Cultic Studies Journal, Volume 17, 2000, Page 131
the Insights of the Prophecy. As she treats the narrator she shares her ―awareness,‖ a
combination of standard medical training and alternative, folk and shamanic beliefs. She
teaches the narrator to go into the pain and into all memories and visions associated with it,
even to past life recall. When our protagonist finally does so later in the story, his ankle
miraculously heals. Next, Curtis comes into the story as another Insight person who
represents the concerned scientist. He knows what the experiment is about and he wants to
blow it up.
All Curtis manages to do is blow up a satellite dish that is soon repaired by the
experimenters. He reluctantly agrees to the narrator's alternative plan to work with the
fated Insight ―group‖ to stop the experiment with psychic energy. Curtis explains that the
experimental ―device‖ (presumably a kind of magical psychotronic machine) ―has the
potential to disrupt [nine] dimensions. It could trigger massive earthquakes or even
complete physical disintegration of certain areas.‖ (p. 91) Curtis invokes the quack
experiments of Nikola Tesla. Tesla (1856-1943), an eccentric genius who invented the same
AC ―polyphase‖ system we use today as well as the induction motor, was responsible for the
―Tesla coil,‖ a giant, high voltage generator. The coil was supposed to tap energy fields and
transmit electricity without wires through the earth or sky. It never worked and never will
(see Skeptical Inquirer, Summer 1994). Nevertheless, Curtis informs us that ―basically it
works this way. Imagine the electromagnetic field of the Earth as a giant battery that can
provide plenty of electrical energy if you can tie into it in the correct way.‖ (p. 91)
The pseudo-scientific Curtis goes on to claim that the infamous ―Philadelphia Experiment,‖ a
fabulous rumor about a ship that ―disappeared‖ in 1943 from a Philadelphia shipyard,
actually happened: ―Do you think they really made the ship disappear and show up again in
a new location, in 1943?‖ And Curtis answers, ―Of course they did! There's a lot of secret
technology around, and they're smart.‖ (p. 92) If you are interested in a better explanation
of the Philadelphia Experiment, look up the real story behind the rumor in The Fringes of
Reason edited by Ted Schultz (Harmony Books, 1989). This same ―energy‖ that the Fear
people are developing is what concerns Curtis. ―They could totally ruin this place, make it
into a twilight zone, another Bermuda triangle where the laws of physics are in
unpredictable flux.‖(p. 90) He says, ―I think they're trying to tie into the energy vortexes in
this valley in an attempt to stabilize the process....What they're trying now is insane.‖(p.
93)
Apparently, Feyman, the sinister scientist, who knows that this technology can provide a
cheap source of energy if it is allocated in small household units, wants to pre-empt the
possibility. He takes advantage of the Tenth Insight powers of the naive Charlene. Feyman
believes that the economy would change too quickly if the power is not first centralized.
Those in power would lose control. The Insighters believe that no such thing would happen
because the emergence of Insight awareness would create a benevolent passage, not
without difficulties, toward a Utopian, planetary civilization.
In the chapter called ―A History of Awakening‖ we learn the past life secret of the narrator
and the Celestine Prophecy's origins. Our narrator ―remembers‖ that he was a member of a
secret order of Franciscan ―Spirituals‖ in the 13th century. The Spirituals (they actually
existed) were supported by Pope Celestine V (from 1294-1296) but later ―were condemned
as Gnostics and excommunicated.‖ (p. 108) In reality, the Spirituals were a radical sect of
Franciscans (they called for a literal observance of St. Francis' rules, especially poverty) who
had political differences with the next Pope, Boniface VIII. They were not Gnostics in the
strict sense.
The text suggests many techniques that enable an Insighter to access the Afterlife and
knowledge of a personal destiny. The latter comes from Birth Visions, a kind of trance state
that helps one to remember one's pure ―intent‖ when entering life this time. The Life Review
the Insights of the Prophecy. As she treats the narrator she shares her ―awareness,‖ a
combination of standard medical training and alternative, folk and shamanic beliefs. She
teaches the narrator to go into the pain and into all memories and visions associated with it,
even to past life recall. When our protagonist finally does so later in the story, his ankle
miraculously heals. Next, Curtis comes into the story as another Insight person who
represents the concerned scientist. He knows what the experiment is about and he wants to
blow it up.
All Curtis manages to do is blow up a satellite dish that is soon repaired by the
experimenters. He reluctantly agrees to the narrator's alternative plan to work with the
fated Insight ―group‖ to stop the experiment with psychic energy. Curtis explains that the
experimental ―device‖ (presumably a kind of magical psychotronic machine) ―has the
potential to disrupt [nine] dimensions. It could trigger massive earthquakes or even
complete physical disintegration of certain areas.‖ (p. 91) Curtis invokes the quack
experiments of Nikola Tesla. Tesla (1856-1943), an eccentric genius who invented the same
AC ―polyphase‖ system we use today as well as the induction motor, was responsible for the
―Tesla coil,‖ a giant, high voltage generator. The coil was supposed to tap energy fields and
transmit electricity without wires through the earth or sky. It never worked and never will
(see Skeptical Inquirer, Summer 1994). Nevertheless, Curtis informs us that ―basically it
works this way. Imagine the electromagnetic field of the Earth as a giant battery that can
provide plenty of electrical energy if you can tie into it in the correct way.‖ (p. 91)
The pseudo-scientific Curtis goes on to claim that the infamous ―Philadelphia Experiment,‖ a
fabulous rumor about a ship that ―disappeared‖ in 1943 from a Philadelphia shipyard,
actually happened: ―Do you think they really made the ship disappear and show up again in
a new location, in 1943?‖ And Curtis answers, ―Of course they did! There's a lot of secret
technology around, and they're smart.‖ (p. 92) If you are interested in a better explanation
of the Philadelphia Experiment, look up the real story behind the rumor in The Fringes of
Reason edited by Ted Schultz (Harmony Books, 1989). This same ―energy‖ that the Fear
people are developing is what concerns Curtis. ―They could totally ruin this place, make it
into a twilight zone, another Bermuda triangle where the laws of physics are in
unpredictable flux.‖(p. 90) He says, ―I think they're trying to tie into the energy vortexes in
this valley in an attempt to stabilize the process....What they're trying now is insane.‖(p.
93)
Apparently, Feyman, the sinister scientist, who knows that this technology can provide a
cheap source of energy if it is allocated in small household units, wants to pre-empt the
possibility. He takes advantage of the Tenth Insight powers of the naive Charlene. Feyman
believes that the economy would change too quickly if the power is not first centralized.
Those in power would lose control. The Insighters believe that no such thing would happen
because the emergence of Insight awareness would create a benevolent passage, not
without difficulties, toward a Utopian, planetary civilization.
In the chapter called ―A History of Awakening‖ we learn the past life secret of the narrator
and the Celestine Prophecy's origins. Our narrator ―remembers‖ that he was a member of a
secret order of Franciscan ―Spirituals‖ in the 13th century. The Spirituals (they actually
existed) were supported by Pope Celestine V (from 1294-1296) but later ―were condemned
as Gnostics and excommunicated.‖ (p. 108) In reality, the Spirituals were a radical sect of
Franciscans (they called for a literal observance of St. Francis' rules, especially poverty) who
had political differences with the next Pope, Boniface VIII. They were not Gnostics in the
strict sense.
The text suggests many techniques that enable an Insighter to access the Afterlife and
knowledge of a personal destiny. The latter comes from Birth Visions, a kind of trance state
that helps one to remember one's pure ―intent‖ when entering life this time. The Life Review
