-MAD: Alex, it’s great to have this opportunity to speak with you today. For the folks who might not know, you run your own website and e-zine entitled PHANTOM MAGAZINE where you cover all sorts of weird happenings. You’ve also co-founded your own paranormal research group which personally examines accounts of the unexplained and tries to prove, or debunk specific cases of anomalous manifestations, such as hauntings and possessions. What set you on the path of researching such arcane matters, and how did ‘Phantom Magazine’ first come about?
-A.R.: I want to thank you for this opportunity to share with everyone what Phantom Magazine is all about. To answer the question as to what started me on the path of the paranormal is a two fold answer. 1) Growing up in a Catholic family, albeit a very liberal one, never really satisfied my curious nature. In other words, I had a lot of questions even as a child that the faith, or the faithful, couldn't answer. With that in mind, as I got older, I started searching for the answers myself. 2) At the age of 10, give or take a few months, I had an extremely vivid dream in which I overcame my fear of flying. Since then, I have always wondered what other abilities we as humans posses. Those two are the main reasons why I got involved in this, along with a high level of curiosity in which I tend to ask a lot of questions.
-MAD: While the party’s just getting started at ‘Phantom Magazine’ what kinds of articles might readers expect in the months to come?
-A.R.: The aim of Phantom Magazine is to be able to get the reader to ask questions that they normally might not ask. The aim of the articles I write, as witnessed with the could I have posted on BoT, are more of a philosophical nature in which I ask as many questions as possible about a topic, and then try to formulate a theory; no matter how far out there it might seem. Others, who contribute to the magazine, are welcome to contribute any material that conforms to the topics of the magazine, and as long as they do not make any claims, at least without any proof, than pretty much anything goes. Also, Phantom Magazine gives a venue by which people who have opinions but have not been able to voice them, to be heard.
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-MAD: I understand that you welcome reader contributions? Quoting from your website:
“Phantom Magazine also wants to include its subscribers in this journey by allowing you to contribute to the magazine. We want you to feel like you are a part of a community that is dedicated to answering the tough questions and being responsible for getting others to take a look at these subjects in a more serious manner. Let's shed some new light into these topics and let's find the answers that have eluded mankind for such a long time together. Let's disperse the darkness and enlighten the mind and help usher in a new era of knowledge.”
What’s the easiest way for readers to send in their submissions?
-A.R.: The simplest way for people to send their submissions is to e-mail me at submissions@phantomezine.com with a description of what their article is going to be about along with the actual article. Again I want stress that as long as the article conforms to the topics of the magazine, and no claims are made, I will publish it. Also, I want to stress that payment for the submissions will be a free month subscription for every article to the magazine itself initially until the magazine starts to generate better revenue.
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-MAD: While there are many cases of the “paranormal” what are some of your favorite studies of “supernatural” phenomena? For instance, are you interested in the dream and trance related works of ‘seers’ such as Edgar Cayce?
-A.R.: My interests vary throughout the spectrum of what can be deemed as paranormal and the Occult/Esoteric studies. I enjoy reading books that have different points of view so as to try and get a better rounded perspective on the subjects. I believe that there are many aspects of this life, and universe that we haven't even begun to tap into, and if I can be, in part, responsible for getting people to think outside the box, I would be extremely happy.
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-MAD: What are some of your thoughts on “prophecy” in general, Biblical or otherwise?
-A.R.: This is tricky. I do believe that we have the ability to catch glimpses of what's to come. However, these are just glimpses, and they are usually too vague in order for people to make an accurate interpretation of them.
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-MAD: How far do you believe science and psychology interplays with the realms of paranormal activity? Might many of these indefinable occurrences be explained with ration and logic? How do we separate the wheat from the chaff in regards to the study of metaphysics?
-A.R.: At the present time, there isn't enough interplay with respect to science and psychology with the realm of the paranormal. I would say that rationality and logic would explain the majority of the paranormal cases. Paranormal, and more, activity, is highly subjective, which is one of the reasons why we have such a hard time getting people in the scientific community to take us seriously; although that is starting to slowly change. In order to separate the wheat from the chaff, one has to be able to be a good judge of character. Once again, because paranormal activity is highly subjective, I'm not one to tell someone that what they experienced didn't happen. That being said, there are also a number of people who will deliberately lie in order to get their five minutes in the spotlight, and this is where a person’s ability to be a good judge of character comes in handy.
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-MAD: What do you think of the frauds and hoaxters (which are prevalent)? Are you forgiving, or do you believe they do a great disservice to legitimate study of parapsychology?
-A.R: The definitely do a great disservice to the field, and largely because they seem to be the loudest ones as well. Let's not forget that there are a lot of people who either don't believe, or are sketchy on the topic of the paranormal, so to have frauds and hoaxters come out and make claims for which they usually get caught on doesn't help our cause in trying to get people to at least take us seriously.
