From My Viewpoint

Happy third birthday to us! Three years ago when I wrote the first newsletter, I had many dreams. I dreamt I would write, in due time, “Happy third birthday,” hut I wondered if this was a realistic dream. It turns out it was. There were other dreams, some of which have been realized, while others are still waiting their turn.

This year has been an exciting, enriching year. It brought some problems, but they were mainly in the area of growth. Like a mother who must buy her toddler new clothes to accommodate his growth, I had to enlarge and adjust to the sudden spurt in growth which began after I returned from Egypt last May.

My belief is that the value of any organization can only he measured to the extent it has meaning for its members. I would rather have 200 members to whom AA-EVP is important in that it has affected their lives constructively, than 1,000 members who look upon it as just another group to which they belong.

Your letters and phone calls have assured me the Association is important to you. Someone this past year, in referring to the newsletter, wrote, “I can’t wait for it to come.” Another individual wrote, “I devour it.” A third person said, “It helps keep me sane.” To all of you who have written or called, I am warmly grateful. You didn’t have to take the time to do this, but you did! I am even more grateful to you who sent me material for the newsletter. It is thanks to you that we have a newsletter of this nature. You, the contributors, are largely responsible for it being the sort of newsletter that, as one friend put it, “When it comes, everything else stops until I sit down to read it.” You have made a difference in the lives of our members and I thought you should know this.

Several nights ago when I was sitting quietly in my office thinking about the Association and where we have come in three years, and where I hope we will go in the future, I saw a bright light. This light, almost indescribably beautiful, was very different from the lights I see upon rare occasions. It was four feet to my right, about one foot above the floor, and there were dozens of tiny, brilliant white and silver lights, all connected, rapidly spinning, in the form of a wheel with spokes. It was in sight, perhaps two seconds, before it abruptly disappeared. What does it mean? I think it meant several things. One, that what we are doing, you and I, is regarded favorably by the invisibles. Secondly, in a subtle way it was telling me that there is an interconnectedness between all life, all consciousness, in all planes of existence.

Our future? Who can say. In less than four months our second national conference will be held, during which there will be a meeting concerning a plan that will help the Association grow and make an important difference in the lives of others. I hope many of you will think about attending this meeting. There are other goals but since you are the Association, only by your efforts and by sharing with me your ideas can we hope to realize our dreams.

Frederick Frank, the artist, wrote, “However far you may walk, every pilgrimage is a safari into your own dark interior.” This is, in a sense, true, but I like to feel that our efforts, together, will shed illumination for those known and unknown to us; that our personal pilgrimage need not be a fumbling in the dark, but that we will light a light for each other.

A Letter from Wales

Tina Laurent, AA-EVP member from Wales, recently sent me a long letter in which she summarized her findings after three years of extensive EVP recordings. Since many of her observations are significant and give evidence for the paranormality of the electronic voice, I would like to share at least part of her letter with you.

She wrote, “Simultaneously run tapes giving different results—i.e., EVP message being the same but in a different place, or EVP message on one tape but not on the other, or different EVP messages on both tapes.” Tina records many unusual names and situations which are unfamiliar to her. Usually, within a few days she will find the name or situation in a book or film. One day an EVP voice said, “House of seven bodies.” Two days later on TV she saw a film called, “House of Seven Corpses.” In her letter Tina wrote, “I have noticed that many times there seems to be a false start to the EVP voice as if they are practicing what they are saying. The first few syllables or words are heard faintly and then are repeated more strongly.” (In my reply to Tina, I said I also have this anomaly at times, as does Fredrich Jurgenson who calls them “echo voices.”) Tina records many voices at the beginning or end of her sessions. She also has forward-speaking voices on the reverse side of her tapes. Tina observes, “My EVP voices have changed from mostly typical (speed, pitch, rhythm, etc.) to normal-sounding ones. Also, certain places and certain people seem to encourage volume and strength of voices … with my cousin, I can be assured of LOUD normal-sounding EVP voices.” Tina asked, “Does she turn into a medium in the presence of a recorder?”        When investigating some haunted houses she gets numerous voices.       She also made the interesting comment, “Where poltergeist happenings are occurring I always get voices that mimic.” Near the end Tina wrote, “I’ve had, on two occasions, voices that sound exactly like two people I know and they gave their names too, but they are STILL living. I don’t know what to make of that. Do you? One of them, I played for my brother and his wife and they recognized it straight away and they have always thought that I played a joke on them.”

Tina would like to undertake a project to categorize the voices and asks AA-EVP members to help her. For example, when she visits certain buildings that appear to have a ghost she records: “Who’s that?” “Go away! “Who are you? “This is my house.” At locations where great sickness or sympathy with ill or dying people has occurred she invariably gets many “Help me” voices. Tina believes these are voices of spirits who do not know where they are and she always prays and gives them her love. Other categories are: The recording of a mimicking voice in a house that has a poltergeist; the taping of voices that claim to be extraterrestrials; recording voices of people you know are still living.

