Ley Hunter - 1973 no 49

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Ley Hunter" (No. 49, November 1973) is a compilation of articles exploring folklore, numerology, ancient symbolism, and etymology. The magazine features contributions from various authors, offering insights into cultural traditions and esoteric subjects.

May Day in Padstow by John Radford

John Radford recounts his experiences with the May Day festival in Padstow, Cornwall, describing it as arguably the most famous folk-ritual event in Great Britain. He notes that while he has attended twice, he generally avoids revisiting events, but considers this a seasonal, repetitive occasion.

Padstow is depicted as a small town on the north coast of Cornwall, situated on the estuary of the River Camel. The May Day celebration marks the end of winter and the arrival of summer, a significant event for a community closely connected to the land.

Radford observes that the modern May Day in Padstow has evolved into three distinct events: a recent hippie/folknik festival, a commercial funfair with typical fairground attractions, and the "original" event centered around the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss, the May Day Song, and the maypole.

He describes the town being decorated with greenery and bunting on May Eve, with a palpable sense of anticipation. The Night Song is sung at midnight, including verses for local residents. The 'Obby 'Oss, a central figure, appears around 11 a.m. on May Day. There are actually three 'Osses: the original, the temperance, and the children's. The original 'Oss is housed in the Golden Lion pub.

The 'Oss itself is described as a round sheet of wood draped in black tarpaulin, with a hole for the man's head, and a horse's head and tail. The wearer, with a fearsome mask, appears like a man riding a horse. The 'Oss dances and prances in a swaying, weaving motion, accompanied by accordions and drums.

Before the 'Oss dances, a "teaser" with a padded truncheon performs. The 'Oss then "dies" and lies motionless, while the teaser gestures and a slow, powerful song is sung, referencing St George and Aunt Ursula Birdhood.

Radford speculates on the origins of the 'Oss, questioning if it relates to ancient rites, possibly attacked during Puritan times. He also explores the possibility of a connection to ancient "Ship-on-Wheels" described by Tacitus, or ships featured in the Carnival of Nuremburg, or even the magical ship of Freyr.

He notes the disappearance of St George and his dragon from the ceremony, and the distortion of Aunt Ursula Birdhood's role in the song. He questions why the Padstow May Day survived when other similar ceremonies may have faded, suggesting the town's unique setting might contribute to its potency.

Radford expresses concern that the town's modernization, with a large car park and commercial establishments, might be causing the magic to fade.

A Method for Numerological Investigation by I. M. Sommerville

I. M. Sommerville, a mathematician and computer programmer, introduces a method for numerological investigation based on number theory, inspired by John Michell's book "The City of Revelation." The mathematics involved are basic arithmetic operations.

The process involves taking any positive integer, listing all its divisors (integer factors), and then forming two summations: the sum of all divisors including the number itself (S(N)), and the sum of divisors excluding the number itself (s(N)).

Sommerville applies this method to "canonical suite" numbers, such as 1080 (radius of the moon) and 3960 (radius of the earth). He calculates the divisors and sums for these numbers. For example, for 1080, S(1080) = 3600 and s(1080) = 2520. For 3960, S(3960) = 14040 and s(3960) = 10080.

He highlights interesting relationships between these results, such as s(1080) = 2520 and s(3960) = 10080, noting that 2520 = 2 x 5040 and 10080 = 2 x 5040, where 5040 is the sum of the radii of the moon and earth.

Further calculations reveal that S(3960) = 14040, which is 13 x 1080, relating to the thirteen lunar months in a solar year. He also mentions s(3168) = 6660, a number with biblical connotations.

Additional results include S(1720) = 3960 and a connection between the number of days in a year (365) and the number of the "beast" (666), as 2 x 365 = 730, and S(730) = 1332 = 2 x 666.

The bibliography lists "Recreations in the Theory of Numbers" by Albert H. Beiler and "The City of Revelation" by John Michell.

Dragons and Chinese Painting

This excerpt, taken from "The Way of Chinese Painting" by Mai-Mai Sze, discusses the symbolism and significance of dragons, drawing attention to their depiction in art.

The dragon is described as a composite being, resembling nine different creatures according to Chinese materia medica, including a stag's forehead, camel's head, bull's ears, snake's neck, frog's belly, fish scales, eagle's talons, and tiger's paws.

Descriptions from painting records detail male and female dragons, with the male being fiery red, scaled, serpent-like with four legs, and a short tail, while the female has bulging eyes, a straight muzzle, and a curly mane. The serpent-like nature is emphasized, with the Chinese term "Lung" (dragon) being a translation of the Sanskrit "NAGA" (serpent).

Possible prototypes for the dragon are suggested to include reptiles, large carnivores, deer, catfish, carp, and alligators. The dragon is also linked to extinct creatures, with fossilized bones being called "Dragon's Bones."

It is presented as a composite creature, embodying characteristics of the horse (drawing chariots of deities) and the fish (the tale of the carp turning into a dragon at the Lung Men of the Yellow River).

The dragon is generally regarded as a beneficent power, symbolizing Heaven's law and morality. Early Chinese cosmology divided Heaven into nine regions, each ruled by a dragon, symbolizing the universe's powers. The dragon's constant movement signifies change.

As a symbol of YANG (Heaven Force), the dragon is associated with the sun, the dawning of day, spring, and water. Imperial power adopted the five-clawed dragon as its badge, with the number five signifying "greatness or wholeness." Dragons with four claws might represent the earth.