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-MAD: It appears we see eye to eye on the element of hoaxters and charlatans. At some point in time I’m sure you’ll publish something on this next topic, but what are your views on the “UFO enigma”? Though a complicated area, what message would you personally want to relay regarding this matter, and is it possible that government Black Ops might play a large role in these “Alien” events?
-A.R.: Unfortunately, the study of UFO's is not my strong point; however, one would think that if evidence of Alien abduction is there, then it would be hard to dispute. What I mean by this is the presence of implants. As for government Black Ops? Anything is possible, but I caution people who are adamant about this because just as there is a lack of empirical proof with respect to the paranormal, there is also lack of empirical proof that ties the government to these UFO sightings. If we want to be taken seriously, with respect to the paranormal or UFOlogy, we cannot jump to conclusions without having anything to back us up. It's one thing to state an opinion, but it's totally different to come out and 'state' that the government is behind this.
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-MAD: I understand where you’re coming from with this, but just wonder if we’re to admit that abductions and implants occur, if Occam’s Razor might lead us to earthly sources, instead of otherworldly. Onto another topic: Conspiracy, the New World Order, Annuit Coeptis, do you feel there is a globalist agenda of international elitists to control not only our bodies, but our minds and spirits as well?
-A.R.: If you look at the history of mankind, there have always been instances of individuals wanting to control the world, Hitler just to name one in recent times. But, I believe that there isn't much money to be made by the elitists if they have total control in the typical sense where we become mindless slaves. In today's global economy, it would make more sense for these elitists to control what and how we buy, rather then control our bodies and minds outright.
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-MAD: The U.S. government has spent trillions of dollars on a failed “War on Drugs”, bringing this nation into a rapidly emerging police and surveillance state. Drugs have been used for a wide variety of purposes over thousands of years (healing, ceremonial, and otherwise) specifically of the Cannabis and Mushroom variety. New research is being released all the time which shows a wide range of benefits for the ingestion of both of these “illegal” yet naturally grown substances. What role do you think psychedelic drugs have played on the growth of civilization, and how might such substances aid in further “lifting the veil” on psychical procedures?
-A.R: Very interesting question MAD. I actually wrote an article on Hallucinogenics, particularly DMT. Psychedelic drugs help to lift inhibition, meaning that what the logical mind normally wouldn't let you think, now becomes a non issue and you're left to delve into topics that you wouldn't normally touch upon when sober. But, because we are all individuals, these drugs have different effects on each one of us; so, what works to my benefit, might be detrimental to someone else, or have no effect at all. The individual's mindset to begin with has a good bearing on the outcome of the effect of the drug.
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-MAD: Though there is such a wide range of psychical activity, if you had to devote your life to one specific area of research, what would you choose?
-A.R: I would definitely delve into whether there is life after death. I would try to either prove or disprove the existence of the soul and the continuity of our consciousness beyond our physical deaths.
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-MAD: Care to share a few of your favorite books and authors?
-A.R: Sure I can. Rosemary Ellen Guiley has written a few very interesting books on the paranormal. One of her latest is called, “The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits: Third Edition”, which is an excellent reference guide. Also, Katherine Ramsland, Jeff Belanger, Michelle Belanger (no relation), and Konstantinos (for the Occult side of things). There are still many authors in which I haven't been able to read, but those are only a few. On Phantom Magazine, there is, on the main page, a small section that I have dedicated to books I recommend. Also, I have a section in the forum where anyone is welcome to input who their favorite authors and books are.
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-MAD: Rosemary Ellen Guiley does have some terrific books on these subjects.What about movies and music, any films or musicians who you’d recommend?
-A.R.: One of my all time favourite movies that touches upon these sort of topics would be the original “Omen” movie with Gregory Peck. If you are religious at all, it would really have an impact on you. Music wise, I don't really have any favorites.
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-MAD: Alex, I’ve enjoyed or discussion today and hope we might do this again sometime soon. I wish you the best of luck with the future of ‘Phantom Magazine’ and might even be able to provide some contributions myself in the coming weeks. Thanks very much for your time, are there any final thoughts you’d like to leave us with today?
-A.R.: Thank you again MAD for this opportunity, and you're welcome to contribute anytime. My final thought for today would be to keep asking questions. We didn't get to where we are today by not asking any questions, and a desire to find the truth, even if we do not attain it in our lifetime. It's better to lay a solid foundation for future researchers to build a house upon, rather than not building anything.
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MAD is the Administrator of UPSIDEBEBACKWARDS and creator of ‘Ezekiel’s Cave’. Recent articles and interviews can be found HERE.
Alex Rondini is the founder of ‘Phantom Magazine’ and an avid researcher into areas of the paranormal and unexplained.
Posted by: THoTH on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 @ 10:07:47 CDT
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