Ancient Skills and Wisdom Review - No 14

Magazine Overview

This issue of ANCIENT SKILLS AND WISDOM REVIEW (1981, ISSN 0140-9522) is published and edited by Paul Screeton from Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, Cleveland. Subscription rates are 50p for a single copy and £2 for an annual subscription within the UK, with US rates at 5 dollars (surface) and 12 dollars (air).

Rip Hepple -- Monster Hunter

The main feature profiles Rip Hepple, a 46-year-old flourspar mineworker from Bishop Auckland, who is described as a 'monster hunter'. He coordinates the nation's monster-spotters and produces a newsletter for the Ness Information Service. His interest began around 1963-1964 when he visited Loch Ness and discovered the information bureau, becoming a volunteer. He took over producing a newsletter when the bureau closed down, filling a gap in information. The Nessletter is a family operation, with children helping with mailings, and is sent to over 200 members. Six copies are sent out annually, providing the latest information on sightings, developments at the loch, personalities involved, and reader theories about mystery animals. The subscription for the Nessletter is £2 from Rip Hepple at Huntshieldford, St John's Chapel, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, DL13 1RQ. The current issue (No. 47) details the Hepple family's latest expedition to Loch Ness, though they had no personal sighting. Rip himself has never seen a monster, but his daughter may have done so in 1976. The article also touches on the legend of kelpies in Scottish lochs and rivers, and the history of the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon, starting with St Columba in the sixth century and gaining public attention in the 1930s after a new road was built. The article notes the scientific establishment's skepticism and the public's romantic quest. It also mentions the debate between those who see the creature as a substantial entity and those who believe in paranormal involvement, with Rip inclined towards a physical explanation.

Magazine and Book Reviews

The issue contains numerous reviews of other magazines and books, covering a wide array of topics:

