Earthquest News - 1985 No 12

Magazine Overview

Title: EARTHQUEST NEWS
Issue: no.12
Date: February 1985
Price: 95p
Publisher: Earthquest Books
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of Earthquest News, subtitled 'A Healthy Alternative to Reality', focuses on the earth mysteries and psychic phenomena. The cover features a man standing on a rock in a rocky landscape with a stone monolith, hinting at the Menorca investigation. The cover headlines tease 'What Happened in Menorca?', 'Plus Doc Shiels', and 'Park Wood Sale'.

Lead In

The editor, Andy Collins, welcomes readers back after a ten-month absence, announcing a new assault on earth mysteries. He reflects on the past year, including the successful 'London Moot' organized by ASSAP and Earthquest, which featured lectures on various earth mystery topics. He also recounts a humorous chat with Tony 'Doc' Shiels. However, the editor reveals that the Earthquest group had been going 'drastically wrong,' with members dissatisfied with his journalistic approach to promoting group achievements. This led to internal conflict and the decision for some members to form a new group, eventually named New ERA (New Earthquest Research Association).

Collins expresses concern about groups splitting up and constant arguments hindering unified advancement in the earth mysteries, drawing a parallel to the troubles of the Golden Dawn. He emphasizes the importance of friends with similar interests and the need for the earth mysteries community to stick together.

New Book on the Way

Andy Collins announces his new book, 'The Knights of Danbury,' an earth mysteries work about the village of Danbury, near Chelmsford, compiled with research from Bernard Gowing. This book will be published under the new trading name Earthquest Books, which will also handle previous titles from 'The Supernaturalist.' As a special offer to subscribers, a free copy of 'The Knights of Danbury' will be sent out.

New Attitude, New Direction

Collins outlines his renewed focus on psychic work and questing, which has been his primary interest for eight years. He believes in the importance of forming groups dedicated to psychic development within the earth mysteries, particularly focusing on psychometry as the basis for questing. He plans to start a new group for this purpose, aiming to cultivate psychics who can provide accurate, direct information rather than just archetypal imagery.

Future Issues

Collins indicates that another issue of Earthquest News is planned for the near future, hoping it will contain more varied and smaller items.

Contents

• The issue includes:
• The Menorca Affair: A bizarre story by Nigel Smith about a holiday that turned into a psychic fiasco.
• The Doc Shiels Phenomena: A report on the man who claims to raise monsters.
• Monster mind '83: Doc Shiels' account of lake monster sightings.
• Earthquake in the Glastonbury Zodiac or The Battle for Park Wood: Tony Roberts on the fight to save a sacred centre.
• Exchanges

The Menorca Affair

Nigel Smith recounts a bizarre holiday in Menorca with three other earth mysteries researchers (Carole Young, Ken Smith, and Andy Collins) in May 1984. What was intended as a relaxing break turned into a 'psychic fiasco' involving alleged possession, past life experiences, and strange synchronicities.

Day One: Monday, 7 May

The group arrived in Menorca and settled into their self-catering home. After a supermarket visit and consuming local gin, Andy and Ken went for a swim in the sea. Ken became intoxicated and began shouting about going to Majorca and the swans (mistaking pedalos for swans). Andy swam out of sight and returned exhausted. A sudden squall changed the weather dramatically. Carole felt a sense of unease and a premonition of death on the cliffs.

Day Two: Tuesday, 8 May

The weather remained cold and windy. The group visited several 'pyramid-like' structures, described as similar to Sumerian ziggurats, which they speculated might have been used for religious purposes or meditation, despite official explanations suggesting they were animal shelters. Carole felt a strong sense of malevolence and a premonition of a sacrifice on the cliffs.

The Night of the Sirens

Later that night, Ken began speaking in a disturbing voice, claiming 'Sirens' were trying to pull his soul out. He described them as mermaid-like temptresses luring ships to destruction. He believed they had been haunting them since their arrival and had tried to lure Andy. Ken then underwent a violent episode, seemingly possessed by the 'Sirens,' before abruptly returning to normal with no memory of the events. Carole and Andy attempted an exorcism.

Past Life Experience

Soon after, Ken experienced a similar episode, this time with a third personality taking over. He spoke in a guttural voice, identifying himself as Odysseus, a Trojan hero, and recounting aspects of the Trojan Wars. He mentioned Agamemnon, Achilles, and Penelope. This 'past life experience' seemed to have driven away the 'Sirens.' The group performed a ritual to consecrate the room.

Carole's Dream

Carole experienced a vivid dream of a young girl being drugged and sacrificed on a wooden platform at the cliff edge, a willing victim to the sea.

