Ley Hunter - 1970 no 10

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LEY HUNTER
Issue: NUMBER TEN
Volume: 1
Date: AUGUST 1970
Price: 1s. 4d. (single copy)
Publisher: The Aquarian Press
Editor: Paul Screeton

This issue of 'The Ley Hunter' is a non-profit making magazine dedicated to the exploration of ley lines and ancient sites. It presents a variety of viewpoints and encourages contributions on speculative aspects of the subject.

Lead-In

The editor, Paul Screeton, reflects on the scope of ley studies, suggesting that Alfred Watkins, the originator of the study, would be astounded by the current understanding of leys. The magazine aims to seek more information and encourage speculation. This month's issue features contributions from Iris Campbell, Circumlibra, John F. Neal, John Michell, F.R. Watts, and R.D.Y. Perrett. Upcoming issues are noted to include scholarly contributions from Professor Lyle Borst, discussions on acupuncture and leys by John Wheaton, an explanation of the Nuthampstead Zodiac by Nigel Pennick, an article on Avebury and UFOs by Ross Nichols, and a synopsis of Major F.C. Tyler's work by Philip Heselton.

The Straight Lines or Leys by Iris Campbell

Iris Campbell recounts a vision of lines spreading out near Brighton, which she felt denoted spiritual significance. Inspired by John Michell's book 'The View Over Atlantis,' she developed the idea that these straight lines are routes or tracks taken by 'Ancient Ones' in their descent through the spheres. These paths were made etherically and then in solid matter to provide access after previous paths were destroyed. Campbell suggests these lines were made by 'Track Layers,' entities trained to find their way back by retracing steps, who became 'Saviours' of their own race. She posits that these routes were anchored to the earth's body to allow direct communication with power centres on other planets, possibly linked to temples or power houses that were 'dream palaces' offering ideals to mankind.

Campbell further elaborates that these ideas were given to nomad races as a uniform set of ideas for their sojourn on the planet, enabling them to retrace their steps to their home planet. The loss of old tracks is attributed to the people who used them having fulfilled their task and returned. The editor notes that Miss Campbell's account may face opposition due to its 'spiritual' content but urges readers to consider John Foster Forbes's 'The Giants of Britain.' Campbell's psychometric readings at prehistoric sites are mentioned as providing insights into a remarkable civilization and the nature of the ley system's power. She describes her vision of the lines as 'rays of light from a central point,' feeling they were 'very holy' and manifested on the earth's surface, in the air, and interpenetrating it, all as one straight line.

Divergent Thoughts by Circumlibra

Circumlibra shares observations from a visit to Evora, Portugal, describing it as an interesting and thought-provoking place for a ley hunter. The town is situated on a hill with a Roman aqueduct providing water, which Circumlibra finds peculiar given the hill's elevation. The substantial and long-lasting constructions suggest advanced knowledge. Evora's history is believed to extend beyond its known recorded history, with a special significance attributed to its hill. Circumlibra questions why the town wasn't built over its water supply on a more suitable hill, and why the aqueduct would be vulnerable. The author attempted to trace leys denoting the 'Tides of the Day' in Evora, convinced of their presence. Another puzzling observation is the prevalence of springs and wells as salient points on leys, questioning if nature placed them in a pattern similar to Etheric Centres.

Circumlibra also references Mr. Perrett's disenchantment with new buildings on old sites, suggesting that sites, regardless of age, often conform to the ley pattern. The author speculates that humans, regardless of their plans, might be impelled by unknown forces to fit into a pattern they do not understand. The piece also touches upon the 'Buck stone' mentioned by another contributor, suggesting it might be related to a local Zodiac and the name 'Bucca' meaning 'he goat.' Tony Northwood's discussion of errors in ley alignments is mentioned, with Circumlibra suggesting that apparent errors might be due to leys striking features at a tangent. The author concludes by questioning the purpose of the Temple to Diana at Evora, noting that a rectangular structure might not be suitable for its worship, but acknowledging that for a ley hunter, the shape matters less than its function as a focal point on a ley.

