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[ INVESTIGATIVE FILES JOE NICKELL Joe Nickell is CSI’s senior research fellow. His books include Entities and Tracking the Man-Beasts, and he contributed to The Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters. His website is www.joenickell.com.

States of Mind: Some Perceived ET Encounters

n Tuesday, April 24, 2012, the a light in the sky,” which she guessed to vestigator, describes “half a dozen sight- popular afternoon TV show An- be “about 1000 feet in the air.” While it ings” beginning April 20, 2008 (Howe Oderson—hosted by Ander son seemed to be “moving very quickly 2008). Cooper—asked, “Are we being visited by from spot to spot,” nevertheless, she The “paralysis”—together with the aliens from space?” I was invited as a stated, “It was hovering over the trees strange as if “in a movie” experience— skeptic to provide balance to the three in the yard.” There was no noise and provides a clue as to what probably segments: the first introduced a woman Alex became “perfectly well behaved.” happened on this occasion: Being half who said a bright UFO hovered repeat- The light hovered for some twenty asleep (and perhaps having rested on edly over her back yard; the second fea- minutes, but she does not say what be- one of the lounge chairs in her back 3 tured two young ladies whose UFO came of it. yard to watch the hovering UFO), sightings prompted them to try hypno- The incident was repeated about sis, which led them to recall interacting four weeks later, but the night sky was with aliens; and finally a self-styled psy- more overcast, so she said of the UFO chic claimed to be in telepathic contact that she “could just see parts of it creep- with “star people.” A representative from ing in the clouds.” Depending on how the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) it moved, it appeared circular or also participated throughout the show. boomerang shaped.1 She saw windows He was only skeptical of skeptics. that were “bluish green” and “were all Together, as we shall see, these cases the way around the craft.” A “little pink illustrate that continues its light” was following it, and “On the long tradition of mystery mongering bottom there were three giant head- and the implicit reliance on a logical lights in a triangle shape.” called “arguing from ignorance”: After another month, Alex again “We don’t know what was seen in the woke her and she “immediately knew sky; therefore, it must have been an ex- that they were back and I had to go traterrestrial craft.” The cases also reveal outside again.” The craft appeared that much of what is claimed depends closer to the house “but still hovering on the states of mind of the alleged eye- over the trees.” Then she saw a beam of witnesses. Following the show I was light and a sparkling powder that able to spend more time investigating “looked like it was dancing in the trees” the cases, and here is a look at each of (Murter 2012a). the three revealing Anderson segments Murter stated, “I was paralyzed. I in turn. could not move.” She waited until the UFO: ‘Hovering’ in the Mind’s Eye next day to tell her husband because this particular experience “was just too First up was Denise Murter, age fifty- unbelievable. . . . I didn’t want people to two, from Levittown, Pennsylvania. think I went bonkers; it was like it was Her encounters began in May 2008, in a movie.” Her husband advised her when she and her husband were awak- not to tell others of her experience, but ened by their growling dog, Alex. Find- she “told MUFON”—the Mutual ing nothing unusual in the apartment, UFO Network—about it and more she took the dog outside so he could re- (Murter 2012a).2 Another version of lieve himself. Thereupon, she “noticed the events, citing a MUFON field in-

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Murter had a hypnagogic experience (or is, a celestial object, some twenty-five bulent. Scintillation can occur on the “waking dream”). This occurs in the in- times brighter than the stars in her field clearest nights, even affecting a single terface between being fully awake and of vision—namely, the planet Jupiter. celestial light, and it results in refraction asleep. It is typically characterized by That it seemed to move was probably (bending) of the different wavelengths hallucinations, often with bright lights due to the autokinetic effect (McGaha to cause the changing colors. Like au- reported, and sleep paralysis, the body’s 2012). This occurs when one stares at a tokinesis, scintillation can also produce inability to move because it is still in the bright light in the dark, particularly “an illusion of motion” (Hendry 1979, sleep mode (Mavromatis 1987, 14 –52). when