PARAPSYCHOLOGY ABSTRACTS INTERNATIONAL

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R pa Oryove?~y8'ortWeieasea~Mb/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400100013-9 kc- ir- -n this -- more than in any other science -- research is con- ducted into phenomena which we cannot measure. He shows us that, in live studies, every science is in the same condition. Only faith - always present even if unconscious -- motivates and guides research and finally takes us, along a courageous and eventful experimental path, to results which make History, in that they express new meanings and new measures which the soul knows by intuition. - DA 02468. Marabini, E. With regard to psychic surgery. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologla, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 104-111. Notes the importance of documentation in every aspect of parapsychological research, through technical con- trivances suitable to the phenomenology of the subject. Thanks Dr. Naegeli for his important contribution. Criti- cally examines the phenomena produced by surgeon healer Toni Agpaoa. From this analysis arise serious doubts as to the authenticity of the modalities used by the "healer" during the execution of his operations (also excluding the possible therapeutic action which could be a consequence of these performances). Expresses hope that successive in- vestigations may explain the questionable points. - DA 02469. Servadio, Emilio. The 20th International Parapsychology conference. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (JuUDec), 26(3/4), 112-115. Servadio, who together with Dr. Cassoli, represented Italy at the 20th annual conference of the Parapsy-chology Foundation, meeting at Le Piol in August 1971, comments briefly on the most important reports presented on the present condition of parapsychology in the most advanced countries. - DA/R.A.W. 02470. De Boni, Gastone. In defense of the spiritistid hypothesis. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Para- psicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 116-122. At the meeting at Campione, the author, who to- gether with Mme Saint Clair, undertook the defense of Spiritism against Animism, presents two famous cases which constitute two elements of evidence in favor of sur- vival: The Whymant case (direct voice in ancient Chinese) and the Rosalie case (materialization observed by Harry Price). He concludes, against the opinion of Prof. Bender, in favor of the spiritistic hypothesis. - DA cautions that the first contact of the novice with a phenomenon should not he marred by inveterate prejudices which would hinder him from finding the way to the ob- jective truth. - DA/R.A.W. 02472. Liotta, Antonio. The Latin American Center of Parapsychology at the Anchieta Faculty of Sao Paulo. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 132-138. Brazil is a nation where the ethnic and economic con- ditions create deep contrasts and violent psychic emotions. For these reasons Brazil appears as "the land where para- psychology ought to find the most fertile soil." Relates his experiences at the Latin American Center of Parapsychol- ogy (C.L.A.P.), which is managed by Jesuit Fathers, and was founded for the purpose of solving the problems presented by parapsychology to psychiatry and psychology, by devising new terms and new methods for collecting, selecting, and cataloguing the results. The C.L.A.P. will be the first university faculty in the world where graduates in medicine, philology, and philosophy will have the pos- sibility of specializing in parapsychology. - DA 02473. Sparta, Francesco. Parapsychology and spiritism in Brazil. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 139-141. The author, an eminent anthropologist and ."pars magna" of the Latin American Center of Parapsychology, reports on the situation of parapsychology in Brazil, ex- plaining the anthropological causes of the particular posi- tion of this land with regard to psychic research. He points out the difficulties met by the Center in completing their equipment although the main edifices are already built, and they hope that soon they will be in a position to start experimental work, considering also the great dif- fusion of devotee spiritism in the population. - DA 02474. RyzI, Milan. ESP research in the U.S.S.R. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 142-149. Reprint of almost all of the 4th chapter of the author's book Parapsychology, recently published in Italian by Edizioni Mediterranee. The chapter concerns the researches carried out on ESP in Soviet Russia, about which Ryzl also spoke at the recent meeting at Le Piol. Dr. Ryzl, of Czechoslovakian origin, is well informed about the work in parapsychology behind the iron curtain. - DA 02471. Inardi, Massimo. An important moment for parapsychology at the Second Modena conference. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 123-131. In the meeting at Modena organized by Prof. Rossini, the agenda of the day was "Parapsychology and Psychiatry." This event is singled out by the author because it is the first time in Italy that parapsychology was the object of the official attention of Medical Science, which on. this oc- casion was represented by an audience of qualified profes- sors. The author points out, moreover, that Dr. Cassoli has taken into consideration three kinds of phenomena which he places, for the moment, outside the limits of the ex- perimental field, several of which, however, are of great interest because there exists a possibility to acquire the tests necessary for their acknowledgment in the future. The author directs our attention also to Dr. Crosa's "Some Aspects of the Paranormal Phenomenology," which concerns healers, voices of unknown origin on recording tape, haunted houses, and "out of body" experiences. Dr. Crosa POLISH LANGUAGE (Editor: Alexander Imich) PSYCIIOT RONI KA 02475. Gulak, Jan. Lowering the anxiety levels in per- sons undergoing biocnergothcrapy. Psychotronika, 1985, 6-9. 