Review: The Occult Sciences in Atlantis

This section reviews 'The Occult Sciences in Atlantis,' reprinted by The Aquarian Press. The book aims to provide a description of occult sciences practiced in Atlantis and the theory that they originated there. The view that Atlantis was a physical continent whose survivors built megalithic structures in Europe and marked the ley system is presented as widely held by ley hunters. Lewis Spence, the author, is praised for his erudition in sorting fact from fiction and rebuilding an account of the Atlantean subject. Despite an unfavorable reception upon first publication, Spence's work is now gaining attention. The review notes the difficulty in Atlantean research, with experts disagreeing on its location. Spence's genealogy of gods is compared to Thomas Bulfinch's 'The Age of Fable.' The review suggests that Spence's hypotheses align with current findings, including the idea of Atlantis as a submerged continent whose survivors restarted civilization from the Mediterranean, with Egypt as the fountainhead. The book contains chapters on necromancy, alchemy, prophecy, witchcraft, and evidence of Atlantean beliefs in Britain. Spence's account of Atlantis as the cradle of stellar sciences is highlighted, though he viewed stone circles and standing stones as shrines to the dead, whereas current understanding sees them as part of a system connected with star studies and subtle force transmission. The reviewer suggests Spence could have aided ley research with his lifetime study of Atlantis.

The Health Food Guide

This is a brief mention of a September publication edited by Michael Balfour, priced at 15s. in paperback and 35s. in cloth. It emphasizes the importance of appreciating landscape and its fruits. The same publishing company also reprints Alfred Watkins's 'The Old Straight Track' at 45s.

Local Antiquities (2) by F. R. Watts

F.R. Watts discusses recent excavations at Callow Hill and their contribution to interest in the past. He raises the question of accessibility concerning known villa sites at Northleigh, Stonesfield, Fawler, and Ditchley, and newly revealed sites like Lee's Rest, Callow Hill, Oaklands, Pump Close, and the New Inn. These sites are located within a four-mile square area bounded by the rivers Evenlode and Glyme. Watts questions whether these villas were isolated units or in communication with each other and the paved Akeman Street. Most sites were near this Roman Road, with Northleigh Villa being on a trail that passed through Lee's Rest and also on another trail connecting to the Akeman Street. Fawler Villa was in direct communication with Callow Hill, and trails connected to Lee's Rest and Northleigh. Oaklands Villa and the Northleigh-Fawler trail are also mentioned. The Stonesfield Riding path is described as a continuation of a trail from Northleigh Church to Gagingwell Cross, passing through villa sites and connecting to others. The New Inn Villa was near Akeman Street. Watts suggests that, assuming pre-Roman trails, these villas were comparable to modern farms in terms of intercommunication.

Illustrations mentioned include a stone at Chadlington on a line passing through several other sites, including Rousham Gap and Kiddington Cross. Another mark stone at Chastleton is noted, indicating the intersection of trails and its connection to two great trackways. This point of intersection was later occupied by an inn known as the Cross in Hand. Copping Knoll, originally a large tumulus, marked the intersection of several trails, including one from Ramsden through the Roman Villa site at Fawler and another from the Hoar Stone at Enstone to Sturdy's Castle. The distance between ancient churches or between a church and a heathen site is noted as being along a straight line, suggesting deliberate measurement. The stone at Crawley is identified as a boundary stone. The article concludes by discussing an erect quartzite boulder at Bampton, which was a point of intersection for several trails. Watts questions why a house was built against this block, speculating about lingering superstition or the stone being a sacred landmark where three ways meet.

The stone south of Charlbury is on the line of the North Ley from a corrupted church site. The previous issue of the magazine featured details and photographs of stones on trails connecting Northleigh Church with other sites, including Stonesfield Church and the Roman Villa at Fawler. This issue shows the stone marking the ford at Fawler and the stone at Northleigh. Local tradition attributes the Northleigh stone to marking the spot where a man was killed by a snake, leading Watts to question a connection with ancient serpent cults. The site of Northleigh Church is suggested to have been an important pagan centre due to the number of intersecting trails and ancient stones. The five mentioned sites are equidistant from Northleigh Church, forming a circle with Northleigh Church at the center.