If you have received any of these types of voices on your tapes, Tina would appreciate your getting in touch with her. If you could include a duplicate tape of the voice(s), she would be especially grateful. Tina is on the cross-country list.

EVP Voices from the Living?

Tina’s letter provides evidence that the electronic voice originates from different sources, a theory to which I have long subscribed. Let’s consider dust one source, perhaps the most puzzling of all—the recording of a voice of someone still living. Upon two occasions, Tina feels this occurred. In one instance, her brother and sister-in-law confirm that it did occur, although they think she used a pre-recorded tape of the individual’s voice. How can such a thing happen? Seven years ago I read about a similar incident. The explanation was that possibly the person who spoke had been in the dream-state, had an out-of-body experience, and visited the EVP taper whom he knew. Seeing that the person was recording at that time, he spoke to them and his voice was picked up by the microphone and recorded.

Sounds fantastic? Yes, but fantastic things do happen at times. I should make it clear that I am not convinced this is what occurred. I only offer it as one explanation given some years ago. Have any AA-EVP members had a similar experience? Does anyone else have a theory about it? Let me know. I’d like to use this in a future newsletter if there is a response.

News from Other Publications

Dennis Stillings, A.A-VP member from Minneapolis, Founder of the Archaeus Project and editor of Artifex, requests information that may he of interest to many AA-EVP members. In his Spring issue he wrote: “The Artifex staff would like to receive any information that members and subscribers may have on ‘strange places to visit on your travels.’ Archaeological sites, places associated with paranormal events or “anomalous” phenomena and museums with Fortean-type objects are all appropriate…” Dennis wants full information on locating the site as well as your impressions of it. He will use the information to provide subscribers with an annual Travel Guide Artifex. You may contact Dennis at: (Address removed).

Walter and Mary Jo Uphoff, AA-EVP members from WI, quoted G.B. EVP researcher whom we often quote, in their Fall, Winter, 1984 Newsletter (address: Fellowship Farm Address removed) “I now do most of my research (EVP - paranormal voices) for my OWN benefit, to try and better understand other dimensions of reality. I am not out to convert or to preach. I no longer care what the critics say. I have some 35,000 voice recordings on tape, which I feel are, in general, of paranormal origin...”

In the Earth Mysteries Handbook prepared by Sig Lonegren in a joint venture of the American Society of Dowsers, Inc. (Danville, Vermont 05828-0024, http://dowsers.new-hampshire.net/) and the new England Antiquities Research Association, Sig mentions EVP as being “particularly exciting,” and suggests placing a tape recorder in a “sacred space” such as Chartres Cathedral, the Aztec and Mayan Temples, Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid, and many underground stone chambers found in New England. He suggested that the reader contact the AA-EVP for further information. Several people have done so thus far.

Norm Cauthier, Founder and director of the Society for Psychic Research of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, reports in his March 1985 newsletter about the way some people are being led into trying to contact the dead. He wrote in Transcendental Telegraphs, “A company was founded in Chicago in 1982 which makes a business out of relaying messages to the dead by using terminally ill patients … A $40.00 fee (is charged) each client to place a message with a patient who is destined to die. The message sender receives notification through the mail of the messenger’s time and place of departure. The dying person need not memorize the message or even understand it. He just incorporates the message into his spirit, and then relays it to other spirits when he passes over.” In the first months of business about 5 people paid to have their messages delivered to someone on the other side.

Several publications, such as Fate magazine, and the conference brochure for the Midwest Retreat for Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship, have mentioned the death of Jane Roberts, from arthritis on September 5, 1984. Jane, well-known for her many books of metaphysical nature, was especially noted for her Seth books.

A number of people, including myself, first became aware of the possibility of alternate realities upon reading Seth Speaks. In my own case, this sparked my interest to learn more. Eventually I became a psychical investigator, did some research into reincarnation, and finally settled upon the electronic voice as the best evidence we have that man survives death in an individual, conscious state.

Fifty-four Years Ago

In Tina Laurent’s letter, she included the following quote from the book, On The Edge of the Etheric, by Arthur Findlay published in 1931.

“Question: Can you suggest a means of communication without a medium?”

“Answer: By finding something on earth susceptible to the higher vibrations of the spirit world. This, scientists on our side are trying to influence you to accomplish, as it is a thing for you to do, not us. We cannot do more than get our vibrations down to near those of your earth. It is for you to get your vibrations up to meet ours when we come down.”

