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Communion #6
Solving the Communion Enigma: What Is to Come
For eleven years after Whitley Strieber wrote Communion, his experiences continued, and here he presents radical new information about not only the close encounter experience, but also the whole universe of paranormal phenomena. Astronaut Edgar Mitchell says, "Don't miss it." 'Fingerprints of the Gods author Graham Hancock says "Amazing. I devoured this wonderful, important, deeply thought-provoking book at a sitting."
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2011
43 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Whitley Strieber
148 books1,236 followersAmerican writer best known for his novels The Wolfen,The Hunger and Warday and for Communion, a non-fiction description of his experiences with apparent alien contact. He has recently made significant advances in understanding this phenomenon, and has published his new discoveries in Solving the Communion Enigma.
Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the blockbuster film about sudden climate change, The Day After Tomorrow.
His book The Afterlife Revolution written with his deceased wife Anne, is a record of what is considered to be one of the most powerful instances of afterlife communication ever recorded.
Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the blockbuster film about sudden climate change, The Day After Tomorrow.
His book The Afterlife Revolution written with his deceased wife Anne, is a record of what is considered to be one of the most powerful instances of afterlife communication ever recorded.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 15, 2012
When Whitley Strieber's book, Communion, came out in 1988, it was the first major work on the UFO phenomenon to be published in a while. Strieber was already known as a horror writer and had had some success with his novels, Warday, Wolfen, and The Hunger. So the question surrounding his latest book at the time was: Is he telling the truth, or just trying to make money?
Having followed Mr. Strieber's career and writings since Communion, I believe the former. He is being as honest as it's possible to be in telling a difficult and strange story.
Solving the Communion Enigma is Mr. Strieber's summation of the journey that began for him with the Communion experience, which was an apparent abduction by alien beings on December 26, 1985. While his relating of that event led to him being identified with the popular notions of "alien abduction," he has never been an adherent to that interpretation of what happened to him. He does not dismiss the possibility completely because he finds value in keeping the question open, but he does not aver that his visitors were from another planet. In Solving the Communion Enigma he says, "Being identified as a believer in aliens has always troubled me. It just doesn't seem to me to be the only possible explanation."
Another famous UFO researcher, Jacques Vallee, came to a similar conclusion in his book, Dimensions. After relating some of the more exotic of UFO anecdotes, he describes the logical expectations of alien visitations and concludes that "aliens from another planet" just isn't a strange enough explanation for the UFO phenomenon.
So what is? That's the question Mr. Strieber has been trying to answer, or at least address, in the years since his Communion incident.
Solving the Communion Enigma is a record of Strieber's years of engagement with the phenomena. Followers of his writings, in both his nonfiction books and on his website (www.unknowncountry.com), will recognize much of the material and be enlightened from his further observations. They begin right after the Communion incident, when Strieber sought to engage the beings that assaulted him that fateful night. Or maybe I should say he continued to engage them since he later came to believe the contact started in his childhood. He describes this in Part One and advances the theory that childhood traumas, whether by chance or manipulated, can open a person to this contact.
It can also open a person to invasive trauma, like having objects implanted in their bodies. I was aware that Strieber had claimed to be the recipient of such an implant and had even tried to have it removed, but I had not read about it in detail. He describes what implants are and relates his own experience in Part One. It is fascinating material and I can see why the study of such implants would be a way to bring a scientific angle on the abduction phenomena, if any credentialed scientists would do it.
I had also not read much at length about crop circles and he has a section in Part Two about that. Like implants, there's more to the subject than I realized and it would be worthy of real scientific study if it were allowed.
In Part Three, Strieber gets more into his personal experiences with beings that might be alien, or humans from a different plane or state of development. His experiences are in keeping with much mystic lore, both modern and classical. His descriptions of his times of meditating with these beings, the symbolic insights they offered, and the richness of his time with them are fascinating. His premiere experience of this kind was with the "Master of the Key," an apparent man that he met in Canada and conversed with in the early morning hours, gaining insights he related in his book, The Key.
