Ley Hunter - 1970 no 7

Magazine Overview

Title: The Ley Hunter
Issue: Number Seven
Date: May 1970
Editor: Paul Screeton
Publisher: N/A (Non-profit making magazine)
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of The Ley Hunter is presented as a collection of snippets of information and comments provided by readers, rather than a formal editorial. The magazine is published monthly and is available for single copies at 1s. (including postage) and for three-month or six-month subscriptions. Subscriptions can be paid by cheque or postal order to P. Screeton at either Hartlepool or Seaton Carew Post Offices. Articles, letters, and comments are invited, and material from the magazine may be reproduced if authors and the magazine are credited.

Lead-In Section

The "Lead-In" section features contributions from various readers:

• Nigel Pennick is working on another piece for "Cambridge Voice" concerning the Nuthampstead Zodiac, coordinating leys, zodiacs, and hill figures. He mentions confirmed ley alignments at Glastonbury, Kingston-on-Thames, and Nuthampstead, and heard of others at Banbury, Wirral, Durham, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, with a suspected alignment near the Wilmington Long Man. He also plans to write about a Welsh zodiac around Pumpsaint and exceptional alignments around Cambridge, noting that some public houses on the A10 (allegedly the Roman road Ermine Street) have "Dragon" in their names. Pennick details a ley in Cambridge connecting seven churches, a mound, and other sites, which he states passes through the zodiacal figures of Aquarius, Sagittarius, Virgo, and Leo. He has promised an article on how he discovered this zodiac.
• Bram, from a bookshop, discussed leys with the editor and mentioned that the progressive pop group Mighty Baby had become interested in prehistoric remains. Their leader, Martin Stone, had an uplifting experience after lying between two standing stones in Cornwall. The group also stayed near a cottage where Aleister Crowley had lived and saw books he left behind on prehistoric antiquities. Bram also noted that Crowley's fellow magician, MacGregor Mathers, lived in a house aligned with five churches, including Westminster Abbey, and continuing to Cambridge.
• Tony Northwood, chairman of the Bedfordshire U.F.O. Society, requested that his group's activity in constructing UFO detection equipment be mentioned. His society holds discussion meetings in Bedford and Luton and is researching leys and associated subjects, inviting participation from interested individuals in the neighbourhood. Tony's address is provided.

Reader Correspondence and Articles

• Egerton Sykes informs that copies of Alfred Watkins's "The Ley Hunter's Manual" and H.J. Massingham's "Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, the Giants in England" are available from Markham House Press Ltd. in Brighton.
• R.D.Y. Perrett refers Allen Watkins to an article by Peter Furness in the original Ley Hunter regarding the mathematical probability of alignments. Perrett quotes Furness's findings related to a pencil line on a map, suggesting a minimum of six points for confidence. He also references Alfred Watkins's conclusion that a four-point alignment is strong evidence of design, supported by theoretical work on visual alignments.
• The editor expresses a desire to produce an anthology of articles from the original Ley Hunters, including a bibliography, due to the poor condition of the stencils and frequent requests for back numbers.
• Sheila Walker of The Scottish U.F.O. Research Society mentioned a study paper, "Some Implications of the Space Ships and the Space Command," taken from a talk by Silas Newton, a geologist, geophysicist, and magnetic scientist.
• Stephen Smith referred to an unpublished article on leys and orthoteny in "Flying Saucer Review." His reply indicates the article will remain unpublished, and he views orthoteny and ley alignments as interesting theories in ufology but unsupported by statistical analysis. He believes ley alignments have a stronger case due to potential historical links.
• Linda Wroth of Sago Press sent a copy of Maria Reiche's "Mystery on the Desert," which will be reviewed in a future issue, along with an article by R.D.Y. Perrett and one by the editor on a Hart ley hunt.
• Philip Heselton, a former editor, went on a field trip from Manchester University to Teesside for ley hunting.
• Kenneth Knight offers a second opinion on John Michell's "The View Over Atlantis" and is writing a book on Arthurian legends using mathematics, geometry, astronomy, architecture, leys, and British mythology. His review for "Gandaif's Garden" was prepared with a focus on the written word and formulii.
• Keith A. Walker clarifies that the discontinuation of the S.F. section in The Ley Hunter was to make more space for leys, not due to silencing by Fred Cardner of the South Herts U.F.O. Investigation Group. The editor expresses a preference for S.F. books by authors like J.G. Ballard or Brian W. Aldiss over space opera, citing "Danger from Vega" by John Rackham as an example of writing he would not spend money on.

