Ancient Skills and Wisdom Review - No 03

Magazine Overview

ANCIENT SKILLS AND WISDOM REVIEW - NUMBER THREE

This issue, Number 3, of the Ancient Skills and Wisdom Review is edited and published by Paul Screeton, based in Hartlepool, Cleveland. The subscription is £2 annually, and it is published quarterly. The cover prominently displays the title in a stylized font.

Book Reviews and Features

Glastonbury: Ancient Avalon - The New Jerusalem edited by Anthony Roberts (Zodiac House Publications) is described as a "labour of love" meticulously crafted to capture the mystique of Glastonbury. The book is praised for its comprehensive exploration of the site's physical and spiritual splendor, its connection to gematria and the Word of God, and its legendary associations with King Arthur, the Grail Quest, and the New Jerusalem. The review notes that the book, initially in limited editions, is to be published by Rider with an afterword by Colin Wilson. It highlights the diverse interests of the contributors, covering leys, zodiacs, mazes, tunnels, numerology, and metrology, and declares it superior to other books on Glastonbury's mysteries.

The Occult by Gareth Knight (available from Askin Publishers) is presented as a work that defines occultism as "very largely the study of rejected science and religion." The review notes Knight's argument that occultism is the study of the subjective as objective, and it places occultism in historical perspective without dwelling on darker aspects. The book is commended for its balanced approach, scientific and psychological sense, and its glossary of occult terms. A minor criticism is the presence of misspellings of names, attributed to typesetting errors. The material also touches upon less publicized zones like rock music's connection to UFOs.

Science and Society in Prehistoric Britain by Euán W. Mackie (Paul Elek) is noted for its public interest, as featured in The Sunday Times and Daily Mirror. Mackie's work is presented as an argument for the integration of revised dating, astronomical and geometrical sophistication, and the discovery of large roofed buildings at henge sites. The review acknowledges Mackie's challenge to orthodox interpretations of Neolithic archaeology and his advocacy for the catastrophism thesis of Dr Immanuel Velikovsky, though this allegiance is not explicitly stated in the book. The book is described as a scholarly tome that will fundamentally change prehistoric research, with cogent arguments and a solid framework.

Terrestrail Zodiacs by Nigel Pennick & Robert Lord (I.G.R.) is subtitled "Nuthampstead Zodiac & Pendle Zodiac." The review suggests the title is somewhat misleading as it doesn't offer a broad overview of land designs. The authors' separate zodiacs are noted as being different in size and shape, a puzzling aspect. The review acknowledges the complexity of zodiacs across Britain and the difficulty of applying strict guidelines, though the Glastonbury Zodiac is mentioned as fitting scientific accuracy. The work is considered a landmark due to the rarity of books on Terrestrial Zodiacs (TZs).

The Undiscovered Country by Stephen Jenkins and UFOs: The Psychic Solution by Jacques Vallee are reviewed together, as they approach UFO phenomena similarly. Both authors place UFOs in a broad context, with Vallee focusing on psychism and Jenkins on "hypereality." Extraterrestrial conclusions are seen as potentially illusory. Jenkins's work is highlighted for its focus on leys, defining them as multi-crossing points of ancient sites. Both authors explore the elusive nature of the phenomenon and its connection to religiosity, ancient gods, and folklore. Jenkins's Buddhist background and insights into time are noted as influencing his cosmological view. The review praises Jenkins's book as a rare British non-U.S. UFO book and a chronicle of ley hunting.

Guide to Prehistoric England by Nicholas Thomas and Guide to Prehistoric Scotland by Richard Feachem are presented as companion volumes, updated to reflect current archaeological views. They provide succinct information on ancient sites, with Thomas arranging sites by county and Feachem by monument type. The books are useful for amateur archaeologists and observers interested in locating and interpreting sites.

The Geomancy of Cambridge edited by Nigel Pennick is described as a local study that explores structures like the Round Church, the 7-church ley, and landscape geometry. It is praised for its comprehensive collection of material on Cambridge's esoteric aspects. The miscellany at the end is found particularly interesting, reminiscent of "The Ley Hunter" material.

Other publications reviewed include The Hurlers: Cornish Stone Circles by G.W. Dymond, Journal of Geomancy (Vol. 1, No. 4 and Vol. 1, No. 3), Sacred Geometry: An Introduction by Nigel Pennick, and various folklore books such as The Folklore of Devon by Ralph Whitlock, The Folklore of Hertfordshire by Doris Jones-Baker, Legends from Ireland by Sean O'Sullivan, and Witchcraft in England by Christina Hole. The review of Hole's book notes its historical account of witchcraft origins, personalities, confessions, and persecutions, presented soberly.

Several other magazines are briefly mentioned: New Fire, Lantern, Ness Information Service Newsletter, Journal of the British Society of Dowsers, UFO Research Review, Mapit Skywatch, The Ley Hunter, and Prediction. The latter is noted for a lead article on "The Head Cult" which misreported a key witness's name.