Strieber relates all this other-worldly material in tight, engaging prose. Reading his work is like listening to an intelligent and experienced dinner guest talk about exotic, engrossing subjects, who is also not afraid to let some emotion come through. In fact, he relates some really personal things. But that too, is typical of his writings, and a testament to his honesty.
Early in Solving the Communion Enigma Strieber says "Something about this world of ours simply does not add up." Many agree, though what in particular about the world doesn't add up is a matter of considerable argument. Pet doctrines that adherents can't bear to see contradicted fill the gaps in our knowledge and offer the solace of ignorance to true believers. But UFOs and the phenomena that surround them are notorious for contradicting reality as we know it, and laying waste to theories that seek to explain them. They deny themselves even as human authority denies them, and other factions embrace them as real space aliens. Experiencers, like Mr. Strieber, are caught in the middle of these extremes and are alternately lauded and hated.
Yet it is this very tension that may be the whole purpose of the UFO/alien abduction experience. Trying to understand the contradictions and the positive and negative passions they arouse may be the force exerted by the intelligence behind the UFOs to actually change the way humans think. As Mr. Strieber says, it may be the very force of evolution as applied to humanity.
If so, then finding a productive way to engage the UFO phenomena is one of humanity's greatest quests, and Mr. Strieber is a pioneer in trying to show us the way. Solving the Communion Enigma is a very helpful tool towards reaching that engagement.
Having followed Mr. Strieber's career and writings since Communion, I believe the former. He is being as honest as it's possible to be in telling a difficult and strange story.
Solving the Communion Enigma is Mr. Strieber's summation of the journey that began for him with the Communion experience, which was an apparent abduction by alien beings on December 26, 1985. While his relating of that event led to him being identified with the popular notions of "alien abduction," he has never been an adherent to that interpretation of what happened to him. He does not dismiss the possibility completely because he finds value in keeping the question open, but he does not aver that his visitors were from another planet. In Solving the Communion Enigma he says, "Being identified as a believer in aliens has always troubled me. It just doesn't seem to me to be the only possible explanation."
Another famous UFO researcher, Jacques Vallee, came to a similar conclusion in his book, Dimensions. After relating some of the more exotic of UFO anecdotes, he describes the logical expectations of alien visitations and concludes that "aliens from another planet" just isn't a strange enough explanation for the UFO phenomenon.
So what is? That's the question Mr. Strieber has been trying to answer, or at least address, in the years since his Communion incident.
Solving the Communion Enigma is a record of Strieber's years of engagement with the phenomena. Followers of his writings, in both his nonfiction books and on his website (www.unknowncountry.com), will recognize much of the material and be enlightened from his further observations. They begin right after the Communion incident, when Strieber sought to engage the beings that assaulted him that fateful night. Or maybe I should say he continued to engage them since he later came to believe the contact started in his childhood. He describes this in Part One and advances the theory that childhood traumas, whether by chance or manipulated, can open a person to this contact.
It can also open a person to invasive trauma, like having objects implanted in their bodies. I was aware that Strieber had claimed to be the recipient of such an implant and had even tried to have it removed, but I had not read about it in detail. He describes what implants are and relates his own experience in Part One. It is fascinating material and I can see why the study of such implants would be a way to bring a scientific angle on the abduction phenomena, if any credentialed scientists would do it.
I had also not read much at length about crop circles and he has a section in Part Two about that. Like implants, there's more to the subject than I realized and it would be worthy of real scientific study if it were allowed.
In Part Three, Strieber gets more into his personal experiences with beings that might be alien, or humans from a different plane or state of development. His experiences are in keeping with much mystic lore, both modern and classical. His descriptions of his times of meditating with these beings, the symbolic insights they offered, and the richness of his time with them are fascinating. His premiere experience of this kind was with the "Master of the Key," an apparent man that he met in Canada and conversed with in the early morning hours, gaining insights he related in his book, The Key.
Strieber relates all this other-worldly material in tight, engaging prose. Reading his work is like listening to an intelligent and experienced dinner guest talk about exotic, engrossing subjects, who is also not afraid to let some emotion come through. In fact, he relates some really personal things. But that too, is typical of his writings, and a testament to his honesty.