Allotechnology: The Science That Got Here First

• Tony Wedd submits six sets of facts and a hypothesis: 1. Stories of gods arriving on Earth and interacting with maidens (e.g., Eros and Psyche). 2. Stories of humans going into space (e.g., Man in the Moon, Jack and the Beanstalk). 3. Inscriptions showing airborne human beings (e.g., Hermes, angels, fakirs on flying carpets). 4. Traditions like "touching wood," "making a sign of the cross," and "perpetual motion" (suggested as machinery for drawing on cosmic radiation or earth magnetism). 5. "Chronoclasms" such as the Piri Reis map, Jonathan Swift's announcement of the Moons of Mars, and Jessup's record of a golden bracelet in coal. 6. The idea of leys, defined as the artificial marking of the shortest line between terminal points on the skyline.

Wedd's hypothesis is that a science embracing interplanetary flight has long existed and left records on Earth, possibly lost in a cataclysm like Noah's flood. He offers corroboration from George Adamski's technical diagram and Professor Marcel Homet's photographs of South American rock carvings.

• He further proposes three hypotheses:
• A. The gods of legend were physically real, with myths and legends being coded accounts of actual fact, supported by Robert Graves's "The White Goddess."
• B. Superstitious fears and fantasies may refer to real experiences from past lifetimes, such as the fear of falling off the edge of the Earth, potentially linked to Vimanas and their recorded velocities.
• C. These hypotheses relate to physical sciences, communications, and psychology. Daniel W. Fry suggests separating these into physical, social, and spiritual sciences, with the latter being encouraging due to the prospect of experimental data.

The concept concerns the investigation of leys, with Watkins indicating how a ley might pass through a hill. The ley system might be arbitrary, like Ordnance Survey trig points, or terminal points might coincide with trig points.

Detecting the Power in the Leys

• Jimmy Goddard discusses the evidence that the ley system represents a worldwide grid of unknown energy. Despite evidence, the power remains elusive, and no positive detection method has been found. While called magnetic energy, it does not affect a compass. However, Mr. Williams of Abergavenny reported strange fogging marks on photographs of ancient sites.

• The article suggests that the original pre-Colian ley or magnetic current's relationship to other near-parallel leys is more important than the number of marked points. A mere "rogue trackway" might have many marks but lack natural power.

• Goddard proposes that an undiscovered alternating component to the static magnetic field might explain UFO maneuvers, allowing them to tune to relevant leys and retune when altering course.

• The term "terminal point" is considered misleading, suggesting "nodal point" instead. These nodal points might express earth power that pushes the Earth's crust upwards, creating hilltops, or favours continued growth at a spot, like ancient pine tree clumps.

• The article mentions the involvement with radiations of standing stones and describes how charged male and female stones in the South Seas were exploited for their power. It notes that this power, like Reich's orgone energy, is not held by metal surfaces but by wood and stone, with metal deflecting it. This is linked to the folk memory of "touching wood."

• The danger of handling base metals is mentioned, contrasting with their protective qualities. The "royal" metals are noted as odd-numbered in the atomic table, suggesting a clue to basic allotechnology.

• An article by Ivan T. Sanderson in Fate Magazine, "Could Ancient Sculptors Soften Stone?" is referenced, suggesting pre-Inca technology involved plant juices to soften stone. The mystery of the Coade Stone is also brought up, questioning if plant juices were used.

• The author puts forward the idea of "Free Energy" that is life-supporting and can be tapped by thought, potentially interacting with the human aura. This energy is pattern-sensitive and can be conveyed by sound patterns (mantras). The seven-point star and the Celtic cross are considered essential to the allotechnologist.

• The energy is described as flowing around a circle of people touching hands, carrying telpathic information and immunity to disease. It is present in the Earth's aurora and in the strange light inside spaceships.

• The article concludes by suggesting that a divining rod or pendulum could help locate a ley by focusing on earth currents. It also speculates that an instrument might do the job, but it would require a "human battery of aura-power," referencing the work of Keeley and de la Warr. The author reflects on how past scientists like Keeley and Reich might view contemporary scientists as too slow, and that the development of orgone or nuclear energy will determine civilization's survival or death.

• The author notes the decline of interest in science in favour of the arts at universities as healthy, contrasting it with the production of "meter-readers."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The Ley Hunter are ley lines, their historical significance, and their potential connection to unknown energy sources and ancient technologies. There is a strong emphasis on alternative science, ufology, and the interpretation of myths and legends as records of actual events. The editorial stance, as reflected in the reader contributions, is open to speculative theories and encourages investigation into phenomena not fully explained by conventional science. The magazine actively solicits reader input and aims to foster a community of researchers interested in these esoteric subjects. The editor's personal preference against space opera and for more 'enriching' S.F. also indicates a particular taste within the broader genre.

Title: The Ley Hunter
Issue: 15
Volume: VI
Date: April 1970
Publisher: The Ley Hunter
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of The Ley Hunter explores various facets of ley lines, earth energies, and related phenomena, featuring articles, letters to the editor, and a book review.

