UFO SpiritualitiesUFO Spiritualities

UFOUFOSpiritualitiesSpiritualities 50% of North Americans

believe in UFOs Two main belief systems

in broader UFOmovement:

•UFOS as alien technology – secretreconnaissance, biological/medicalexperiments, government conspiracy

•UFOs as space craft and/or psychicmanifestation of alien spirit guides,visiting earth with spiritual agenda

• Most of those who believe in UFOs hold firstbelief system; both belief systems contribute toUFO spiritualities

Historical InfluencesHistorical Influences

Seeing strange objects in the sky is aSeeing strange objects in the sky is auniversal phenomenonuniversal phenomenon

Carl Jung suggests UFOs = spiritual/ religiousCarl Jung suggests UFOs = spiritual/ religiousarchetype - perfectionarchetype - perfection

Objects in sky always interpreted withinObjects in sky always interpreted withinlanguage & metaphors of the age language & metaphors of the age –– gods, gods,demons, angels, space shipsdemons, angels, space ships

Today technology dominates our world: is thatToday technology dominates our world: is thatwhy we interpret UFOs as technological spacewhy we interpret UFOs as technological spacecraft?craft?

1919thth Century Sightings Century Sightings

In 19In 19thth Century, precursors to both UFOs as technology camp, and aliens as Century, precursors to both UFOs as technology camp, and aliens asspirit guides camp.spirit guides camp.

Nov. 1896- May 1997, Alabama to Michigan to California Nov. 1896- May 1997, Alabama to Michigan to California –– ““airshipsairships”” sighted sighted Cigar-shaped, propellers and/or wings, brightly lit, with people glimpsed insideCigar-shaped, propellers and/or wings, brightly lit, with people glimpsed inside Often landed to make repairs, asking witnesses for wrenches and water.Often landed to make repairs, asking witnesses for wrenches and water. Powered by Powered by ““condensed electricitycondensed electricity”” Estimated speed = 150 miles per hour; could fly against direction of wind, stopEstimated speed = 150 miles per hour; could fly against direction of wind, stop

and start at will.and start at will. These sightings set pattern for 20These sightings set pattern for 20thth century sightings century sightings

Cigar-shaped UFO over race-track, 1910

1919thth Century Extraterrestrial spirit Century Extraterrestrial spiritguideguide

Helene SmithHelene Smith Traveled in trance to MarsTraveled in trance to Mars Points in common betweenPoints in common between

SmithSmith’’s experience and others experience and other1919thth & early 20 & early 20thth c. c. contacteecontacteeexperiences:experiences: Took place in our solar systemTook place in our solar system

(Mars, Venus, Moon, etc.)(Mars, Venus, Moon, etc.) Took place via psychic meansTook place via psychic means

(trance, astral travel, (trance, astral travel, seancesseances)) Communication withCommunication with

extraterrestrials via telepathyextraterrestrials via telepathy Message of Extraterrestrials isMessage of Extraterrestrials is

metaphysicalmetaphysical These contacts set pattern forThese contacts set pattern for

later 20later 20thth century contacts. century contacts.

Kenneth Arnold SightingKenneth Arnold Sighting June 24, 1947.June 24, 1947. Air rescue pilot, deputyAir rescue pilot, deputy

sheriff, sees nine sheriff, sees nine ““metallicmetalliclooking objectslooking objects”” while whilesearching for downed planesearching for downed planeover Mt. Rainier,over Mt. Rainier,WashingtonWashington

Estimated their speed atEstimated their speed at(impossible for 1947) 1700(impossible for 1947) 1700miles per hourmiles per hour

Reports sighting; reportersReports sighting; reporterswaiting to question him. Hewaiting to question him. Hesays they flew like says they flew like ““saucerssaucersskipping over waterskipping over water”” ––invention of term invention of term ““flyingflyingsaucersaucer””

Kenneth Arnold with

US President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Kenneth Arnold SightingKenneth Arnold Sighting Arnold sighting importantArnold sighting important

for three reasons:for three reasons: First, respected witness First, respected witness ––

story considered reliablestory considered reliable Second, Invention of term Second, Invention of term

““flying saucerflying saucer”” –– gave gavebelievers and skeptics abelievers and skeptics alabel to put on UFOs label to put on UFOs –– also, also,term implies term implies ““artificialartificial””::saucers, after all, donsaucers, after all, don’’t skipt skipwithout helpwithout help

Third, encouraged other Third, encouraged otherwitnesses to report sightingswitnesses to report sightings–– 850 sightings reported in 850 sightings reported in1947.1947.

