Psychic Vibrations

The Washington Post's resident astro­ convention had opened at 11 A.M. as loger, Svetlana Godillo, gave readers of planned, "a successful campaign would that respected newspaper her predic­ have been out of the question." But "the tions of developments in the 1980 occupants of the must presidential campaign. Her column of have read my column because by late June 8, more than a month before the last Sunday the opening hour was Republican convention, was titled changed to 4 P.M. This decision elim­ "Predicting Reagan's Running Mate." inated the aspect of 'void of the She analyzed the astrological charts of moon.'" This put Libra at midheaven, a the various candidates and found that strong position for Carter. However, "the chart of Rep. Vander Jagt leaps to this chart "throws the current sun into the fore because of its numerous karmic the eighth house of death and taxes, and links with Reagan and because of since the Sun rules the presidency, this current heavy aspects." However, she puts Carter's presidency into its final concluded that Senator Howard Baker's days." She concluded that "Reagan's chart was strongest of all. The name of battle will be with John Anderson and George Bush was not mentioned in her . . . Carter will be out of consideration column. On August 3, a week before the and out of the running." Democratic convention, she predicted that "because of that eclipse on Jimmy's • • • * » chart [a few hours before the Demo­ cratic convention] I have strong doubts An unfortunately neglected presiden­ that he will emerge as the nominee of tial candidate is Allen Michael of the party, especially in view of the fact Stockton, California, who heads up the that Mondale's chart is extremely New Age Synthesis political party. The strong and he is under the influence of Omaha World Herald reported that another eclipse that is affecting his Michael's platform consists of a "world partnership." But she exonerated the bill of rights," which he claims he was president's brother Billy Carter, saying given during a visit to a flying saucer. that it was "Libra's inaction," rather Among the celestial wisdom given to than Billy's action, that would bring this presidential contender by the space about Jimmy Carter's downfall. When people: "Let each of us give to the this downfall failed to happen, Svetlana extent of our abilities to the one world had a ready excuse. On August 17, she company and in return all things shall explained that, if the Democratic be added unto us ... By printing, then

14 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER circulating free cash flow money ... we letter published in the June 1980 issue will end unemployment, taxes, infla­ of Current Anthropology pointing out tion, recessions and depressions for­ that "investigators have been searching ever." for and following up reports of dead » * » « * sasquatch bodies for over 20 years, and not one has proven valid." But he The Weekly World News reveals that explains that "the reason is not that the "psychic and psychologist" Dr. Barbara sasquatch doesn't exist; I am convinced Williams has found that "the Ayatollah that it does. Rather, it is that our field Khomeni's mad lust for power is a experiences have shown that it is carryover from his past lives when he ." He then goes on to tell ruthlessly tried to impose his will over how this supposedly paranormal crea­ others." Williams has also discovered ture can allegedly be captured in photos that the Ayatollah had "several minor and leave behind footprints indicating a incarnations as a woman. Those lives weight- of 2,448 pounds. Beckjord were uneventful, as he was married and concludes that "while the sasquatch is kept in the background by his hus­ here and among us, it is of a nature that bands." cannot be measured by normal science . . . We may have to invent a para- ***** anthropology to study what there is that can be measured of the sasquatch." The tabloid Modern People has hap­ pened upon the story of the century, ***** which they inexplicably chose to bury on page 46: "Vicious Raped Me The reports that "a & Made Me Pregnant." A woman in strange, tiny skeleton found on a Oregon, identified only as "Tabitha," deserted beach in Panama could be the allegedly claims that while on a remains of a space alien child." camping trip a 10-foot Bigfoot with Panamanian psychologist Dr. Fran­ enormously bad breath jumped out cisco Ramon de Aguilar, who has from behind the bushes. "1 screamed. It studied the skeleton extensively, spec­ grabbed me and I thought it was going ulates, according to the Enquirer, that to kill me. Instead it started to rip my "it could well be the remains of an alien clothes off, knocked me down and baby, which may have fallen from a jumped on top of me." A pregnancy test high-flying UFO." Fate magazine's has "confirmed the worst," according to Jerome Clark reports, however, that a the tabloid. The story ends: "Although similar skeleton found on a beach in the pregnancy and upcoming child Nicaragua proved to be part of a shark delivery is a nightmare Tabitha will and that de Aguilar had to pay $1,000 always live with, it will finally give the for his specimen. Nonetheless, de world a chance to see what probably is Aguilar says that "it might be one of the the world's first half-human, half- most significant discoveries in history." bigfoot baby." « • • * • ***** It's an ill wind that blows no one some Speaking of Bigfoot, Jon Beckjord of good, and Mt. St. Helens' eruption has Project Bigfoot, one of the leading provided fertile ash, if not exactly soil, Bigfoot proponents in the U.S., had a for wild speculations. Long-time UFO-

Winter 1980-81 15 logist Robert Gribble, of Seattle's BUSTER." The Associated Press reports National UFO Reporting Center, told meanwhile that the National Enquirer the National Enquirer that strange faces a total of S57.S million in libel hovering craft were sighted in the damage suits by various entertainers, vicinity of the mountain in the weeks including Carol Burnett, Paul Lynde, before the explosions. Other experts Phil Silvers, Rory Calhoun, Ed Mc- linked UFOs and psychic experiences Mahon, and Shirley Jones. to various earthquakes and volcanoes. Not to be outdone. Midnight I Globe ***** countered with a story claiming "Vol­ cano May Have Driven Bigfoot East," We have all heard stories of life after citing some Bigfoot sightings in Ohio. death. But the well-known parapsy- (Actually, claims of Bigfoot sightings chologist Martin Ebon has claimed that have for years been made in almost not just life but earthly desires continue every state in the union.) That tabloid as before. "Enough first-hand ex­ published a map showing a volcano in periences exist to show we continue to Washington blowing its top and a set of function as sexual beings long after we gargantuan footprints heading east have died," Ebon told the tabloid toward Ohio. Midnight I Globe. Ebon, former ad­ ministrative secretary of the Para­ ***** psychology Foundation of New York, says that "the individual becomes Our favorite of the National Enquirer's totally helpless in resisting the pos­ recent headlines: "A Cross Between sessing spirit, and that can result in all Human Beings and Plants. . . . kinds of sexual encounters." Ebon has Scientists on Verge of Creating Plant written the introduction to a new book People." The article is illustrated by by psychic R. DeWitt Miller, By Lust drawings of a "killer cactus" wearing Possessed, whose author claims that infantry boots, said to shoot out "all communications from other worlds "deadly seeds," and of "a tree recently indicate that the sexual pleasure we discovered in Brazil that produces a experience in this life is only a gentle kind of diesel fuel. It could be trained to taste of the exquisite pleasures that wait fill up autos by itself." Other recent for us after death." Enquirer headlines: "UFOs Terrorize Moscow"; "Polish Farmer Taken Aboard ***** UFO by 'Little Green Men.'" The Washington Post reports that Enquirer The noted psychic Jeane Dixon is editor Generoso Pope, Jr., demands a currently working on a book on weekly list of "five great ideas" from his astrology for cats, according to the editors. Those ideas that do not impress Washington Post. him are rubber-stamped "NOT A BLOCK­ —Robert Sheaffer

16 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER