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The Relevance of
Channelled Information to UFO Research
Martin Gottschall, PhD ©
The practice of
"channelling", where the channel allows a consciousness other
than his or her own to use its faculties of speech or writing
as an instrument of communication by that consciousness, has a
long history. It differs from "inspiration" in that the person
being inspired remains in full conscious possession of his or
her faculties. The two are similar in that in each case
information from a source other than the personal
consciousness or its subconscious is claimed. The "source" of
the channelled information may or may not give a recognisable
identity, although it is usually made clear that this identity
is not that of the channel. In some cases it claims to have a
connection with UFO's as we understand them.
SOME FEATURES
OF CHANNELLED MATERIAL
An extended
study of channelled material allows certain properties of this
material to be ascertained, and some are listed below.
There is a
large volume of such material available. I have acquired about
a meter of shelving full without really trying. A small
fraction, perhaps 3% of the material in print seems to be of
high quality, with a significant content of information not
previously known, or at least not readily available, and
having an apparently profound meaning. The rest tends to
recycle information already in print. Those parts which are
novel in some way are usually consistent with our present day
conceptions, and could have been "made up" in the same way
that writers of fiction do. By contrast, the novel parts of
"quality" material extend beyond our present conceptions.
The predictions
in channelled material have a high failure rate, and this
indicates against the exalted status which the claimed source
of the material generally assumes. Channelled information is
almost wholly about ideas and concepts, as well as
exhortations, encouragement and injunctions etc, and very
little of a factual nature relevant to the matters being dealt
with is to be found. The information from any typical source
of channelled information has a well defined "world view" in
that it presents a fairly comprehensive picture of some
claimed aspect of reality.
WHAT IS "UFO
RESEARCH"
Broadly, "UFO
Research" is a search for a better understanding of the UFO
phenomenon. The reason why we need this understanding is
because we perceive that the phenomenon is real or probably
real, that it is powerful, and that it can deeply affect human
destiny for good or ill. We need to understand so we can cope
with it or exploit it or channel it or survive it or benefit
from it, or whatever.\par In this pursuit, we need two things
as raw material. We need the best possible collection of
facts, or probable facts, and we need the best possible
collection of ideas, concepts and techniques with which we
might try to extract the fullest possible meaning from our
factual data. It is not just UFO related facts we need. We
must also be as informed as possible on all the facts
available in our own culture that might be helpful. After all,
we are part of the universe too. It is often implied that if
we take "Science" on board then we have all the conventional
facts we need. Theoretically this should be so, but in
practice it is not. "Science" ignores or denies a great many
facts, and we might need just those, to build our
understanding.
It is in the
area of ideas and concepts that we especially need to practice
an "open mind", and when this is not the case, we are even led
to deny or ignore facts. It is from these ideas and concepts
that we fashion "theories" or scenarios as to what something
might "really" be. Two principles are central to the theory
process. One is that it matters not at all where a theory
comes from. What matters is how well the theory "works" with
our facts. The greater the variety of theories we can dream up
and test, the better our final choice is likely to be. The
second is that theories must not be used to decide whether
facts are true. Much of the rejection of eyewitness accounts
and other facts of observation is a direct consequence of the
attitude "It does not conform to our understanding of reality
(our theories), so it can't be a fact".
HOW CHANNELLED
MATERIAL MIGHT BE USED IN UFO RESEARCH
Having set out
the distinguishing features of channelled information and the
UFO research process, we can now look at how channelled
information might be used by the UFO researcher. It is
immediately apparent that this information is not going to be
a significant source of factual material. Obviously anything
that passes the tests for factuality should not be rejected
because it may be given in a context of channelled information.
What is suggested here is that the already large factual base
of UFO research will receive only little by way of new facts
from this source.\par Since each source of channelled
information typically offers a well defined "world view" or
scenario that is plausible in the context of one or another
belief system, we are really being offered a wide selection of
ideas and concepts for building theories with which to
understand "UFO facts". In my view, this is the area in which
channelled information is most likely to be helpful.
Some
intelligence or other has had to go through the process of
assembling a scenario that can attract some human minds or
hearts, so there is at least the possibility of paydirt. More
importantly, the idea or \f2 concept \f1 on offer is probably
being recycled anyway, so we could be accessing information
not readily available otherwise. If we take the attitude that
channelled ideas are somehow not fit for "UFO research" we
might seriously limit our own progress. Ideas are probably as
eternal as atoms. Where we get a particular idea from is
almost certainly not where it was first created, and must not
be allowed to be an influence. It is how well it works that
really matters.
A SAMPLE OF
CHANNELLED INFORMATION
During the
1970's, I took an interest in UFO related information, and
almost anything anomalous and mysterious that might have given
me an insight which the more traditional sources seemed unable
to furnish. One such source was "The Voice of Universarius"
published by the Universarian Foundation of Portland Oregon. A
50 page, A5 size booklet was published monthly and was made up
almost wholly of channelled material from a number of channels
and an even greater number of sources.
I have in my
possession all the issues from the late sixties to the early
eighties, about half of which were back copies which I
obtained to enlarge my information base. You may infer that I
ranked this material as being in the "high quality" category,
together with other contemporary material like Jane Robert's
"Seth Speaks". At one time or another, I have probably read
all my material, and hence my claim that much present day
channelled material is recycled. Much of what I read then was
probably also recycled, and I did come across examples of
this.
For the purpose
of this paper, I have selected a two page article called "The
Guide Lines for Space Contact are These" starting on page 45
of the October 1978 Issue (Vol. 17 No. 10). This article is
attached as an Appendix to this paper. The channel is given as
Marian Hartill, and the date of the communication is given as
March 1967. The source is given as Myron - Ashtar Command.\par
Readers will note the strong "spiritual" orientation of this
article. This orientation is typical of almost all the
material in this publication. A "scientifically" oriented
researcher tends to have an anti-spiritual orientation, and is
likely to reject it all for that reason alone. Such behaviour
is common enough, but is completely unscientific, because the
source of an idea must not be allowed to influence us for or
against it. Not if we want to do our own thinking.
The paragraphs
in this article are numbered 1 to 9. Paragraph 6 is of
particular interest an is reproduced below:\par \b\i "6. The
Earth is a battleground."\par \b0 A. The forces of evil employ
ships of great size and beauty just as do the Christ
Forces.\par B. Unprepared Earthlings who seek contact must not
do so without knowledge of how to set up a positive Force
Field, and hold it around themselves. The negative forces can
and do abduct thousands of people each year off the surface of
the Earth - as well as animals, water and vegetation.\par D.
These samples are used for a hideous purpose." In the context
of the facts we now have about the abduction phenomenon and
animal mutilations, this message dated March 1967 sounds very
modern. Even when published in 1978, these notions would have
strained the credulity of most UFO researchers. Had they been
more "scientific" in the true sense of that word, they might
have allowed this message to open their minds to the
recognition of the facts about abductions and mutilations,
much earlier.
A SUGGESTED
APPROACH TO CHANNELLED INFORMATION
It is important
to be clear on what we have done, and what we have not done in
referring to this item of channelled material. We have not made
any effort to decide if it is "genuine" or if its source is
"real". These are important issues in themselves, but UFO
researchers have their own questions to answer, and are not
likely to be qualified to get it right with channelling. If we
are clear in our minds that we are "mining" channelled
information for ideas and viewpoints that might help us to
make better sense of our UFO related facts, then we do not
need to answer these other questions, and we are not obliged
to dismiss channelled information because we lack such answers.
We could have taken the same ideas from a book of science
fiction, or a dream, and it would not matter. \par \b
CONCLUSIONS\par \b0 In searching for answers to the questions
raised by the UFO phenomenon, we need to employ a methodology
which is recognizable, communicable and has a proven record.