Early in Solving the Communion Enigma Strieber says "Something about this world of ours simply does not add up." Many agree, though what in particular about the world doesn't add up is a matter of considerable argument. Pet doctrines that adherents can't bear to see contradicted fill the gaps in our knowledge and offer the solace of ignorance to true believers. But UFOs and the phenomena that surround them are notorious for contradicting reality as we know it, and laying waste to theories that seek to explain them. They deny themselves even as human authority denies them, and other factions embrace them as real space aliens. Experiencers, like Mr. Strieber, are caught in the middle of these extremes and are alternately lauded and hated.
Yet it is this very tension that may be the whole purpose of the UFO/alien abduction experience. Trying to understand the contradictions and the positive and negative passions they arouse may be the force exerted by the intelligence behind the UFOs to actually change the way humans think. As Mr. Strieber says, it may be the very force of evolution as applied to humanity.
If so, then finding a productive way to engage the UFO phenomena is one of humanity's greatest quests, and Mr. Strieber is a pioneer in trying to show us the way. Solving the Communion Enigma is a very helpful tool towards reaching that engagement.
November 22, 2011
This review refers to the Uncorrected Proof copy. I enjoyed the stories about the experiences of those who had encounters. I was confused by the book and felt that he was riding the line between scientific explanations and religion. Do I believe these things could have happened to him? Sure! Do I believe they happened exactly how he remembers? Of that I am not so sure. It seems that some of his experiences could have been dreams or imagined. The crop circles fascinate me. The "implant" in his ear is something that I won't soon forget, but he leaves us with no explanation for what that really is. As for the statement that the Earth could have been formed without a creator, I don't believe it, no matter what Stephen Hawking has discovered. Some of the statements in the book may be offensive to those with religious beliefs. This one is for those who liked Communion, and those who believe that the unexplained might just have an explanation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2014
Fascinating, well written, and in my humble opinion, presently in a way which makes the testimony entirely plausible, logical and worthy of critical scientific evaluation. Aside from that, this book really has the potential to leave the reader awestruck. There are concepts and ideas here that are incredibly eye-opening and revelatory and I recommend this book to anyone.
"We feel that our bodies ARE us. My name is Whitley Strieber because I was given that name at birth. But I was somebody before I had that name. I am still that person. All of us, underneath our names, are somebody more authentic. Personality is a device that is apparently designed to guide us into the sort of life experiences that we need to have in order to further whatever mysterious quest we are on".
"We feel that our bodies ARE us. My name is Whitley Strieber because I was given that name at birth. But I was somebody before I had that name. I am still that person. All of us, underneath our names, are somebody more authentic. Personality is a device that is apparently designed to guide us into the sort of life experiences that we need to have in order to further whatever mysterious quest we are on".
January 8, 2012
I received this book on Jan. 4 and started reading it as soon as I opened the package. It took two days to read and was enormously interesting. Streiber goes into every aspect of ufology and gives it new meaning. I am intrigued. I will need to read the book a number of times before I fully integrate his ideas into my psyche. As John Peterson says on the back cover "this will really...push your envelope". It has definitely pushed mine!
June 5, 2012
I vaguely remember Whitley Streiber's first book and might have read some of his others but
they must not have made an impression on me. This time I just feel sorry for the man, since
it seems he is trying like crazy to make sense of what he believes has happened to him. I
somehow can't swallow all this although it is my inclination to believe in aliens, spirit beings,
and other strange beings. I want evidence. Get that implant out! Let's see it!
they must not have made an impression on me. This time I just feel sorry for the man, since
it seems he is trying like crazy to make sense of what he believes has happened to him. I
somehow can't swallow all this although it is my inclination to believe in aliens, spirit beings,
and other strange beings. I want evidence. Get that implant out! Let's see it!