10 refs; 2 tables Anxiety, a contributing factor in somatic illnesses, can be a brief or time-extended phenomenon independent of circumstances. The author, himself bioenergetically gifted, aimed at lowering anxiety in his patients. He hypothesized that there will be a difference in patients' anxiety level before and after the treatment; each treatment lasted 15 minutes. Seventy-three persons (56 females and 17 males) were given C.D. Spielberger and J. Taylor's questionnaires 14 days before and 21 days after the treatment. In com- putation of the results, Kolmogorov, Smirnov, and Student's tests were used, the first two yielding p = .01, the last one roved For Release 2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792R000400100013-9 P tyoh v?edyF rl 6j 6199'"60/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792R000400100013-9 this -- more than in any other science - research is con- ducted into phenomena which we cannot measure. He shows us that, in live studies, every science is in the same condition. Only faith - always present even if unconscious -- motivates and guides research and finally takes us, along a courageous and eventful experimental path, to results which make History, in that they express new meanings and new measures which the soul knows by intuition. - DA 02468. Marabinl, E. With regard to psychic surgery. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologla, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 104-111. Notes the importance of documentation in every aspect of parapsychological research, through technical con- trivances suitable to the phenomenology of the subject. Thanks Dr. Naegeli for his important contribution. Criti- cally examines the phenomena produced by surgeon healer Toni Agpaoa. From this analysis arise serious doubts as to the authenticity of the modalities used by the "healer" during the execution of his operations (also excluding the possible therapeutic action which could be a consequence of these performances). Expresses hope that successive in- vestigations may explain the questionable points. - DA 02469. Servadio, Emilio. The 20th International Parapsychology conference. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 112-115. Servadio, who together with Dr. Cassoli, represented Italy at the 20th annual conference of the Parapsy-chology Foundation, meeting at Le Piol in August 1971, comments briefly on the most important reports presented on the present condition of parapsychology in the most advanced countries. - DA/R.A.W. 02470. De Boni Gastone. In defense of the spiritistic hypothesis. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Para- psicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 116-122. At the meeting at Campione, the author, who to- gether with Mme Saint Clair, undertook the defense of Spiritism against Animism, presents two famous cases which constitute two elements of evidence in favor of sur- vival: The Whymant case (direct voice in ancient Chinese) and the Rosalie case (materialization observed by Harry Price). He concludes, against the opinion of Prof. Bender, in favor of the spiritistic hypothesis. - DA 02471. Inardi, Massimo. An important moment for parapsychology at the Second Modena conference. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 123-131. In the meeting at Modena organized by Poi. Rossini, the agenda of the day was "Parapsychology and Psychiatry." This event is singled out by the author because it is the first time in Italy that parapsychology was the object of the official attention of Medical Science, which on. this oc- casion was represented by an audience of qualified profes- sors. The author points out, moreover, that Dr. Cassoli has taken into consideration three kinds of phenomena which he places, for the moment, outside the limits of the ex- perimental field, several of which, however, are of great interest because there exists a possibility to acquire the tests necessary for their acknowledgment in the future. The author directs our attention also to Dr. Crosa's "Some Aspects of the Paranormal Phenomenology," which concerns healers,' voices of unknown origin on recording tape, haunted houses, and "out of body" experiences. Dr. Crosa cautions that the first contact of the novice with a phenomenon should not be marred by inveterate prejudices which would hinder him from finding the way to the ob- jective truth. - DA/R.A.W. 02472. Liotta, Antonio. The Latin American Center of Parapsychology at the Anchieta Faculty of Sao Paulo. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 132-138. Brazil is a nation where the ethnic and economic con- ditions create deep contrasts and violent psychic emotions. For these reasons Brazil appears as "the land where para- psychology ought to find the most fertile soil." Relates his experiences at the Latin American Center of Parapsychol- ogy (C.L.A.P.), which is managed by Jesuit Fathers, and was founded for the purpose of solving the problems presented by parapsychology to psychiatry and psychology, by devising new terms and new methods for collecting, selecting, and cataloguing the results. The C.L.A.P. will be the first university faculty in the world where graduates in medicine, philology, and philosophy will have the pos- sibility of specializing in parapsychology. - DA 02473. Sparta, Francesco. Parapsychology and spiritism in Brazil. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 139-141. The author, an eminent anthropologist and . "pars magna" of the Latin American Center of Parapsychology, reports on the situation of parapsychology in Brazil, ex- plaining the anthropological causes of the particular posi- tion of this land with regard to psychic research. He points out the difficulties met by the Center in completing their equipment although the main edifices are already built, and they hope that soon they will be in a position to start experimental work, considering also the great dif- fusion of devotee spiritism, in the population. - DA 02474. Ryzl, Milan. ESP research in the U.S.S.R. Metapsichica Rivista Italiana di Parapsicologia, 1971 (Jul/Dec), 26(3/4), 142-149. Reprint of almost all of the 4th chapter of the author's book Parapsychology, recently published in Italian by Edizioni Mediterrance. The chapter concerns the researches carried out on ESP in Soviet Russia, about which RyzI also spoke at the recent meeting at Le Piol. Dr. Ryzl, of Czechoslovakian origin, is well informed about the work in parapsychology behind the iron curtain. - DA POLISH LANGUAGE (Editor: Alexander Imich) PSYCIIOTRONI KA 02475. Gulak, Jan. Lowering the anxiety levels in per- sons undergoing bioenergotherapy. Psychotronika, 1985, 6-9. 10 refs; 2 tables Anxiety, a contributing factor in somatic illnesses, can be a brief or time-extended phenomenon independent of circumstances. The author, himself bioenergetically gifted, aimed at lowering anxiety in his patients. He hypothesized that there will be a difference in patients' anxiety level before and after the treatment; each treatment lasted 15 minutes. Seventy-three persons (56 females and 17 males) were given C.D. Spielberger and J. Taylor's questionnaires 14 days before and 21 days after the treatment. In com- putation of the results, Kolmogorov, Smirnov, and Student's tests were used, the first two yielding p = .01, the last one roved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000400100013-9 Approved For Release 2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792R0(t040O'l'''= Parapsychology Abstracts International 03055. Costa, Alfonso. About the visions of dying per- sons and survival. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 260-270. 15 refs The attention recently addressed to near-death ex- periences has confined to the background a phenomenon to which much more attention was paid in the past: that of visions of dying persons. Reconsidering once again two books which can be considered as classics of this matter, the author re-opens a discussion about this specific phenomenon. He classifies deathbed visions in four classes: (1) visions of dead people whose death was known to the dying person; (2) visions of dead people whose death was unknown to the dying persons but not to the present ones; (3) visions of dead people whose death was unknown both to the dying persons and to the present ones; (4) collective visions shared by both the dying person and the one who is looking after him or her. In considering the typical characteristics of these classes and in trying to explain the facts, both naturalistic and spiritistic hypotheses are dis- cussed. Finally, the possibility is suggested that sometimes alien "beings" able to induce psychic experiences are truly present. - DA 03056. lannuzzo, Giovanni. The fifth parapsychologi- cal meeting in Bologna. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 271-275. On May 9-10, 1987, the Parapsychological Study Center--CSP-held its fifth meeting in Bologna. The author presents a critical synthesis of the works presented for the occasion by the various researchers. The most important was the debate held by the scholars belonging to the two parapsychological movements: the positivists and the spiritualists. - DA 03057. Simone, Giorgio di. Jacopo Comin: Evidence on the "Entity A" case. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 276-281. In this article, the author relates Jacopo Comin's opinion about the "Entity A;' in particular as concerns all the data leading us to consider such an entity as most likely independent from the medium and from people as- sisting at the seance. In one of his letters Comin wrote: "We are in the presence of a Teacher in the highest sense of the word, who undertook the burden of an high spiritual teaching for the few able to understand it" - DA 03058. Ravaldini, Silvio. The Riccardi case: A "drop- in" communicator. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 87(4), 307-319. 2 figs, 7 refs The author brings to our attention a case of spiritis- tic identification. In fact, during a seance held in 1948 a drop-in communicator told the sitters he was a priest who died in Canton, Ohio in 1929. In telling his name the communicator added he was shot dead by a woman inside his church. Successively in 1949 and 1950, always as a drop-in communicator, he confirmed what was previously said but used different words. Researches made in America by Dr. Stevenson's assistant proved the com- municator told the truth, i.e., a priest having the same name was shot dead in a church in the same year the communicator told. The article goes on with a detailed analysis, made by the author, about a possible explanation of facts besides the spiritistic one: cryptomnesia, psychometry, and so on. There is the very interesting ap- pendix signed by Dr. M. Biondi in which the above story is viewed from a more materialistic parapsychological point of view. - DT/R.A.W. Vol. 6, No. 2 December 1988 03059. Garzia, Plerangelo. Survival: Belief or research? Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 87(4), 320-324. Three hundred years ago, the Italian scientist and man of letters Francesco Redi (1626-1698) exploded the traditional doctrine about spontaneous generation. In the same way, psychic researchers in the 20th century are en- gaged in exploding the traditional doctrine of conscience as a brain chemical product. Psi phenomena, in their complex whole, show conscience as able to much further extend it- self in connection with those activities allowed by brain activity. Furthermore, conscience could be preexistent to the formation of the biological human organism and may survive its disintegration. The survival theme has always been the domain of faith. For the first time in human history, thanks to psychic research, the survival theme develops from objec- tive facts and rational considerations. Even if, historically, parapsychology can be considered as an "ibridum," form came out from the meeting of religious need and the scientific one. In fact, without this hotchpotch of belief and research, parapsychology would have never been born. Actually we absolutely need a certain part of faith to have the possibility of demonstrating survival for sure without feeling ashamed about it. For mutual admission happens in every knowledge field. Without faith we can- not go further-it being impossible to follow the glimpse of initial purpose. Without continuous, ceaseless, tireless research, we would already be dead. - DA 03060. Marabini, Enrico. Psi phenomena: Normal or paranormal? Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 87(4), 325- 336. 14 refs; 1 table By this report, the author confronts a basic theme in order to obtain a refitting of the whole problem coming out of the study of psi phenomena, starting from the con- sideration that psi is an event resulting from an expression of human behavior and considering people as animated sys- tems. The author presents a "classifications" conception. He explains what a psi phenomenon is and gives the basis of what particular characteristics such that an event can be considered and classified in this way. Next he .discusses the theme. Firstly, he talks about "normality" through its dif- ferent meanings: a "fixed rule" and a "constitutive rule." This last is the only one which offers the possibility of ra- tionally facing the "normality" argument (and respectively the "abnormality" one) about certain types of events or about certain well-defined human behavior situations. Then he analyzes the word "paranormal" and all the definitions deriving from it that are used to qualify para- psychological discipline. Returning to human behavior, the author points out that to every behavior state there is a corresponding coherent conscious state. Although these are different knowledge positions in themselves, every state is a normal and natural event. Since "psi behavior" is an al- tered state of consciousness, the information and realistic contents involved are necessarily normal expressions of that particular behavior state. Therefore, the uncommonness in the phenomena does not mean they are not normal or deviate or paranormal or supernormal. Rationally it can be asserted that the laws subtending the psi phenomena must be necessarily different from those orthodox science considers and applies in studying other types of natural events. The parapsychologists' work is to identify them. Otherwise, in order to obtain concrete results, it is neces- sary to the research to study the problem from a different point of view. - DA 03061. Simone, Giorgio di. Metaphysical reality: The spirit "program." Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Oct/Dec), 87(4), 16 Approved For Release 2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792R000400100013-9 PA@Wn bWAd.afiJ s1sasac2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792R00040DUQPU S December 1988 where a materialized entity writes or talks in a language perfectly unknown to the medium holding the stance. To underline this peculiar event, the author presents some documented examples. The article starts with the phenomenology of Laura Edmonds obtained during her stances in New York. She was able to talk fluently in languages she absolutely did not know, so that the researchers considered the possibility of an outside posses- sion. We read about Major Tudor Pole who was able to talk and understand Persian, a language absolutely un- known to him. The article describes Thtrese Neumann who, during her mystic raptures, used to talk in Aramaic, perfectly recognized as the real Christ language by the scholars who had the possibility to assist her. "Nephentes" materialized herself during the stances held by E. D'Esperance. She was able to write a message in the memo book of a researcher assisting in the stance. In the end of the article we read of an ancient poem corrected for a better comprehension by the "Confucius" entity. This request came from Doctor Whymant during a sitting with the medium Valiantine. The author ends the article by saying that during his life he had the opportunity to at- tend many xenoglossy manifestations where many languages and dialects were spoken. He is sure that such languages were unknown to present people, and for this reason he is perfectly sure of the autonomy of the entities. - DA 03049. Ravaldini, Silvio. In memory of Gastone De Boni. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 205-208. On the 23rd of September 1986 Gastone De Boni left us, having finished his human experience. Only after having put in order all the material he left us will we fully understand the importance of his wide knowledge. De Boni's aim was knowledge of the psyche-that defined by Myers as "the subliminal self' and evidenced in his book, Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death. We must not 'forget that Myers was considered a teacher by De Boni. In fact, he wrote: "In this psychic microcosm we only can catch a glimpse of the power and shining of psychic macrocosm." As a follower of Jung's thought, he rationally examined the possibilities of the psyche under its different appearances, and he once said. Our position makes us fight in favor of an idea, which, even if it grows and finishes under the control of pure thought, must and will have an important place in human life." - DA 03050. Giovetti, Paola. Near-death experiences in other cultures. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 209-213. Dr. Giorgio Fonzo is a medical doctor who for many years worked for the World Health Organization, being constantly in touch with Moslem people. On several occa- sions he had the opportunity to deal with persons who were near death and to listen to their impressions. They reported experiences that were very similar to the ones reported by so many people of different religions, which have been collected all over the world in recent years. Dr. Fonzo's patients reported out-of-body experiences and "tunnel experiences," visions of beautiful places and of a marvelous light, encounters with dead friends or relatives, etc. Those who are familiar with the specialized literature will recognize in Dr. Fonzo's material some transcultural elements of great interest. - R.A.W. 03051. lannuzzo, Giovanni. Studies of the history of parapsychology in Italy from 1982 to 1986: A report and a critical revision. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 214-225. 46 refs; I table After a detailed review of the most important Italian parapsychology journals in order to better analyze the way scientific research has been carried on from 1982-1987, the author thinks more scholars are interested in pursuing studies in this field. His research examines the quantita- tive data at our disposal that specifies which research areas are the most studied, and he suggests a way to im- prove such researches qualitatively. - DA 03052. Ravaldini, Silvio. Daniel Dunglas Home. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 226-244. 54 refs It is not easy to discuss all the different phenomena Daniel D. Home produced during his life, especially the physical ones. Therefore the author has- put in evidence only three of them: the telekinetic phenomena produced on an accordion, those concerning levitation, and the fire- immunity ones. The accordion was playing while the medium was holding it on the side with no keys, but it was playing as well as when anybody was touching it. This peculiar phenomenon was fully described by trustwor- thy people. In addition, a journalist for the Times was not able to find any trick. Home's ability to hold burning coals in his hands was confirmed by scholars such as Sir William Crookes and Charles Richet. The author describes Home's levitation in more detail, especially the one at Ashley House where Home went out one window and came back in another. In considering every side of the problem, the author thinks these phenomena actually took place. He proposes that the phenomena Home produced are still happening nowadays, for example, those produced by Roberto Setti, the Florence medium. - DAIR.A.W. 03053. Heim, Albert. Death from falls. (Trans. by Paola Giovetti.) Luce e Ombra, 1987 (JuUSep), 87(3), 245-252- This article was written in 1892 by the Swiss geologist, Dr. Albert Heim, and published in the Bulletin of the Swiss Alpine Club. The author describes his per- sonal experiences and those of several persons who nearly died because of mountain falls. Their sensations and vi- sions were wonderful: They felt no fear, no pain. Sensa- tions of peace, well-being, and beautiful visions were com- mon. This is very similar to modern near-death ex- periences, and in this sense Dr. Heim's analysis is really a pioneer one and worthy of note. - DT/R.A.W. 03054. Giroldini, William. Parapsychology and research. Luce e Ombra, 1987 (Jul/Sep), 87(3), 253-259. 7 refs The author critically debates the proposal many researchers have advanced to reevaluate the study of spon- taneous ESP-PK phenomena. Many believe that spon- taneous phenomena are more repeatable and of a "superior quality" than the results obtained in the laboratory using the traditional experimental criteria derived from the nor- mal sciences. Giroldini thinks that all the existing studies of spontaneous cases overlook the problem of chance coin- cidence. Because of this, it is not possible to know if the collected events are mainly "true" or "spurious." Therefore, the study of spontaneous events runs the risk of being worthless because of this underlying ambiguity. The author proposes that the study of spontaneous events must be made following a method which makes it possible to evaluate the probability of chance coincidences. The phenomena that seem most suitable could be hallucinations in connection with the death of a relative. If this proposal is accepted by scholars, then it would be possible to increase our knowledge of paranormal phenomena by concentrating the study on the less polluted phenomena in- stead of the spurious ones. - DAIR.A.W. Approved For Release 2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792R000400100013-9