- ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN ? -
In Science Parade (A.P. feature, Jan.12,'47) we note an account of "ape-men" of Labrador - reported by a Doctor and Mrs Forsyth of the Grenfell Medical Mission, stationed in Labrador since 1932. The Forsyths have not themselves seen the ape-men, but cite many reports about them, and consider the Labrador natives to be very literal-minded and truthful. Most of the stories concern giant-size barefoot tracks in the snow. These lead to 'nests' under trees, or run out on glare ice, but some have been traced for as much as 15 miles over rough country. "Whoever made them climbed easily over stumps and other obstructions where an ordinary man would have gone around." Whatever it was, walked on two feet.
In Flying Roll Gamma I, this writer published data collected by Mr. Paul Doerr (203 E. State St., Sharon, Pa.) concerning the "Abominable Snow Men" of Tibet, human-like beings of great size, often seen at a distance by American airmen. Close encounters with them have also been reported, and the total accumulation of fact and legend is very considerable.
Round Robin friend F.G.H., deeply learned in occult matters, tells us that these snow men are Nature Spirits, and not necessarily hostile toward humans. And in fact, there are alleged instances of their giving help to travellers. From present information it seems probable that the 'ape-men' of Labrador and the snow men of Tibet are identical in kind.
Evidence is fast accumulating, either of a great deal of involuntary clairvoyance, or of some change in the order of external Nature. We print in th[e previous] issue (Vol. III, Jan. '47) an account by Mr. John of San Francisco, of phenomena of the Mendocino mountains. We have similar reports, tho less striking, from other areas. In none of these alleged encounters with Nature spirits was there any conscious use of clairvoyance - and it is curious that most observers are not greatly astonished at the time, or in any way frightened, but feel that the experience is natural and normal - until they begin to reflect upon it afterward ... On January 10th, this year, this writer was visited by the wife of a well-to-do physician, resident of San Diego County. She had suddenly observed a gnome (to use her term), some 2-3 inches tall, dancing on the leaves of a flowering bush outside her window. This gnome or flower fairy gave off slender colored shafts of light and was an object of great beauty. The woman called her highly sceptical husband: he also saw the Nature spirit and photographed it with a cine-camera. The films have not yet been developed. Apparently no clairvoyance was necessary in this case, and other reports, including those of Mr. John, also point to normal vision only. As a rule anything which is an 'objective reality' can be photographed (tho we can also photograph thought-forms, the aura, and many things invisible to the eye), and if the Nature spirits are truly objective existences there should shortly be a great deal of photographic evidence available ... The squirmings of various sapient scientists, to find some other 'explanation' or a familiar pigeonhole for these data, will be beautiful and instructive.
Repulsive as the thought may be, to scientism and to all devotees of hardheaded common (nonsense), we are now in a fair way to prove that [4] the immemorial knowledge of our race is a true knowledge, concerning all the unseen beings which swarm about us, not of our human order of evolution, but creatures of earth and air, of fire and water, gnomes and sylphs, salamanders and undines, and innumerable others also, to whom names have not yet been given... Truly, it has been known from old time that the universe is alive in every part, and all the planes aswarm with multiform lives. This knowledge has been despised, rejected, forgotten, but because it is of the substance of truth it self, it cannot be wholly destroyed...
Believing as he truly does in the veritable existence of all gnomes and elves, fairies and kobalds, urchins and flibbertigibbets, oufs and trolls and pigwidgeons, nixies and necks and boggarts and loup-garous - and also rejoicing that common folk are beginning to see them (even the most strong-jawed brazen-lunged fact-crunchers), this editor casts about for interpretations of this change - if such are findable. Of course none are to be found among the innumerable people who 'don't believe in such stuff', don't want to believe in it and don't intend to, tho all the world beside go filbert over it. Scientists and orthodox religionists, the 'intellectuals' and 'intelligentsia' and 'educated classes', and bigots of all sorts, and stupid folk, and the unteachables generally (note if you please, what strange bed-fellows are made by other things than politics! On what other issue could all these kinds join hands of fellowship?) - all belong to this don't-can't-and-won't Fraternity, or DCW brotherhood, as we call it - so, no use asking any of them anything! There are, however, such persons as Adepti (though classed with the kobolds by most folk), and others who see, hear and talk with 'spirits' - that is, with normal human folk who happen to be invisible to us; and there are also many wise and learned folk on this other and invisible side of life, who are glad to tell us their opinion of such matters as this 'coming of the fairies' - once we show some interest, and some regard for what they have to say.
