Ley Hunter - 1971 no 16

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LEY HUNTER
Issue: 16
Date: February 1971
Editor: Paul Screeton

This issue of The Ley Hunter, number 16, published in February 1971, features several articles exploring the intersection of ley lines, ufology, and ancient beliefs.

Some Ley Lines Around Addlestone

By Jimmy Goddard, this article investigates the area around Addlestone, Surrey, which initially appears to offer little to the ley hunter as the modern town arose only in the last century. However, further investigation reveals interesting features. St Augustine's church, a modern brick building, is noted for its precise east alignment and roof angles similar to the Great Pyramid, suggesting it might be a ley centre. The author felt a 'humming' sensation there, common at ley centres. The nearby site of Chertsey Abbey, a 7th-century ruin, is also identified as a centre of several leys. One significant ley runs southwest from Chertsey Abbey, passing through Eton, Windsor Castle, Magna Charta Island, Runnymede, and a church in Egham.

The article also discusses Woburn Hill, where the remains of a small chapel were once noted. The ley is traced to the St Augustine's centre, then skirting St George's Hill. The Crouch Oak, an ancient tree reputedly over 800 years old, is highlighted as a significant ley centre. Legends associate it with the boundary of Windsor Forest and aphrodisiac properties of its bark. Another ley passes through the Crouch Oak to Chertsey Abbey, continuing through various locations like Horton, Staines, Byfleet, and Ockham.

Goddard concludes that even this seemingly uninteresting part of the country holds ley mysteries, noting that a line from Glastonbury to Warminster, when extended, passes directly through Addlestone.

Orthoteny

By Stephen Smith, M.A., BUFORA Director of Research, this article provides a comprehensive historical overview and analysis of the orthoteny theory in ufology.

Aime Michel is credited with popularizing the theory following his study of the 1954 UFO wave in France, where he found sightings aligned on straight lines forming star-shaped networks. These alignments, when intersecting at a sighting point, were associated with specific UFO shapes (vertical cylinders with diffuse clouds) and maneuvers ('falling dead leaf'). Michel noted that sightings along an alignment were not necessarily of the same object or chronologically ordered.

The article traces the development and debate surrounding orthoteny. Charles Maney summarized Michel's book, deeming it 'outstanding.' Fontes analyzed Brazilian sightings, and Ribera mapped Iberian orthotenies. Dr. M. Davis questioned the statistical significance of these alignments, while Jacques Vallee analyzed North African sightings. Michel later published findings on global orthoteny, focusing on six incidents from September 24, 1954, which formed the basis for the 'BAVIC' orthoteny (Bayonne-Vichy).

Further research and debate involved various authors, including Peter Haythornthwaite, F. Malcolm Bull, and D. H. Menzel. Menzel attempted to discredit Michel's claims of statistical significance, leading to a complex exchange of arguments. Despite efforts, no definitive proof of statistical significance was established for most alignments, with 'BAVIC' and the Southend/Rovigo line being exceptions.

Ultimately, Michel's final article considered orthoteny a 'false trail,' leading to a decline in its prominence as a debating point. However, the concept continued to be explored, with researchers like J. Cleary-Baker questioning the significance of line intersections ('ufocals') rather than alignments. Other ideas included circular alignments around 'neutral' centres and 'ufocals' sited in specific locations.

The article notes that the Condon Report offered a crude and inaccurate account of orthoteny. Saunders and Harkins, however, suggested the Condon Report should have examined orthoteny more closely. Saunders developed a concept called 'remarkability' to explain orthoteny.

Smith observes a lingering alliance for orthoteny among ley hunters, citing J. Goddard's article 'New Light on Ancient Tracks' which proposed a connection between leys and orthotenies, suggesting a navigational purpose. However, J. Cleary-Baker critiqued this linkage, pointing out absurdities.

The author concludes that orthoteny has largely died as a theory, with no reasoned argument linking it to leys. He raises the question of whether the demise of orthoteny impacts the statistical significance of leys, referencing Tony Northwood's analysis.

The bibliography lists major references to orthoteny, including works by Bowen, Bull, Condon, Davis, Fontes, Goddard, Haythornthwaite, Maney, Menzel, Michel, Northwood, Ribera, Saunders, Seeviour, Toulet, and Vallee.

Editor's Comments

The editor expresses hope that Stephen Smith's article will spark debate and suggests that orthoteny is not entirely dead. He mentions other works not included in the bibliography, such as Tony Wedd's connection between leys and UFOs, and Jimmy Goddard's pamphlet on 'Handbook of Leys and Orthotenies.' Peter Furness's equation for calculating the mathematical probability of leys is also noted.