Articles and Features

Ley Centres and Psychic Sensations

The issue opens with a discussion on ley centres and the peculiar psychic sensations some individuals experience at these points, described as a humming in the head. The author notes that while many churches are located on ley lines, this sensation is not universal. The need for a positive detector for ley power is highlighted, acknowledging that until such a device exists, the power of leys remains a debatable point.

The Earth Breathes

Authored by Circumlibra, this article posits that the Earth 'breathes' through centres that emit energy, tone, and colour, likening them to the spiracles of a honey bee. These 'Etheric centres' are considered to be on the Etheric level, next in density to our physical matter. The article explains that as the Sun passes over these centres, its energy impinges on them, creating surges, particularly at noon. The author describes the tone from these centres as 'etherial' and mentions the 'Whinney Blows' associated with high tide energy. The term 'Whinney' is explored through its dictionary definition and its connection to place names like 'Whinney Lane' in Nottinghamshire, which follows a ley and features 'Robin Hood's Cave'. The article suggests that these centres have been worked upon, possibly in the remote past, to become 'Power centres'. It also touches upon the existence of entities on different levels of matter and the potential for consciousness on these levels.

Book Review: "The View Over Atlantis"

This section reviews "The View Over Atlantis" by Sago Press. The reviewer acknowledges the book's presentation, illustrations, and diagrams, noting its attempt to explore psychic experiences and reach other spheres. However, the review is largely critical, citing a lack of intelligible writing, reliance on untested theories, and significant deficiencies and blunders, particularly concerning mathematical formulas and historical accuracy. The reviewer points out an error in the calculation for the circumference of a circle and a misattribution of Durham Cathedral's location. The book's handling of the Hebrew Cabbala and its application of Gematria are also questioned, with the reviewer suggesting that the author has overlooked established systems and presented extracts without proper consideration.

Correspondence and Letters to the Editor

R.D.Y. Perrett writes to correct a reference from a previous issue concerning "The Prehistoric Stone Circles of Derbyshire" by W.J. Andrew, providing alternative details and listing other relevant references on prehistoric roads and alignments.

Jimmy Goddard suggests a categorization of leys, linking straight stretches to power-lines and prehistoric tracks to easier routes. He also notes the interesting connection between the Somerset and Kingston Zodiacs and the Ursa Minor figure on Salisbury Plain, suggesting a deliberate system.

Circumlibra responds to Mr Webster's questionnaire, clarifying that his intention is not to convince but to share findings from over 30 years of research. He discusses his methods, including observing the 'tides of the day' and the behaviour of people, and linking these to sundials and ley hunting. He emphasizes that his conclusions are ancient knowledge revived and that the study is vast, requiring a lifetime to fully explore.

Tony Wedd addresses Mr Perrett's 'quibbling' and discusses the meaning of magnetism, fact, and science. He criticizes what he perceives as a 'closed shop' mentality in certain fields, using the example of an RAF intelligence unit investigating UFO sightings without public funding. He argues that this approach is used to enforce exclusivity rather than widen knowledge.

Barbara Crump shares an observation about local countrymen's methods for catching moles, which involved specific three-hourly intervals, suggesting these might be linked to 'energy pulses' or 'tides of the day'. She also expresses appreciation for the magazine but wishes the letters could be less complicated and shorter.

Philip Heselton critiques the amount of personal criticism in the magazine, advocating for tolerance of different viewpoints and approaches. He endorses Allen Watkins' call for statistical analysis of alignments to gain acceptance from the scientific establishment, while also stressing the value of intuitive and psychic faculties for gaining insight into the purpose of these phenomena.

Brinsley le Poer Trench mentions an interesting discovery of potential ley lines on Mona Island by Noel E. Rigau's group.

South Herts Unidentified Flying Objects Investigation Group

This section announces the existence of the South Herts UFO Investigation Group, inviting cooperation from those interested in understanding the UFO phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of The Ley Hunter consistently explores the concept of ley lines and earth energies, with a particular focus on the subjective and psychic experiences associated with these phenomena. There is a recurring tension between those advocating for rigorous scientific proof and statistical analysis (like Allen Watkins and Tony Wedd) and those who emphasize intuitive, psychic, and less quantifiable approaches (like Circumlibra and Philip Heselton). The editorial stance, as articulated by Philip Heselton, appears to favour open-mindedness and the inclusion of diverse methodologies, suggesting that "The Ley Hunter is the only journal devoted to the subject and, as such, must cater for all ways of approaching the problem." The review of "The View Over Atlantis" highlights a critical perspective on the handling of historical and scientific data within the broader context of esoteric subjects. The inclusion of UFO investigations suggests a widening scope of interest beyond traditional ley line studies.