THE MAGAZINE OF THE SOCIETY FOR PSYCHICAL RESEARCH

www.spr.ac.uk Issue 80 Autumn 201 6 £5.00

ParanormalRevieQ w Rupert Sheldrake Creatures Caught

on Unexplained on Film b Animal Powers Onocentaurs,

Human–Animal Horned Hares & s Communication Eight-Legged Horses

Animals in the The SPR’s b Séance Room New Home

Alien Big Cats { p p m p h z

Autumn 201 6 Issue 80 Review 1 ParanormalReview Qbsb{ppmphz Publisher The Society for Psychical Research 1 Vernon Mews London W1 4 0RL 1 4 UNEXPLAINED ANIMAL 020 7937 8984 20 CREATURES CAUGHT ON www.spr.ac.uk POWERS FILM? Editor Dr Rupert Sheldrake presents Dr Melvyn Willin investigates the Leo Ruickbie compelling evidence for the alleged photographic evidence [email protected] abilities of animals. for zoologically unclassified Proof Readers organisms. David Ellis and John Hornyak 1 6 CAN YOU HEAR US NOW? Subscriptions Dr Deborah Erickson looks at 22 ‘PLAY THEM OUT, Paranormal Review is sent free to members of the Society for Psychical Research. It is also available recent research on ALIEN BIG CAT’ to non-members for a yearly subscription of £20.00, animal–human communication. Do paranormal pussies prowl including post and packing in the UK. Contact [email protected] the countryside? Dr Alexander 1 8 ‘CREATION IS ONE’ Back Issues Hay grapples with media Members have access to previous editions of the Dr Zofia Weaver explores sensationalism and rural Psi Researcher and Paranormal Review via the animal materializations alleged online library. Some back issues are also available unease. for purchase at £5.00 per copy, including post and to have occurred during Franek packing within the UK (outside the UK additional 25 WHEN ANGELS ENCOUNTERED postage costs apply). Contact [email protected] Kluski’s séances. THE ONOCENTAUR Submissions Features, articles, letters, experiences, notices, Dr Edina Eszenyi uncovers the reports and reviews should be sent by email to strange symbolism of the ass- Dr Leo Ruickbie at [email protected]. Material can also be posted to the Editor at 1 Vernon centaur from Antiquity to the Mews, London W1 4 0RL. Please mark envelopes Renaissance. ‘Paranormal Review’. Full submission guidelines can be found on the SPR website at www.spr.ac.uk under ‘publications’. 27 PARAZOOLOGY IN PRACTICE Note What happens when one thinks The Editor reserves the right to edit or otherwise too much about the meaning of alter any material intended for publication. In the event of any dispute, the Editor’s word is final. mythological eight-legged Disclaimer horses? Dr Leo Ruickbie finds The views and opinions expressed are those of the out. Plus a special book offer. authors and do not represent those of the Editor or the Society for Psychical Research.

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The Society for Psychical Research The SPR was the first organisation established to examine allegedly paranormal phenomena using scientific principles. Our aim is to learn more about events and abilities commonly described as 'psychic' or 'paranormal' by supporting research, sharing information and encouraging debate. The SPR is a Registered Charity, established in 1 882. Membership 14 The SPR welcomes members of the general public, as well as students and researchers in all disciplines, to join. Membership does not imply acceptance of any particular opinion concerning the or reality of the phenomena examined, and the Society holds no corporate views. The minimum age for joining is 1 6, with reduced subscriptions for students, couples and senior citizens. To renew or apply for membership please visit the website at www.spr.ac.uk, telephone the Secretary, Peter Johnson, on 020 7937 8984, or email [email protected].

