"When Cosmic Cultures Meet," presented by the Human Potential Foundation at the Sheraton Washington Hotel May 27-29, brought together an eclectic group of UFO researchers, psychologists, futurists and others to address the prospect of human contact with other intelligent life as if that prospect were not only a foregone conclusion but already upon us.
Much of the program was conducted in the form of panels, along with several keynote speeches. Panelists and speakers included psychologist William J. Baldwin, Ph.D.; psychologist Richard Boylan, Ph.D.; Professor James W. Deardorff, Ph.D.; Keith Ferrell, VP of OMNI magazine; futurist James J. Hurtak, Ph.D.; Jaime Maussan, Mexican TV journalist; geobiologist Elisabet Sahtouris, Ph.D.; author Zecharia Sitchin; Professor R. Leo Sprinkle, Ph.D.; Professor Charles Tart, Ph.D.; Donald M. Ware, Col. USAF Ret.; and Dennis Rohatyn, Ph.D.
The conference brochure stated: "We think it is time...to step back from arguments about evidence of the reported phenomena and start a dialog with this assumption: someday there will be unambiguous evidence that cosmic cultures are meeting and that Earth is one of the meeting grounds. In anticipation of that time, what should we be talking about now? What questions should we be asking? We acknowledge that this event will have a most profound impact on all conscious life and cultural institutions...We are struggling in a multi-culture world. What additional challenges and opportunities are there when elements of a multi-culture universe meet? Let's talk about it."
CNI News has received several reports on the conference. The following notes were sent by Bob Banner. Further reflections on the conference will be offered in the next edition of CNI News.
Bob Banner writes:
For three days approximately 200 people listened attentively to 25 presenters speaking about the dramatic and ambitious topic, "When cosmic cultures meet." The attendees heard and interacted with lecturers from very diverse backgrounds and disciplines, such as: philosophy, western science, global journalism, futurism, psychology, geobiology, native American tradition, shamanism, transpersonal psychology, politics, religion, anthropology, exorcism (now termed "releasement therapy"), abductee hypnotherapy (now called "CE-IV experiencers" rather than "abductees"), publishing, history, atmosphere sciences, cosmology and, let us not forget, ufology.
A smorgasbord of views, agendas, perspectives and messages all attempted to address the question of when, how, where and why the ET presence would make contact with humans, or vice versa. Commentary ran from the cynical: the question we should really be asking the aliens is "do they have money" (Dennis Rohatyn, Ph.D.) -- to the cosmological: earthlings have been "quarantined" by other cosmic cultures since we are not ready to join an intergalactic federation of intelligent life in the universe (James Deardorff, Ph.D.). There was much to digest, much to filter through, much to consider if we allowed ourselves to stretch beyond our ordinary and consoling perspectives.
UFO sightings are on the increase (Michael Hesemann). Estimates for on board abductions are at 10 million (David Jacobs, Ph.D.). Human beings were genetically engineered 300,000 years ago to jump start evolution in a very dramatic way (Zecharia Sitchin).
Unconditional love is the major force (Don Ware).
Meditation is vitally important so that we remember who we are. "Mediate politically and meditate spiritually." (Leo Sprinkle, Ph.D.)
The U.S. government will keep leaking information to private researchers so they won't be blamed for not knowing about the ET presence, thereby giving the responsibility to the United Nations, where it belongs (Richard Boylan, Ph.D.).
We should be afraid of them, the ET's, for they are the "Talking Serpents" written about in the Bible (Dave Hunt).
We need to put aside our Earth-ethnocentricity... Something is happening. "None of the abductions that I've worked with can be explained in human-oriented dimensions." We are being prepared because the Earth matters. Our world view is being challenged so that we can open to the paranormal, shamanic journeying and meditation (John Mack, M.D.).
According to her native American tradition, there are no anomalies, no beliefs, no disagreements, no true or false. There are no words for chaos or tragedy (they are unrecognized patterns and challenging learning opportunities). Every perception has value. "Where you open your eyes depends on where you are standing... Jumping to conclusions leads to contusions.... How you learn is how you see." Don't believe in the Elders or the government just because they say it's true. Check everything out (Paula Underwood [Turtle Woman Singing]).
We need to establish a reciprocity with the ET presence. We need to want them. "The more we are in touch with nature the more we'll be able to be in touch with beings." We have no love history, just a history of war (Puma Quispé Singona, a young Peruvian experiencer brought to the conference by Elisabet Sahtouris).
When Omni Magazine opened its pages to UFO related material (Project Open Book) in 1993, they received crates of mail, tens of thousands of letters (Keith Terrel, editor of Omni).
We are experiencing a fundamental shift that "never" happened before. A revolution is happening in every aspect of our life. (John Peterson).
Our Mars base has now been activated. It has shot down any probe that gets close to Mars (Zecharia Sitchin).
If the comet that blasted into Jupiter was off by less than 1% of its orbit, it would have hit the Earth. We should focus on getting off the planet. "Get out of town!" (Jerome Glenn)
Predictions: More UFO sightings from now until October 1995. In October there will be a major California geo-cataclysm. Also in October there will be a world announcement of UFO presence. There will be an official meeting between Earth and ET ambassadors during a public UFO landing in 1996. In late 1997 there will an announcement of establishing in 1998 of the first official openly declared ET community on Earth (Richard Boylan, Ph.D. based on CE-IV experiencers, various psychics, etc.)
Western science prides itself on new technological advances yet is stuck in the 4th dimension and has not appreciated the science and wisdom of more ancient civilizations and indigenous cultures whose contact with otherworldly beings and travel into other dimensions are ordinary -- not magical, fantastical, mysterious or demonic, as western culture views those behaviors (Elisabet Sahtouris, Ph.D.).
We should be talking about who it is that will make contact. Will it be a human who is asleep and in a waking dream, who lives in a separate, dualistic paradigm prone to judgments, insecurity, pride, blaming and vengeance? Shouldn't we be considering creating "enlightened ambassadors" who are personally secure, not threatened if an alien "smells bad," emotionally intelligent, happy, resilient, flexible, very present in the moment and more compassionate? (Charles Tart, Ph.D.)
For audio or videotapes of the presenters and panels call 303-772-8358. For a copy of the proceedings (a collection of all papers, whether or not they were formally presented), you can contact Scott Jones at the Human Potential Foundation, P.O. Box 6, Falls Church, VA 22040-0006 or call 703-534-8566.
[Bob Banner is a student of Buddhism, Sufism, anomalies, transpersonal psychology and has written reviews, stories, poetry, essays and books. He can be reached at 805-773-8560. CNI News thanks Bob for his report.]
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