Ley Hunter - 1974 no 53

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LEY HUNTER
Issue: No. 53
Date: March 1974
Publisher: Paul Screeton

This issue of The Ley Hunter, a magazine focused on earth mysteries, ancient sites, and related phenomena, presents a variety of articles and reviews. The cover prominently features the magazine's title. The issue is dated March 1974 and is edited and published by Paul Screeton.

Announcements and Editorial Notes

The editor announces that issues 53 and 54 will be combined to save time and tighten the schedule, noting this might become a regular practice if time pressures increase. He prefers to keep the magazine monthly to comment on current events. Subscribers are urged to be prompt with renewals, as there has been an upsurge in demand, leading to disappointment for some who missed issues 51 and 52. Reader R.W. Davies is asked to contact the editor regarding a letter.

Metric Madness

A strong editorial comment expresses disgust and annoyance at the news that the Ordnance Survey is moving to metric maps. The one-inch-to-the-mile series is being replaced by a new scale of 1:50,000, changing the representation to two centimetres per kilometre. The survey covers Britain in 204 sheets, with the first 103 on sale at 65p. Maj. Gen. Brian Irwin, Director General of the Ordnance Survey, is quoted as saying the new scale offers improved clarity.

TORC and Book Reviews

Issue 12 of TORC is announced, featuring mentions of 'Leys', the New Age in Eire, and other topics. Single copies are available for 16p. A book review is presented for Peter Costello's "In Search of Lake Monsters," which investigates freshwater monsters across five continents, featuring photographs and diagrams, priced at £4-25.

"City of Revelation" Revisited

This section reviews John Michell's book "City of Revelation" (Paperback edition, Abacus, 50p), written by Paul Devereux. The reviewer describes the book as a stimulating instrument that provokes readers to observe juxtapositions of information and concepts. Michell's mastery of the principle of correspondences ('as above, so below') is highlighted, relating the vision of the New Jerusalem to an archetypal pattern in actual temples, with Stonehenge being a key example. The book explores sacred geometry, numerology, and the concept of the squared circle as the foundation of the Cosmic Temple. It delves into the properties of numbers, the history of the canon of measures, and its application to human affairs. The review notes the book's connection to the current era, discussing the transition from the Age of Pisces to the Aquarian Age and the accompanying unrest. It also touches upon symbols, crosses, coloured lights in the sky, meteorological anomalies, and the 'fireball'/explosion/tremor affair in North Wales. The book concludes by suggesting the need to discover the 'purpose of the ancient science' and frame a cosmology defined as 666+1080=1746, representing the building of the New Jerusalem.

The review continues on page 7, addressing criticisms of the hardback version, particularly regarding Michell's treatment of numbers like 666. It defends the book's geometric and numerological language, stating there are no complex 'maths' but rather a display of this language. The review also discusses the book's treatment of 'leys', arguing they are a facet of a larger cosmology rather than an end in themselves. It explores Michell's ambiguity regarding the material versus spiritual nature of Christ and 'the gods,' suggesting he views them as time/space entities or forces, and notes the possibility of a 'spaceman' theory, though dismissing it as an inadequate intellectual gimmick. The review concludes by praising the paperback release for wider accessibility and urging readers to engage with the book.

The Explosion and Earthquake of January 23, 1974

Written by A. C. M. Jones, this article recounts an event on January 23, 1974, where the author's daughter and son-in-law felt two earthquake shocks and heard a noise like colliding lorries. Their granddaughter on the second floor heard the noise but felt nothing. Information has been sent to Edinburgh, but the earthquake's centre is uncertain. The explosion was thought to have come from the vicinity of Cadair Bronwen, a mountain in Wales. Parties searched the mountain's slopes but found nothing reported. The article includes historical details about Cadair Bronwen, including a cairn known as "Bwrdd Arthur" (Arthur's Table) and mentions of prehistoric trackways like Ffordd Gam Elen.

