” have been used for many years in parapsychological research, which deals with the broader aspects of human consciousness, especially in relation to survival after death.
There are numerous paraphysical sources in the history of UFOs which usually refer to the activity of a sensitive individual (medium) who communicates with a non physical or extraterrestrial source. This area of parapsychological research is quite controversial, because there are no standards that can guarantee the validity of the information received. Most such material comes from the 1950s and 1960s, a time when it was commonly believed that UFOs came from Venus, Mars, or other planets. Because of the heavy publicity and hype from newspapers and science fiction magazines, it is certain that the ideas of the mediums were “shaped” to reflect media narratives. The reader may consult the excellent book by Maurizio Verga Flying Saucers in the Sky, which describes very well the atmosphere that prevailed at the “dawn” of modern ufology (i.e. 1947, after Kenneth Arnold’s historic sighting). Nevertheless, the two sources presented in the following paragraphs can be considered exceptions, for the simple reason that both spoke of a dimensional origin of UFOs something that ran contrary to the media’s view at that time.
Meade Layne’s Theories (1946–1957)
Meade Layne was a parapsychologist, founder and first director of Borderland Sciences Research Associates (BSRA), probably the first group in America to take an interest in flying saucers (Gorightly and Bishop, 2018 Verga, 2020). He was head of the English department at Illinois Wesleyan University, but left academia in 1940. According to Layne, the physical structure of the universe was based on the Ether, and everything arose from Ether. He assumed Ether was not homogeneous, but instead consisted of different levels of reality. When the press frenzy about flying saucers began in June 1947, Meade Layne already had information about the phenomenon. Eight months earlier, on the night of 9 October 1946, a strange flying craft appeared over San Diego, California, for about 90 minutes. Among the witnesses was the medium Mark Probert. Probert contacted Layne, who suggested he attempt a telepathic communication with the object which he did.
The answers Probert received were as follows:
“The strange craft is called Kareeta… There are living beings aboard who possess highly advanced knowledge regarding anti gravity forces. The beings come with peaceful intentions and are technologically far more advanced than humans. Their bodies are similar to human bodies, but much lighter. These beings would like to land, but they fear how they will be received. They know they will not be understood. The matter must remain secret from the public for the time being. No comments should be made to scientists regarding the psychic side of this phenomenon, because it would cause them serious prejudice against it.”
In 1957, in his book The Coming of the Guardians, Layne described the phenomenon in more detail with the following words:
“The Aeroforms (flying discs, etc.) are for the most part EIDOLA, that is, they appear within our level of perception from a space time frame of reference that is different from our own. This process may also be described as a conversion of energy and a change of vibrational frequency. When this change occurs, the object becomes visible and tangible. It appears to be what we call solid substance, until its energetic rate shifts again and it disappears from our sight. This is equivalent to a process of materialization and dematerialization. An important point for this hypothesis is that matter can also be far too dense for us to perceive. What we call solid matter is in fact an extremely wide mesh, with
enormous distances between the nuclear ‘particles’. Within this framework, we can understand that there are material worlds of dense matter around us which we cannot perceive because they are too dense, not too rarefied. Some of these objects may at times be tangible yet still invisible (like colors we cannot see) and produce all kinds of sounds that we cannot hear. These material worlds can interpenetrate our own and in turn be interpenetrated by others of even higher density. We cannot perceive them with our senses. If we wish to understand the real nature of the Aeroforms as emergent phenomena, we must have these basic principles of reality clearly in mind.”
Layne’s description of UFOs in 1957 was completely different from the prevailing views of the time. He was the first to speak explicitly of a dimensional origin of the phenomenon a theory later followed by other researchers, such as John Keel and Jacques Vallée. Another key point: in 1946–1947, the aspect of UFO dematerialization (the “switch-off phenomenon”) had not yet been considered an important characteristic of the phenomenon. It is therefore rather unlikely that Layne simply invented it.
The Ideas of Seth via Jane Roberts (1963–1964)
From 1963 to 1982, the American author and medium Jane Roberts transmitted a large body of metaphysical material originating from a non physical entity called Seth. The Seth material is vast and varied, spanning more than 25 books. Unfortunately, Roberts’ books have never been published in Greek, but interested readers can find them in English (including on the Kindle platform). The information relating to flying saucers is contained in The Early Sessions: Volume 1 of the Seth Material, dictated in 1963–1964. For the reader’s convenience, the relevant Kindle text locations are given below.
Location 2532
“The strange thing, incidentally, about your flying saucers is not that they appear, but that you can see them. As science develops on the various planes, the inhabitants learn to travel occasionally between the planes, carrying with them elements of their own reality. This aspect is somewhat difficult to explain clearly. As I have mentioned, the inhabitants of the various planes, when they come into your plane, bring with them their own camouflage reality. (NOTE: By camouflage Seth means the three dimensional expression of some plane, which may be very different from our own.) You, of course, recognize that what you see is not your own camouflage.
For example, the takeoff of a craft at a right angle violates one of your physical laws, which, in fact, are not physical laws at all, but only appear to be laws from your particular point of observation.”
Location 2561
“I know for a fact that beings from other planes have appeared in your plane, sometimes deliberately and sometimes quite by accident. However, you must realize that there are many kinds of science. There are many sciences dealing only with motion. If the human race had, for example, explored certain mental disciplines as thoroughly as it has explored technological ones, its practical system of transportation would be vastly different, and even more practical than it is now. I point this out because I want it understood that when I speak of science on another plane, I am not speaking of the simple science that you know.
When, on the various planes, the sciences progress, then the visits become less accidental and more pre planned. However, the inhabitants of each plane are bound by the materialized patterns of that plane, which they bring with them. When the inhabitants of a plane have learned the patterns of mental science, then they are largely freed from their own camouflage patterns. The appearances of the flying saucers come from a plane that is much more advanced in the technological sciences than Earth at this time. However, it is not yet a plane of mental science. Therefore, the camouflage of that plane appears to be more or less visible, much to your surprise.
The form of the flying saucers that you observe is neither of your plane nor of the plane of their origin. What happens is this: when the flying saucer, as you prefer to call it, starts toward its destination, the atoms and molecules that structurally compose it are ‘aligned’ according to the camouflage prevailing in its own reality. As the craft enters your plane, a distortion occurs. The real structure of the craft is ‘trapped’ in a dilemma of form (representation). It is caught between completely transforming itself according to Earth’s camouflage rules and maintaining its original form. The earthly observer tries to relate what he sees to what he is supposed to know or imagines is possible, with the little information he has about the universe. What he sees is something between a horse and a dog and resembles neither.
The craft maintains whatever it can of its original structure and changes whatever it must. This explains a great many of the conflicting reports about shape, size, and color.
On the rare occasions when the craft shoots off at a right angle, it has managed to retain the functions that are normal in its place of origin. I do not believe you will have many landings of saucers for some time not physical landings in the usual sense of the term. These craft cannot remain in your plane for long. The pressures exerted upon the craft itself are enormous. It is literally caught between two worlds. This ‘struggle’ toward one form or another is a reality that applies to all planes. Conformity to the laws of a particular plane is a practical necessity, and these flying craft cannot afford to remain between two worlds for indefinite periods.
What they do is take ‘quick’ looks at your plane, and you must remember that the disc or cigar shape that you see is an alternative form, having little relation to the structure of the real object. There are other things that you do not understand and that I cannot explain to you, because they would be far too alien to your normal way of thinking.
One important note when we speak of planes: a plane and I am using your term is not necessarily a planet. A plane may be a planet, but a plane may also exist where there is no planet at all. One planet may have many planes. (NOTE: If something similar applies to Earth, we might be able to explain Magonia type phenomena.) Planes may also include various aspects of apparent time. Planes can merge without the inhabitants of each plane being aware of it. I wish to break away from the idea that a plane is a place. It may be a place in some cases, but it is not always. A plane can be based on time. (NOTE: From this perspective we may be able to explain the time traveler hypothesis in ufology, such as Masters’ theories (2019), or cases in which visitors claimed to come from another time.)
A plane is something apparently separated from the rest of the universe for some interval and for some reason. Planets have been used as planes and reused as other planes. A plane is not a cosmic location. The analogy between a plane and an emotional state is far more valid than that between a plane and a geographic location.”