• QUEST: A magazine of ancient arts, well-balanced and sane.
• ESSEX LANDSCAPE MYSTERIES: A magazine focusing on antiquities, folklore, and paraphenomena of Essex, with issues covering ley topographical enthusiasm, UFOs, Celtic history, landscape geometry, and witchcraft.
• THE LEY HUNTER: A major earth mysteries magazine featuring articles on archaeological objections to leys, ancient man, pyramids, and ley hunting.
• ESSEX CHURCH DEDICATIONS by Jim Kimmis: A booklet indexed with church dedications and notes on geomancy.
• SERPENT STONE: Covers the occult and New Age, with articles on Uffington Dragon hill figure, Wayland's Smithy, Enochian magic, and cosmic consciousness.
• PENDRAGON: A journal investigating Arthurian history, archaeology, and the mystery of the Matter of Britain, with issues covering Cornwall, Tristan, Templars, and Lyonesse.
• LINCOLNSHIRE DRAGON: Features articles on ufologists, psychic phenomena, paganism, politics, dragon legends, Templars, healing stones, and places of musical inspiration.
• QUICKSILVER MESSENGER: Covers strange phenomena, including mystery big cats, beached whales, ice falls, synchronicity, and shamanism.
• THE ATLANTEAN: A magazine from a society with a philosophy offering a compassionate approach to life, featuring articles on Atlantis, introverted intuitives, and transforming inner lives.
• THE CAULDRON: A magazine covering topics such as Harvest Home, witchcraft, practical craft magic, modern Druidism, and paganism.
• HERETIC VISIONS: A newcomer magazine with an anti-Darwin thesis, stories by Welsh playwright Dedwydd Jones, and articles on mathematics and influences from J.G. Ballard and William Blake.
• NORTHERN EARTH MYSTERIES: A journal from the Northern Earth Mysteries Group, featuring articles on strange encounters, earthworks, ley lines, EVP, and research into consciousness.
• FORTEAN TIMES: Covers strange phenomena, including mystery big cats, synchronicity, phantom hitchhikers, and shamanism.
• SIS REVIEW: A journal from the Society for Interdisciplinary Studies, with articles on catastrophism, Velikovsky's ideas, and revised chronology.
• WORKSHOP: A newsletter from SIS with smaller items and a less formal approach, covering planetary rings, canopy theory, and Venus.
• NEARA JOURNAL: A journal of New England Antiquities Research Association, focusing on alignments, perched rocks, and inscribed stones.
• COMMON GROUND: Subtitled 'Studies at the Fringe of Human Experience', covering paranormal topics, UFOs, hallucinatory experiences, and paranormal speech.
• ANCIENT MYSTERIES (defunct): Featured articles on Ilkley Swastika Stone, insects and megaliths, ley hyperactivity, and ancient zodiacs.
• CAMBRIDGE ANCIENT MYSTERIES (defunct): A successor to 'Ancient Mysteries', with articles on Cambs leys, mazes, and dowsing effects.
• LEYS OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE by Kurt Gerlach: Essays on lines marking church foundations.
• WELSH. TEMPLE OF THE ZODIAC by Lewis Edwards: A reprint on the zodiac and its connection to ancient sites.
• EUROPEAN TROYTOWNS by Nigel Pennick: Discusses European mazes, their form, distribution, nomenclature, and uses.
• PRECHRISTIAN GEOMANCY by Josef Heinsch: A translated work on sacred geography and 'holy lines'.
• THE CAMBRIDGE 7-CHURCH LEY by Nigel Pennick & Michael Behrend: Details a specific ley in Cambridge.
• TUNNELS UNDER LONDON by Nigel Pennick: Explores subterranean London beyond the Underground.
• THE PROOF OF ANCIENT TRACK ALINEMENT by Alfred Watkins: A reprint on Watkins' ley discovery.
• ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL LABYRINTHS by E. Trollope: A booklet on labyrinths and troy towns.
• WALRUS: Covers London tunnels, mazes, police state, and satirical irreverence.
• FLAGELLAR SCALES IN HEMISELMIS BRUNNESCENS BUTCHER AND H. VIRESCENS DROOP (CRYPTOPHYCEAE) by Nigel Pennick: A scientific paper.
• MAGONIA: An independent magazine examining UFO phenomena and socio-psychological interaction.
• NORTHERN UFO NEWS and NORTHERN UFOLOGY: Monthly series covering ufologists and UFO evidence.
• UFO INSIGHT: Features reports on UFO research meetings, methodology, and conspiracies.
• SKYWATCH: Covers UFO personalities, 'mental communication' with UFO entities, and ufology analysis.
• UFO RESEARCH REVIEW: Reviews the UFO scene and presents abstracts of published articles.

Anarchism

The magazine also includes content on anarchism, linking the desire for absolute freedom with the study of spiritual sciences. It features reviews of books like "HIGH INTENSITY SUBVERSION" by RONIN and "ANARCHY" by J.R. WHITE, discussing concepts of individual spontaneity and freedom. "THE FIRST MAYDAY" is also mentioned, explaining the history of May 1st as a day of international solidarity. "BLACK FLAG", the monthly organ of the Anarchist Black Cross, is also noted.

Other Publications

• ANCIENT METROLOGY by John Michell: Explores the philosophy of number and its physical expression, discussing Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid.
• "UFO STUDY : A HANDBOOK FOR ENTHUSIASTS" by Jenny Randles: A guide for UFO enthusiasts, covering the history of UFO study, investigation techniques, case studies, and future speculation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are earth mysteries, ufology, ancient history, folklore, and alternative philosophies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into these subjects, with a particular interest in the work of individuals like Rip Hepple and Nigel Pennick, who are presented as dedicated researchers in their respective fields. The magazine provides a platform for a wide range of publications and viewpoints within these niche areas.

This issue of UFO RESEARCH REVIEW, Volume 6, Number 3, features a collection of book reviews covering a range of topics from Velikovsky's theories and prehistoric archaeology to natural history and the occult. The publication appears to be a niche magazine focused on ufology and related subjects, with a critical and analytical approach to its subject matter.

