★★★★★ 5
Fascinating
It's impossible to put this book down. I've spent dozens of hours reading about the topics of Ufology, psi, cryptozoology, etc., enough to know that these are much, much more than : imagination, hoax, alien encounter(s). I've seen three UFOs myself and I know I wasn't imagining them but I don't really understand what they 'are'. I've had psi related experiences my entire lifetime. (I've never seen a bigfoot or a mothman, but boy would I like to lol). "The Trickster and the Paranormal", George Hansen, discusses in depth what these phenomena are (and are not); "Merging Dimensions" gives the reader as close to a first-hand look as possible without actually being there. I found that I did NOT have to suspend belief one bit since I actually have educated myself regarding the nature of these phenomena. Some of the photographs are hard to decipher but WOW that "portal" is amazing. It reminded me of a screen against a wall in a dark room, the sort projectors used to view slides (back in the good old days before digital photography).
That part of the book written by Tom Dongo presented his conjectures (at the time the book was written, 16 years ago) regarding the nature of these phenomena. I don't agree with some of what he says and there are explanations for other of his statements. Since we now know that consciousness can effect result in measurement on the quantum level, we can postulate that the same effect is seen on other levels. On page 104, Mr. Dongo says "However, the incredible light retreated quickly away from the group when one of the six people became hysterical with fear. Fear drives these lights, or life forms, away." Fear disengages cognition, and it's contagious: if the man next to me becomes hysterical, I will react without control (it's a fight/flight mechanism, can't be reasoned away instantly) and, when that happens (when the other people's autonomic reactions kick in as a response to the hysterical man), cognition "flies out the window" and if our consciousness is in any way related to the phenomenon, without cognition it is rendered moot.
One thing I do agree with is his following statement, "Reading and listening to everything of pertinence is the only way we can build a database for the internal guidance system to decide what is relevant and what isn't. Because of ignorance or a lack of information, some of the world's most entrenched beliefs and institutions were created thousands ofyears ago by a few who had in mind only power and profit. It's been proven that many of these beliefs have no verifiable historic record outside of the original document or decree itself. many of these dictums survive basically intact, even now." Accurate analysis of so many strongly held belief systems; people seem incapable (and unwilling) to let go of them. This is pure fear, of the unknown, and of stepping away from the herd mentality.
I don't fool easily and I AM no fool. This hint at REALITY (rather than what we construe as such) is fascinating and Linda Bradshaw's advice regarding spiritual authority is spot on. I'm doing more research immediately; I'm going to see what's happened in the last sixteen years. I hope I don't find myself wearing chocolate shoes but, honestly, I'm so far out on a limb already that they might just provide me a much needed snack. :o/
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Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2010