Sacred Stones

By Alan Cohen, this article explores the potential religious and spiritual significance of megalithic monuments and their connection to 'telluric currents' and 'sacred powers.'

Cohen, as a student of myth and religion, is interested in the ideas put forward by John Michell and others regarding leys, stone circles, and their role in the religious system of megalithic builders. He distinguishes between what megalithic man believed and the objective validity of those beliefs. Cohen suggests that megaliths might have been instruments or machines for controlling natural 'telluric currents,' which possess fertilizing and spiritual properties.

He posits that the question of whether megalithic man believed in such powers should be addressed before attempting to prove their existence and manipulability. A comparative study of religion suggests that 'archaic' peoples believed in 'sacred powers,' such as the Polynesian concept of 'mana.' Agricultural religions and neolithic man, being agrarian, viewed the earth as a living entity with vital energies. Cohen cautions against reducing these phenomena to mere magnetism or solar energy, emphasizing their spiritual nature.

Sacred forces are often perceived as physical, like storms or lightning, or as paranormal experiences undergone by shamans. Cohen notes that megalithic monuments were likely associated with magical power and erected to control it. Quoting Mircea Eliade, he states that stones were used as 'instruments' and not adored. Eliade suggests sacred stones are either 'signs of a spiritual reality' or 'instruments of a sacred power.'

Cohen highlights that megaliths could symbolize male sky deities, 'cosmic pillars' linking the human and divine, and instruments for controlling fertilizing power inherent in the atmosphere, earth, and souls. Folklore of Northern Europe often associates monuments with fairies and generative properties. Examples include women sitting on monoliths for fertility at Decines (Rhone) and couples running around standing stones at Carnac.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly focuses on the intersection of ancient earth mysteries (ley lines, megaliths) and modern phenomena (ufology). The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging debate and further research into these interconnected subjects. The magazine seems to cater to a readership interested in exploring alternative explanations for historical sites and unexplained aerial phenomena, seeking to bridge the gap between ancient beliefs and contemporary mysteries.

This issue of The Ley Hunter, identified by issue number 12, focuses on the intersection of ancient sites, ley lines, and UFO phenomena, alongside explorations of folklore and psychic experiences. The content is primarily in English and appears to be from the 1970s, given references to publications and events from that era.

The Welsh Temple of the Zodiac (Part II)

This section, authored by Lewis Edwards, continues the examination of a significant ancient site, referred to as the Welsh Temple of the Zodiac. The article posits that the faith in the fertilizing power of stones has persisted for thousands of years, citing examples from India and Greece (hermai stones associated with Hermes). It discusses Eliade's contention that these beliefs stem from a desire to control natural forces and a recognition of stone's inherent power, as well as the belief that ancestral spirits inhabit stones. The author questions whether these structures, like the Carnac Alignments, actually 'worked' to control earth forces, as suggested by figures like Underwood and Michel. While acknowledging that much knowledge may be lost to superstition, the author suggests that genuine knowledge of natural phenomena might have been involved, a notion made more plausible by Professor Thom's investigations.

The article emphasizes the need to build a coherent picture of the myths, rites, motivations, and beliefs of the megalith builders, urging an interpretation of their symbols (spirals, serpents, wheels, chevrons) within a balanced mythico-religious framework. It cautions against assuming the unlocking of occult secrets, stating that a proper study of megalithic beliefs will eventually reveal what they knew.

The second part of this article details the construction of the Temple, focusing on two sanctuaries. It explores the possibility of a circle delineated on the ground, even if no trace remains, due to the contour of the land. The key to the Temple's orientation is found in the alignment of cairns (Crugiau Edryd) and an isolated cairn (Crug y Biswal) to the southwest. A line drawn from Crug y Biswal through Crugiau Edryd points to the Temple's center and aligns with the eye of Taurus, suggesting construction around 4,500 B.C. The orientation on a star, rather than the sun, indicates it was a Stellar Temple. The alignment was also used to set the circle, forming approximately 45-degree angles that align with features like Pen Dinas. The author proposes that two lines forming a 90-degree angle suggest two sides of a square, with added sides meeting at the Temple's center, implying a square of 5.6 miles. The designers' mathematical knowledge and organizational skills contradict assumptions of primitive social structures.

Further examination of map alignments reveals lines sighted through three cairns, connecting to Aries, Capricorn, and Sagittarius, and another line from Pen Dinas to a cairn between Virgo and Scorpio. The discovery of these lines is important for understanding the buried parts of the Temple. A standing stone, Hirfaen, is situated on a line from Pisces to the circle's center. Another line touches Virgo's sheaf and passes near Maes y Groes, the 'field of the Cross', possibly a site of a tau cross. The Zodiacal signs are seen as symbols of spiritual powers guarding the Temple, with worship centered in the sanctuary. The outer sanctuary is described as a horseshoe-shaped embankment near the River Twrch, while the inner sanctuary, for initiates, is on a nearby hill, possibly associated with the Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur.

The Wandering Turf: Or The Psychography of Leys

Dan Butcher's article explores the connection between UFO sightings and ley lines, drawing on various anecdotal accounts. One incident from 1964 in the French Pyrenees describes M. Jean Senac witnessing a bright shining machine (flying saucer) that flew off, followed by two dwarfish beings walking parallel to a hedge. This event occurred near what is suspected to be an ancient track junction, with the ley line marked by a gap in the hedge and a chestnut tree.

Another French case involves schoolchildren encountering a small being near Arc-sous-Cicon that vanished through a hedge, leaving burnt patches. The article notes that these accounts often lack detailed topography but highlight the mysterious vanishing of dwarf entities through hedgerows.

Arthur Shuttlewood's 'The Warminster Mystery' is cited for incidents involving "white-faced persons" entering a hedge and a "man" rushing from a hedge into a car. A case from the Vosges, France, in 1966, describes a shepherd witnessing a "cog wheel" object that brushed a hedge without leaving marks. Similar objects are linked to the "Devil's Footprints" in Devon (1855), where marks ran from Teignmouth to Topsham, possibly centered at Lympstone.

The article then shifts to folklore, discussing black dog ghost phenomena. A Lincolnshire farm labourer reported a phantom dog entering a hedge with a crackling sound. A farmer near Aylesbury encountered a large, black dog with fiery eyes that caused him to fall senseless. In Pembrokeshire, a man met a Gwllgi (dog demon) that caused paralysis and threw him over a hedge. These encounters often occur in fields or near ancient stones, suggesting connections to ancient paths.

The crackling noise and paralysis are linked to UFOs and out-of-body experiences, with large black dogs reported in UFO encounters. The Scottish fairy dogs (Cu Sith) are said to move in straight lines, leaving footprints, similar to the "Devil's Footprints" and burn marks from the Arc-sous-Cicon case. Dogs are also linked to Hecate, ancient standing stones, and Helen of Troy. The article suggests that the dog form is symbolic of a gate-keeper or guardian of the gap in the hedge, and a psychopomp.

Ghostlore accounts of apparitions passing through hedges are presented, including a Victorian ghost and a policeman vanishing through a hedge. This is compared to out-of-body experiences, such as Frank Hives passing through a hedge during an 'astral' excursion. The 'fetch' in Scotland, a phantom double of a dying person, is also described as disappearing across fields or through hedges.

The phenomenon of "The Wandering Turf" is discussed, where gates in fields seemingly vanish. This is presented as a type of experience where gates disappear and reappear. The author suggests that these phenomena, including apparitions on ancient stones and phantoms on gates, may be linked to the presence of ancient paths and sacred sites.

The article posits that traversing ancient ley lines can lead to psychic experiences, with the field, hedge, and gate acting as symbols for triggering inner states. The vanishing gates might reflect an unconscious inner situation. The fields and enclosed areas mentioned in examples indicate ancient "holy places" or sacred enclosures, with modern hedges or fences marking these sites. The ancient sacred site was inviolate, and hedge-breaking is seen as a modern echo of this taboo. Unlawfully breaking through a hedge is compared to removing a landmark, with consequences like being misled by a Will o' the Wisp.

Adepts, however, can pass through hidden gates. Examples include the Japanese god Oho Kuni-Nushi disappearing into "green branches" and the Polynesian paradise of Bulota being enclosed by a fence of souls. The article notes that the adept traveller normally does not remain hidden but comes and goes from the "holy place" like priests of the Jewish Temple.

One Plus One Plus One Equals One

This article by Bram discusses a recent Open Forum on leys held in London, where various views on the subject were shared. The author notes the linking "science" of orthoteny and suggests that Philip Heselton proposed a "something else" connecting leys and UFOs. Paul Screeton referred to ley-centres as "spiritual-centres," which helped clarify the connection. While some doubt the direct use of leys by UFOs for travel or motivation, there is agreement that UFOs are often seen near ley power-centres, such as Warminster's Cradle Hill.

The article highlights the potential healing properties of ley-centres. Paul recounts an experience at the stone at Hart where touching it improved his father-in-law's arm, while his wife felt a shock. Ross Nichols reported that his asthma improved during a ceremony on Glastonbury Tor. Tony and Jan Roberts felt their spirits improve after visiting a ley-centre on a bad day, with Tony describing the feeling as "as if he had just had a couple of whiskys or smoked a joint." This suggests ley-centres are places for healing or feeling better, rather than solely for UFOs.

The author then connects this to the propulsion of UFOs and leys, recalling Desmond Leslie's book "Flying Saucers Have Landed." Leslie proposed that UFOs are powered by Kundalini, or "Serpent Power" (YOGA). The article speculates that a spaceship might be a machine that amplifies natural body power, enabling occupants to travel through space. After such journeys, pilots might feel weary and visit ley-centres to absorb power and renew themselves. This is presented as a theory for why UFOs approach, hover, and then streak off at greater speeds.

The author poses the question of whether this is the connection between leys and UFOs: ancient ceremonial sites for healing or "stoning" on one hand, and resting places for "interplanetary yogi-masters" on the other.

Book Reviews

Harmonic 33 by Capt. Bruce Cathie

This review discusses Captain Bruce Cathie's book, which explores an incredible grid system believed to be reactivated by "ufonauts" to pump out energy. Cathie suggests this energy could be harnessed by power companies and is responsible for increasing the Earth's temperature, leading to a golden age. He posits that massive amounts of power were available in prehistoric times via this grid, used for moving great weights. The book offers hypotheses on UFO visibility, gravity distortion areas, the Great Pyramid, and mystery explosions. It also covers UFO sightings in New Zealand, the Bible, and Warminster.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the interconnectedness of ancient sites, ley lines, and UFO phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on interpreting ancient beliefs and structures through a modern lens, seeking to understand the knowledge and practices of prehistoric peoples. Folklore, particularly concerning supernatural entities like black dogs and apparitions, is presented as potentially linked to UFO experiences and out-of-body phenomena. The concept of "spiritual centres" or power sites associated with leys, offering healing or revitalization, is a recurring theme. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various theories and anecdotal evidence without definitive conclusions, encouraging readers to consider unconventional connections between the physical and the psychic, the ancient and the modern.

This document is a page from a magazine, likely focused on UFOs and related phenomena, identified as issue "19". The primary content is a review of the book "Flying Saucers Have Landed" by Desmond Leslie and George Adamski.

Book Review: Flying Saucers Have Landed The review, written by Paul Screeton, discusses the book "Flying Saucers Have Landed" by Desmond Leslie and George Adamski, noting its revised and enlarged edition published by Spearman in 1970, priced at 42s. The book is described as controversial, initially published in 1953, and presents George Adamski's account of a telepathic conversation with a flesh-and-blood Venusian, accompanied by UFO photographs.

Adamski's claims were largely met with disbelief and ridicule, with some suggesting he had photographed a UFO and then experienced a hallucination. The reviewer notes that a cult grew around Adamski, which, regardless of the truth of his claims, has negatively impacted UFO research. While many have been scornful, some partially believe him.

The reviewer finds Leslie's contribution to the book more engaging, particularly his study of UFOs in prehistory, his speculations, and suppositions. Although the reviewer does not agree with all of Leslie's conclusions, they believe in his sincerity and the validity of his research, stating that his remarks on UFO propulsion are "as near the truth as anyone has probably yet got."

However, the reviewer considers the additional commentaries in the book to be less exceptional, given the advancements in ufology and research into prehistoric myths suggesting extraterrestrial visits. The review also mentions that with the "Scoriton affair" still recent, Adamski's story resurfaces, potentially leading to a re-evaluation of the man. The book contains oblique references to "leys," which are not expected to gain many converts.

The book is available from "Dark They Were & Golden-eyed" at 28 Bedfordbury, London W.C.2.

Additional Content Prior to the book review, there is a passage discussing the relationship between atomic explosions, UFOs, and geological events. The author of this passage, whose name is not explicitly stated but is quoted as writing, suggests that the destruction of an atom bomb depends on the geometric position of the triggering device and the Sun, making an atomic war unlikely. This author also connects atomic tests to the UFO grid system and earthquakes, proposing that the grid's instability causes volcanoes but that UFOs are actively rebuilding the system to prevent further devastation. This work is described as remarkable, built on circumstantial evidence, and proposing new theories about UFOs and their connection to "leys." It also notes the significance of the number 33, relating it to the Church's teaching on the lifespan of Jesus Christ.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The magazine appears to focus on controversial and speculative aspects of UFO phenomena, including alleged alien encounters, theories about UFOs in ancient history, and their potential connection to geological events and esoteric concepts like "leys." The editorial stance, as reflected in the review, seems to value sincere research and novel theories, even if not fully agreeing with conclusions, while also acknowledging the potential for sensationalism and its impact on the field of ufology. There is an emphasis on re-evaluating historical figures and events within the UFO community.