From Our Viewpoint

There is a shiny, new calendar sitting on my desk. On January 1, every year, I go over the old calendar, month by month. I look at what has been written in the large blocks provided for each day and reminisce about certain events. All in all, I can’t complain. 1988 was good to me. Loved ones, for the most part, stayed healthy. Old, true friends, remained loyal. New friends were made and time alone will tell if they will join the old friends and become gold. My book, Voices of Eternity, was published and is doing well. Many new members have joined the AA-EVP as a result.

Some significant messages were taped. Perhaps the ones that remain most strongly in my mind were two that came through the morning of May 2. I was taping as usual but greatly concerned because a loved one was undergoing minor surgery at that time. Even though I said nothing about this to the invisibles, they telepathically picked up my worry and said in a Class A voice, “Protect those with you,” followed several seconds later with, “Death no more a casket.” The outcome of the operation was successful, but my communicators had taken this opportunity to remind me that no matter what happened, death was not a casket; it meant something much more. To those of us who believe in survival and feel the voices are objective evidence, death means life! Several of you who have read Voices have commented about the statement on page 54, when I was discussing “homes” with those in the beyond and someone said they looked upon the spirit world as their real home. I then asked if they felt the spirit dimension was “home” how did they look upon the earth plane. The unexpected loud, clear message, “Death,” was returned.

It’s a matter of perspective I guess. There are exceptions, of course, but not many of us look upon our life here, in our earth plane home as death. A minister once said to me, “I know I have a heavenly home to go to when I die but I’m not homesick to get there.” I suspect most of us would join him in a hearty “Amen!”

When talking about my relatively good year of 1 988, I must also think about all of my fellow humans for whom the year was the worst of times. In reading the evening paper, how frequently do we read, “Only two, (or three) died?” As if that was a victory. It may have been for those who escaped, but what about those who didn’t? Ultimately, yes, a victory for them when they discovered their consciousness continued, and they were living in another dimension. It is doubtful though, if many of their loved ones left behind could immediately rejoice.

The result of the explosion of Pan Am 103 in Scotland with no one aboard surviving, and many on the ground being killed, must reach into every home, whether we knew anyone on the plane or not. A young girl in her twenties, Miriam Wolfe from Severna Park, was on the plane. By all reports, she was an outstanding, warm, loving, individual- the best of persons. Two days before her death, she mailed her last letter. It was to her grandmother to whom she felt unusually close, and in it she enclosed a clipping that quoted Gandhi: “The world has enough for every man’s need but not enough for every man’s greed.”

Ah, yes, if the world would only remember this, the best of times could be available for everyone. If we have difficulty keeping it in mind in our personal day to day life and carrying it over to others who touch our lives at home, at work, at play, how can we expect the world to become united and live Gandhi’s creed? Realistically, perhaps we can’t. This doesn’t mean that we should give up in despair or stop trying to live in gentleness, in kindness, in helpfulness, in warmth, because here and there we fail.

As I look at my new 1989 calendar, wonder what the year will bring, and how much I will be able to give to others. I wonder if what I do will make a positive difference in anyone’s life. I hope I will not fail anyone and that my actions will not cause someone to have less faith in the present or the future to come.

I hope 1988 has been a good year for you and that 1989 will be the best of years.
 

Spirit Voices Taped Fifty-Six Years Ago

Most reports of the taping of EVP voices start in the 1950’s, when Attila von Szalay of California, and three years later Friedrich Jurgenson of Sweden, said they had recorded unexplainable voices. The earliest reported voices, however, came through twenty-three years before von Szalay’s. This report is found in            Chapter 16: “Recording Session in Manhattan,” and was sent to me by Martin Ebon, noted author and psychical investigator. It is from his book: Communicating With The Dead published by New American Library.

Lack of space prohibits a full account but briefly it occurred on April 23, 1933 at the World Broadcasting Company’s studios which later became Decca Records in New York City. The medium was Wm Cartheuser, and the supervisory team consisted of well—known and knowledgeable people in the field of PSI such as psychical researcher and writer Hereward Carrington, Louis Anspacher, the poet and the secretary for the Am. Society for Psychical Research, Mrs. Helen Bigelow.