February 8, 2020
This was a well written book, as it should be considering he is an acclaimed author. I read this book, thinking it was a continuation of his encounters with UFOs and aliens, but it was not actually. He had encounters with many strange beings, like a little old man who looked like a child but with an old face. Another little human looking person who would show up at the author’s meditation times then disappear suddenly. While meditating, he would hear someone running above him on the roof. He also saw ghosts. I know that UFOs exist, because I have seen one. I believe not only in the aliens (someone has to be driving the UFOs), but I believe in the abductions and various contacts because so many people have claimed almost identical experiences. And I believe in the possibility of ghosts (although my own Mom has still not contacted me after her death, although she had promised that she would). But the author has continued to have the weirdest encounters. Do I think he is lying? No, he has even passed various lie detector tests. But some of his experiences are just so strange, it is hard to wrap my head around them. But, like they say, truth is stranger than fiction. The book also focuses on his philosophies concerning life, death, other worlds and realities, that came about as a result of his lifetime of other worldly encounters. I enjoyed reading the book, and it gave me a lot to think about. In fact, after completing this book I immediately started reading his book The Key, A True Encounter.
July 22, 2018
Yet another amazing book by Mr. Strieber!! One day, last July, as if by design, I stumbled onto, Communion (how appropriate) in a pile of books I was helping an elderly lady organize. I held the book in my hands staring at the cover, the lady said to me "That book will captivate you, shake you to your core and question everything you think is reality" and she gave it to me as a gift. Thus the first book in my Strieber collection. Since that day, I have slowly begun to take more interest in my religion, Wicca. It's been gradual; I have a family of 5 which is top of my list of priority and I have an incredibly demanding job as an in home caregiver for elderly. I've just now bought a couple of books on meditation and am beginning to practice. Finding that book that day had put me back on track spiritually.
November 6, 2020
I definitely enjoy reading Whitley Strieber’s books, that being said, I felt a lot of this book was repetitive from previous books he has written. I always enjoy more insight into his vast experiences and his outlook on what it all means. I definitely do agree this extraterrestrial topic, at least one aspect of it, has something to do with life after death. I just don’t know about some of his other opinions about the world going into chaos from climate change. But then again who knows. Fun read !
February 14, 2023
Wow pretty terrifying book especially the part when papal astronomer Guy Consolmagno said in 2010 that he would baptize an alien if asked.
Read
November 11, 2023Didn't read much of, just a few parts
February 14, 2012
I will admit that I am woefully behind the times when it comes to the paranormal front. I lost track of Whitley Strieber's story somewhere past Communion but before Dreamland. So it was with some trepidation that I picked up Solving the Communion Enigma. Where would our beleaguered storyteller be? What's up with that whole implant thing? Why would a guy trembling with fear keep doing the things that scare him so?
After reading this, I'm all caught up on implants, crop circles, multiverses and Grays. At least as caught up as I want to be.
I also discovered that Strieber has put together a series of works that shore up the theories of consciousness advanced by the G.I. Gurdjieff Foundation. So if you like that whole Illuminati/Trickster/Holy Fool schtick, this is the book for you. It's a quick enough read, with barely any breathless, spooky foreshadowing. Toward the back of the book, there's serious consideration of neuroplasticity and conscious evolution, which made for some interesting speculation. And for anyone who wants to have all the bases covered in 2012, its a real must-read.
After reading this, I'm all caught up on implants, crop circles, multiverses and Grays. At least as caught up as I want to be.
I also discovered that Strieber has put together a series of works that shore up the theories of consciousness advanced by the G.I. Gurdjieff Foundation. So if you like that whole Illuminati/Trickster/Holy Fool schtick, this is the book for you. It's a quick enough read, with barely any breathless, spooky foreshadowing. Toward the back of the book, there's serious consideration of neuroplasticity and conscious evolution, which made for some interesting speculation. And for anyone who wants to have all the bases covered in 2012, its a real must-read.
January 10, 2012
I read this in two sittings and was utterly blown away. It's by far the best book about the UFO/encounter experience I have read in a very long time (possibly since the original Communion). Strieber has clearly done a lot of deep thinking about his experiences over the years, and the book is grounded in an agnosticism that I find refreshing and candid. There are more questions than answers here, but it cuts closer to the root of the mystery than dozens of other books on the subject.