ISSN: 1 369-0426

Copyright © 201 6 The Society for Psychical Research 16 20 Cover: Lepus Cornutus 1 © Leo Ruickbie. This Page: Grey Parrot CC 3.0 L. Miguel Bugallo Sanchez; Fake ‘Mermaid’, 1 923. Dog's Paw © Shutterstock. Opposite: Bust of D.D. Hume in the SPR Library © Leo Ruickbie; Lajos Pap, c.1 935, courtesy of the College of Psychic Studies. Human–Animal Communication Research

DEBORAH ERICKSON

here are several examples in production specializations of the as ‘a natural gift or faculty of the the non-human animal world of dolphin, and concomitant animal mind, which is largely Tselected individuals possessing developments in auditory cortex.’[2] unconscious, and it is from the animal advanced skills to communicate For over 120 years a small group mind that we inherit it […] that the verbally with humans. Alex the grey of scientists has been investigating animals inherit this power of silent parrot (Psittacus erithacus) exhibited , often obtaining significant communication over great distances is cognitive capacities comparable to results. In 1985, a meta-analysis occasionally manifest even among our marine animals, such as bottlenose covering twenty-eight half-natural domestic creatures.’[7] dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Bonobo parapsychological studies showed a A small group of scientists apes (Pan Paniscus), and sometimes hit rate of 37 per cent. A leading conducted psi research with kittens four to six-year-old children. ‘Of member of the Committee for (Felis catus) beginning in the 1950s particular interest is that his [Alex’s] Scientific Inquiry performed a meta- and continuing through the focused abilities are inferred not from operant analysis of the same data and also period of experimental tasks common in animal research, but found that the odds against chance research in the 1960s from vocal responses to vocal were extremely high.[3] Quantum and 1970s. Exploratory trial results questions; that is, he demonstrates physics research of the last twenty showed above-chance scoring, but only intriguing communicative parallels years has discovered that physical for some of the kittens; one of the with young humans, despite his objects are not as separate as we once best-scoring kittens had a close phylogenetic distance.’[1] Without thought they were. At the quantum relationship to Osis and his family. training and on his own initiative, particle level, all separateness Another series of trials using an Alex also appeared to transfer his disappears and everything is independent experimenter showed no ability to use ‘none’ to comment on the connected. Schrödinger and Born positive deviation from chance, and absence of an attribute described this process as the electric shock trials showed a (different/same or smaller/bigger) to entanglement.[4] However, Einstein significant psi-missing effect – in the absence of a specific quantity, as more descriptively called it ‘spukhafte other words, obtaining scores in zero. Fernwirkung’ or ‘spooky action at a significantly below chance levels.[8] The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops distance’.[5] He believed that Long’s writings were the truncatus) is known for a high level of quantum entanglement would inspiration for animal telepathy language competency. Herman’s study someday be seen as a mathematical studies by Sheldrake.[9] Several proposed that the dolphin’s cognitive error in calculation. thousand people wrote to Sheldrake structures for the interpretation and Instead, scientists continue to be reporting the remarkable telepathic manipulation of auditory information baffled by repeated discoveries at the behavior of their pets, particularly are highly developed. The study subatomic level that simply do not dogs, that seemed to know when their included an exploration of the subscribe to the previously-known owners were coming home. A detailed dolphin’s specializations in auditory laws of physics. ‘Reality is woven from study completed with a domestic dog information processing, language strange, “holistic” threads that aren’t named Jaytee and his guardian comprehension, sentence located precisely in space or time. Tug showed positive results of the animal’s understanding (relational sentences, on a dangling loose end from this behaviour prior to structurally novel sentences, co-joined fabric of reality, and the whole cloth arriving home.[10] sentences), and generalization and twitches, instantly, throughout all Wiseman, Smith and Milton representation of meaning. ‘Overall, space and time.’[6] disputed Sheldrake’s results with a the positive findings on the ability to Animal telepathy was first supposedly similar study with the process and manipulate auditory written about by William J. Long, who same animal, guardian and materials complexly is in keeping with was a minister and well-known methods.[11] However, Sheldrake the expectations based on the naturalist of the early twentieth criticized the Wiseman study, citing a extensive auditory and sound century. He accepted animal telepathy flawed use of criterion and data