The Western Electric Company was installing the latest sound-recording equipment in World’s studios and the engineers at World, who were skeptical about seances and talking to the dead, devised test conditions that they felt would eliminate any chance of fraud. Mike 1 was on the floor. Mikes 2 and 3 were twenty feet from the sitters and twenty feet in the air, up by the ceiling in diagonally opposite corners. They had such a short range of sensitivity that they could not record voices from mike 1. In order for mikes 2 or 3 to pick up a voice, the speaker had to be within twelve inches and since they were directional, had to be spoken into head-on. Each mike had its own line of communication with the control room. The sitters were unaware what the engineers had done and proceeded with a normal direct voice séance.

Soon; a spirit voice expressed interest the experiment and said, “We think they have worked out a very interesting testing procedure for us on their equipment.” When the control room asked who was speaking the voice, speaking into mike 1, said he was engineer in the spirit world. He added had colleagues with him and they wanted cooperate in making the important recording.

When requested by the control, speak directly into mikes 2 and 3, the spirit responded quickly, answering within inches of these mikes. Next, the unseen voice said they wanted to give a demonstration. With that, he made a circuit of the three mikes, while speaking a short, simple sentence. Then the speaker introduced a colleague who said had been an “eminent research engineer the science of sound.” The new speaker told the listeners and engineers in the studio that he and the other unseen communicator were “surviving personalities speaking to you from another dimension.” He concluded the demonstration by moving his voice from the normal level for a male human (around 300 cycles) up to the levels of 3,000 and 5,000 cycles, which is beyond the range of human hearing. His commentary became a thread sound like “an incredibly distant radio signal.” Repeating the test, the communicator descended through the frequency cycles. Eventually, it sounded like “a giant mumbling the bottom of a well,” and faded into sound “like the lowest note on the longest pipe in a giant organ.”

The original spirit engineer’s voice returned. He thanked the sitters and recording staff for helping in the experiment and offered to collaborate in future tests.

Within a few days the records were sent the American Society for Psychical Research, but the crucial test stayed in the hands of the studio engineers. They did not want to testify publicly that spirit voices had been recorded in a recording studio in New York’s Manhattan, one night in April 1933!
 

Harold Sherman’s Papers Ready

A letter has been received from Tom Dillard, director of the Archives of the University of Central Arkansas, in Conway that Harold Sherman’s papers have been catalogued and are ready for research use. They were donated to the University. Harold’s wife, Martha. The collection has family correspondence going back to Harold’s childhood, copies of his sixty books, and tape recordings of many of his lectures.
 

Television Picture Phenomena of Luise Fuchs

In our Winter 1 988 newsletter, we showed some pictures that Luise Fuchs,West German AA-EVP member, had sent that had been received through her TV from the other side. Many of you found them fascinating. Recently, Luise sent more video pictures and I think you will agree that they are even clearer than her first group.
 

VTF Journal Review

We are grateful to Hans Heckmann, PA, AA-EVP member, for translating a recent journal of the Gerirnan VTF organization based in Dusseldorf, West Germany under the leadership of Fidelio Koberle.

Mrs. Eva Busse, like most of us who are seriously taping, has tried all kinds of sound sources in the hope of finding something to help the voices come through. She feels that musical instruments capable of resonating to other sounds are desirable in that they produce more natural sounds than the use of mechanically or electrically generated sounds. As a result, her attempts have included the use of a tambourine, a guitar, and a heavy iron on the right pedal of her piano to allow the piano strings to resonate freely. In spite of all of her efforts, Mrs. Busse writes that she keeps returning to the radio method because the voice passages are longer, due to the stronger energy carrier.
 

Guest Article Contributors

Several months ago, I decided it would be a good idea to ask certain AA-EVP members to write an article along their special line of expertise. Since Carol Barron, MA State Coordinator, has successfully taped in many historical locations throughout the New England states, I asked if she would write about this. She graciously agreed and I know all of us appreciate her efforts and the interesting article she sent. Although Carol is our first guest contributor, we hope she won’t be the last. I have approached several other members about writing articles for us, so look for them in the future.
 

