More snippets gleaned from the 1970 book Psychic Discoveries
from behind the Iron curtain by
Sheila Ostrander & Lynn Schroeder (1970) this copy 1976.
At the time of writing the book, Russia had serious concerns
about China. Chairman Mao ordered the Chinese scientists to research
parapsychology. In response, Russia established psi research bases at
Vladivostok and Khabarovsk on the disputed Chinese border. (p142) At one time
there were about forty cities within the USSR that contained centres where
research was being done on paranormal subjects. One of these
was Moscow’s Pavlov Institute where secretive research delved into
parapsychology… (p152)
Two so-called pseudoscientific subjects discussed here
are acupuncture and hypnotism. The definition of
pseudoscience attached to these subjects is questioned by many adherents and
beneficiaries.
Hypnotism
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony was performed in St
Petersburg in 1897 and was unanimously panned, one critic having likened it to
a depiction of the ten plagues of Egypt, suggesting it would be admired by the
"inmates" of a music conservatory in Hell. The symphony was not
performed again in his lifetime.
The composer was devastated and decided never to compose
again.
For three years music seemed blocked to his mind.
Distressed by this, his friends suggested he go to a
hypnotist, Nikolai Dahl, who was also an amateur musician.
A daily course of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy brought the
music and inspiration back.
Rachmaninoff composed his Second Piano Concerto in C Minor,
dedicating it to Dr Dahl. It was a success and his self-worth was revived.
(p166)
Superstition in old Russia was as concrete and pernicious
as the lice infesting most of the populace. Magic spells, amulets, potions,
powders, and counter-hexes were widely considered to be necessities of life.
(p251)
Acupuncture
The Soviets had a machine that registered energy flow in the
body coincidentally using as checkpoints for its electrodes the acupuncture
treatment points, the meridians, where the chi force flows. This machine picked
up changes in body energy caused by alterations of consciousness and varying
emotional states. (p163)
For decades, China has used acupuncture in open heart
surgery, with good effect. A report in 2011 confirmed this too.
Tana learned to use acupuncture needles while on a mission
during her first mission (The Singapore
Signal, 1965, as yet unreported). Since then she has carried these needles
in a pouch on her belt when penetrating enemy territory, and used them in The Prague Papers, 1975 (Crooked Cat
Publishing (2014).
Predictions
Baba Vanga (Vanga Dimitrova) was a blind Bulgarian who was
actually paid for by the state. She received thousands of callers asking for predictions
– and apparently some 80% of these were proved correct…
She died in 1996. Some of her predictions that have yet to
happen include (Wikipedia):
1) The 44th President of the United States will be the last
US president. As Barak Obama is the 44th, this is unlikely, though
perhaps Trump will somehow make the prophecy happen!
2) Europe will be transformed into an Islamic caliphate and
the transformation will be complete in the year 2043. ..
3) Communism will return to Europe and the rest of the world
in 2076.
4) There will be a war on Mars in 3005.
***
Tana Standish doesn’t go in for predictions, happily. Yet
from time to time she experiences flash images that are later perceived to be
slicing of future events; no dates, no specific time, just the image, sometimes
featuring her, sometimes not. Each adventure tends to feature at least one ‘flash-forward’
image from a mission yet to be transcribed.
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