And there is the curious, incomprehensible sect of the spiritualists, who are not without follies of their own, but who (between you and me) have grasped more of the living and vital truth than the whole of religious orthodoxy put together. Well, your editor has made inquiry of these outlaw sources, and the results can be put into very new words. "What is happening is not primarily a change in human perceptions or a spread of clairvoyance; it is a period of change in earth conditions with reference to the etheric and astral planes of matter. On these levels exist the duplicates of all terrestrial objects, and here too are innumerable forms of life which you are not normally aware of, tho clairvoyants have always known about them. The earth has, so to speak, a kind of etheric envelope, sometimes close to dense matter, sometimes withdrawn. The fluctuation of these conditions is very involved and difficult. But at times there is something like a contact and integration of the two planes. Then the beings of the etheric levels become visible to your normal sight."
"You ask whether this condition is only temporary. It has occurred in the past, and hence was temporary. It will probably pass away this time too, after reaching a climax. The etheric world will be come more and more visible, but the duration of this depends largely on the attitude of humanity. This change is a matter of natural law - nor more a 'miracle' and 'act of God' than any other natural phenomenon. [5] But it is a great mistake to argue from this, that the attitude of man can have no effect. Thoughts are forces, energies and powers; they too belong in the realm of law, as do all existent things. So surely as this knowledge of the etheric realms is scorned and rejected, so surely will the Gate again be closed... In the processes of Nature there is something akin to Purpose, and the 'purpose' of this growing revelation is to offer to man new knowledge, new laws, new insight. If he chooses to thwart this purpose, Nature will withdraw her outstretched hand... Nature is organism, not dead mechanism. Organic mechanism. . . . .
"Well, now, you are going to be able to see these etheric beings for yourselves. Go out into the country, sit down in some green quiet place where there is much vegetation, keep very quiet and wait. Watch for green light - flashes or spots of green light. If you are patient, maybe try often, you will surely see some of the Nature spirits... And there will be other beings also - and other kinds of phenomena. You should watch particularly for sky phenomena..."
Thus in substance spoke the seance communicators, known to us as "Lingford", "Lo Sun Yat", "Ramma Kalo", and "Kay Ting". Whatever you may think of them, whoever or whatever they may be, at least they are fully integrated, highly intelligent personalities, some of them deeply versed in philosophy... Just as this medium, Mark P., speaks in trance a dozen languages unknown to him, so to he speaks of science and philosophy, and of small daily events as well, quite beyond his conscious knowledge, almost certainly beyond his subconscious content also.
This advice to he on the look-out for "sky phenomena"!
No, we don't think the communicator meant space-ships, but it reminds us of that subject. We wrote up the "Kareeta" incident, and were more or less kicked around for doing so. As to some 25-30 other incidents, similar in nature and well authenticated, the kickers haven't anything to say, so far. We collected accounts of some 35-40 witnesses, probably could have gotten several hundred just as easily, still haven't heard a single normal, plausible explanation that meets the facts, or alleged facts of observation... Doubt, official organ of the Fortean Society (to which this editor is proud to belong), didn't give Kareeta a single line. RR refrains from complaint, but its readers do not - for example:
"... I'm not surprised at Thayer's attitude on the space-ship. He would have given two pages to some big bear tracks, however. And if you could prove there wasn't a God he would bring out a special issue and a book. It's damned funny to me, that some people think that to be a Fortean you have to be an atheist..." J.T.
And "J.T.", well known to many RR readers, is comparatively mild in his comment; the post office department wouldn't let us print the other letters about this. J.T.'s last point is well taken, too, tho we have no concern with it at this moment... To go back to where this excursus started from, we pass along to our readers the request of the communicator Lingford: Be on the watch for sky phenomena! Make immediate note of time, place, circumstantial details - and let Round Robin know about it - or even Tiffany Thayer, Secretary of the Fortean Society, (via box 192, Grand Central Annex, N.Y.C.)