Day Three: Wednesday, 9 May

The holiday was strained by bad weather and a lack of a hired car. The group discussed the unsettling events, considering Andy's theory of a 'computer programmed reality' influenced by Gaia and Akashic Records. They hypothesized that the island's 'computer' might demand a sacrifice, and that their actions had triggered this demand. The Sirens were seen as archetypal figures representing the hypnotic effect of the sea.

A Computer Programmed Reality?

Andy proposed that the Earth functions as a living, thinking organism with an intelligence (Gaia) and a memory (Akashic Records). He likened this to a complex biological computer that perpetuates belief systems. He suggested that the island's system might demand sacrifices, and that their actions, particularly Andy's swim and the group's intoxication, had signaled a willing victim, triggering a geophysical reaction and severe weather.

The Sirens are interpreted as archetypal figures representing the hypnotic influence of the sea. The group considered if past inhabitants made sacrifices to the sea, and if their actions had triggered a dormant system demanding a sacrifice. The events were seen as potentially linked to a 'willing victim' in an 'intoxicated state.'

The Doc Shiels Phenomena

This section introduces Tony 'Doc' Shiels, described as a monster raiser and shaman who claims to have raised monsters in lakes around the British Isles and Ireland. The issue includes a report by the editor and an account by Doc Shiels himself ('Monster mind '83') detailing his 1983 Irish trip, including sightings and photographs of lake monsters he claims to have raised.

Earthquake in the Glastonbury Zodiac or The Battle for Park Wood

Tony Roberts provides an update on the campaign to save the sacred centre of the Glastonbury zodiac, known as Park Wood, from redevelopment and alleged strange mystical cults.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are earth mysteries, psychic phenomena, and the exploration of unusual or unexplained events. The editorial stance, as expressed by Andy Collins, is one of seeking to understand and promote these phenomena, while also advocating for unity and a more professional approach within the field. There is a strong emphasis on personal experience, psychic investigation, and the potential for hidden realities and forces influencing our world. The issue also highlights the editor's personal journey and his vision for the future of earth mysteries research.

Title: Earthquest News
Issue: Vol. 3, No. 1 (February 1985)
Publisher: Earthquest
Country: United Kingdom
Price: £1.50
ISSN: 0265-3673

This issue of Earthquest News delves into the mysterious world of paranormal phenomena, featuring two main investigative reports: "The Doc Shiels Phenomenon" and "Earthquake in the Glastonbury Zodiac or the Battle for Park Wood."

The Doc Shiels Phenomenon

This section, reported by the editor, introduces Tony 'Doc' Shiels, an enigmatic figure who claims to be a shaman, magician, and notably, a "monster raiser." Shiels asserts his ability to summon lake monsters, citing examples like the Loch Ness and Falmouth beasts, and claims to capture remarkable photographs of them. The report details Shiels's alleged use of magical invocation, including the involvement of nude witches, to communicate with and raise these creatures. The editor recounts an initial encounter in 1979 following the publication of Shiels's Loch Ness Monster photos, noting Shiels's claim of prior communication with the beast. Investigations into the Loch Ness area by Graham Phillips, Martin Keatman, and the editor revealed phenomena beyond mere physical sightings, including time slips, mystery lights, and other anomalies, suggesting the area is a "window area" of anomalous phenomena.

The article explores Shiels's background, his artistic and shamanic influences, and his "Monstermind" project, particularly his 1983 expedition to Ireland. During this expedition, Shiels reported multiple sightings of potential water monsters in various Irish loughs, including Lough Inagh, Maumeen Lough, and Keel Lough. These sightings, though sometimes yielding only brief photographic evidence, were significant for Shiels, who had spent years searching for such creatures.

Shiels discusses his theories on mystery beasts, suggesting they might be paraphysical entities or, in some cases, large cephalopods. He emphasizes the importance of subjective experience and the role of imagination in perceiving reality. The report also touches upon Shiels's views on witchcraft and the practice of raising monsters, noting his unconventional approach and the spontaneous nature of some of his alleged successes.

Earthquake in the Glastonbury Zodiac or the Battle for Park Wood

This report by Tony Roberts details a disturbing saga surrounding the decision to sell Park Wood, a site considered the sacred centre of the Glastonbury terrestrial zodiac. The article begins by discussing the importance of 'potentized' landscapes and the interaction of psyche with matter.

Roderick Knowles, a business 'whizz kid,' is introduced as a key figure in the potential sale of Park Wood, acting as a proxy for Monica Barnatt and a mysterious organization called the Temple Trust. The Temple Trust, described as a new form of 'spiritual national trust,' aims to acquire sacred sites across Britain. The trust is connected to a mystical group of artists and claims to have 'American backers.'