Fountain Journal, Fortean Times, Quest, The Atlantean, Undercurrents, New Seed, Stonehenge Viewpoint, and V.A.T.S.U.P. Journal are also reviewed, covering a range of topics from alien contact and strange phenomena to occultism, paganism, alternative technology, and unexplained phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Ancient Skills and Wisdom Review consistently explores themes of ancient knowledge, esoteric studies, and the unexplained. There is a strong focus on archaeology, particularly prehistoric Britain and megalithic sites, and their potential connections to ancient wisdom and geomancy. UFO phenomena are a recurring subject, often examined within a broader context of psychism, folklore, and potential extraterrestrial or interdimensional influences. The magazine appears to favor a more open-minded, interdisciplinary approach to these subjects, often challenging orthodox scientific or historical interpretations. The editorial stance seems to encourage personal research and critical thinking, while also acknowledging the value of historical and folkloric traditions. The reviews are generally thorough, offering both praise and constructive criticism, and aim to inform readers about new publications in these specialized fields.

Title: SOCIETY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES REVIEW
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 5
Date: October 1974
Publisher: Society for Interdisciplinary Studies (S.I.S.)
Country: Great Britain
Language: English

This issue of the S.I.S. Review introduces the society, founded in October 1974, with the primary goal of promoting a rational and analytical approach to the controversial theories of Immanuel Velikovsky. The review posits that accumulating evidence, particularly from archaeology and space research, warrants a more serious consideration of Velikovsky's work. The S.I.S. has garnered significant support, including prominent US researchers like Dr C.J. Ransom and Prof. Lynn E. Rose. The journal itself is dedicated to discussing Velikovsky's theories and publishing original research, serving as a vital link for its membership to current developments in both Britain and the US.

Contributors to the Review include Dr Ransom, Dr E.W. Mackie, and Prof A de Grazia. Past articles have explored megalithic astronomy, revised chronology, mythological interpretation, the chemistry of manna, electricity in astronomy, and related topics. The issue mentions specific articles on radiometric dating, revised chronology, Jericho, androgynous comets, and reviews of books on astroarchaeology, with a mention of Brian Moore reviewing books.

Related Publications and Content

INFO HOURNAL

The organ of the International Fortean Organization, based in College Park, MD, U.S.A. Single copies are 90p, with subscriptions and sustaining memberships at £5. Issue No. 23 is noted for arriving out of sequence and features an article by Donald A. Johnson on "Rocky Mountain Medicine Wheels," a revisited Tungus event, explanations of Jason and the Argonauts, and discussions on Wisconsin lake monsters, mystery manglers, and Bigfoot. Issue No. 24 includes articles by Hal R. Aldrich on strange falls of rain and snow, Mr X on the Mt Pelee eruption, and Bigfoot, along with reviews and clippings.

PULSAR

Published bi-monthly by P.U.L.S.E. in Preston, Lancs., PR1 3TN. Membership plus subscription is £2-50, with single copies at 20p. Volume 1, No. 1, edited by Kathryn Jane Preston, features articles on "Leyography" and "The Lananche Zodiac." It also touches on Ufology, Star Trek, and Citizens' Band radio. Volume 1, No. 2 includes further discussion on the Lananche Zodiac and "Leys & UFOs" by Philip J. Grant. A publication titled "Leyography," an introduction to ley hunting and geomancy, is also available for 10p.

Late Entries

This section lists several other publications:

• QUEST. No. 31: Features articles by M. Lamond on Isis, G.S. Dearn on colour, R. Bates on miracles, C.D.F. Shepherd on bonfire chains, and P. Screeton on human sacrifice.
• UNDERCURRENTS. No. 23: Includes R.J.M. Rickard on Charles Fort, along with articles on fish farming, woodstoves, solar roofs, CB radio, and 20th-century conspiracy theories.
• UNDERCURRENTS. No. 24: Described as a disappointment, it offers advice on magic mushrooms, the original (and annotated) Campbell and Hosenball spy story, and topics including timber, chickens, cider, nuclear power, cheese, and a note on ley bashing.
• MAPIT SKYWATCH. No. 25: Contains group news, letters, clippings, UFOs and the media.
• WATSUP JOURNAL. No. 7: Reports a mystifying incident on Warminster's Cradle Hill, a biological study of soil samples from a "landing" near Winchester, an investigation into the hollow earth theory, a search for a Hayling-Butser ley, A.R. Jones's exploration following Jacques Vallee, and continuations on "That triangle" and a UFO bibliography.

FORMULA FROM A Z: A CREATION MYTH

This short pamphlet by Patricia Villiers-Stuart explores sacred geometry in relation to cosmological thought, offering personal anecdotes and New Age perspectives. A particularly intriguing section is "Dragon Power," which presents a novel hypothesis to explain the widespread serpent legends in the U.K. The pamphlet is illustrated with geometric diagrams and maze drawings and is available for 45p (including postage) from the author at 12 Empress Place, London S.W.6.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around challenging conventional scientific and historical paradigms, particularly through the lens of Immanuel Velikovsky's theories and the broader field of interdisciplinary studies. There is a strong emphasis on encouraging critical thinking and a rational, evidence-based approach to controversial subjects. The inclusion of publications like 'INFO HOURNAL' and 'PULSAR' indicates an interest in Fortean phenomena, ufology, and alternative explanations for historical and natural events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, seeking to connect disparate fields of knowledge and provide a platform for research that may fall outside mainstream academic acceptance. The focus on ancient mysteries, sacred geometry, and unexplained phenomena suggests a leaning towards exploring the fringes of science and history.