The editor notes that the writer heard no UFO reports but heard suggestions of a wartime munition dump explosion being kept quiet by authorities.

The Elen

Authored by David Aspinall, this piece introduces a newly discovered ancient unit of measurement called the 'elen,' used in the spacing of sacred sites. It has a value of 24,327 feet and is related to the British value of longitude. It also equals 19,980 remen (666x3) and appears in multiples of 2, 4, 1, 1, 1, with 1 and 14 being common. Aspinall suggests a complex geometrical system in site alignment and proposes the unit could be the British equivalent of the stadium (x4).

The Earliest Roads

John Grimshaw writes about Geoffrey of Monmouth's "History of the Kings of Britain," noting its influence on Shakespeare and Alfred Watkins. The article focuses on the Mamutine or Molmutian Laws, which proclaimed the inviolability of the person on any ley. King Belinus is credited with ordering the construction of four major roads and enacting that this inviolability applied only to these roads. The article explores the potential cognate relationship between 'law' and 'ley,' linking them to the Teutonic root of 'lay' and Latin 'lex, legis.' It also touches upon the possible connection to the Celtic god Beli and Bell Hills.

Leys and Energy

M. W. Pearson presents a theory on leys, suggesting they are lines of energy utilized by ancients. Pearson believes the positioning of structures like stone circles and hill forts on leys is significant, and that ley energy is influenced by heavenly bodies, particularly the Moon, due to its control over water and its earlier association with Goddess worship. He connects this to fertility rites and the creative act of walking along a ley, which releases energy. Pearson posits a universe where the physical is ruled by the Moon and the spiritual by the Sun, uniting ley energy with human actions and instincts.

Maypole and Fertility Rites

The article continues by discussing traditional dances and the Maypole, often set up on mounds and hilltops. It recounts a legend about May Hill, involving a skirmish between villages and a dead tree planted by Queen Victoria, which Aspinall interprets as referring to the pre-Christian worship of the mother Goddess. He suggests that the energy released by communal activities, including lovemaking within sacred sites, played a role in invoking ley energy. The Maypole is described as a phallic symbol, and the practice of head hunting is briefly mentioned in relation to ancient reverence for the human head and eye.

The author emphasizes the tremendous release of creative energy felt when making love within a stone circle, suggesting it can lead to glimpses of 'immortals' from the superterrestrial world. May 1 is identified as the traditional day for gods and immortals to visit the world, with Halloween also suggested for entering the gods' world.

"City of Revelation" Revisited (Continued)

This continuation of the review addresses criticisms of John Michell's book. The reviewer defends Michell's use of geometric and numerological language, arguing it's not complex 'maths' but a distinct language. The article reiterates that leys are part of a broader cosmology, not an end in themselves, and discusses Michell's ambiguity regarding the nature of gods, suggesting they might be time/space entities or forces. The possibility of a 'spaceman' theory is mentioned but deemed an inadequate explanation. The review highlights the canon's value in demonstrating the cosmic interplay of spiritual and material, mind and environment, and suggests that contact with gods can occur in both mind and space/time environments. It questions whether ancients could have manifested archetypal functions or 'brought down' gods in a controlled manner, and notes that modern cabbalists can produce objective manifestations of psychic forces.

Addendum: A Personal Insight

This section shares a personal experience from May 1967, where the author witnessed a fiery orange, vertical rectangular shape over Bromley, Kent. The form transformed into a figure resembling an angelic or Christ-like figure. Other students also witnessed the phenomenon. The author relates this to John Michell's "City of Revelation," particularly the concept of a rectangle representing the human frame and the number 5's significance to man. The sighting is linked to the idea of 'Canonical Man' and the mechanics of manifestation. The author also notes the significance of May in relation to Venus and the 'flying crosses' sightings of 1967. A prophetic dream about a disk-type UFO is also mentioned.