Location 7548
“These craft travel through the core of what you suppose to be solid Earth, which is not solid at all to them. And in certain cases, as you undertake space travel, you will travel through what the inhabitants of another plane consider to be their own particular solid environment. (NOTE: This explanation may help us better understand Hollow Earth theories and the civilizations that may be hidden within it.)
You will be able to travel within your own universe. There are other intelligent entities in it, and they exist on your own plane. These are journeys along what we may, for simplicity’s sake, call the horizontal plane. The inhabitants of the flying saucers do not belong to your plane. I mentioned earlier the ‘struggle’ for the final form of the craft. You must remember in any such discussion that your physical constructions simply exist only on your own plane. And I remind you that other constructions, entirely different in nature, exist simultaneously with yours on what you might call the horizontal plane.
(NOTE: Seth always maintained that interstellar travel is not carried out via spacecraft but through the consciousness of the observer. The reader will find many references to this type of technology in the field of remote viewing.)” In the Seth material related to UFOs, two interesting hypotheses emerge:
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That UFOs do not visit us as frequently as is commonly believed (which has implications for the validity of the very large number of annual aerial sightings and landings reported).
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That the phenomenon originates from another dimension, whose physics are not presently known.
It is particularly interesting that Seth states that these craft can literally pass through the Earth as if it were nothing. This idea strongly resembles the concept of etheric levels expressed by Layne twenty years earlier.
Conclusions
In the era of modern ufology, it is very difficult to assess the dimensional reality of UFOs according to the statements of Meade Layne, Seth–Jane Roberts, John Keel, or Jacques Vallée. On the other hand, the extraterrestrial origin of UFOs is quite inadequate to explain all the dimensions and aspects of the phenomenon.
At present, we do not have the scientific tools to evaluate the dimensional origin of UFOs. Seth’s ideas can help us appreciate the extent of sensory distortion that may occur during genuine (and not staged) close encounter reports of the third kind. Combined with Jose Caravaca’s Distortion Theory, we might be able to grasp some part of the phenomenon’s reality.
But as far as nuts and bolts evidence is concerned, we probably still need to develop another kind of physical science in order to understand what lies beyond our five senses.
References
Caravaca, Jose Antonio. “The Distortion Theory” (2016). https://caravaca102.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-distortion-theory.html. The reader should consult the excellent articles of the Spanish author, which are somewhat difficult to follow but very interesting.
Gorightly, Adam & Bishop, Greg. “A” is for Adamski: The Golden Age of UFO Contactees. Gorightly Press, 2018.
Hatzopoulos, Stavros. “Περί της προέλευσης των ΑΤΙΑ” [On the Origin of UFOs]. Special issue of Unlocking the Truth, September 2020A. https://issuu.com/erenzw
Hatzopoulos, Stavros. “Σκέψεις για το παρελθόν, το παρόν και το πιθανόν μέλλον της Ουφολογίας” [Thoughts on the Past, Present and Possible Future of Ufology]. Unlocking the Truth, February 2021, Issue 10.
Masters, Michael. Identified Flying Objects: A Multidisciplinary Scientific Approach to the UFO Phenomenon, 2019.
Layne, Meade. The Coming of the Guardians. A B.S.R.A. Publication, 3rd edition, 1957.
Roberts, Jane. The Early Sessions, Book 1 of the Seth Material. New Awareness Network, 2012 (Kindle edition).
Verga, Maurizio. Flying Saucers in the Sky. 1947: When UFOs Came from Mars. 2020.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stavros Chatzopoulos was born in 1957 in Athens. He is a professor at the University of Ferrara (Dept. of Neurosciences) in Italy. He has a background in Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, with an emphasis on Hearing Science and Medical Audiology. His interest in the UFO phenomenon began in the early 1970s after meeting George Balanos and Omiros Karatzas. In 1975 he became a founding member of the Panhellenic Union of Researchers of Unknown Phenomena (P.E.E.A.F.).
Since the early 1980s, following the research findings of Jacques Vallée, he has developed a paraphysical model for approaching the UFO phenomenon.
He is an active member of the Italian Center for Ufological Studies (Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici – CISU), the European groups EuroUfo.net and UAPcheck, the American group Society of UAP Studies (SUAPS), and the Greek group GRUFON – ErENZo.
Dr. Chatzopoulos can be contacted at sdh1@unife.it.