That quote seems especially applicable to EVP researchers working in the field of research and development. Many of those on the other side want to communicate with us, but they can do only so much. We ca11 on knowledgeable people in the fields of engineering and electronics to assist us through the development of suitable equipment to help us get our vibrations “up” to meet those who come “down.”

Mediumship and the Tape Recorder

We come to that ticklish question that frightens many people, “How much, if any, mediumship ability is required for successful EVP recordings?” Some of those actively working in the field refuse to consider the question. They are afraid if we inject an aura of mediumship into the electronic voice, the phenomena will be discounted by those of scientific bent. This may be true to a certain extent, but the true scientist doesn’t reject ... he investigates with an open mind. Can we do less?

From listening to many tapes over the years something becomes apparent—there is a vast difference in the quality of the voices that different experimenters record. Most are not outstanding but, here and there, a bright star gleams. It is also noteworthy that the highest quality communications usually receive the most interesting messages. It appears that we have virtuosos sitting at the “keyboard” of the tape recorder as we have them sitting at the keyboard of a piano. What makes an EVP virtuoso? What unique quality do they possess that others lack? To start with, many never felt they were mediumistic and some, in spite of their results, continue to say publicly they are not. Evidence is to the contrary.

Urbain Berthelot, AA-EVP member from Belgium, wrote, “My experience is you can only get voices when somebody is medium and is near the tape recorder. Myself or with my wife didn’t get nothing … but when a third person came and sit down near us, then we get them … but this third person is a little medium.”

Tina Laurent, you remember, also wrote about her cousin who, with her presence, assured Tina of recording loud, normal sounding voices. Tina wonders if her cousin “turns” into medium during a recording.

There has been extensive concern the last few years with developing equipment which will enable us to contact the unseen. Is equipment then, the answer? Is that all that is needed?

Mercedes Shepanek, VA State Coordinator, expresses it succinctly, “I’m confessing publicly to “eating crow” about my past theories for successful EVP taping. For ten years, I’ve looked aghast at any suggestion of “mediumship” involved and believed only in the unexplained interaction of tape and equipment and some other unknown dimension. However, this was always accompanied by an intuitive wonder and awe at the phenomena’s very existence.

“A gradual drop off in the past two years has brought about a reassessment. An increasing preoccupation with ever-increasingly sophisticated equipment, and (I suspect) a lessening of intuition and simplicity of approach and expectation, has resulted in diminished returns. Emphasis on pragmatism has put my efforts out of balance. I have an intuitive feeling of disappointment on “the other side.” Is what I’ve lost called “mediumship?” Horrors! But—I’ve begun to wonder!”

No, equipment in itself is not the answer. The most elaborate equipment in the world used by a pragmatic taper will probably result in little, if anything. The taper who intuitively believes such communication is possible and is filled with “wonder and awe” that different dimensions can communicate will, it appears, become a virtuoso at his tape recorder no matter what equipment he uses. If he is blessed with elaborate electronic equipment which, as Arthur Findlay wrote, is “susceptible to the higher vibrations of the spirit world,” which helps get his “vibrations up” to meet those who want to come down, then he can hope to achieve the highest quality voices.

Both equipment and a special type of mediumship using unique energies are needed for outstanding success. Of the two, however, it appears the taper is the most important. This person, in a sense, places himself in a special “slot” which seems to be the key to open the door to other realities as he begins to record.

This is not to suggest that everyone who receives just an occasional whispered, “I’m here,” should put the dust cover over their tape recorder and walk away. Every genuine communication from another dimension is important in its significance for, in it, we have objective communication with other worlds.

By definition, anyone who relays a message from one entity to another, whether we tell a child his father said he should take out the garbage, or we report that an unseen voice told us he was with us while we were recording, is a medium. There is nothing “spooky” or shameful about it. Why are we so concerned with the simple little word, “medium?” Everyone is a medium—some to one dimension, some to more than one. So, of course, we’re mediums. Welcome to a not very exclusive club!

Reverse Tape Up-Date

The tapes have been returned by those people who took part in the Reverse Tape Experiment. Hu Custer, originator of the experiment, assisted by Mercedes Shepanek, will study the results. We hope to have a report of their findings in the Summer newsletter.

Reports from Members

Carol Barron, MA State Coordinator, did an interesting experiment using a clock. She and a friend placed a tape recorder near a loudly ticking clock. Verbally, they requested it to tick faster, slower, louder and erratically. Carol sent me a duplicate of the tape and you can clearly hear their request and the clock responding correctly. I played the tape on a portable tape recorder which was connected to an oscilloscope, hoping to isolate and visually see the response of the clock. There was too much background noise on the tape to see this. I have suggested to Carol she reduce the volume on her tape recorder next time, request the clock to tick slower (faster; erratically; etc.) and leave the room for several minutes while the experiment is taking place. This is an experiment other AA-EVP members might like to try. Any clock with an escapement that can he heard ticking is suitable for the experiment. Let me know your results.