Book Review: "Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan"

This review by Michael Gray discusses Bob Dylan's musical roots and literary allusions, suggesting the author exaggerates some aspects and neglects Dylan's Jewishness and archetypal cosmology. However, the review acknowledges the author's correctness in comparing Dylan to a master poet and storyteller, though it cautions that the theories presented might not be favored by the academic fraternity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of earth mysteries, ley lines, ancient sites, sacred geometry, and UFO phenomena. There is a strong interest in uncovering hidden knowledge and ancient cosmologies, often through the lens of John Michell's work. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, encouraging readers to consider alternative frameworks for understanding reality, while also engaging with current events and historical accounts. The move to metrication is met with strong disapproval, indicating a potential preference for traditional systems or a skepticism towards imposed changes.

This issue of "The New Unexplained" (Issue 10, Volume 3, dated March 1977) delves into topics of ancient sites, ley lines, and esoteric wisdom, reflecting a growing public interest in these subjects. The magazine features reviews of related publications, reports on investigations into ancient alignments, and correspondence from readers seeking information on specific historical and geographical connections.

Contents

Editorial Introduction

The opening paragraphs suggest that the magazine's early work portended changes creating a "whirlpool of uncertainty." It posits that positive personal values, if maintained, could help individuals navigate difficult times.

Magazines

• Several other publications are highlighted:
• The Atlantean: A bi-monthly magazine (£1 post free) focusing on Hebrew wisdom, Tarot, Oriental counterparts of Isis, fluoridation, and general information.
• Quest: A quarterly magazine for occultists and magicians, featuring articles on Paganism, Nevil Shute, Theosophy, and court cases. A specimen copy costs 20p.
• The News: A bi-monthly publication (£1.80 for six issues) from R.J.M. Rickard, linking Fortean cuttings with intelligent commentary.

Letter

A reader named Hal Jones from the Isle of Iona, Argyllshire, is seeking information on lesser-known zodiacs, specifically mentioning the one at Kingston-upon-Thames and the King's Stone. Jones is also interested in any works, public or private, that discuss Glastonbury, Lindisfarne, and Iona, and their connection to the ley system. Furthermore, Jones is looking to connect with individuals in the west of Scotland interested in sharing information on lesser-known sites and manifestations of the ley system in that region.

Book News

• The View Over Atlantis by John Michell is due for its third edition from Garnstone Press in June.
• The Canon: an Exposition of the Pagan Mystery Perpetuated in the Cabala as the Rule of All the Arts by William Sterling is also from Garnstone Press, due in April. It features a foreword by John Michell and is priced at £5.90 for hardback and £2.25 for paperback.

Long Walk Settles Churches Alignment

This article, paraphrased from the Northern Echo and Yorkshire Post (March 8), details a 12-hour, 32-mile marathon undertaken by a group of fell walkers from Bridlington Priory to Kirkham Abbey in the Yorkshire Wolds. Led by John Waudby, superintendent at Norton swimming baths, the eight members of the Scarborough and District Moorland Rescue Team aimed to settle an argument about the alignment of seven churches along an ancient track known as 'The Monk's Trod'. The investigation confirmed that the churches of Kilham, Cottom, Fledmore, Wharram Percy, Birdsall, Burythorpe, and Westhow are indeed aligned, which Mr Waudby stated was the reason several were built outside their respective villages.

Ley Hunting and Media Attention

The issue notes that The Sunday Times published comments by Brian Jackman under the headline "The Odd Leys of the Land." Jackman's article, influenced by Watkins's ley hunting theory, dedicates nearly a full page to the subject and concludes with a call for readers to share information about any "good ley" they discover. The magazine thanks those who sent in cuttings, photostats, or drew attention to this media coverage.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes related to ancient mysteries, earth energies (ley lines), and alternative historical interpretations. There is a clear interest in connecting historical sites and phenomena, such as the alignment of churches and the concept of zodiacs associated with specific locations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation and the sharing of information, while also highlighting mainstream media's growing attention to these subjects. The publication acts as a hub for those interested in Fortean phenomena, occultism, and the broader unexplained aspects of history and geography.