Notes Towards an Understanding of the "Key of the Cosmos" by John F. Neal

John F. Neal's article discusses his studies of the Tarot and geometry, focusing on a figure called the "Key of the Cosmos" from a book by Paul Foster Case. Neal presents a cursory examination of the figure's proportions, stating that a full explanation would fill volumes. He describes the figure as a David's Star over six circles tangent to a central seventh. The triangles contain an ellipse representing zero, and numbers one through nine are contained within the figure. Neal notes that these numbers and their occult meanings were traditionally imparted to the Arabs by the Hindu priesthood.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of 'The Ley Hunter' are the exploration and interpretation of ley lines, ancient sites, and their potential spiritual or energetic significance. There is a strong emphasis on local antiquities and historical research, often linking prehistoric structures and natural features to these lines. The magazine appears to adopt an open-minded stance, encouraging speculative thought and diverse viewpoints, as indicated by the editor's comments on Campbell's 'spiritual' content and the invitation for articles and comments. The issue also touches upon broader themes such as the possibility of ancient civilizations like Atlantis and the intersection of geometry, symbolism, and occult studies.

This issue of "The Ley Hunter" (Issue 10, Volume 1, dated September 1977) explores the intricate connections between ancient geometry, symbolism, and the landscape, focusing on megalithic alignments and the theories of researchers like John Michell and Alfred Watkins.

Geometric Properties of Ancient Symbols

The issue begins by examining the geometric properties of an ellipse and a figure eight, noting their dimensions and relating them to Hermetic and Cabbalistic interpretations. The ellipse is described as eight units high and approximately five wide, with an overall height of 12 units. The figure eight is formed by two circles with a diameter of 4, a reference to Hermes. The number 8 itself is associated with rhythm, flux, and infinity, and is also the digit value of Jehovah. The text also delves into the properties of the Davids Star triangles, noting their sides of 10.392 units and their relation to mathematics and the "Key of the Cosmos." Fractions of this number are explored, such as 1.732 (related to the √3), 2.598 (area of a regular hexagon), 3.464 (related to √12), and 5.186 (half of 10.392). The hexagon is presented as having proportions of a cube when viewed in three dimensions, and its area is calculated. The number 4, associated with order and measurement, is also discussed in relation to the figure and instruments like the T square.

Further geometric analysis focuses on the circle and the ratio of pi (3.14). It is argued that a curve is a series of straight lines, and the ratio 3.14 is approximated by dividing a circle into smaller triangles. The length of a curve segment on an ellipse is shown to be equal to a straight line segment, and the vesica, formed by continuing the sides of the ellipse, also equals 3.14 units.

The "Key of the Cosmos" is mentioned as containing properties related to the precise geometry of the Great Pyramid and serving as a symbol for learning geometry and number proportions. The familiarity of Stone Age Man with these diagrams is highlighted, with John Michell's work "The View Over Atlantis" being cited. The enduring knowledge of these symbols in esoteric circles is noted, with secrecy suggested as a factor in preserving this knowledge.

Ley Lines and Megalithic Alignments in West Cornwall

The "Readers' Forum" features a letter from John Michell addressing Dr Glyn Daniel's criticism. Michell asserts that there is growing interest in the ley system among archaeologists, despite reluctance to commit to research without definitive proof. He proposes to describe research in West Cornwall that appears to demonstrate the existence of leys beyond doubt.

Watkins's "The Ley Hunter's Manual" is referenced for its approach to ley hunting and astronomical archaeology. The text explains that ley phenomena are studied by both ley investigators and scientists concerned with the astronomical significance of stone circles. While astronomers like Lockyer and Thom focus on short alignments indicating astronomical declination, ley followers extend these alignments over many miles to form long-distance leys. The possibility of prehistoric stones coincidentally falling on these established astronomical lines is deemed too remote to be considered.

The survey area chosen was the Penwith peninsular in West Cornwall, selected for its high concentration of ancient stones and stone circles analyzed by Sir Norman Lockyer. The area is described as being almost surrounded by sea and manageable for mapping.

Only sites of undeniably prehistoric provenance were considered: stone circles, standing stones, and dolmens. Alignments were plotted using a 3ft. steel ruler on 6" O.S. maps prepared by Stamford's of Long Acre.

