Reality Anomalies in CE4 Cases

By Craig R. Lang, MN MUFON Investigation Coordinator

 

(Note: This article is a summary of a talk which was given by the author at Minnesota MUFON in March of 1997.  It is being repeated here due to the recent re-emergence of some of the cases originally described in the talk)

 

In past articles, books and lectures, we have seen many references to UFO sightings and encounters where a transformation of the experiencer's reality takes place.  In his book "Dimensions" Jacques Vallee describes such events as events of the fourth kind.  Two types of this form of event are most worthy of note: Anomalies of the Fourth Kind (AN4's) and Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind (CE4's).  Anomalies include events such as out of body experiences, etc.  Close encounters include, but are not limited to, UFO related abductions.

 

In an event of the fourth kind, the experiencer finds him/herself in a domain removed their normal perception of reality.  This can be either a minor event, such as some aspect of the environment that doesn't quite make sense.  Or it could be a somewhat larger scale event, such as a case in which an experiencer notes that the environment has suddenly become very quiet, accompanied by a powerful sense of unreality.  Finally, there is the large scale reality transformation, such as a remembered UFO abduction or out of body experience.  This article will examine some of these reality-transformation phenomena, and suggest a possible way in which we might perhaps understand them slightly better.

 

Physical/Mental Duality

In some of the most intriguing CE4 cases both psychological (dream-like) aspects, and suggestions of a concrete physical event both exist.  These superimposed physical/mental aspects of the phenomenon are prevalent within many events of the fourth kind.  Often, there will be a very well defined UFO sighting, perhaps observed by multiple witnesses, with possible physical traces.  Cases of this nature are well documented in the literature (Budd Hopkins: Missing Time, Intruders, Witnessed).  There are also cases of this nature on the MN MUFON website.  In addition, there are many cases in which the dreamlike quality of the event is very notable.  In some cases, these two aspects are superimposed.  However, this physical/mental superposition so characteristic of reality anomalies, is seldom discussed. 

 

In the process of some of our work, we have observed several degrees of reality anomaly, as described above.  What follows are some examples of each.

 

Small anomalies are those in which some aspect of the environment "doesn't make sense".  For example, the witness might observe an ordinary object which seems to be doing impossible or illogical things.  In one case, an experiencer described to me how, as she and a friend were driving across Northern Minnesota, a "red traffic light" followed their car for many miles.  The event began as their car initially accelerated from a traffic light early into their journey.  Subsequently, they noticed that the red "traffic light" was still present behind them after some distance.  This light "followed" the car through a number of turns and was observed by both witnesses for many miles during their trip.

 

In another such case, which both Minnesota and Wisconsin MUFON were both involved, was one in which a well defined close encounter (CE4) occurred.  Upon her "return" from the event, the experiencer remembered watching lights depart above her house, observing them through her kitchen windows which were opened outward.  On subsequent inspection of these windows, it was observed that it was not possible for the window to open in the manner in which she remembered.

 

Another class of small anomaly cases involves one or more persons in a group observing an object - while others in group can not see it.  There are many cases in the literature of this type, including several on our website.  Characteristic of these, however, is the fact that the witness(es) who do perceive the object may frequently give very similar descriptions of it to an investigator, suggesting that the witness(es) observed the same object. The object is sometimes described as a "very obvious" (often a close encounter of the first kind, or CE1) by those who perceive it.  In addition,  those who don't perceive it are often in a situation where "they couldn't possibly miss it" if the object were actually visible to them.  This class of events poses the question of what allows one person to observe a phenomenon, while others in nearly identical circumstances do not.

 

Larger anomalies are those which affect the overall reality of the experiencer, but do not remove the experiencer from the environment.  Often the experiencer will describe it as "the world is wrong...".  The most commonly described of these phenomena is what Jenny Randles termed, "The Oz Factor".  Often on the entry phase of an abduction experience - be it an abduction, a contact, or some other event - the environment seems to take on an eerie "Twilight Zone" character.  Sounds in the environment seem to be absent - none of the expected frogs, crickets, etc, can be heard. 

Another type of related event is what was recently described by Budd Hopkins and others, as "spontaneous invisibility".  In such cases, the experiencer is able to very clearly perceive the object or entities.  However, others are not able to perceive them, nor are they able to perceive the experiencer.  In one case, which the author investigated this year, the witness, who was with several friends, observed an object hovering over a nearby school.  When he attempted to bring the UFO to the attention of several of his companions, he found himself unable to get their attention.  This continued for several minutes, despite several obvious tries by the experiencer to get "in the face" of his companions.

 

The third, and most profound type of case is that of the full reality transformation.  Typical of these is one case which is documented on the MN MUFON website, in which an entity appeared in a ball of light to the witness, who was lying in bed.  The experiencer was then drawn into the ball of light.  While there, the experiencer observed that interior of the ball of light was considerably greater than what could be accommodated by a room of that size.

 

In another case, the primary witness and his girl friend were driving westbound on I94 from Wisconsin into St. Paul.  They suddenly found themselves on a portion of the highway which appeared to be wrong.  Thinking that they has somehow become lost, they exited and decided to try to figure out where they were.  They both felt that the exit was somewhat like a stage set that was partially completed.  Was this the entry stage to a CE4?  This case has not been thoroughly investigated yet, so the resolution of this is not clear.

 

There are several possible ways in which we might be able to understanding reality anomalies:  One possible way, suggested by Budd Hopkins and David Jacobs, is to ask whether such anomalous perceptions might actually be screen memories for another event.  Most memories of reality anomalies are remembered under conscious recall, and are not hypnotic.  While the literal accuracy of memories from hypnosis can not be assumed, hypnotic regression can often resolve many reality paradoxes.  Often these turn out to be entry scenarios into a classic abduction.  This is a current area of research, and much work by Hopkins (Intruders), Jacobs (The Threat), and others, would suggest that this is the case.

 

Another view, however, is that these reality anomalies are not an illusion, but instead are indications that a true physical/mental duality actually exists.  This is somewhat the view taken by Jacques Vallee and others in the non-ETI school of UFOlogical thought.  However, whether real or illusion, reality anomalies are truly signs of a deeper mystery.  If this mystery can be cracked, it might well lead us to a vastly deeper understanding of both the UFO/CE4 phenomenon, and perhaps of reality itself.