Maurizio Baiata

Contact experiences involving humans and mysterious – presumably extraterrestrial – creatures represent a complex and intriguing reality. Thousands are living the “Abduction phenomenon” but they don’t have to live in fear.

There are proponents of the so-called “Ancient Astronauts” theory who assert there is an ongoing link between different extraterrestrial races and we earthlings. And this is how events seem to appear in the first recorded history, the cuneiform scripts on the Sumerians clay documents. Others, digging even further into the past, believe that the human race is the progeny of an alien seed. If correct in their assumptions, a centuries-long process is responsible for engineering “man” as we have come to know him.

This is more than a bizarre theory. In fact, in a 2005 report, renowned ufologist George A. Filer notes that, “Francis Crick, the discoverer of DNA, and Nobel Prize winner published a book which subscribed to the theory of intelligent design, that our universe was not simply the result of a series of chemical accidents. He states ‘Life did not evolve first on Earth, a highly advanced civilization became threatened so they devised a way to pass on their existence. They genetically-modified their DNA and sent it out from their planet on bacteria or meteorites with the hope that it would collide with another planet. It did, and that’s why we’re here.’” 

To my view, the abduction phenomenon does not depict a scenario where bacteria and meteorites dispense cognitive power into a primitive brainless humanoid form of life. Instead, it may well denote a cornerstone, if not the final stage of an on-going alien cross-breeding program involving human beings and their evolutionary process. By all accounts, it does indeed seem that intelligent ET beings are interacting with us through personal contacts and repeated face-to-face encounters. Undisturbed, these other intelligences are taking people from all over the world and the picture which these reports represent is incredibly complex. This is something experienced by sane, ordinary people who claim to have ongoing, direct contact with non-terrestrial (or other dimensional) entities. Due to its magnitude, this field of study requires the researcher to maintain an extremely open mind and a multidisciplinary approach. Abduction/Contact researchers need to be armed with patience, at least a basic understanding of UFO history, folkloric tales, ancient traditions, symbolic languages, dogmatic religions and human psychology.

John Mack Vs. the Establishment

In the early 1990s the late Dr. John Mack, tenured professor of psychiatry at Harvard and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, undertook the burden of looking into this highly controversial field. For more than a decade Mack studied the cases of approximately two hundred individuals who felt they had been through the abduction/Contact experience. Mack found no mental illness in these subjects and invited the academic community to open their minds to further inquiry. Instead, the psychiatry professor found himself in a very harsh confrontation with Harvard. If not typical of an Inquisition trial, Mack was subject de facto to a college peer investigation to ascertain if his actions in any way constituted a case of professional misconduct. The school’s assumption was that Mack may not have treated his patients according to the  methodologies and scientifically grounded therapies in accepted academic standards and practices. This is often the destiny of great pioneers.

Dr. John Mack bravely challenged the academic system until the charges against him were dismissed. Despite this victory, the majority of mental health professionals, in and out the academic circles, continue to marginalize the very idea of such a phenomenon, except, of course, as the result of some sort of delusional state.

It is not difficult to understand why these professionals conveniently declined the challenge rather than jeopardize their respectable careers. Mack definitely set a precedent. However, following his death at the hands of a drunken driver in London in 2004, the overall picture is much unchanged. Mainstream scientists continue to avoid risk and ignore the issue while conservative ufologists remain tied to their old world view and most contribute little or nothing to abductees/experiencers. Many of them live a life constantly disturbed by inexplicable yet tangible influences.

This however did not discourage the prestigious University of London in August 2002 from publishing the tranquilizing results of a research conducted by Katharine J. Holden and Christopher C. French, entitled Alien abduction experiences: Some clues from neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry. The study’s abstract explains, “Many thousands of people around the world firmly believe that they have been abducted by alien beings and taken on board spaceships where they have been subjected to painful medical examination. Method – Given that such accounts are almost certainly untrue, four areas of neuroscience are considered with respect to possible clues that may lead towards a fuller understanding of the alien abduction experience.  Results – First, it is argued that sleep paralysis may be implicated in many such claims. Second, research into false memories is considered. It is argued that abductees may be more prone to false memories than the general population. Third, evidence is considered relating to the mental health of abductees. It is concluded that there is currently no convincing evidence for higher rates of serious psychopathology amongst abductees compared to the general population. However, abductees do seem to show higher levels on some potentially relevant measures (e.g., tendency to dissociate). Finally, claims that alien abduction experiences may be linked to abnormal activity in the temporal lobes is considered. Conclusion – Although the neurosciences provide many clues to the nature of this bizarre experience, further research is required before a full understanding will be attained.”

“Further research”? Given Holden and French’s typical heavily biased premise that these accounts “are almost certainly untrue,” science remains unable to even approach the real nature of these experiences. The number of people seeking psychological assistance or any kind of guidance and advice, is always relevant. Who is going to take responsibility for the lack of active interest on the part of the scientific community? Certainly not the scientists per se who are either ignorant of the serious evidence available, or choose to remain uninformed on the matter. Then there are those ufologists heavily entrenched in their old beliefs. This is why it might be useful to explore the current positions of the UFO research community when faced with the Abduction/Contact issue.

No objective evidence, case dismissed

Many researchers consider the subject irrelevant because to their way of thinking there is no “objective evidence” to support it. Reported cases are discarded as the result of hallucinations, psychosis and mental disorders. I think it’s fair to say, the abduction matter is way too difficult to deal with for most people. Committing yourself to really learning about it is time consuming and requires a massive amount of research, ideally the participation and collaboration of the experiencers. Several UFO organizations have taken the cases and turned the evidence and the testimonies into mere statistics. But not all UFO group members have passively boxed themselves into a system that seems prone to reject the entire issue “a priori.” Some individuals have formed their own study groups, inevitably generating breakups and separations with their superiors and directors. Having perceived the reality of the accounts and their profound implications, some researchers have eventually focused their investigations exclusively on abductions. They seek the assistance of qualified hypnotherapists and either work in coordination with other colleagues or proceed by themselves.

Vallee’s socio-psychological hypothesis

A segment of the UFO research community concede that the phenomenon exists, but on the basis of the reductive “socio-psychological hypothesis”. This theory was defined at the end of the 1980’s by Dr. Jacques Vallee, a French born astrophysicist who is one of ufology’s most reputable thinkers. Not to diminish the consistency of  undisputed abduction accounts, Vallee tells us that they take place in an “ultra dimensional world,” invisible to us but very real. We human beings have will power and consciousness, yet when confronted with the possibility of actual alien interference (or its deceptive manifestation), our minds cannot accept it. Therefore, according to Vallee, abduction cases can only be treated by qualified experts such as psychiatrists and psychologists. Regressive hypnosis as a method of investigation, when used to retrieve memories from the subjects, is considered totally inadequate by Vallee. In an interview given to Linda J. Strand and published in his book Dimensions (Ballantine Books, 1988), Vallee vehemently states, “I am repelled by the way hypnosis is being used by many UFO researchers today.  It is not simply misguided, it is irresponsible, unscientific and profoundly unethical.” In the same interview he concludes, “What is tragic in such cases, of course, is that the real data may be lost forever. Later hypnotic regressions, even if conducted by a professional, are likely to bring memories of the first trance than the event itself. All the investigators have done is to pollute the mind of the witness.”  Although culturally intriguing, Vallee’s approach does not contribute to the solution of the problem at all.

An Ominous Alien Agenda

Many researchers consider the phenomenon as a component of an “alien threat” which looms over us. The idea of malevolent aliens is not new, but in recent times has been informed with a growing database of actual, documented information, evidence and findings. Precise, recurrent patterns have been identified in most cases. “Missing time”, “screen memories”, sleep paralysis, body scars, invasive medical procedures focused on the reproductive system are generally found in the “modus operandi” of non-human (grey) beings taking humans. The aim appears to be a hybridization process that – according to the pioneer researcher Budd Hopkins and historian and ufologist Dr. David Jacobs – is taking place randomly in the family trees of abductees for generations. The most disturbing testimonies are recalled by impregnated women whose fetuses were mysteriously removed. Behind the veil, the intentions of the visitors are yet to be deciphered. The “alien agenda” (with or without the participation of military intelligence in the so-called “Milabs”, Military-Alien-Abductions) is interpreted as mostly negative. Nourished by the sensationalism of the tabloids and the movie industry (“The Fourth Kind”), the ominous side of alien abductions unfortunately prevails over any other scenario.

A Chance for Mankind

Contrary to this view, a number of researchers consider the experiences positively in the belief that ETs have played and still play a constructive role in the history of mankind. Hence, planet Earth has been visited since time immemorial by extraterrestrial (or other) beings whose motives are nothing less than positive in all respects. According to them this is more important today than ever before. Our troubled times require an intervention from above and the final stage of this benign process will see a global exodus from Earth, a cosmic salvation plan reserved for a few chosen ones. Like the contactees of the 1950s and 60s, these experiencers become privileged humans whose consciousness is awoken by these benign, ‘other’ intelligences. They are able to open their hearts to such an unearthly presence, even if the experience is emotionally traumatic, as described by Whitley Strieber in his book “Communion.” Strieber’s account summarizes the different stages and development of an alien abduction that began in fear and darkness and evolved into acceptance and light.

When the subject is willing to interact with aliens, some investigators (remember, anyone can be an investigator) advice different techniques to assist in enhancing ‘contact.’ “Channeling” (communication with disembodied entities,) ESP (Extra Sensory Perception), martial arts disciplines, various forms of meditation and self-relaxation techniques help activating the paranormal conduits. The aim is to bring the individual to their real “center” and towards the discovery of their true origins. In his book “Abductions” (Ballantine Books, 1994) Dr. John Mack wrote regarding one of his patients, “At the end of June, Dave wrote me another long letter, filled with ‘strange coincidences’ and new connections between the people he knows in this life and in the earlier ones. Native American spirituality, shamanism, strange powers of nature, altered realities, Chi, karate, the mastery of dreams, UFO abduction experiences, “past life” experiences, and a multiplicity of synchronicities are all part of a mysterious puzzle…”

Small Leap into Galactic Anthropology

Not all readers will subscribe to either of these categories. Thus far there is some consensus that there is no definitive proof of malevolent intent. However the famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has analyzed the issue of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization and came to the conclusion that it will be far better for humanity to maintain some distance from “them” as we do not understand their true reasons or nature. Anthropologically, Hawking’s thinking is based on observing human behavior and he warns of the threat of a more advanced civilization, one which, willing or not, could cause damage to an inferior race in the event of contact.  While Hawking is certainly not an advocate of the UFO reality, he predicts and warns against possible ET contact. Hawking’s position is far from that professed by the late astronomer and cosmologist Carl Sagan in his books and television series, Cosmos. Sagan’s theory of a Universe inhabited by a myriad of intelligences excluded aliens who could endure interstellar travels to reach us simply because the known (and insurmountable) laws of physics disallowed such a possibility. For Sagan, officially speaking, the entire UFO issue was nothing but a useless conundrum. In either case the ET are unable or unwilling to visit us.

Things might not be exactly as Sagan and Hawking have envisioned. Other civilizations may be choosing not to interact with us. According to the “Prime Directive,” the Star Trek principle of “non-interference” envisioned by the great Gene Roddenberry, any advanced alien civilization belonging to the so called United Federation of Planets agreed not to interfere with the development of a less advanced planetary race. It may be that ETs are observing Earthlings with growing apprehension, yet will not intrude in our ‘internal affairs.’ If this is the case, we may have been left alone in our senseless rush to a planetary termination.

More authentic accounts and reports of abductions are surfacing every day. So, whilst some unifying theory governing the phenomenon remains to be seen, there are many people who know that ‘something’ very real is happening to them, something they do not understand. Thankfully, there are still individuals willing to talk openly, and to do their best to understand and analyze their experiences. These are Brave people who feel very much out of place, but who continue to live their existential drama. I think all of them must invariably ask themselves,  “why, why me?” With their well-being in mind, not to mention the destiny of humanity itself, the ultimate goal of the abduction/contact research should be to help these people in every way possible and in the process attempt to find a way to free them from their fear of the unknown.

by Maurizio Baiata, Rome, October 2011