Evidence for Long Distance Prehistoric Alignments

Several alignments are detailed, building on Lockyer's work. These include:

• Boscawen-un stone circle:
• An alignment to a stone cross (AZ78°) one mile away, extending to the Tresvannack Pillar and St Piran's Church.
• An alignment to a standing stone (AZ113° 30′) two-thirds of a mile away, with another large stone one-third of a mile beyond it.
• An alignment to a standing stone (AZ276º 30′) two miles west, extending eastward to a prehistoric pillar and the traditional site of St Clement's Chapel.

• Eastern Tregaseal circle:
• An alignment to the Longstone (AZ 66° 38′), visible from the circle, extending to the West Langton Quoit dolmen and a site marked 'Courtyard Houses'.
• An alignment from the prehistoric structure Men-an-Tol, passing through an intersection point, to a standing stone and terminating at Chrysanster, a prehistoric village possibly used as an observatory. This point is also a terminus for another line from Tregaseal.
• A remarkable alignment of five smaller boulders, a tumulus, and a large standing stone, terminating at the same intersection point, with five stones within one mile.
• An alignment from Tregaseal circle to Lanyon Quoit, extending to a large standing stone and terminating at Chrysanster.

Notes and Comments

Readers might be disappointed that alignments are not traced further than a few miles due to mapping difficulties. However, the focus is on the quality of evidence for the ley theory. The survey's evidence is considered as good as that accepted by archaeologists for astronomical indicators, as the lines were extensions of those already noted by Lockyer.

Churches and ancient Celtic chapels are often situated on megalithic alignments. Examples include Sennen Church, where a cross in the graveyard aligns with tumuli, a stone, and Bartine Castle.

Straight stretches of road and old tracks can coincide with megalithic alignments. The line from Boscawen-un follows an existing banked approach, and the Cape Cornwall Road aligns with the centre of the square at St Just.

All stones mentioned, and virtually all on the 6" map of West Cornwall, are situated on multiple megalithic alignments. This pattern is found throughout Britain and also in Britanny, suggesting a common origin and purpose.

The precise similarity between monuments and legends in Cornwall and Britanny suggests the same people erected them and that their magical properties and folklore are identical. These monuments and their associated folklore are not limited to Northern Europe, but are found globally, indicating a once-universal civilization with a shared scientific purpose.

Threats to Ancient Sites

Unfortunately, ancient stones are protected only by the tolerance of their owners. Farming methods and heavy machinery pose a serious threat. Smaller stones are often unrecognized or mistaken for modern rubbing posts for cattle. A specific example is given of an ancient stone on the extension of line A(1) west of Boscawen-un, which appears to grow taller as one approaches it.

There is a pressing need for a thorough megalithic survey of the area by qualified individuals. Some local archaeologists are indifferent to alignments, focusing only on artifacts found during excavation. Many unrecorded stones have been mapped, while others have disappeared. Professor Thom emphasizes that even insignificant boulders should be recorded before removal, as they may have served as markers on astronomical lines.

Alfred Watkins observed that smaller stones, often in folklore, stand on leys. Large uncut boulders, sometimes attributed to glacial action, are also noted. The author argues that the evidence for the ley system and the value of Watkins's discovery are undeniable, pointing to an advanced scientific civilization in Britain predating the Romans.

Conclusion and Future Investigation

The important question concerns stone circles. The theory that they were built solely as observatories fails to explain the continuation of astronomical lines across the country. A further principle is involved, suggesting that ancient civilizations devoted significant resources to constructing a worldwide system of aligned megalithic instruments. The mystery requires further investigation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue champions the work of Alfred Watkins and John Michell in uncovering evidence of a sophisticated prehistoric civilization in Britain, characterized by advanced geometric knowledge and a widespread system of megalithic alignments. The editorial stance appears to support the investigation of ley lines and ancient astronomical practices, emphasizing the scientific significance of these sites and the need for their preservation and further study. There is a critique of mainstream archaeology's perceived indifference to these phenomena. The magazine also touches upon esoteric and symbolic interpretations of ancient geometry.

The editor apologizes for the delay in publication, citing difficulties in maintaining a monthly schedule and holding over letters for the next issue.