The report highlights the geomythical significance of Park Wood, linking it to Merlin's geomythics and the Glastonbury terrestrial zodiac. It is described as the Crown of the Land and the Serpent's Head, crucial to the Albionic energy network. The narrative reveals a series of synchronistic events, including Mike Booth, an artist associated with the Temple Trust, experiencing a 'channelling' that urged him to buy Park Wood.

The battle for Park Wood is becoming complex, with multiple parties vying for its acquisition: the Temple Trust, a consortium of farmers wishing to turn it into a pheasant breeding ground, and a lumber group. A 'sealed auction' is imminent. Tony Roberts is actively attempting to halt the sale and raise public awareness through articles and by alerting the press, demanding a public inquiry into the potential desecration of cultural heritage.

Personal Experiences and Reflections

Interspersed within the reports are personal accounts and reflections. The author recounts an experience on Menorca involving a past life regression of Ken as Odysseus, triggered by the presence of 'Sirens.' This led to a guided meditation with Carole's spirit guide, Leo, who advised a symbolic sacrifice of respect to the sea. The author also describes a subsequent visit to the beach to perform this ritual.

Another section details the author's visit to the ancient megalithic monuments of Menorca, noting the culture's reverence for the bull and the recurring theme of sacrifice. A legend associated with the de Es Tudons naveta is recounted, involving a king, his daughter, and the construction of a tomb.

Editor's Notes and Exchanges

The editor provides notes on the articles, agreeing with the sentiment that excessive effort can hinder psychic discovery and emphasizing the importance of a healthy, happy-go-lucky attitude. The editor also notes that the reported monster sightings did not occur immediately after invocations, suggesting the site's influence might be more significant.

The "Exchanges" section lists various paranormal and earth mystery publications, providing their details and subscription information. It also notes the discontinuation of some publications and the emergence of new projects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Recurring themes in this issue include the nature of paranormal phenomena, the significance of sacred landscapes, the role of mythology and folklore, and the practice of 'monster raising' and invocation. The magazine appears to adopt an investigative and open-minded stance towards these subjects, presenting various claims and theories while also incorporating personal experiences and critical commentary. The editorial stance, particularly from the editor's notes, favors a balanced approach, acknowledging the seriousness of the subject matter while advocating for a healthy, less despondent attitude and the inclusion of humor.

This document is the first issue of Anomaly magazine, with the editor, Alan Cleaver, being congratulated on its production. The issue covers a range of topics related to UFOs and the paranormal, with articles dating from Winter 1982 through Summer 1984. Several past issues are noted as being sold out.

Content Highlights

Issue No. 5 (Winter 1982)

This issue features articles on the Fobbing Puma, Arthur's Cross, Stone Tape Reality, Astrology of Jinxs, and an Earthlights Review. The price was 75p plus 15p postage and packing.

Issue No. 6 (Spring 1983)

This issue is noted as all sold out.

Issue No. 7 (Summer 1983)

This issue is also noted as all sold out.

Issue No. 8 (Before 1984)

Content includes The Cuffley Lioness, Synchronicity in a cathedral, The Circle of Perpetual Choirs, Photographic Evidence of the Plymouth Hay-Fall, and Runwell Up-date 2. The price was 95p plus 15p postage and packing.

Issue No. 9 & 10 (Spring 1984)

This double issue covers The Horndon Black Panther (Parts One and Two), Gateway to Reality, The Secret of the White Leafed Cross, and The MLF Strike Again!. The price was £1.50 plus 20p postage and packing.

Issue No. 11 (Summer 1984)

This issue, titled London Walkabout, is noted as all sold out.

Panel Debate

The magazine includes a photograph and mention of the Earthquest/ASSAP London Moot held at the Tufnell Park Hall in North London in May. The event featured a panel debate with participants including Graham Phillips, Doc Shiels, Johnny Merron, Paul Devereux, Alan Cleaver, and Andy Collins. The photograph is credited to Bernard Gowing.

Editorial Notes

The editor acknowledges that there is no 'Devil Talk' section or reviews in this particular issue, but promises that these will be rectified in the next issue, which is due out shortly.

Publication Details

The magazine's ISSN is 0265-461X.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on UFO sightings, paranormal phenomena, and related investigations. The editorial stance seems to be one of reporting on these subjects, with a commitment to providing reviews and specific sections like 'Devil Talk' in future issues. The editor's personal involvement in the production is highlighted, suggesting a dedicated and hands-on approach.