Ley Hunter - 1972 no 30

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LEY HUNTER
Issue: No. 30
Date: April 1972
Publisher: Paul Screeton
Country: United Kingdom
Focus: Ley lines, ancient skills, mythology, ufology.

Lead-In

The issue opens by noting the growing interest in ancient skills and wisdom in 1972, highlighting new books and magazines in the field, including works by John Michell, Tom Lethbridge, Tony Roberts, and Nigel Pennick, as well as the magazine "Arcana". It also mentions an article in the Journal of the British Society of Dowsers. Future issues of The Ley Hunter are promised to include reviews of these works and articles on Atlantis and Stonehenge.

Quick Reviews

• Several publications are briefly reviewed:
• "The New Intuitive Interpreter": A magazine dedicated to spreading Truth and Light, edited by Kathleen Middleton.
• "Dartington Solar Quest": A free magazine focusing on Mystical Christianity and "magnetic centres".
• "Cosmic Paper": Features an article on "Beyond the Material Plane" and is bilingual (English/Dutch).

Alvediston: Shades of Avalon by Mollie Carey

This article explores the area of Alvediston in Wiltshire, noting a former stone circle with a large central stone that was removed. The author discusses the prevalence of "saint" villages, suggesting a historical strongpoint of religion that incorporated old gods into saints. The name "Alvediston" is found to resonate with "Avalon", prompting a search for Arthurian connections. The article highlights a tomb in the church belonging to the Gawaine family, suggesting a lineage from Sir Gawaine, King Arthur's nephew. It details Gawaine's heraldry, particularly the pentangle and fleur de lys, and his devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ. The author also mentions the historical home of the Gawans at Norrington and notes other ancient sites in the area, expressing a desire to investigate further.

Bronwen at Aberffraw by Christine Crosland Symms

This piece recounts the story of Bronwen from the Mabinogion, set in Aberffraw, the residence of the Princess of Gwynedd. It details the historical significance of Aberffraw, including the keeping of Howel Dda's laws there. The narrative focuses on the marriage of Bronwen, daughter of Llyr, to Matholwch, King of Ireland, a union intended to ally the two islands. The story highlights the actions of Bronwen's brother, Evnissyen, who caused conflict by disfiguring Matholwch's horses. Despite atonement, further strife arose, leading to Bronwen's mistreatment and eventual return to Britain. The story concludes with Bronwen's sorrow and her death on the banks of the River Alaw, where she was buried.

The View Over Albion (A column by the Long Man of Wilmington)

• This column features several short items:
• GOOD FRENDZ: A joke horoscope from "Frendz" magazine for figures like Dr Glyn Daniel, Prof. Richard Atkinson, and Prof. Stuart Piggot.
• JOINTLY CHARGED: Mentions Tim Davey and an M.P., Mr B. Douglass-Man, and a Mr Trew.
• GOOD NIGHT: A call to "Kill the Night Assemblies Bill."
• REVELATION: Information about the Revelation Records project, releasing live recordings from Glastonbury Fair to pay off debts, mentioning Marc Bolan.
• SALT OF THE EARTH: An anecdote about Northumberland sheep eating roadside grit, leading to farmer complaints and a suggestion for "Sheep Must Not Eat Gravel" notices.
• WINDOW SILL: A brief mention of Judee Sill and her album of "occult-baroque-western" songs.
• BOA OF CONTENTION: Notes Alice Cooper's stage persona and the deletion of a snake from his album cover in Mexico.
• DOUBLE DIAMOND WORKS WONDERS: A mention of beer mats publicizing D.D. Drawn by Larry.

Moon, TV UFO?, Moonshadow, £.S.D DONS, Cock-a-Hooper, Yogi Bare

• MOON: Refers to a previous issue's mention of a "prominent ley hunter's dream" and suggests the Queen is influenced by the Moon.
• TV UFO?: Asks if viewers noticed a disc-shaped craft during a TV program on dreams on March 14, noting Dr Chris Evans' interest in ufology.
• MOONSHADOW: Quotes from "Rolling Stone" about Cat Stevens' song "Moonshadow" and his personal experience of seeing a flying saucer, which he describes as a way to occupy his thoughts and avoid thinking about the silliness of his life.
• £.S.D DONS: Reports on university teachers' pay claims, with professors receiving a 7% rise.
• COCK-A-HOOPER: Discusses a venture organized by Mr Hooper, which Derek Samson of "NICAP Journal" advised against, suggesting it was unhealthy.
• YOGI BARE: Mentions Yogi Ramu Michael Adonaiasis, founder of the Universal Awareness Foundation, who recorded for two hours nude.

Megalithic Poem No. 1 by Paul Screeton

A concrete poem with a mystical or symbolic arrangement of letters.

Readers' Forum

• "THE FAIRY PATH" by Alan Cohen: This section includes a story from "Folktales of the Irish Countryside" about a man who ignored warnings about interfering with a fairy path. His new house construction was plagued by misfortune, and ultimately, the house and all its outbuildings were destroyed by fire after he disturbed the path. The story emphasizes the importance of respecting fairy paths.
• Postscript: Mentions a story by Evans-Wentz about fairy paths activated by magnetism, quoted in "The View Over Atlantis".

Traces of Astrobiological Time in Ancient Civilisations (Part 1) by Max Knoll

This excerpt, from a piece by Professor Max Knoll, discusses the significance of solar cycles and celestial phenomena in ancient civilizations' consciousness. It argues that these were not mere superstitions but attempts to understand the world through observable solar effects. The text contrasts this with modern Western civilization's detachment from natural rhythms due to artificial environments. It highlights that early peoples imputed greater importance to the sun cycle, leading to the inference that the world was governed by celestial cycles.

Elements of Astrobiological Time in China

This subsection explains the Chinese belief that celestial bodies influence climatic changes and individual fate. It stresses the importance of consulting a geomancer before making any changes to the landscape, such as building a house, to ensure harmony with the "Ch'i" (the universe's breath) and the local currents of the "dragon" and "tiger".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of ancient wisdom, mythology, folklore, and the unexplained. There is a clear interest in ley lines, megalithic sites, and historical mysteries, particularly those connected to Arthurian legend. The inclusion of ufology and personal accounts of strange experiences suggests an open-minded approach to phenomena beyond conventional understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of investigation and sharing of diverse perspectives on these subjects, encouraging readers to explore and connect with these themes.

This issue of "The Ley Hunter" (Issue 10, dated April 13) explores a diverse range of topics, including ancient geomancy, geophysical views, prehistoric discoveries, and a critique of the Post Office. The publication features contributions from various individuals, offering different perspectives on these subjects.

Geomancy and Geomagnetic Fields

The issue begins with a discussion on geomancy, drawing parallels between ancient Chinese practices and modern geophysical understanding. It highlights the use of magnetic needles by geomancers, noting their similarity to instruments used today to detect magnetic storms and anomalies. The "lo pan," an instrument described as having a terracotta disk and concentric circles, is mentioned as a tool used for this purpose. The article suggests that the frequency of magnetic storms shows a similarity to the twenty-four climatic periods charted in the "Eranos Yearbook." The art of geomancy is described as being passed down orally, with a lack of systematic study on the use of magnetic needles for determining direction, declination, and field intensity, as well as for observing magnetic storms in areas with high magnetic field gradients. Places near Ascona are cited as examples of such high magnetic field gradients.

The text also touches upon the historical development of Chinese astrology, noting its initial climatic orientation and the later introduction of birth hour significance from Western systems.

Lundy Island Giants and Prehistoric Discoveries

Doreen Valiente contributes a note about Lundy Island, referencing a television program that mentioned the "Lundy Island Giants." According to the note, a prehistoric burial was discovered on Lundy containing the skeletons of a man over eight feet tall and a woman over seven feet tall, surrounded by normal-sized skeletons. This discovery raises questions about their identity, with the possibility of them being "Atlanteans."

Ley Lines and Local Lore

Louise Funnell provides information about St George's Church in Wilton, Taunton, describing its ancient walling, its probable association with the "Fons Sancti Georgii" (well of curative waters), and its reconstruction history. Jimmy Goddard notes a ley line passing near Angersleigh and Wellington Monument, close to Taunton.

Barbara Crump discusses Cley Hill, mentioning ley lines that go over and near it. She connects the "blue-gowned Bard" with Irish legends and suggests that Cley Hill is a "dragon hill" with dragon paths similar to those at Glaston Tor. The ley from Glaston is traced through various locations, including Coles Hill, Hales Castle, and the Church of St Denys.

Chinese Literature and Ancient Traditions

Bob Rickard shares his reading of Chinese and Japanese literature for ley-related references. He mentions a story from "Some Chinese Ghosts" by Lafcadio Hearn, which is based on a commentary on Lao Tzu's "Kan-ing-p'ien." The story recounts the legend of Tong-yong, a man from the Han dynasty who sold himself into slavery to provide a decent burial for his father, involving the construction of a tomb with geomancer and necromancer approval.

Another item references Arthur Waley's translation of the "Tao Te Ching," quoting a story from the "Lu Ching" about King Mu of the Chou dynasty. In this story, the Duke of Chou pledges his own life to ransom the King when he falls ill, involving ritualistic mounds and a prayer to deceased kings.

The Post Office Debate

R.D.Y. Perrett writes a letter defending the Post Office against perceived criticism in "The Ley Hunter." He argues that Post Office employees deserve fair wages and that the Postal Side is labor-intensive. Perrett suggests that the public gets the service it deserves and criticizes the idea of deliberately annoying the Post Office by sticking stamps in the wrong place, stating it would hinder mechanization efforts.

The Editor responds, acknowledging Perrett's loyalty and the validity of his points, but also mentions having cited more cases of inefficiency. The Editor clarifies that the incitement to cause annoyance was tongue-in-cheek. The article then references a "Which?" survey on the Post Office and headlines from the "Newcastle Journal" about postal service quality. It also mentions Richard King's "Post Haste" enterprise and a historical precedent of a similar venture in the 1880s.

Book Review: "City of Revelation"

Paul Screeton reviews John Michell's book "City of Revelation." The review highlights Michell's assertion that "Man, temple and cosmos were therefore seen to be identical," forming the basis of ancient philosophy. The book is described as a blend of philosophy, psychology, sociology, politics, and mysticism, exploring themes of human behavior, subconscious states, and the impact of physical or mental creations. It emphasizes the role of numbers in understanding the cosmos and spiritual truths, citing A.E. Abbot and Rudolf Steiner. The review notes Michell's conclusions regarding past time cycles and the dawning of a New Age. It also mentions E.M. Nelson finding the number 666 in stone circles and T.C. Lethbridge's belief in a golden age civilization.

Pamphlet Review: "A Defence of Sacred Measures"

An anonymous pamphlet, "A Defence of Sacred Measures," is reviewed. It is described as a "Radical. Traditionalist Paper" that extolls the virtues of retaining sacred metrology and rejecting the "atheistic metric gobbledegook."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the exploration of ancient belief systems, their connection to the physical world (geomancy, ley lines, sacred geometry), and the search for hidden knowledge or alternative histories (prehistoric giants, ancient civilizations). There is also a critical examination of modern institutions, particularly the Post Office, suggesting a disconnect between public perception and the realities of service provision. The editorial stance appears to be open to diverse interpretations and contributions, fostering a debate on topics often considered outside mainstream discourse, while also maintaining a critical eye on practical matters and the potential for deliberate disruption.