Taping at Historical Locations

by Carol Barron

Nothing is more discouraging for a taper than to sit, day after day at a recorder, and get few, if any, responses. EVP requires the utmost patience and even the most experienced tapers can become discouraged when they are having a slow period with few taped messages.

Time to “hit the road!” With a little imagination and a minimum of equipment, you can try your hand at field-taping. First, you will need a portable, battery operated, cassette recorder. I use my tried and true standard size, but many people prefer the pocket variety. The advantages to the latter being obvious; it is more compact and less conspicuous. A small, battery-operated radio to be used as a sound source is helpful; preferably one with an airband if possible.

My method is to tape for a short while without any sound source, and the remainder of the time, with one.

Now, where to tape? Perhaps there are historical buildings in your city or town; old houses, museums, churches, ships, etc. Anything old can yield some surprising communication. In some cases, it may be necessary to ask permission first. Also, it is best to tape at a time when there will be fewest distractions.

If you are not so fortunate as to have any of the above sites nearby, don’t neglect other sites, such as outdoor locations where important events took place, like battlefields, caves, cemeteries, etc. Or, record as you commune with nature, at the ocean, mountains or parks. Going on a trip? Don’t forget to bring along your recorder. You’ll find that field taping can break the monotony of recording at home, and revive your interest in EVP. Happy Hunting!

Carol also enclosed the following along with her article, to show two experiences she had while taping out in the field.

“In regard to taping where there might be “psychic impressions,” or voices from long ago:

“While taping with a friend on the grounds of one of the mansions on Ocean Drive, in Newport, RI, we received a male voice saying, “Please do come in.” This was followed by another voice saying, “Invite them in for tea!” Because of the formality of the invitation, especially the male voice, it brought to mind the elegance and grandeur of the days of the Newport mansions. I felt very strongly that the voice was a part of that era; perhaps that of a servant inviting us in. Or could it be that we were only eavesdropping, and the invitation, instead, was for visitors of long ago?

“Some old locations have yielded voices that do not seem to be associated with the area I tape in. Such was the case while taping this summer at the ancient site of “Mystery Hill” in New Hampshire, also known as “American’s Stonehenge.” I received many voices on the reverse side of the tape. Perhaps the success is due to the “energy” at such a place. The most significant message on that tape was a voice saying, “Her Callie’s always with Anthony.” (This is followed by, “And out of their pores she has it”). Knowing that Callie is the name of Clara Laughlin’s “guide,” I contacted her to relay that message and to see if Anthony meant anything to her. Clara said that on October 9th, she had received this message: “My channel loves you. Tony.”

“Although I had taped the “Anthony” message in August, I did not notify Clara until November. We found that to be an interesting crosscheck of our recordings.”
 

Taping at Historical Locations - Wales

Tina Laurent, Welsh AA-EVP member has also made many recordings at historical places in Wales. In September 1984, she and a reporter for the South Wales Echo newspaper did a week long series about ghosts for the paper. Two hundred letters were received as a result.

One of the places where Tina taped was Stalling Down, an old Roman road where stagecoaches stopped 100 years ago. The road is located by Gallows Wood where thieves and murderers were hung. There was also a bloody battle there between Henry IV and the Welsh hero, Owen Glyndwr. Tina taped many “Help me” messages, and two voices mimicked her.

At the National Museum of Wales, in Cardiff, Tina wrote that there had been a great deal of ghost and poltergeist activity. Mr. Dunbar Smith, the architect of the museum, had his casket bricked up in the center wing. Later, it was moved just outside the men’s lavatory, and Tina feels this could h been an affront to his dignity. He is protesting this move by making the elevators and telephones work when no one is around but one warden. Two messages Tina taped at the museum were: “Please, poor instructions” and “I got killed here.”

Tina spent midnight to six A.M. at the 1,000 year old Cardiff Castle. There is much poltergeist activity, and ghosts have been seen. Members of the Royal Family regularly stay there. Many historical prisoners were kept there before being sent to the Tower of London. Tina taped voices laughing and singing in the banquet area. “Peepo,” was taped in the children’s nursery. A refined, imperious woman’s voice asked, “What’s  that? Who’s that?” when Tina asked if she could be heard or seen. Two voices said, “ Bobby, Tina. When Tina commented to the reporter that she felt “tingly” in the children’s nursery a child’s voice said, “Tingully.”
 