The nine regions of Heaven and the four quadrants influenced the depiction of dragons. The article notes that paintings often show only a part of the dragon emerging through clouds or water.

Postscript

This section provides mathematical formulas related to canonical factorisation, prime factors, and summations of divisors, denoted as S(N) and s(N).

The Key by John Philip Cohane (Book Review)

This review discusses John Philip Cohane's book, which proposes that syllables from the names of ancient gods are frequently found in place names globally. Cohane suggests this is evidence of two major Semitic migrations from the eastern Mediterranean.

He identifies root names like AVA/HAUE/HAWA (appearing in Avebury, Avalon, Avon) and OC/OG (linked to Ogbourne villages near Avebury). The River Thames' evolution from "Tema" in Arabia is also mentioned.

The book is presented as a reference work that offers suggestions rather than a complete theory, aiming to stimulate thought about national origins and the derivation of place names.

Miscellany

This section contains various short notes:

• A quote from Joe Boyd regarding Jimi Hendrix's death and numerology.
• An announcement about Bill Porter's forthcoming book "DRACONISM, THE FIRST FAITH OF BRITAIN."
• A call for contact with ley hunters in the Canterbury area.
• News about radio stations banning "Puff the Magic Dragon."
• A mention of articles on Merlin and leys in "The Atlantean" magazine.
• Information about a new magazine called "The News."
• A request for bootleg Bob Dylan albums.
• A prediction of war by Indian astrologer J.N. Sharma.
• A positive news item from "Rolling Stone" magazine about Rodney Bingenheimer's recovery after using a pyramid cap.
• An announcement about research into ghosts, witches, and elementals in Durham and Northumberland.
• A suggestion by Ron Cockcroft about a link between leys and Genesis.

Book Reviews

Besides "The Key," there is a mention of "SOTHIS Vol.1 No.2," which contains articles on Aleister Crowley, Frater Achad, and other esoteric topics.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of ancient traditions and symbols (May Day, dragons), the application of mathematical and logical systems to understand these phenomena (numerology, factorisation), and the search for historical and etymological connections (place names, ancient migrations). The magazine appears to adopt an open-minded, investigative stance, encouraging readers to explore esoteric subjects and make their own connections, as evidenced by the "Miscellany" section and the reviewer's comments on Cohane's book.

THE KEY is a handsomely produced magazine featuring over 50 black and white illustrations, primarily of ancient sites. It is priced at £2-95, considered good value for the time. The issue reviewed contains several articles and short reports, with a preview of the upcoming issue.

"BLACK HOLES: THE END OF THE UNIVERSE?" by John Taylor

This review criticizes John Taylor's book as intellectually arrogant, philosophically pompous, and largely pedestrian. The reviewer finds the thesis boring, describing it as an "odyssey into light years" and a "winding discourse on the cosmology of the author's inner space ultra-'reality', spiritual poverty." While acknowledging the author's potential brilliance as a scientist, the reviewer suggests he may "cheat a teeny bit" by not adequately considering gravitic anomalies on Earth, which bear similarities to postulated black holes. The review explains that black holes are burned-out stars that have undergone gravitational collapse and notes the author's suggestion that our universe may face the same fate. The reviewer highlights what they perceive as "strange deductions and claims, unsupportable and bizarre," such as the assertion that the Aztecs' lives were "dominated by ritual and worship of their gods," which had a "highly debilitating effect on the culture." Other criticized points include the endorsement of a "world beyond the senses, of the 'psi' faculty" and the sweeping statement that "We flee into fantasy, mysticism, witchcraft, sex and drugs, leaving reality behind to care for itself." The reviewer also quotes the author's statement about the importance of having one's mind boggled daily for increased flexibility and dispelling mystery, hoping the author will be boggled by the review and "peer beyond the veil of physical reality at the countless other equally real dimensions."

Short Reports

"WHAT WITCHES DO" by Stewart Farrar

This book, subtitled "The Modern Coven Revealed," is written by a journalist who is felt to have treated the subject objectively and come under the spell of Alex Sanders. The reviewer, initially dubious about Sanders, found his account of gnomes compelling: "If you're very quick and smart, sometimes in the country you can see them, like a shadow in the corner of your eye." The review notes that the book covers a wide spectrum of magical thought and practice and is recommended.

"FLYING SAUCERS THROUGH THE AGES" by Paul Thomas

This report covers familiar ground on Biblical UFOs. The reviewer mentions seeing a 17th-century painting in Cambridge depicting a distinct UFO hovering over Christ in the River Jordan, acknowledging a potential connection between religion and flying saucers. However, the reviewer states that this particular approach fails to convince them, suggesting they might be "the odd one out."

Next Issue Preview

The next issue will be No. 50 and a special Winter Solstice issue. It will include special articles, such as one on Alfred Watkins by his son, and a larger section of reviews. Among these will be a piece on the commendable reprint of "FENG SHUI" by E.J. Eitel, available for £1 from The Land of Cokaygne Ltd., 1 Jesus Terrace, New Square, Cambridge.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to cover a broad range of topics related to the unexplained, including cosmology, UFO phenomena, ancient civilizations, and esoteric or mystical practices. The editorial stance, as reflected in the reviews, seems to be critical yet open-minded, evaluating works on their merit while questioning unsubstantiated claims. There is an appreciation for well-researched and objectively presented material, particularly in areas like witchcraft and potentially in the connection between historical art and UFO sightings. The publication also seems to value its readership by previewing upcoming content and highlighting relevant reprints.