it is well above the horizon (so 26). Both probably helped cause the il- This state probably explains Murter’s there is no frame of reference). Autoki- lusion of changing shapes Murter de- perceived beam of light and sparkling nesis is due to “small involuntary jerking scribed, aided by her own imagination. powder. I suspect that during at least movements of the human eye” (Hendry After the show’s taping she sent me an part of each of her reported events 1979, 26). (In one UFO case, for exam- angry note in which she said, “I know Murter was not fully awake, and that ple, a light that “zigzagged” while re- what I saw” (Murter 2012b). Actually, that affected many of her perceptions. maining in the same basic position for of course, this no doubt well-meaning Regarding the UFO itself, I dis- forty minutes proved to be a combina- lady only “knows” what she thinks she cussed Murter’s sightings with James tion of star and “autokinetic motions” saw. McGaha, one of our organization’s [Hendry 1979, 95].) Anyway, as I told Cooper on his UFO experts and director of the Grass- As to the shifting colors Murter de- show, it seems farfetched that extrater- lands Observatory in Tucson. He sug- scribed, McGaha (2012) noted that restrials would traverse the incredible gested that the UFO might have a ready that effect would be due to scintilla- distances involved—on some secret explanation, given the direction in tion—that is, the “twinkling,” not only mission to Earth—then repeatedly which Murter was looking at the ap- of stars but also of planets like Jupiter hover over Murter’s back yard with proximate times and place reported: that when the atmosphere is especially tur- their bright lights on!

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Aliens and Hypnotic Recall with James McGaha—this time not in “just wanted to make me better.” In a sec- The next segment on Anderson featured his persona of astronomer but as a for- ond session she explored the period of two young women from Lawrence burg, mer special operations and electronic “missing time” and reported that she and Kentucky, Brittany Fields and Jennifer warfare pilot. He stated that the wit- Jen nifer had been in a state “like frozen Morgan, who encountered UFOs late nesses’ UFO description had “heli- animation” (Fields 2012). one night, then, subsequently, under copter written all over it.” He pointed For her part, Jennifer says she “was hypnosis, “recalled” alien encounters. out that the area was well within the not as responsive to hypnosis as Brit - Their story began April 26, 2011, reach of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, tany.” Her session seemed “almost like a when, about midnight, the two went on which is where American military hel- dream.” “The only thing I can remem- a drive with three young male friends. icopter training occurs. Stationed there ber,” she says, “was seeing a bright light, As they turned down one road and is the famous “Night Stalkers” special- Brittany pulling off the road, and then looked over farmland, they saw a light operations unit. (Indeed, it was out of literally my memory jumped from being above the trees speeding toward them. Fort Campbell that the training for the in a car to being in a circular white Jennifer first thought it could be a heli- days-later, successful “Night Stalkers” room.” Completely naked, she felt a copter: It was “somewhat long” with mission against terrorist Bin Laden pain in the back of her head, and later lights on the front and back. However, took place.) The Night Stalkers unit her boyfriend found a scar on the back when it flew over them it was “huge,” she has an impressive variety of huge and of her neck that she did not recall hav- said, “bigger than a helicopter,” and odd-looking helicopters that the public ing. Did she think she was abducted by aliens? “There’s no other explanation. It’s the only logical explanation,” she concluded (Morgan 2012). Actually, there is quite another, much Major McGaha suggests that some nighttime more rational explanation for such en - counters. They have their origins in a helicopter training operation could explain the now-ubiquitous UFO mythology. Brit- tany said, on describing their first sight- young people’s UFO sighting. ing, “Listen, I’ve always believed in this kind of thing” (Fields 2012). The willing- ness to presume that an un known object is an extraterrestrial craft (an exercise in illogic called “arguing from ignorance”) sets the stage for other expectations. The made a noise that was like no helicopter rarely sees. Major McGaha suggests familiar humanoid likeness, the “missing she knew. It sounded like a loud, high- that some nighttime helicopter training time,” the unremembered scar—these are