Indiana State Coordinator

Richard Busse of Rensselaer has accepted my request to be State Coordinator for IN. He is a charter member of AA-EVP having joined in May 1982. We have exchanged many letters over the years and I have always been impressed with his interest and general knowledge of PSI and with the sensitivity and caring he has expressed in his letters. We thank him for his willingness to serve in this capacity.
 

Help For Florida Members

Although we have eight members in FL, with the majority on the cross-country list, there has never been a State Coordinator. Now, that problem has been resolved! Dan Mckee, IL State Coordinator, owns condominium in Bradenton. He and his wife, Marjorie, spend many months during the year there. In a recent phone call from Dan, asked if he would agree to be Coordinator for FL while he is there. Dan agreed to this and help in every way possible. His FL addres there has never been a State Coordinator. Now, that problem has been resolved! Dan Mckee, IL State Coordinator, owns condominium in Bradenton. He and his wife, Marjorie, spend many months during the year there. In a recent phone call from Dan, asked if he would agree to be Coordinator for FL while he is there. Dan agreed to this and helps in every way possible. He expects to be there until the first of March. Dan one of this country’s outstanding tapers and has been working in the field for twelve years. Give him a call. You’ll be in good hands with the help of Dan!
 

CETL Newsletter Review

In a recent CETL newsletter, published  by Maggie and Jules Harsch-Fischbach, AA-EVP members, Luxembourg, and translated Hans Heckmann, Maggie wrote: “Information for construction of a new equipment set-up increased Lately....Swejen Salter, one of their main contacts on the other side, said last summer, “The new equipment will only function properly when spiritual progress guaranteed among men.” A comment from TECHNICIAN, another main contact, important to all members of AA-EVP, well as others who begin their taping efforts from a strictly scientific basis. He said, “This person could not make any contact because he approached Transcommunication from the technical side.”

In her newsletter, Maggie quoted the report of Herbert Spirik, Vienna, in his taping experiences. Mr. Spirik feels good weather conditions are helpful. He said that the personal condition and spiritual attitude of the tapers and other participants are important. A destructive attitude by someone in the group can put a “brake” on good communication. Voices are mostly captured with the mike sitting near a radio receiver. EVP voices are “transformations” of these radio transmissions.
 

MD Taping Group Being Formed!

Gene and Jan Simonds, new MD AA-EVP members who joined after reading Voices have already started taping with positive results. I have met with Jan several times and listened to one of her tapes on which there were three good quality EVP voices. They are eager to start a MD group to meet in their home at a mutually convenient time. Give them a call: 301-757-8859, Or write: 620 Bay Green Drive, Arnold 21012.
 

News from Members

Phyllis Butcher, District of Columbia, in her letter to me before Christmas, wrote she and her husband were being transferred by the Navy from Norfolk, VA, to Washington the first of January. In October 1987, she taped “Rapid tour.” Since her husband was not scheduled for transfer until September of ‘89, Phyllis said it was indeed a prophetic message.

Clara Laughlin, VA State Coordinator, has taken the first section off of a three section spirit trumpet and slipped it over her mike on the stand. She wrote, “Spirit noticed and the following came through: “Love that trumpet,” “The trumpet lovely feature,” “Efficiency” and “Trumpet every day.” In the next taping, Clara commented that they really seemed to like the trumpet. There was one loud clap—like hands—and then Callie, her chief contact said, “Gives energy.

Those of you who have visited my office or have read Voices know that I use a metal funnel at the end of my long, narrow mike. I bought this over eleven years ago at the local hardware store, and as I wrote in Voices I’ve never taken it off because the voices immediately improved in loudness and clarity. It is Clara’s and my thought that some of you might like to try the same thing. If you do, let me know the results.

