By Steve Hammons
It’s not just about unidentified
flying objects (UFOs) and the beings reportedly aboard some of them. It’s
bigger, wider, deeper.
That is one of the insights
gained by many of the people who attended the five-day 23rd annual International UFO Congress
conference near Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, Arizona, Feb. 12-16.
From national security
considerations to spiritual perspectives, from the far reaches of the Universe
to our struggling planet Earth here and now, speakers and attendees explored
dozens of key aspects of, and possible connections to the UFO phenomena.
Hundreds of people from around
the country and other countries attended the fascinating presentations by
speakers, panel discussions, evening gatherings and other activities. Visitors
also enjoyed perfect weather – sunny days with highs in the mid-80s and mostly
clear nights for sky watching (night-vision equipment was also available).
Approximately 1,000 people
attended each day with a total of about 2,500 probably attending, according to
local news reports. Many other people around the U.S. and around the world
learned about the conference on the International UFO Congress website.
The conference organizers, Open
Minds Production of Tempe,
Arizona, recruited speakers who covered a variety of topics ranging from
mainstream scientific views to very forward-leaning perspectives about what
could be going on.
MORE THAN FLYING OBJECTS
The many unknowns and mysteries
associated with the UFO situation create wonderful opportunities for
professional, paraprofessional and amateur researchers to try to learn more and
gain more understanding. This appeared to be happening at the International UFO
Congress in significant ways. The sharing of experiences, information and
perspectives provided plenty of food for thought.
While some talks at the
conference embraced some very mind-expanding concepts, other speakers tackled
the nuts and bolts of the recent history of UFOs in somewhat more conventional
historical terms.
Conference attendees were told
that, yes, a very special craft of some kind crashed near Roswell in July 1947
and was promptly flown to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in southwestern Ohio
for examination by top engineers, scientists and defense officials.
In the 1950s and ‘60s sightings
of a variety of types of UFOs continued to be seen in the U.S. and
internationally. As a result, semi-open public investigation programs such as
Project BLUE BOOK were put in place. Behind the scenes other research and
response activities also reportedly were implemented.
The situation has continued to
develop to the present day. How has it developed? That seems to be the complex
question at hand.
The UFO phenomena provided an
overarching fabric of the International UFO Congress, yet that topic also
served as a way to approach possible other new discoveries that could be
related in certain ways.
Several speakers examined
unusual, anomalous phenomena that do not always appear to be directly connected
to the many kinds of UFOs that have been reported. Yet, there are indications
of various types of connections, according to some views.
For example, physicists and
others speculate that there could be hidden dimensions in our Universe. And
there might be points of connection and interaction between our “normal” world
and other worlds. Portals, doors, wormholes, star gates and pathways may exist.
If so, where are they? What do
they do and how do they work? Where do they go? Who uses them, and why?
Some conference speakers noted
that our planet and human societies are in trouble. There are a significant
number of serious challenges and problems of many kinds facing the human race
and this planet we are living on. Of course, the human race itself is a huge
part of the problem, certain presenters noted.
One view is that there may be
intelligent beings – of several kinds – who might be able to assist us.
According to some of the speakers, this help may be available and has been in
the pipeline and in the form of discreet and mysterious interventions currently
underway.
TOWARD A BREAKTHROUGH
Can new discoveries and insights
help us? And are there serious dangers that we should also be aware of and
prepared for? What roles do the media play? If kind and friendly beings
are nearby and can provide help, why is so much suffering and destruction
continuing on Earth?
These are some of the questions
considered by speakers and attendees at the conference.
However, if we look around our
world in new ways, look to Nature and Mother Earth, look to the skies and into
ourselves, there are solid clues and indications worth paying attention to,
according to several of the speakers.
These clues may involve a variety
of phenomena from discoveries in physics to crop circles, from the theorized
dimension of Heaven to healing miracles here on Earth. And from odd
coincidences to meaningful signs and messages in our daily lives. There are
also other existing and emerging phenomena that are fascinating and maybe hopeful,
the conference audience was told.
Some speakers counseled attendees
to keep their eyes open for these realities. They may show themselves through
Nature, through our relationships and through the human heart.
Fundamental to the discussion at
the conference was the issue of how our human consciousness can try to
accurately understand what might be going on in these areas. How can we
determine what is true and what might be the best paths to follow to make more
progress?
More questions … a few answers …
and then more mysteries.
But by asking these questions and
looking honestly into the many puzzle pieces involved in the UFO phenomena,
those at the International UFO Congress, and all of us, might someday make
further discoveries and a significant breakthrough.