16 Paranormal Review Issue 80 Autumn 201 6 plotting.[12] Wiseman, Smith and N’kisi had awakened her by not known by Erickson in advance of Milton countered with a defence of commenting on the actions in her the session. After the session, the their version of the study. However, in dreams.[15] guardians received a link to the a later interview Wiseman admitted, More recently, Dutton and recording and a web survey form that ‘It depends how the data is collected, Williams published an exhaustive included all of the questions asked so I don’t think there’s any debate, but meta-analysis review of animal psi and all of the answers received from the patterning in my studies are the research that explored two main canine, then independently ranked same as the patterning in Rupert’s threads.[16] The first was the accuracy of the information studies. That’s not up for grabs. That’s experimental research that has been telepathically received during the fine. It’s how it’s interpreted.’[13] generally conducted within a classical session. Using a ranking scale of 1 Clearly, controversy surrounding conditioning : animals can (entirely inaccurate) to 6 (entirely parapsychology research is never far be trained to respond to a stimulus accurate), the guardians’ average behind a published study that and a baseline response is measured accuracy ranking across all fifty supports a psi hypothesis. that ‘has tended to explain animal psi sessions was 5.12. In a later study, Sheldrake and as an evolutionarily adaptive process A follow-up research project with Smart tested another return- of information transmission’. The a similar design was conducted with anticipating Rhodesian Ridgeback dog second is animal fieldwork, which therapy horses (Equus caballus) who named Kane. In nine out of ten video- recognizes the importance of the worked with PTSD-diagnosed military taped trials, Kane spent most of his human–animal relationship for the veterans. The veterans submitted time looking out of a front window occurrence of psi. They argued that their questions ahead of the session when his owner was on her way home. ‘the evidence suggests that animal psi and received a written report of the He anticipated his guardian’s arrival may function as an expression of communication session with their more than ten minutes in advance, relationship or “resonance” between horse. The veterans’ average ranking even if she returned in an unfamiliar individuals.’ Taken as a whole, the of the usefulness of the information vehicle, taxi, when the people at home authors concluded that animal psi received telepathically from the did not expect her, or when she set off research evidence reveals a small psi horses was 4.9; the horses’ guardians’ for home at randomly-selected times. effect that is not easily replicable, average ranking was 5.75.[18] Sheldrake explained, ‘If the possibility subject to fluctuations, decline effects, Clearly, telepathic interspecies of telepathy is admitted, then the and an unclear source. Like humans, communication as explored by Long simplest explanation is that the dogs animals appear to vary in terms of and more recently by Sheldrake and are responding to their owners possible psi ability, and the research Erickson is appropriate for continued directly. The problem with this indicates the central importance of structured research. suggestion is that some people reject the experimenter–participant Animals can keep people the very possibility of telepathy on relationship. However, from a connected to their feelings, without theoretical grounds. And even among conventional research perspective, the which there is no real meaning in life. those who regard the existence of relationship between the When people remain connected to telepathy as a question to be experimenter and animal participant their emotions, they will not lose their answered empirically rather than is considered to be a potentially way in the mental abstractions and theoretically, no one knows how it confounding factor. technological innovations that might work.’[14] In other recent research, Erickson attempt to consume the focus of their One of the most unusual conducted fifty telepathic animal lives. Still deeply connected to nature communications received by communication sessions with human and their natural place in the Sheldrake was one written by Aimee guardians and their canines.[17] The universe, animals have a great deal to Morgana, guardian of a (then) ten- guardian/canine teams were in thirty- teach people. ‘The animals have lifted year-old African grey parrot (Psittacus six different cities from Erickson and a veil and made a connection with us erithacus) named N’kisi. N’kisi was the guardian was on the telephone for in that place where we are all one. reported to respond to Morgana’s the session, which was recorded. Five The animals are calling us to thoughts and intentions in a direct standard questions were asked of all council.’[19] ψ manner that appeared to be telepathic dogs, then the session was opened to in nature. Morgana reported that the guardian's questions, which were NOTES in the New Field Theory’, Journal ofParapsychology, Journal ofthe Society for Pets: A Critical Review of [1 ] I.M. Pepperberg, ‘Cognitive Nature, 1 35 (1 935), pp. 342. 32 (1 968), p. 260. Psychical Research, 63 Animal Psi Research’, and Communicative Abilities [5] A. Einstein, The Born- [9] R. Sheldrake, Dogs that (1 999), pp. 306-311 . Journal ofParapsychology, of Grey Parrots’, Applied Einstein Letters: Friendship, Know when their Owners are [1 3] A. Tsakiris, ‘Dr Richard 73 (2009), pp. 43-68. Animal Behaviour Science, Politics and Physics in Coming Home, and Other Wiseman on Rupert [1 7] D.L. Erickson, ‘A Mixed 1 00 (2006), p. 78. Uncertain Times (New York, Unexplained Powers of Sheldrake’s Dogsthatknow’, Methods Exploratory Study [2] L. M. Herman, ‘Cognition NY: Macmillan, 1 947). Animals (New York, NY: (2011 ). Retrieved from of Alleged Telepathic and Language [6] D. Radin, Entangled Minds: Three Rivers Press, 1 999). http://www.skeptiko.com/11 - Interspecies Communication Competencies of Bottlenose Extrasensory Experiences in [1 0] R. Sheldrake, C. Lawlor dr-richard-wiseman-on- with Domestic Dogs (Canis Dolphins’ in Dolphin a Quantum Reality (New and J. Turney, ‘Perceptive rupert-sheldrakes- lupus familiaris)’, Cognition and Behavior: A York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Pets: A Survey in London’, dogsthatknow/ Unpublished PhD Thesis, Comparative Approach by R. 2006), pp. 3. Biology Forum, 91 (1 998), [1 4] R. Sheldrake and P. Smart, Saybrook University (201 4). J. Schusterman, J. A. [7] W.J. Long, How Animals pp. 57-74. ‘Testing a Return- [1 8] D.L. Erickson, D. Fisher, B. Thomas and F. G. Wood Talk, and Other Pleasant [11 ] R. Wiseman, M. Smith and Anticipating Dog, Kane’, Woelk, W. Buckner and C. (eds.) (New York, NY: Studies ofBirds and Beasts J. Milton, ‘The “Psychic Pet” Anthrozoos 1 3(4) (2000), pp. Ashley, ‘A Mixed Methods Psychology Press, 1 986), p. (New York, NY: Harper & Phenomenon: A Reply to 203-21 2. Study of Telepathic 241 . Brothers, 1 91 9), p. 29. Rupert Sheldrake’, Journal [1 5] R. Sheldrake and A. Interspecies Communication with Therapeutic Riding [3] R. Hyman, ‘The Ganzfeld Psi [8] P. Duval and E. Montredon, ofthe Society for Psychical Morgana, ‘Testing a Horses and their Recovering Experiment: A Critical ‘ESP Experiments with Research, 64.858 (2000), Language-Using Parrot for Wounded Veteran Partners’, Appraisal’, Journal of Mice’, Journal of pp. 46-49. Telepathy’, Journal of NeuroQuantology, 1 4(2) Parapsychology, 49 (1 985), Parapsychology, 32, (1 968), Scientific Exploration, 1 7(4) [1 2] R. Sheldrake, ‘Commentary (201 6). pp. 3-49. pp. 1 53-1 66; P. Duval and E. on a Paper by Wiseman, (2003), pp. 601 -61 6. [4] E. Schrödinger and M. Born, Montredon, ‘Further Psi Smith and Milton on the [1 6] D. Dutton and C. Williams, [1 9] S. B. Eirich, ‘The Wisdom ‘The Absolute Field Constant Experiments with Mice’, “Psychic Pet” Phenomenon’, ‘Clever Beasts and Faithful of the Wild’, Noetic Now Journal, 1 8 (January 201 2).