Jean Lodge, NY, joined after reading Voices and has resumed taping after several years absence from her tape recorder. One evening she asked for the names of her mother’s sisters, only knowing the name of one of them: “Viola.” The name, “Harriet,” was taped. Later, Jean found some old family records at the County Courthouse. There was a photograph included in the records that showed a picture of a grave stone with “Harriet” on it. She had died in 1893, at the age of four. Jean’s mother was born eight years later so hadn’t known Harriet either. Later, on tape, Jean taped, “Aunt Harriet loves Judy,” followed with a “Bow-wow.” Jean wrote that “Judy” was the name of her pet dog who died many years ago at the age of nineteen.

Shirley Matthews, UT, has also resumed taping. She wrote that when she first joined the AA-EVP in 1985, she tried taping for six months without results so became discouraged and discontinued her efforts. In December, she began taping again and her results have been better than expected. Shirley said she is trying a new technique. She put a blank tape in her answering machine and switched it to messages. There is a steady beeping sound. Shirley feels the sound acts as a beacon to the other side and thought other members might like to try the same thing. She thinks it would be interesting to compare results.

Oddur Sigurdsson, Maine, called recently concerning a lecture he was giving about EVP at a nearby church. During our talk he said he had made a variable speed circuit for his reel-to-reel tape recorder.  It is not difficult to find this feature on portable tape recorders, but I had never heard of one on a reel recorder, and often wished I had this to slow down or speed up messages that come through at unusual speeds. Upon question, Oddur said he uses step resistors in his circuit and this circuit is plugged directly into the motor of his tape recorder. Anyone with a bit of electronic know-how should be able to build a similar device.

Dennis Taylor, WA State Coordinator, wrote that he and his wife planned to go to Portland, OR before Christmas to meet Monty Hearon and his wife, Bobby, Co-State Coordinators for Oregon. They hoped to pick up some recording tips from Monty. When Dennis contacted the WA members, he found that he had already met one of them, Ellen Pugh, at a Spiritual Frontiers Retreat eight years ago.

Valerie Tjaden, NJ, wrote that in November, she and her mother held a group taping session with Victor DeVincenzo and his wife, Geri, who are also members of the AA-EVP. They received several clear statements: “What do you think I am?” “You can feel” and “Frankenstein.” A few days later, her mother worked a “jumble puzzle” from the Saturday newspaper. The puzzle was about Frankenstein! Valerie wants to have monthly group taping sessions

Two Conferences

There are two upcoming metaphysical conferences scheduled n the near future that I think you would find interesting and helpful to you in your own personal growth.

The first, is the annual Winter Festival from February 10-12, held in Orlando, FL. It is sponsored by Spiritual Advisory Council, of which Paul Johnson, an AA-EVP member is the founder and president. Some of the noted speakers are: Brad and Sherry Steiger; Kenneth Hurst; Frank Tribbe; and Meredith Lady Young, author of Agartha

The second conference I can recommend will be held April 6-12, at the Sheraton Lakeview Hotel, Louisville, KY/Clarksville, IN. It is the third intercontinental Seth and metaphysical conference and the focus is Spiritual Sight and Healing Visions. The co sponsors are: Peter Moscow and Joyce Kovelman. Some of the outstanding presenters are: Coral Polge, psychic artist; Anna Mitchell-Hedges with the world famous crystal skull, along with Carol Davis who will do channeling with the skull; Budd Hopkins, one of this country’s leading investigators in the field of UFO research; Bryce Bond, internationally known Spiritual Healer; Martin Wenzel, who contributed two special papers to our AA-EVP members on audio and video taping; and Jules and Maggie Harsch-Fischbach who will be at the conference for twenty-four hours. They, along with Martin Wenzel and Walter Uphoff, of New Frontiers Center, will spend Friday afternoon describing their work in Electronic Visual Phenomena, and conduct some experiments.
 

 Please!

Many thanks to all of you who send me news clippings. I frequently use them in our newsletter or pass them on to others. In the future, please write the source and date of the clipping. It is important to know the background and give proper credit.
 

Odds and Ends

Winnie Peters, MD AA-EVP member, and are continuing plans for our early March trip to Egypt. Look for a report in the Spring NEWS, and other special features. Deadline for contributions to our Seventh Anniversary newsletter, is April 8

Always my best wishes, Sarah Estep