Volume 2, Number 4, Fall 2003

• Waking the Witch: Visualization Techniques in Sleep Paralysis
• By their hand shall you know them: Metagraphology in the Modern World
• What’s in a name? Analysis of the four "Old Moores"
• Prophecy and Divination: Two sides of the same coin?
• Two Canoes, Tomorrow: Prophetic Voice as Practical Necessity
• Speaking in Stone: Geomantic Prophecy in Western Europe
• Voices from the Dark: Oracular Prophecy and Doubt
• What’s in a word?
• The Minotaur in Fact and Fiction

 

Waking the Witch: Visualization Techniques in Sleep Paralysis

Dr. Leo Kane

When we sleep our bodies enter a state of paralysis as a protective mechanism to avoid self injury from thrashing about while sleeping. Those that suffer from awareness of sleep paralysis, or ASP, are suddenly conscious and aware of their surroundings but unable to move or cry out due to their physical bodies remaining in this form of paralysis. Sufferers frequently describe feeling an entity, often a "witch," sitting on their chest preventing movement and causing shortness of breath. In this article, I present the results of a ground-breaking study conducted using the techniques of a recognized visualization expert. Subjects were taught during waking hours to employ visualization during periods of sleep paralysis, when the mind is active and the eyes are open but the body is unable to move. 100% of patients trained to employ visualization reported immediate cessation of the phenomena.

By their hand shall you know them: Metagraphology in the Modern World

W. Gene Jankowitz, Jay Marzel

Can the choice of computer font convey the same level of psychometric information as handwritten script, or has metagraphology been “done in” by machine formatting? This paper represents an in-depth analysis of the works of Raphael Schermann and Otto Reimann and the application of their metagraphological research to the interpretation of modern computer font choices in an online environment. Special attention is paid to the possible application of metagraphological techniques to computer forensics and to the use of such tools in the profiling of online personalities.

What’s in a name? Analysis of the four “Old Moores”

Cora Retzel, Melissa Jennison

This work focuses on the textual comparison and analysis of the four rival “Vox Stellarum” texts published respectively by Roberts, Blakemore, Walker, and Foulsham. The works of the original 17th century “Old Moore” are used to provide historical context for the subsequent three centuries of publication. Although it is believed that only the 1701 Vox Stellarum is, in fact, an authentic work, we would argue that consistencies in the astrological information provided by the subsequent so-called pseudonymous editions demonstrate a surprising consistency of authorship. Possible explanations for this uniformity of voice are presented and further research avenues explored.

Prophecy and Divination: Two sides of the same coin?

Terry Dickens, Kimberly Montaine, Jason Mure

The lines between true prophecy and divination were blurred during the religious syncretism of the 18th and 19th centuries. We have attempted in this paper to provide an extensive longitudinal study of the prophetic and oracular traditions of Assyria, the Levant, Greece, Rome, Egypt, and the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. While debate has grown heated over the validity of Divination as a metaphysical tool as compared with the "true speech" of a Prophet, we believe that history demonstrates a social need for both the pure inspiration of the Prophet and the "tool mediated" accessibility of the Diviner. While Shamanistic traditions are not included in this study, it is to be hoped that further research will provide us with a more complete image of moderated divine inspiration in contemporary culture.

Two Canoes, Tomorrow: Prophetic Voice as Practical Necessity

Douglas Lighton, Kelly Conners

While the Oracular tradition is often associated with prosperous locations such as Delphi and the Temple of Ra at Memphis, we have turned out attention to the practical application of prophetic voice in the Native American communities of the 17th century. In particular, analysis of Captain John Carver’s reports concerning the use of prophecy in delivering native communities from the ravages of famine has allowed us to explore the interaction between prophet and the needs of the people. In contrast to the profoundly limited application of prophetic voice in wealthy societies, our research into the practical use of prophecy has opened a new avenue in Prophetic research.

Speaking in Stone: Geomantic Prophecy in Western Europe

Auburn McNair, Lawrence Pall, Quinn Amerson

Although some contend that European Geomancy grew out of contact with the Chinese practice of Feng-shui, we believe our research will lay this contention to rest. The use of stones, pebbles, tumuli, and dust in the reading of omens pre-dates the Viking expansions into this region and certainly cannot be attributed to Chinese traders. A careful reading of Franz Hartmann and Alfred Watkins leave little doubt as to the correct placement of Geomancy’s origins firmly within the confines of Western Europe.

Voices from the Dark: Oracular Prophecy and Doubt

Arlene Seifter, Laurent Dublet

While many cultures refined the natural occurrence of the prophetic voice into a useful social tool, few will argue that the Apollonian oracle of Delphi brought the social aspects of the prophetic arts to a level never before attained. This paper shall address the role of the Delphic Pythia as a messenger of doubt, a commanding voice for the “status quo”. Successful military and political leaders were guided by the Pythia in their thinking and policy, while those who ignored the voice of the God did so at their peril. We hope to demonstrate the controlling elements of divine inspiration and the role of prophecy as a negative control on metasystem behavior.

What’s in a word?

Kay Bentley, Barnes Prescott

Onomancy has often been overlooked by reputable para-psychological researchers as “nearer to divination by a donkey” than as a serious divinatory and prophetic tool. However, we will argue here that a tradition of prophetic inspiration that has attracted such followers as the Pythagoreans and Plato himself is worthy of a closer examination. Using the example of Achilles triumph over Hector and the prophetic wisdom of King Theodotus’s onomantic battle plans, we hope to encourage further research into a field that has, we believe, been too long ignored.

The Minotaur in Fact and Fiction

J. Terrence Pendt, Julia Harper

This report examines evidence of the existence of a real-life minotaur, a hideously deformed child of King Minos 2. Recently discovered records indicate that Minos ordered the child locked away from sight in an underground chamber. Our hypothesis concludes that the child possibly suffered from elephantiasis and had horn-like growths near both ears, thus leading to the legend of a bull-headed man. A deformed partial skeleton unearthed in a subterranean chamber in Crete, the location of the legendary labyrinth, lends credence to this hypothesis.