The introduction by Jeffrey Kripal, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University, sets the perfect tone, correctly placing contemporary contact/encounter experiences like Strieber's among other historical mystical and transpersonal phenomena.
Fascinating and provocative and highly recommended.
The introduction by Jeffrey Kripal, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University, sets the perfect tone, correctly placing contemporary contact/encounter experiences like Strieber's among other historical mystical and transpersonal phenomena.
Fascinating and provocative and highly recommended.
April 10, 2012
Beautiful book. Whitley Strieber writes from the heart and lays bare his life once again, delving into his past in this book that's filled with compassion, regret, and amazement. Many parts of the book moved me to tears, particulary when talking about the author's relationship to his wife and the Finders nightmare. Whitley concludes that the "visitors" are very likely NOT aliens from another planet. This is exactly the opposite of what the majority of people think, and it takes courage and conviction for the author to write a book that people won't be able to pigeonhole or dismiss easily. Highly recommended.
April 24, 2012
Whitley Strieber a huge name in the alien abduction..."Communion" scene takes a 360 dive away from this believe and investigates the entities that have plagued his world since childhood. At times a self help expository, this book did intrigue me and once again as in Graham Hancock's Supernatural:Meetings with Ancient Teachers of Mankind the dwarf/clownish entities appear. I have to believe there is something to the appearance of these beings... fairies of the past, aliens of the present or interdimensional???
October 7, 2015
Whitley presents the entire UFO enigma of impossible aerodynamics, abductions, appearances of the dead with the 'visitors', crop circles, cattle mutilations, and environmental messages as a massive scheme to facilitate human evolution, and get us to realize that we have a non-physical side to us as well. These are themes he has discussed in prior books as well, but it was nice to revisit the topic and see the way he's woven other evidence into the argument, such as the notion that childhood trauma allows some to see what others cannot.
January 27, 2012
I've read all of Whitley Strieber's nonfiction books that deal with the close encounter subject, and this was by far the best. It's an even more thought provoking read than the very first in the Communion series. This book offers some fresh insight and well thought out speculation. Definitely worth reading a couple times.
June 19, 2012
BOOK REVIEW ONLINE
the book review (submitted in February and publish-delayed because of health issues) of Whitley Strieber's Solving The Communion Enigma is now online at Scene360.
have just re-read this book, and it's lost none of its spine-tingling power.
the book review (submitted in February and publish-delayed because of health issues) of Whitley Strieber's Solving The Communion Enigma is now online at Scene360.
have just re-read this book, and it's lost none of its spine-tingling power.
May 28, 2016
There's something simultaneously compelling and annoying about Streiber's endless worrying over two or three odd incidents. I laughed when I saw this book, thinking, he's at it again. Even so, it's a good analysis of reality and how we decide what it is. Some good expanding references to other scholars, too.
August 16, 2012
Whitley Strieber keeps the questions open. His extreme "out there" experiences jump from the page in a very visceral way. Yet he never degrades his journey into a convenient set of sound-bites (as others have done). And that is why I continue to be intrigued and moved by this author's work.
January 30, 2012
One of the most important books in my library! Whitley has set the compass for us as we move forward into what would otherwise be uncharted territory. Fantastic, thought provoking, emotionally stimulating.
February 24, 2012
Encounters of the third kind, crop circles, "visitors" and things that go bump in the night. The author's experiences and theories on E.T.'s. Interesting and food for thought.
July 28, 2012
Oddly moving, unevenly written, mostly agnostic, tuned into the horror that is our present condition.
February 2, 2013
Not giving any thing away - loved it - and worth reading. All I can say is be afraid when finished.
October 22, 2015
In which the author waxes philosophical about the close encounter experience, and bemoans his falling book sales.
April 18, 2016
Distressingly new agey. Hell, I don't know what to believe about Strieber's experiences. Won't spend too much time thinking about it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews