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Perceptual Positions
on UFOs
Sheryl Gottschall
©
There is no
doubt that people view the UFO phenomenon in many different
ways. This is because we all have a different perception of
what is happening with the phenomenon created by our own
unique world view. These perceptions could be categorized into
five different perceptual positions giving us four different
ways of viewing the phenomenon.
The first
perceptual position can be how we look at the phenomenon
through our own eyes, from our own viewpoint. This perception
is viewed through a filter which includes everything about who
we are, our emotions, intellect, life experiences, values and
spiritual beliefs. We simply see it and interpret it with no
external influence.
The second
position is when we look at the phenomenon through someone
else’s eyes. This can happen when we read a book or listen to
a speaker. For a while we push aside our own view, take on the
external influence’s view and see what they have to offer.
The third
perceptual position allows us to disassociate from the first
and second position putting aside, if possible, our own and
other’s interpretations of the phenomenon. In this way we can
become an objective observer, not filtering it, just observing
the UFO phenomenon for what it is.
To move to the
fourth position of perception we look at ourselves, others,
and the phenomenon itself and see the dynamics involved around
the original stimulus and the response to it while still
remaining detached from the event.
If we go beyond
this, we move to a fifth position of perception and take in
all the previous perceptions by asking the question "what is
the big picture here?" From this view we can take on multiple
perceptions of the phenomenon and move between them.
We can tell
what position we are examining the phenomenon from by looking
at the different questions and statements that might be made
from each position. An example of this would be:
"I saw a UFO, I
wonder what it is? (first position) People say there are
aliens in them. (second position)
There could be
life elsewhere in the universe. (third position) How are we
responding to it and why? (fourth position)
Fifth position
would be observations of alien science, technology,
spirituality and culture, and we realize our own future could
be like that. We realize that everything we thought we had
discovered has actually been previously discovered by someone
else and we are merely rediscovering it. This is because until
now we thought we were alone in the universe but now we
realize we aren’t.
This also
brings with it the understanding that we no longer have ‘top
dog’ status in the universe. However when we truly have this
realization, barriers can fall away and other concepts are
free to be considered e.g. the fact that the human race may
not have originated on Earth, life on Earth may not be unique
to this planet, that what we once thought was our home may
just be our latest home.
These new
concepts can be a bit of a blow for some and quite challenging
for others. We may feel disenchanted as we see our "specialness"
fading away, not realizing that as our outer "specialness"
fades, our inner specialness has the potential to develop a
connection with a greater cosmic destiny. Developing this
flexibility of perspective is essential if we hope to gain
some understanding of of the UFO phenomenon and our place in
it.
However, after
we develop these perspectives we also need to align them.
Misalignment can happen when we become stuck in one position.
If we become stuck in the first position of seeing the
phenomenon we only ever see it from our own perspective,
becoming insular to any greater truth. An example of this
could be when researchers continue to focus on the original
stimulus (sightings reports) only, never asking "what does
this mean?". Asking this question opens us up to greater
perceptions of what is happening.
If we become
stuck in the second perceptual position we only ever see the
UFO phenomenon from other’s perspectives, missing the
experience of developing our own view of it. We can become
prey to fanatics and cults, only believing what is reported in
the papers, becoming a super sceptic continually asking for
proof rather than believing our own eyes.
When we become
stuck in the third position, we may only ever look at the
phenomenon without ever dealing with the details, ensuring
they hang together in a cohesive way. We may hold onto a
self-serving illusion while dismissing the facts eg. all
aliens are good therefore abduction experiences aren’t true,
or all close encounter experiences are really abduction
experiences in disguise therefore we are under attack. Neither
may be true, but we’ll never find out as long as we hold a
view that is misaligned. Misalignment brings inner and outer
conflict and confusion which is so prevalent in the UFO
community today.
When we bring
all our perspectives together and create a holistic framework
we attain congruence and clarity while enriching and
broadening our perspectives. We take on a willingness to look
at all the aspects of the UFO phenomenon which gives us a
fuller awareness of all it’s complexities.
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