pitched, thumping rhythm. There was operation could explain the young peo- common motifs of UFO lore. also a high-pitched whining noise.” ple’s UFO sighting. As to the red, In fact, there is nothing remarkable Soon, she says, there seemed to be lights green, and white lights reported, those about a scar going unremembered, es- everywhere, “red, white, and green,” that are the colors of lights on all aircraft— pecially in an out-of-sight location. As were “blinking sporadically” (Morgan military or civilian. well, “missing time” may result from 2012). Brittany described somewhat In any event, Brittany says that later, nothing more than the percipient hav- similar events, except that she had first “no one remembers a period of time ing been lost in thought. As to the sup- thought their initial sighting was of a after we turned left at a four-way stop posed recall under hypnosis, that is sim- blimp (Fields 2012). towards the end of the night.” Because ply mistaking imagination for memory. No doubt the young people saw of this “missing time” and other con- Hypnosis is merely an invitation to fan- something, and they categorically deny cerns, she also contacted MUFON and tasize (Baker and Nickell 1992, 216– they were under the influence of alco- “They proposed the idea of us getting 31). (Being easily hypnotized is even hol or other drugs. However, the three hypnotized” (Fields 2012). Under hyp- one of the indicators, though not diag- males’ unwillingness to come forward nosis she “remembered” four small hu- nostic in itself, of a personality type that does suggest that they were less in- manoid beings, one of whom held her is characterized by proneness to fantasy clined to become caught up in the hand, while the others poked at and ex- [Wilson and Barber 1983]—discussed imaginative possibilities (rather like amined her body. She “locked eyes” with more fully later.) For these reasons, on Murter’s reticent husband in the previ- the entity that was holding her hand and Anderson I called for MUFON and oth- ous case). she “felt a flood of emotion.” He, too, ers to immediately stop using hypnosis I also discussed this particular case seemed “overwhelmingly concerned” and to elicit “memories” in UFO cases.

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The Star People * * * Importantly, not one speck of the “glitter” or “little squares of light” was found, either at the site or in The final guest on Anderson was a pro- Like UFOlogical cases generally, these the samples (Howe 2008). fessed named Cassandra Van- examples from Anderson are telling. 3. See photograph in Howe 2008. zant. She claimed to be in telepathic 4. Of course the “messages” sometimes are in a They illustrate how distorting the eye heightened form compared to her ordinary speech, communication with extraterrestrials, of the beholder can be, and how— just as Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” whose messages she “translates.” At through credulity, pro-UFO bias, illu- has a more elevated diction than his routine letters. Cooper’s request, she told him he had a sions and misperceptions, altered states References star family—the “Lamarians”—who live of consciousness, personality traits, and in “the fourth dimension” (Vanzant other factors, including a UFO-myth- Baker, Robert A., and Joe Nickell. 1992. Missing Pieces: How to Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, , 2012). Cooper struggled to keep a making culture—it can transform mun- & Other Mysteries. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus straight face, and when he asked the au- dane phenomena into perceived alien Books. dience how many believed Vanzant encounters. Cox, Billy. 2012. Memo to AC: Ditch this gig. On- line at devoid.blogs.heraldtribune.com/ could indeed communicate with aliens, Following the show, Anderson 12997/memo-to-ac-ditch-this-gig/; accessed just one person raised her hand. Cooper received flak from May 1, 2012. The audience was right to be skepti- proponents (like the Herald-Tribune’s Fields, Brittany. 2012. In “I Was Abducted” 2012. cal. Vanzant is only the most recent embarrassingly gullible blogger Billy Cox Hendry, Allan. 1979. The UFO Handbook: A Guide to Investigating, Evaluating, and Report ing UFO “”—one who purports to be in [2012]) and even a bit from praiseworthy Sightings. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. repeated communication with alien be- rationalists (like Ed Stockly [2012], who Howe, Linda Moulton. 2008. Morphing UFO ings. ( emerged in the early blogs for the Los Angeles Times and sug- Over Levittown, PA. Online at http://tech. dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/armageddon-or- 1950s but were eventually supplanted by gested I did a “fine job” while being “out- newage/message/71220?var=1; accessed Au- “abductees” who now also frequently numbered”). In my view, Cooper did a gust 28, 2012. serve as cosmic messengers [Story 2001, very good job, from identifying himself I was abducted by aliens. 