Autumn 201 6 Issue 80 Paranormal Review 17 coRichnard S. Btrougrhtonibutors Dr Richard S. Broughton is Hon. Treasurer of the SPR. Retired from formal academic duties, he is a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Northampton and a member of the Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes. Dr Broughton’s career began with PhD studies under Prof. John Beloff in the 1 970s and he was later President and long-time Board member of the Parapsychological Association. Deborah Erickson Dr Deborah Erickson, PhD, is an independent parapsychological researcher with a thirty-year career in technology management. Her MBA concentrated on technology, while her PhD is in psychology with a focus on consciousness and spirituality. She is Honorary Website Manager for the Society for Psychical Research, as well as a Reiki Master and Healing Touch for Animals practitioner. See www.deborahericksonphd.com Edina Eszenyi Dr Edina Eszenyi is the Resident Art Historian at the Rome Art Program, a New York based institute of higher education training art students in Rome, Italy. She holds a PhD in Medieval and Early Modern Studies from the University of Kent in Canterbury; and MAs in Art History and English Studies from the Pázmány Péter Catholic University of Hungary. Her research specialization is Angelology. Alexander Hay Dr Alexander Hay lectures in journalism at Southampton Solent University, and has a wide range of research interests. As part of a broader study into cultural studies and the history of the press, he has researched cryptozoology and other ‘Fortean’ subjects, and how they are interpreted by both the media and the public.