Roswell, New MexicoRoswell, New Mexico Most famous UFO sighting:Most famous UFO sighting:

July 2-3, 1947July 2-3, 1947 Bright glowing disk spotted inBright glowing disk spotted in

sky on evening of July 2sky on evening of July 2ndnd.. July 3July 3rdrd, rancher William , rancher William ““MacMac””

Brazil finds Brazil finds ““metallicmetallic”” wreckage wreckagescattered across his fields nearscattered across his fields neartown of Corona, New Mexicotown of Corona, New Mexico

Reports finding to nearestReports finding to nearestmilitary base: 509military base: 509thth Bomb BombGroup Intelligence Office atGroup Intelligence Office atRoswell Field. They sendRoswell Field. They sendinvestigator, Major Jesseinvestigator, Major JesseMarcel, who collectsMarcel, who collectswreckage.wreckage.

Major Jesse Marcel with Roswell wreckage

Roswell, New MexicoRoswell, New Mexico Wreckage includes metallic foilWreckage includes metallic foil

that cannot be dented or burned;that cannot be dented or burned;small beams with small beams with ““hieroglyphichieroglyphicwritingwriting””

Commander of Roswell base,Commander of Roswell base,Colonel William Blanchard, issuesColonel William Blanchard, issuespress release stating Air Forcepress release stating Air Forcehad recovered wreckage ofhad recovered wreckage ofcrashed flying disk.crashed flying disk.

Commander of 8Commander of 8thth Air force, Air force,General Roger Ramey, issues aGeneral Roger Ramey, issues aretraction: it wasnretraction: it wasn’’t flying saucer, itt flying saucer, itwas a weather balloon.was a weather balloon.

Weather balloon story revised byWeather balloon story revised byUS Government in 1994: not justUS Government in 1994: not justany balloon, a top secret weatherany balloon, a top secret weatherballoon! (with nuclear blastballoon! (with nuclear blastdetector)detector)

Colonel William Blanchard with memoand wreckage

Reconstructed July 8, 1947 Gen. Ramey Roswell MessageReconstructed July 8, 1947 Gen. Ramey Roswell Message Copyright © 2001 by David Copyright © 2001 by David RudiakRudiak, All Rights Reserved, All Rights Reserved ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ARMY CABLE BELL CBL ARMY CABLE BELL CBL 17:13 CST 17:13 CST A) URGENT A) URGENT B) HQAAF B) HQAAF C) WASHINGTON C) WASHINGTON D) 8 JUL 1947 D) 8 JUL 1947 E) VANDENBERG E) VANDENBERG F) FROM: HQ 8TH AAF F) FROM: HQ 8TH AAF G) SUB: ROSWELL G) SUB: ROSWELL 0) FWAAF ACKNOWLEDGES THAT A "DISK" IS NEXT NEW FIND WEST OF0) FWAAF ACKNOWLEDGES THAT A "DISK" IS NEXT NEW FIND WEST OF

1) THE CORDON. AT LOCATION WAS A WRECK NEAR OPERATION AT THE1) THE CORDON. AT LOCATION WAS A WRECK NEAR OPERATION AT THE IN ADDITION "POD" IN ADDITION "POD" 2) "RANCH" AND THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE2) "RANCH" AND THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK YOU FORWARDED TO THE

3) ??TEAM AT FORT WORTH, TEX.3) ??TEAM AT FORT WORTH, TEX.

4) AVIATORS IN THE "DISC" THEY WILL SHIP FOR A1-8TH ARMYAMHC4) AVIATORS IN THE "DISC" THEY WILL SHIP FOR A1-8TH ARMYAMHC

5) BY B29-ST OR C47. WRIGHT AF ASSESS AIRFOIL AT ROSWELL. ASSURE5) BY B29-ST OR C47. WRIGHT AF ASSESS AIRFOIL AT ROSWELL. ASSURE ASSIST FLY-OUTASSIST FLY-OUT 6) THAT CIC/TEAM SAID THIS MISSTATE MEANING OF STORY AND THINK6) THAT CIC/TEAM SAID THIS MISSTATE MEANING OF STORY AND THINK

7) LATE TODAY NEXT SENT OUT PR OF WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD FARE7) LATE TODAY NEXT SENT OUT PR OF WEATHER BALLOONS WOULD FARE 8) BETTER IF THEY ADD LAND DEMORAWIN CREWS.8) BETTER IF THEY ADD LAND DEMORAWIN CREWS. stagestage

Barney Barnett SightingBarney Barnett Sighting July 3, 1947July 3, 1947 Barney Barnet was governmentBarney Barnet was government

geologist doing survey work.geologist doing survey work. Spotted crashed UFO about 120Spotted crashed UFO about 120

miles from Roswell: 4 alien bodiesmiles from Roswell: 4 alien bodiesinsideinside

Aliens 3.5 Aliens 3.5 –– 4 ft tall, slim, hairless, 4 ft tall, slim, hairless,big heads, 4 fingers big heads, 4 fingers –– classic classic““greygrey”” aliens aliens

Group of people claiming to beGroup of people claiming to beanthropologists arrive, takeanthropologists arrive, takecharge of site, tell Barnet to keepcharge of site, tell Barnet to keepquiet.quiet.

