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effect induced by a microwave field. The chiming doorbells up of different parts, it operated as a single entity, and phenomena could easily be induced by power surges activating the circuitry, occurred in the same unpredictable way as reported poltergeists: just as car alarms can be set off in this way. One would not have you could be there for days and nothing would happen, then sud- thought that taps could be turned by magnetic fields because of denly coins would flip and fly, water would swirl and a trans- the levels of mechanical force needed, but it was pointed out to former would blow. And this brings me to an unfortunate aspect me that a whole range of seemingly mysterious events, including of the device: it has a tendency to destroy itself. It is worth doors locking, windows flying open and taps turning, can be typi- recalling at this point that psychical researchers have in fact cal indicators of imminent Earth tremors. Such reports are col- dubbed poltergeist activity as "destructive haunting". lected by seismologists and are known as "diagnostics". These Therefore, I was vindicated in that it was clear that classical revelations have shown me that not everything can be understood poltergeist phenomena are generated by EM field effects—but from a commonsense, everyday logic point of view and that ‘hid- how? These were not conventional magnetic phenomena or those den knowledge’ can be found through a disciplined tradition of of ordinary static electricity which can disturb non-ferrous materi- repeated mental exercises, commonly known as education! als. And there were other unusual aspects that had to be taken However, as we work our way down the list of 'poltergeist' phe- into account: the effects that occurred were all at low power and nomena, it becomes clear that there is a point at a distance. where the laws of physics cannot help us and On one video recording a 19-pound we venture into the realms of the unknown, bronze cylinder is seen to rise majestically the unclassified and the purely experimental. into the air, at a distance of 80 feet from the How do objects, some of them quite heavy, Everything that centre of the device, but, incredibly, levitate when they are not made of iron or Hutchison tells us: have any iron content? (The heavy table psychical researchers "The source power was 110 volts AC. must have moved for it to have overturned.) One side of the AC line had a power factor How does stone and/or concrete shatter have been capacitor (60 cycles, 250 volts) and a 100- and/or catch fire? How does mirror-glass . amp current limiter." crack? And how did electromagnetic fields documenting for On another occasion, when Hutchison's make my coffee turn into a mini-whirlpool A layout of apparatus and equipment was before my eyes? I had a problem. I knew decades as poltergeist reproduced by an electrical engineering that poltergeist activity took place in electro- ivity— company interested in this device, he magnetic hot-spots, but what were the physi- activity and that explained: cal mechanisms involved in generating these priests have been "All components are powered from a sin- effects? gle 15-amp, 110-volt, 60-Hz supply." THE POLTERGEIST MACHINE called Ht to ELECTROMAGNETIC POWER TO This is where the experimental find- exorcise—eventually THE PEOPLE ings of John Hutchison, the electromag- turned up in the Before we examine aspects of netics pioneer in British Columbia, Hutchison's device in more detail, let Canada, enter our arena of understand- | us remember that the aim of this arti- aboratory where H A] John Hutchison's ing—up to a point, that is. For what he cle is to assist people around the world device operated. has fortuitously discovered shows with- adapt to an accelerating transforma- out a doubt that poltergeist activity is tion. As we can see from the recent electromagnetic in nature. His research increase in interest in the paranormal, opens doors which lead to more ques- understanding the implications of pol- tions than answers. tergeist phenomena would certainly So what is it that Hutchison found qualify as a valuable goal. that made the national television news Until now, the general public has in three different countries (the USA, been led to think of poltergeists as Japan and Canada)? spectacular fiction, and, for many Basically, what Hutchison did was cram into a single room a decades, status quo psychical researchers have done little better variety of devices which emit electromagnetic fields (such as by regarding this phenomenon as the activity of spirits of the dead Tesla coils, van de Graaff generators, RF transmitters, signal gen- or intelligences from the astral plane. At this stage of my career erators, etc.). He found that after they had been running for a as an investigator of the paranormal, and at this stage in our while, effects began to occur that were identical to what have developing awareness, which is an integral part of the generalised come to be regarded as poltergeist phenomena. Objects of any transformation, people are hungry for answers. They have had material levitated into the air and hovered there, or moved about —_ enough of regarding strange phenomena as permanent mysteries and then fell; fires started in unlikely places around the building; a and want to move forward. We are at the crossroads. We can mirror smashed at a distance of 80 feet away; metal distorted and —_ continue along the road where mysteries remain unknown and are broke; water spontaneously swirled in containers; lights appeared kept as such by the traditional psychical research establishments in the air and then vanished; metal became white-hot but did not (I cannot name them for fear of litigation), or we can seriously burn any surrounding materials; and so on. examine fresh alternatives which begin new directions that give Everything that psychical researchers have been documenting some real hope for answers and understanding. for decades as poltergeist activity—and that priests have been Many people in the UK and USA already know of my environ- called in to exorcise—eventually turned up in the laboratory mental causation approach to the paranormal and anomalies in where John Hutchison's device operated. Although it was made general, by the movement I have launched in my books. If I were have been called in to turned up in the laboratory where John Hutchison's device operated. NEXUS +57 DECEMBER 1996 - JANUARY 1997