The Phoenix Lights -
A Skeptic's Discovery that We are not Alone
Author: Lynne D. Kitei, MD
Element, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc

Reviewer: Lee Paqui

In 1997 over the skies of Phoenix, Arizona, a UFO sighting of such magnitude occurred that it still captivates the minds of the thousands who saw it, including the author of this book, Dr Lynne Kitei. Dr Kitei was a key witness to the phenomenon that became known as the Phoenix Lights, both before and after the first spectacular mass sighting of March 13.

The Phoenix Lights is a thorough compilation of eye-witness accounts, images, video and film footage, and a documentation of television, radio and news coverage of the event, research undertaken by UFO organizations, the debunking and disinformation tactics used by the military and media, and the waxing and waning of public interest in the phenomena – all arranged in logical and chronological sequence. The author presents a thoughtful and intimate approach, writing in a welcoming narrative style. She invites us not only into her life and her home, but lays out her thoughts and feelings for our inspection.

Rather than the usual ‘nuts and bolts’ approach of much literature regarding UFO sightings, this work is far more personal, taking us on a journey through an event so powerful it turned skeptics into believers and provided a wealth of physical evidence that is impossible to ignore. As a the originator of much of the footage and still images of the objects that hovered over Phoenix, Dr Kitei’s logical mind, forethought and clear thinking has resulted in invaluable and unarguable evidence to support the Phoenix Lights phenomenon. Whether by chance or meaningful coincidence, the author encountered a multitude of witnesses to substantiate her observations, and in the years following her own initial sighting of these mysterious objects Dr Kitei has compiled a diversity of first-hand reports from a variety of credible sources.

As we accompany the author through her investigations we become as confused as the people of Phoenix with the ‘official’ explanations of the lights and the seeming lack of military and government concern. Of these authorities the question remains – was it a cover-up on their behalf, or purely disinterest? The people of Phoenix continue to this day to demand an official investigation from authorities that seem to have no intention of investigating, although ‘explanations’ have been sporadically released – many of which conflicted with each other and which ultimately led to a vain military re-enactment years later in order to settle the matter. A re-enactment that failed spectacularly, it must be noted.

As well as illustrating the diversion tactics employed by the military, The Phoenix Lights documents the media coverage of the event and the role the media plays in promoting doubt and disinterest in the UFO phenomenon. Due to the public discrediting of key players in the investigations, it seems well that Dr Kitei had kept her identity anonymous during the initial phase of her research. It is a sad facet of our society that witnesses of unexplained phenomena feel the need for diplomacy, tact, and sadly, secrecy. One of the more unexpected aspects of Dr Kitei’s experiences was that she also had to contend with disinformation originating from within UFO research groups themselves. Is it any wonder that UFO research has become such a contentious issue, fraught with distrust and disinterest?

What were the Phoenix Lights? The book provides a summary of characteristics of the object/s to assist the reader with their own analysis. However the witness accounts were so varied in individual interpretation and the object was seen from such a variety of angles, altitudes and settings that it is difficult for researchers to gain a consensus regarding the physical dimensions of the craft. Photographic and spectrographic analysis of the lights along with firsthand observations indicated that the lights’ function was not to illuminate – the usual function of a light source – and were not comparable to other known light sources. The interface between amateur researchers and professionals was further highlighted when the University of Arizona was invited to analyse the images, which they ultimately declined – did they truly not have the resources or simply not have the inclination to analyse them? This small incident graphically illustrates the stagnant bureaucracy that exists within universities and urges us to think hard and remain cautious, even skeptical, when ‘authorities’ produce data and research findings. Perhaps not as much effort or science has gone into this data as we presume, and as The Phoenix Lights suggests, it may be time to tackle the question of raising the awareness of UFO’s in order for the phenomenon to be finally accepted as a serious topic of research.

An interesting aspect of this work is introduced by the subtitle. From the moment she first observed the mysterious orbs hovering outside her window, Dr Kitei had the feeling that she ‘should do something’ and that there was a reason she had become involved. Her ventures into this new world introduced her to the spiritual element of Ufology and, like herself, many witnesses to the Phoenix Lights reported feelings of purpose and power inherent in the objects. There was a sense that the UFO and/or its occupants knew who was watching, and there seemed to be a psychic connection between the lights and the witnesses. The Phoenix Lights event and the feelings associated with it transformed many who observed it, leaving a deep and lasting effect.

As a result of the direction her researches were taking, Dr Kitei coined a new acronym, UP, to encompass all Unexplained Phenomena which are, it seems, intrinsically interconnected. Examples are provided of the blatant synchronicity implicit within UFO and ET encounters, the notion that people and events are put into our paths for specific purposes and that we have a greater connection to this world and the universe. The book explores the UFO connection to out of body experiences, death and near death experiences, and raises many pertinent metaphysical questions for further investigation. The idea that a dimensional gateway may exist – may have existed for centuries in fact – in that area of Arizona, where the orbs have been witnessed for many years, introduces the notion that UFO’s could be interdimensional craft and their occupants interdimensional beings. Is it possible that UFO’s are all around us at any one time, invisible, unless they wish to be seen?

Apart from presenting the physicality of the Phoenix Lights, the book is an exploration of the metaphysical and how it is intricately connected to the UFO phenomenon. We journey with the author through her self-realization of what the world might actually be, her glimpses of the true nature of reality, and the challenge to her world-view that these realizations entailed. Dr Kitei provides suggestions as to how the reader can connect to the universe – a further entry point for exploration of this vast topic.

Ultimately The Phoenix Lights is a well-documented and intensively researched insight into this spectacular event and its repercussions in the years since. It explores the difficulties encountered with UFO research and reactions to UFOs from the world at large, and it illustrates in microcosm the world-wide phenomenon of official denial and the uncanny ability – in the face of undeniable evidence – of state and federal authorities to deny and decry the phenomenon. This self-confessed novice to the field has provided a pertinent reminder of an approach to Ufology that many researchers seem to have forgotten – UFOs exist and they may be far more connected to us than we realize. Perhaps it is time to stop focussing on what we can see and focus on what we can feel.

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