He tells only one person, bestHe tells only one person, bestfriend Vern friend Vern MaltaisMaltais..

Maltais Maltais later makes story publiclater makes story public

Crashed UFO with Alien body – origin unknown

MJ 12 DocumentMJ 12 Document Reputedly a top secret governmentReputedly a top secret government

document prepared for President-electdocument prepared for President-electDwight D. Eisenhower, informing himDwight D. Eisenhower, informing himabout about ““Operation Majestic-12Operation Majestic-12”” –– a asecret operation designed to studysecret operation designed to studyextraterrestrial contact.extraterrestrial contact.

Reports on recovery of crashedReports on recovery of crashedRoswell UFORoswell UFO

Delivered anonymously to documentaryDelivered anonymously to documentaryfilm producer Jaime film producer Jaime Shandera Shandera ininDecember 1984.December 1984.

Controversy regarding documentControversy regarding documentmainly focuses on recipient rather thanmainly focuses on recipient rather thandocumentdocument

Roswell crash, Barnett sighting, MJ-12Roswell crash, Barnett sighting, MJ-12documents all now linked to documents all now linked to ““proveprove””UFOs exist, aliens are here,UFOs exist, aliens are here,government conspiracy of silence.government conspiracy of silence. MJ-12 Document

Jaime Shandera

UFO SpiritualitiesUFO Spiritualities

Historical Influences, IIHistorical Influences, II

ContacteeContacteePhenomenonPhenomenon

Contactees Contactees are those who claim to haveare those who claim to havemet, and spoken with, extraterrestrialmet, and spoken with, extraterrestrialvisitors to earthvisitors to earth

The three most famous are: GeorgeThe three most famous are: GeorgeAdamskiAdamski, Daniel Fry, and Billy Meier, Daniel Fry, and Billy Meier

George George AdamskiAdamski

Saw and photographed UFOs inSaw and photographed UFOs in19471947Contact with extraterrestrials inContact with extraterrestrials in19521952Blond-haired ET from VenusBlond-haired ET from VenusConcerned about nuclear testingConcerned about nuclear testingFlying Saucers have LandedFlying Saucers have Landed(1953)(1953)Inside the Space ShipsInside the Space Ships (1955) (1955)

DanielDanielFryFry

Contacted by UFO JulyContacted by UFO July4, 1950 at White Sands,4, 1950 at White Sands,New MexicoNew Mexico

A-lanA-lan, extraterrestrial, extraterrestrialon on mothershipmothership

Concerned aboutConcerned aboutNuclear testingNuclear testing

White Sands IncidentWhite Sands Incident(1954)(1954)

BillyBillyMeierMeier

Famous for photos as well as Famous for photos as well as contacteecontacteeexperiences: Billy Meier photo featured inexperiences: Billy Meier photo featured inMuldarMuldar’’s s ““I want to BelieveI want to Believe”” poster in poster in The X-The X-FilesFilesTelepathic contact with extraterrestrials inTelepathic contact with extraterrestrials in19751975Semjase Semjase –– pilot of UFO, pilot of UFO, PleiadianPleiadian, , ““nordicnordic””(blonde, beautiful)(blonde, beautiful)Ptaah Ptaah –– father of father of SemjaseSemjase, captain of, captain ofmothershipmothershipPleiadians Pleiadians are our genetic ancestors, hereare our genetic ancestors, hereto watch over us to watch over us –– responsible for birth of responsible for birth ofAdam, JesusAdam, Jesus

Other 1950Other 1950’’ssContacteesContactees

Truman Truman BethurumBethurum –– meets Aura meets Aura RhanesRhanesfrom planet Clarion, here to help stop ourfrom planet Clarion, here to help stop ourmoral & physical self destructionmoral & physical self destruction

Orfeo AngelucciOrfeo Angelucci –– meets meets ““space brotherspace brother””here to document human spiritualhere to document human spiritualevolution. Experiences missing time, pastevolution. Experiences missing time, pastlife memorieslife memories