Brandon Hodge Brandon Hodge is a collector, historian and occult researcher. He curates the world’s largest collection of planchettes and devices (www.mysteriousplanchette.com) and travels the world documenting séance artefacts and lecturing on history. He is also the official Historian of the Talking Board Historical Society (tbhs.org). He is always interested to hear from readers with further information, contact: [email protected]. John Poynton Prof. John Poynton, OMS, is an emeritus professor of biology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a scientific research associate of London’s Natural History Museum, and a Scientific Fellow of the Zoological Society of London. He has published extensively in the fields of biogeography, taxonomy, ecology, , , and parapsychology or psychical research. Currently, he is the President of the Society for Psychical Research. Leslie Price Leslie Price has been archivist of the College of Psychic Studies since 201 3, having originally worked there as librarian from 1 968-9. He is an honorary member of the SPR and has served variously as Librarian, a member of the Library Committee, Book Review Editor and as a member of Council. He was secretary of the first SPR annual conference in 1 976. In January 201 7 he will resume editorship of Psypioneer, the free online journal. Leo Ruickbie Dr Leo Ruickbie, BA (Hons), MA, PhD, AKC (Associate of King's College), was awarded a PhD for his thesis on the sociology of contemporary . He is the author of five books to date, most recently A Brief Guide to the Super- natural, A Brief Guide to and The Impossible Zoo. He is a member of the Royal Historical Society, the Parapsychological Association, and a council member of the Gesellschaft für Anomalistik. See www.ruickbie.com. Rupert Sheldrake Dr Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, has been the Director of the Perrott-Warrick Project, a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and a Research Fellow of the Royal Society. He is currently a Fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, . Much of his research on unexplained powers of animals and of people is summarized in Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home, and Other Unexplained Powers of Animals, and others. See www.sheldrake.org. Zofia Weaver Dr Zofia Weaver has a background in linguistics and is a Council member of the Society for Psychical Research. Her Polish connections mean that she has access to sources never published in English and she concentrates her , s r

research on the contribution made to the field by famous Polish , such as the clairvoyant Stefan Ossowiecki o . t e u i b b

and the physical medium Franek Kluski, the subject of her recent book Other Realities? (201 5). i r k t c i n u o c Donald J. West R e o v e i t L c

Prof. Donald West is the former Director of the Institute of Criminology, , and Emeritus e © p h s t

Professor of Clinical Criminology, University of Cambridge, and Emeritus Fellow of Darwin College, Cambridge. He e o r b r i , t

has published many books, including several on parapsychology, such as Psychical Research Today (1 953) and e s h t e

Eleven Lourdes Miracles (1 957). f W o d y s n e a Melvyn Willin t r n u o o t c h

Dr Melvyn Willin has doctorates in paramusicology from Sheffield and witchcraft from Bristol. He is the Honorary g s u h o p Archives Officer of the SPR and has published several books, including Music, Witchcraft and the Paranormal and r a B r t g p Ghosts Caught on Film. Research includes Perrott-Warrick scholarships for the study of Near Death Experiences from o t e o c h the perspective of music; the efficacy of witchcraft spells; and paranormal demonstrations within the martial arts. x P e w www.spr.ac.uk @ [email protected] f http://tinyurl.com/nemb53r t twitter.com/SPR1 882