Book Reviews

Velikovsky's Sources by Bob Forrest

The review of Bob Forrest's two-part work, "Velikovsky's Sources," highlights its critical examination of Immanuel Velikovsky's theories, particularly "Worlds in Collision." The reviewer notes that while Velikovsky's ideas about the Bronze Age preceding the Iron Age and the planet Venus were intriguing, many aspects remain debatable. Forrest's analysis is described as a "demolition job or skillful surgery operation," depending on the reader's sympathy for Velikovsky. The review points out that Forrest concludes Velikovsky himself had "amnesia" over ignoring facts that did not fit his theory. Specific examples cited include the plagues of Egypt, the manna and quails, and the Venus comet. Forrest's analysis also extends to biblical texts, suggesting that the Book of Isaiah is more of a "rant of doom-laden invective" than a historical log. The reviewer notes that Forrest's work is contrasted with that of Erich von Daniken and places Velikovsky in the company of figures like Alfred Watkins and British Israelites, who bolster fringe theories with biblical quotes. The review concludes that Forrest's work is a "formidable tour de force of scholarship and mind-boggling act of perseverance," though "essentially negative."

The Penguin Guide to Prehistoric England and Wales by James Dyer

This review covers James Dyer's guide to prehistoric sites, which is praised for its focus on visible monuments that are easily discoverable using grid references. The reviewer notes that Dyer's selection is personal and may omit sites known to specialists. The book mixes different types of monuments, such as stone circles, hut circles, and dolmens, in a county-by-county format. Dyer expresses a general archaeological distaste for metal-detecting and is wary of over-interpreting astronomical alignments in stone circles. The review highlights Dyer's background as a schoolteacher and archaeologist, and his aim to involve young people and the public in the study of ancient monuments. The book is recommended as a useful tool for selecting sites to visit, offering a blend of armchair study and fieldwork, with potential for enjoying scenery, wildlife, and a "spiritual bonus."

A Field Guide to the British Countryside by Alfred Leutscher

Edited by Nigel Sitwell, this guide is described as an "all-in-one" resource for the natural fauna of Britain. It aims to help the non-specialist recognise common species, with color illustrations and succinct details. The guide covers a wide range of topics, including animals, birds, plants, weather, fossils, rocks, and crystals, and features over 750 species. The reviewer finds it helpful for filling gaps in natural history knowledge and for teaching children. It includes fascinating facts, such as the courtship rituals of the black slug. The reviewer notes a potential mix-up between smooth and palmate newts but otherwise praises the book as a "treasury of our natural heritage."

The Floral Oracle by Jo Sheridan

This book is presented as a guide for those interested in fortune-telling and astrological lore related to plants and the zodiac. The author, an astrologer, uses a simple style and line drawings of plants. The book suggests that the "floral oracle" can provide meaningful answers without extensive study, requiring only concentration. It includes a list of questions, keys to the oracle, and answers, offering a novel way of looking ahead.

Precursive Thinking by Dave Reissig

Subtitled "Toward the Revival of Magic," this essay, available only in the U.S.A., contends that the occult represents vestiges of "precursive thinking." Reissig defines magic as "power beyond nature as perceived by the intellect" and discusses topics such as trance states, altered consciousness, the decline of interest in education, chain smoking, and astrology. The reviewer suggests that reading this essay will restore the reader's balance.

Stop Press Section

The "Stop Press" section briefly mentions upcoming reviews in the next issue, including books on China's yeti, Kirlian photography, astrology, and clairvoyant reality. It also notes reviews of UFO Research Review Vol. 6, No. 3, which features Bob Monell attacking Jenny Randles on semantics and Les Hall on scientific methodology, and The Cauldron, No. 24, which covers topics like mysterious powers, pagan persecution, Stonehenge, and Yule.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around critical analysis of established theories (Velikovsky), exploration of historical and natural subjects (prehistoric sites, British wildlife), and interest in esoteric and occult topics (floral oracle, magic, astrology). The editorial stance appears to be one of intellectual curiosity and a willingness to engage with diverse and sometimes controversial subjects, while maintaining a critical perspective, as evidenced by the detailed book reviews. The inclusion of "UFO Research Review" in the 'Stop Press' suggests a continued focus on the paranormal and unexplained.