Howard Howard MengerMenger –– first contact as a child, first contact as a child,reincarnated being from Jupiter, here toreincarnated being from Jupiter, here tohelp mankindhelp mankind

Contactee Contactee PatternPattern

Travel via UFOs (not psychic, astralTravel via UFOs (not psychic, astraltravel)travel)

All extraterrestrials from planets withoutAll extraterrestrials from planets withoutwar, poverty, prejudicewar, poverty, prejudice

All here with message of cosmic loveAll here with message of cosmic love All concerned about nuclear self-All concerned about nuclear self-

destructiondestruction Clear precursors to Clear precursors to channeling/contacteechanneling/contactee

““campcamp”” within UFO movement within UFO movement

19601960’’s Phenomenons Phenomenon Most famous abducteesMost famous abductees

Betty and Barney HillBetty and Barney Hill SepSeptember 19, 1961 tember 19, 1961 –– 2.52.5

hours mihours missing timessing time StressStress-related symptoms-related symptoms

–– nightmares, ulcers nightmares, ulcers

Betty and Barney HillBetty and Barney Hill

December 1963, go to (skeptical)December 1963, go to (skeptical)hypnotist, recall abductionhypnotist, recall abductionexperienceexperienceTelepathic compulsionTelepathic compulsionMedical examsMedical examsGrey aliens (Zeta Grey aliens (Zeta ReticulusReticulus))

Details of abduction not released untilDetails of abduction not released until19661966

Betty and Barney HillBetty and Barney Hill

Well-respected, interracial coupleWell-respected, interracial couple Did not announce experience publicly Did not announce experience publicly ––

published by researcher John Fuller in published by researcher John Fuller in TheTheInterrupted Journey Interrupted Journey (1966)(1966)

Opened door for other abductees to comeOpened door for other abductees to comeforward forward –– narratives all very similar narratives all very similar

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms ––never known to be associated with imaginednever known to be associated with imaginedstress stress –– something genuinely stressful something genuinely stressfulhappened to abducteeshappened to abductees

Betty Hill InterviewBetty Hill Interview

Ancient Astronaut TheoryAncient Astronaut Theory

Erich von Erich von DanikenDaniken

Religions of the world tell stories ofReligions of the world tell stories ofalien/human contactalien/human contact

Gods, angels, demons, etc. really justGods, angels, demons, etc. really justextraterrestrial beingsextraterrestrial beings

Evidence of these visitations to be foundEvidence of these visitations to be foundin archeological & sacred text sourcesin archeological & sacred text sources

Paleo-SETI Paleo-SETI researchresearch

Erich von Erich von DanikenDaniken Born 1935 in SwitzerlandBorn 1935 in Switzerland Chariots of the Gods?Chariots of the Gods?

(1968)(1968) Chariots of the Gods?Chariots of the Gods? (Film-1973) (Film-1973) The Return of the GodsThe Return of the Gods

(1997)(1997) Controversial figure Controversial figure ––

criminal record forcriminal record forembezzling, accusations ofembezzling, accusations ofmisrepresentation ofmisrepresentation ofsourcessources

Erich von Erich von DanikenDaniken Argues Extraterrestrials came to earth followingArgues Extraterrestrials came to earth following

battle elsewherebattle elsewhere They genetically engineered humans using ownThey genetically engineered humans using own

DNADNA Set humans up in protected biosphereSet humans up in protected biosphere Power struggle on Power struggle on mothership mothership results in rebelsresults in rebels

being exiled to earth, where they interbreed withbeing exiled to earth, where they interbreed withhumans humans –– disrupt genetic experiment disrupt genetic experiment

Captain of ship sends flood using meteor, wipesCaptain of ship sends flood using meteor, wipesout tainted humans, saves out tainted humans, saves ““purepure”” humans by humans bytelling them how to build shiptelling them how to build ship

Alien ship remains in orbit, watching usAlien ship remains in orbit, watching us

Erich von Erich von DanikenDaniken Does not intend theory to beDoes not intend theory to be

““religiousreligious”” –– intends it as science intends it as science Attempt to dismantleAttempt to dismantle

““superstitionssuperstitions”” of religion. of religion. However, he has been hugelyHowever, he has been hugely

influential on UFO spiritualityinfluential on UFO spiritualitymovement:movement: Prehistoric contact withPrehistoric contact with

extraterrestrialsextraterrestrials Genetic link to extraterrestrialsGenetic link to extraterrestrials Ongoing interest of aliens in ourOngoing interest of aliens in our

evolutionevolution