Carol also reports recording voices in a haunted house. She and the owner both used tape recorders and received some loud, clear messages. Later, when the owner played her tape hack for friends, all the paranormal voices were gone from the tape but Carol’s voice was still there!

On the tape Carol sent, she mentioned recording words at times that seemed to have no meaning, such as, “Mestaxis,” “Cantelviric,” “Rapitan” and “Rontankin.” So called “nonsense” words have always fascinated me. They are one answer to the skeptic who claims all of our messages are placed on tape through psychokinetic action of the taper’s mind with the tape. I also have received words of this nature and have long wondered from what dimension they come. They are usually loud and clear and interpretation of them causes no difficulty. In my book, Voices From Eternity, I mentioned this phenomena within a phenomena. Unfortunately, the publisher who accepted it went bankrupt and the manuscript was eventually returned.

Mercedes Shepanek spent a week in Jamaica this winter with her family. Each day she would record when no one was around. During one recording she asked if anyone was present. A clear male voice responded with, “I kiss you!” followed by a loud smacking sound!! Mercedes is spending three weeks in Africa in April and hopes to record frequently. She has found my Tips for Trips helpful. Quite a few have sent for this. With vacation time approaching, there may be others who would like to have it. Just let me know. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Roll Call

New members have been added the last three months, including our first member in Italy. Those who requested it are on the cross-country list, which is enclosed.

For the year we have shown a healthy growth, having enrolled seventy-eight new members. Well over 100 people have renewed their membership. Men still outnumber the women with 59 of our members being men.

Maryland leads the states with seventeen members. California is next with fourteen. Pennsylvania and Virginia tie with twelve each.

AA-EVP National Seminar-conference Up-date

It may not be grammatical, but our second national seminar-conference scheduled Aug. 8 through 11, is chock full of “wonderfulness.” Many of you said you wished the first conference could have lasted longer, therefore, our conference will start with three very special seminars on Thursday. The manifestation and constructive use of all unique energies is important and so, with this in mind, I have put together the exceptional program we are now privileged to offer. It should appeal to everyone whether their main interest is the electronic voice or other areas that are evidential of survival. At the same time it will help us see how we can tap into unique energies and use them in our lives.

Beginning Thursday morning at 10:00, Louis Matacia, a surveyor and master dowser, will teach a three hour seminar on dowsing. Christopher Bird devotes an entire chapter in his hook, The Divining Hand, to Louis, who will teach us how to dowse and each participant will make his own dowsing rod before the end of the seminar.

From 2:30 to 5:30, Dr. Greta Woodrew, noted for her book, On A Slide Of Light, will cover the area of unique energies with her seminar topic, Spectrum Span “From E.S.P. to E.T.” As one of the leading psychics in the world today, she is well qualified to help us examine metal bending, psychic healing, telepathy, psychometry, psychokinesis, etc.

Dr. Ernst Serikowski, German physicist and engineer, member of AA-EVP, will bring us a three hour seminar Thursday evening from 7:00 to 10:00 on the Electronic Voice. Dr. Senkowski, as a scientist and active EVP researcher, will help us gain a better insight into the unique energies that are used to effect TransCommunications between different levels of consciousness.

From Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, the quality of the program remains just as high. We will focus on different areas that suggest postmortem survival and continue to examine the unique energies that affect all of our lives.

Stuart Wilde, a metaphysician and writer, founder and president of The Mystic Trader catalog, will lecture and teach a workshop.

Ernst Senkowski will lecture on EVP in the Eyes of Science.

Brad Steiger, known to thousands through his 100 published books, will bring us a moving meditation/slide/lecture titled: The World Beyond Death—We Are All Multi Dimensional Beings.

Rachael High, noted British medium, will give the closing lecture: From Psychic Perception to Spiritual Reception. At the conclusion she will give a platform demonstration.

You asked for more workshops last time—you got them! There will be three periods for workshops instead of two. You asked for a group recording last time—you got it! On Saturday morning names will be chosen from the audience to go to a tape recorder manned by an experienced EVP taper. If your name is chosen, you will have the opportunity to give a brief message to a loved one.

Conference brochures will he mailed in May. Read it carefully. Return your registration and workshop choices to me promptly You not only will receive a price break by so doing, but you will be more assured of getting your first workshop choices. Workshops are assigned in order received, so don’t delay!

Reservation cards for the Hilton Inn, Columbia, MD, will be with the brochure. They should be returned promptly to the Hilton which is giving us a special rate.

I hope you are as enthusiastic about the upcoming conference as I am. It promises to be a truly worthwhile experience for everyone who attends.

Always my best wishes, Sarah Estep

Established to Investigate Evidence as a Result of the Electronic Voice That We Survive Death