The method which has been tacitly accepted by UFO researchers
is also the one on which the "Scientific Process" is based,
and can therefore be claimed to have a proven record. I believe
that it is simple, recognizable and communicable. If
scientists really practiced what they preach, we might just
copy them in pursuing UFO research. However, since they mostly
do not practice their stated ideals, we have to go back to
basics and do our own thinking.
UFO research in
its truest sense obliges us to strive to recognize and test
facts on their own terms and not with theories, and to be
completely open to ideas from all sources when assembling
theories to best fit the facts we have. Channelled information
probably contains the efforts of people who are gifted on the
intuitive side, and also perhaps, the viewpoint of "sources"
more knowledgeable on the UFO phenomenon than we are. I
believe that some of this material can make a valuable
contribution to our understanding of the UFO phenomenon, and
merits the appropriate kind of attention.\par It seems also
that many people accept channelled information far too readily,
and are often unaware that they are getting essentially
recycled information. The kind of disinterested scrutiny which
UFO researchers can give to this body of data while pursuing
their own work, can help to keep channellers "honest".
APPENDIX - THE
GUIDELINES OF SPACE CONTACT
1. Do not try
to contact the Space People. They can contact you at any time
or place they choose, and in any form they wish, depending on
their evolvement of course.
2. Prepare
yourself spiritually for some useful work. This does not mean
religious practices of an orthodox nature. It means a
conscious effort in attuning to that which is the Highest,
most beautiful and eternal within ones self. In we mean
anything that will in some manner help those around you to
find upliftment, peace and inner joy.
3. Live each
day in service to the Creator. By their works the Space People
know them, and are able to judge by your aura if you are truly
worthy of being part of their work upon Earth. Your aura not
only tells your past but it is a good and reliable way to tell
what you are best able to do Spiritually.
4. Live each
day as if it were your last. Collect your mental baggage so
that all of a lasting nature can be moved at once - all else
left behind. Live so at any time or place you can turn your
back upon the past without regret or a backward glance. Gather
unto yourself all your dreams and desires of service to God
and man - for these are your wealth.
5. Negation
breeds fear and doubt. Evil loves the unprepared, the confused
and ignorant. Spiritual understanding is the KEY to all UFO
activity both negative and positive. Spiritual Guidance is
offered to all \par who seek it sincerely and with an open
heart.
6. The Earth is
a battleground. The forces of evil employ ships of great size
and beauty just as do the Christ Forces. Unprepared Earthlings
who seek contact must not do so without knowledge of how to
set up a positive Force Field, and hold it around themselves..
The negative forces can and do abduct thousands of people each
year off the surface of the Earth - as well as animals, water
and vegetation. These samples are used for a hideous purpose.
7. Establish a
contact with your Godhead. No power on Earth or from any realm
from outside the Earth can harm one who dwells in perfect
accord with his High Self. This contact is awaiting any and
all who choose to place it in the area of the most important
thing in their life.
8. Meditation,
Concentration brings awareness. Be worthy of contact by the
Etheric Forces by being apart from the flesh pursuits of the
world. To be in the world but not of the world should be your
goal. Meditate upon perfection - that which you would change
from evil to good, sickness to health and ignorance to
understanding. Concentrate on being a balanced human, for you
can be of no real service in an unbalanced condition, to the
Space People or to yourself.
9. The Kingdom
of God is built by Light, Truth and Understanding of Spirit.
Radiate Light, think Light and you shall attract that which
seeks to be a creature of Light. Seek Truth, Demand Truth, and
it shall be given you - this is a Universal Law, and to know
and use this understanding is wisdom. You are Spirit no matter
what form you are in now, and to know yourself and to be true
to that inner knowledge is the greatest of all KEYS for it
brings the Kingdom of Heaven within you and enables you to
express the Sonship of God.
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