2012. Anderson show episode, CBS, aired April 24 (includes aired 134; Nickell 2007, 255–56].) Like others as a skeptic at the outset to giving me the statements, unused portions, online clips, per- of this ilk, Van zant exhibits many of the opportunity to respond throughout. As sonal communications, etc.). traits associated with a fantasy-prone per- Stockly noted: “Perhaps the best measure Mattar, George. 2008. Fallswoman stars in UFO sonality. This describes an otherwise of Nickell’s effectiveness was shown documentary. Bucks County, PA, Courier Times, November 25. normal and sane person with a great ten- when Cooper polled the studio audience. Mavromatis, Andreas. 1987. Hypnagogia: The dency to fantasize. Vanzant, for instance, Only a few hands were raised when Unique State of Consciousness Between Wake - has what seem for all the world like asked how many believed that UFOs fulness and Sleep. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. imaginary friends (“Artoli” and “Madas- were alien visitors, and all but a few McGaha, James. 2012. Personal communications crat”), believes she receives special mes- hands went up when asked how many to Joe Nickell, April 9 and 11, May 18. sages from higher beings, purports to didn’t believe. Mark that one for the Morgan, Jennifer. 2012. In “I Was Abducted” 2012. skeptics. It seems that Cooper’s audience Murter, Denise. 2012a. In “I Was Abducted” 2012. have psychic powers, has had an out-of- ———. 2012b. Facebook communication to Joe body experience, and exhibits other traits is on the ball.” I would add that Cooper Nickell, April 16. n that are indicative of fantasy proneness himself led the way. Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a : Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions & Healing Cures. (Wilson and Barber 1983). Acknowledgments Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books. When she “channels” her clients’ star ———. 2007. Adventures in Investi ga - families, she first speaks to them in the I received considerable help with this proj- tions. Lexington: University Press of Ken tucky. ect from Major James McGaha (USAF Re- “ET language” (“Twinkle” 2012), which Stockly, Ed. 2012. TV skeptic: A ‘balanced’ discus- tired) and my trusty assistant Ed Beck, to sion of UFOs on ‘Anderson.’ Online at sounds suspiciously like she is just both of whom I am very grateful. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2 “speaking in tongues.” Called glossolalia, 012/04/tv-skeptic-a-balanced-discussion-of- Notes it is typically “psychobabble,” which uses ufos-on-anderson.html; accessed April 26, 2012. nonsense syllables to create pseudolan- 1. A photo Murter snapped (see Howe 2008) shows a non-aerodynamic, banana-shaped effect, Story, Ronald D., ed. 2001. The Encyclopedia of Ex- guage (Nickell 1993, 103–109). Vanzant very grainy or pixelated, probably a photo artifact traterrestrial Encounters. New York: New subsequently provides “translations” that caused by a point of light photographed by a cam- American Library. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star—a Channeled Mes- are rife with New Age clichés, such as era in motion while the shutter is still open (Mc- Gaha 2012). sage by Cassandra Vanzant. 2012. On line at “on this earthly plane” and references to 2. MUFON obtained samples from the tree lightworkersworld.com/2012/02/ people having “their own truths” and soil where Murter says the glittering substance twinkle-twinkle-little-star-a-channeled-mes- (“Twinkle” 2012). Revealing, I think, is fell. Unfortunately, “Three independent laboratories sage-by-Cassandra-Vanzant/; accessed May 15, 4 checked the samples with different results” (emphasis 2012. the fact that Vanzant also talks like this. added); one unidentified lab re ported traces of Vanzant, Cassandra. 2012. In “I Was Abducted” The evidence suggests that she is herself magnesium and boron (Mattar 2008). However, 2012. the source of the “messages.” She seems these could potentially be found in some fireworks Wilson, Sheryl C., and Theodore X. Barber. 1983. residues (magnesium being a common ingredient The Fantasy-Prone Personality, in A.A. Sheikh, to first fool herself, then other imagina- and boron compounds producing a green flame); ed., Imagery: Current Theory, Research and Ap- tive, credulous folk. Pennsylvania is a state where fireworks are legal. plication. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

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