Ley Hunter - 1975 no 64

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LEY HUNTER
Issue: No. 64
Date: February-March 1975
Publisher: Paul Screeton
Location: Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, Cleveland, United Kingdom

This issue of The Ley Hunter, a publication dedicated to exploring ancient sites, mythology, and unexplained phenomena, addresses practical concerns such as rising postal charges. The editor, Paul Screeton, notes that while postal costs are increasing, he has chosen not to raise subscription prices for the moment, opting instead to slightly reduce the number of pages per issue to compensate.

Lead-in: A Call for Information

The issue opens with a "LEAD-IN" section that highlights a letter from Neil Winder of Foster Associates, London. Winder is seeking assistance with a visual arts centre project near Norwich, specifically inquiring about the influence of prehistoric trackways and ley power on the site's position and orientation. He asks if ley experts have already covered this area and if any specialist would be willing to discuss the influence of ley power on nearby buildings. The editor requests that any suggestions or information be sent to The Ley Hunter.

Miscellany

The "MISCELLANY" section provides a collection of brief news items:

• A swastika stone, previously described in The Ley Hunter by Barbara Crum, is interpreted by John Knox in the Yorkshire Post as specifically detecting the summer solstice.
• Pop star David Bowie, in an interview with New Musical Express, mentions working for individuals who published a UFO magazine and recounts regular UFO sightings.
• Keith Branigan's book, "Aegean Metalwork of the Early and Middle Bronze Age," published by Clarendon Press/Oxford University Press, is reviewed by the Times Literary Supplement as "the Plain Man's Guide to Aegean prehistory," with a price of £18.
• The magazine "Quest" announces a price increase for its annual subscription and single copies due to rising postal charges.

One Man's Quest: The Nature of Magic

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to an excerpt from John Wilcock's forthcoming book, "The Quest for Magic: Rediscovering Pagan Britain." Wilcock, described as a legend in the underground press, shares his personal journey of seeking knowledge and understanding. He reflects on the human tendency to have a "quest" and the importance of recognizing and channeling it. Wilcock discusses his initial search for a "guru" but ultimately concludes that no single person can provide all the answers. His quest led him to research the world's magical sites, initially with a skeptical reporter's eye, but he found himself increasingly captivated by the subject of magic. He questions the definition of magic, referencing the Encyclopedia Britannica and Chambers Dictionary, and ponders whether it is merely make-believe or a genuine force.

Wilcock notes the growing interest in "arts" that were once ridiculed, citing a "New Society" article and a "She" magazine piece on the rise of "astral literacy." He views astrology as the "thin edge of the wedge" leading to an exploration of ESP, telepathy, and other esoteric subjects. He emphasizes that understanding these subjects requires a willingness to explore and that one's personal desire is crucial for success.

He recounts his experience collaborating with Betty Pepper on "The Witches Almanac" and his own magazine, "Other Scenes." After leaving New York, he embarked on a project to research magical sites globally, aiming to document the supposed magical content and write about his findings. He discovered that dabbling in magic could be captivating and that the word itself is potent. Wilcock also touches upon the ancient understanding of solar energy and its potential parallels with modern research, questioning whether ancient civilizations utilized solar power for their "machines."

He admits to being a neophyte in these matters but approaches his quest with the attitude of an experienced, skeptical, yet sympathetic reporter. His aim is to present evidence of magic, documenting pagan lore obscured by centuries of Christianization. He acknowledges learning about archaeology, history, and comparative religions, and respects the expertise of others while presenting a broad cross-section of views. Wilcock suggests that the truth of the past is often guesswork and that ancient hypotheses can become modern "truths."

He posits that ancient peoples possessed a deep understanding of nature and the sun, which may have been their primary energy source. He connects this to modern research into solar energy and wonders if ancient peoples knew about it. He suggests that ley lines might be invisible tracks for power flow that could be reactivated. While not categorically accepting all theories, he finds them plausible and notes the inconsistencies among historians and scientists regarding ancient practices and dating techniques.

Myth and Cosmos: Towards a Philosophy of Revolutionary History

Anthony Roberts contributes an article exploring the concept of myth and its role in understanding historical reality. He argues that historians often err by viewing history through a narrow, linear perspective, neglecting the complex interplay of economic, social, psychological, and metaphysical factors that shape cultures. Roberts advocates for a broader view that recognizes "archetypal patterns" and the influence of esoteric forces.

He references Giambattista Vico, an Italian philosopher who proposed a cyclic view of history, emphasizing recurring "wave history" and the tidal movement of nations and species. Vico's work, according to Roberts, synthesized various disciplines to form a unified science of human continuity. Vico saw historical clarity through "hermetic initiation," a process of consciousness development leading to total realization.

Roberts critiques the modern, narrow conception of history, contrasting it with ancient doctrines that posited "man is the measure of all things." He suggests that the human spirit can encompass all forms of perception and intuition, ranging from the cosmological to the mundane. He believes that pure myth contains a cosmology and morality that transcends rationalist philosophy, reflecting basic cosmological realizations and offering a blueprint for a balanced recognition of imaginative order and freedom.

Myth, in Roberts's view, creates a moral order from a non-moral chaos by presenting motivating images that provide a religious-philosophical perspective. He sees Gods and fairies as instruments of this philosophy, reflecting celestial patterns. The "fairies curse" and its import to the human race are crucial, as the disruption of the divine pattern leads to ecological and societal imbalance, potentially resulting in cosmic catastrophe.

Roberts discusses the archetypal properties of mythological magic, noting that while the core remains reliable, its interpretation varies across cultures. He suggests that a lack of cosmological perspective leads to distorted views of magical reality. He emphasizes the importance of conscious rapport with subconscious energies that generate accurate visualizations of cosmic patterns within the human psyche.

He uses the example of "Beowulf" to illustrate how mythological truth, refined through an austere moral vision, links to intuitive reality and "wholeness." The story of Beowulf, he argues, is a poetic precis of a struggle between good and evil, resolved through a battle with a demonic fairy and a dragon, symbolizing the eternal Cosmic Spirit. The psychological message is described as all-embracing and transcendent.

Fairies, elves, and other mythical beings are seen as integral to "cosmic wholeness" while retaining individual characteristics. Their study requires consideration of both psychic and physical levels of interpretation. The "fairy's curse" or "wrath of the gods" serves as a warning against disrupting the natural order, with dire repercussions for those who act unjustly. Roberts advocates for a blend of morality and geomantic sensibility to restore harmony.

He concludes that the forces of chaos are inherent in creation and are limited by space-time. To conquer chaos, one must view time through its metaphysical perspective of cosmic correspondence. This metaphysical order, he suggests, is made apparent through astral navigation and the study of mythological reality.

Belgian Leys

Eugene Zimmer contributes an article on "Belgian Leys," inspired by Robert Graves's work on the Mother Goddess cult and Alfred Watkins's book "The Old Straight Track." Zimmer has been ley hunting in Belgium and other parts of Europe. He proposes a generalisation based on his observations:

• In flat countries, local leys are aligned with solstices, often originating from points like springs, megaliths, or ancient crossroads. These alignments can also be lunar.
• In more hilly regions, leys point towards local "summits" and follow solar solsticial directions, sometimes lunar. This is particularly noticeable at places called "point du jour."

Zimmer notes that in Belgium, leys primarily follow astronomical directions, especially in flat landscapes where opportunities for connecting points on straight lines between sacred "high places" are limited. Therefore, the sun and moon's sacred alignments become crucial. He also observes that sometimes a ley point not on the "solar" grid is in alignment with a "lunar" grid point.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of The Ley Hunter continues its exploration of ancient mysteries, focusing on the interconnectedness of ley lines, mythology, archaeology, and esoteric beliefs. The magazine adopts a stance of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation and the sharing of information, as demonstrated by the "LEAD-IN" section. There is a clear interest in understanding the "magic" of the past and its potential relevance to contemporary life, as evidenced by the excerpt from John Wilcock's book. The articles by Anthony Roberts and Eugene Zimmer further broaden the scope, delving into the philosophical underpinnings of myth and the geographical patterns of ancient sites. The magazine appears to champion a holistic, non-rationalist approach to understanding history and the world, valuing intuitive insights and ancient wisdom alongside empirical research. The recurring theme is the search for underlying patterns and connections in human history and the landscape.

Title: DEJA VU
Issue: 13
Volume: 13
Date: February 1975
Publisher: Bywood Publications
Country: United Kingdom
Price: 35p (single issue)

Articles and Content

Review: 'The Flying Saucer Vision' by John Michell

The issue features a review of John Michell's book, 'The Flying Saucer Vision' (T.F.S.V.), which is described as a precursor to a new cosmological thesis. The reviewer notes that while Michell himself acknowledged the book contained potentially irrelevant or contradictory material, it has significantly influenced ufology and the study of ancient civilizations. The book is credited with fostering a deeper, psychic/psychological framework and has been influential on authors like F.W. Holiday. The review highlights the book's examination of the correlation between ancient civilizations and UFOs, and how it has led many interested individuals to study the past and pursue spiritual advancement.

Ley Lines in Belgium and Thanet

Two articles delve into the study of ley lines. The first discusses the landscape and ley system in Belgium, suggesting that leys often align with natural high points and prehistoric sacred places like groves, springs, and megaliths. The author expresses reluctance to accept the existence of very long leys, proposing instead that the system is an aggregation of numerous local systems rarely exceeding five miles in diameter. The article also posits that the Church, until relatively recent times, was aware of the ley system and incorporated it into church and chapel building, citing examples on the reclaimed Belgian coast and farms founded by the Templars. The alignment between Stonehenge, Old Sarum, and Salisbury Cathedral is presented as evidence that medieval builders knew of the ley system.

The second article, by Jennifer Huitt, focuses on ley hunts in Thanet, Kent. Huitt began by examining the oldest religious centers and worked with the idea that leys might lead to gaps in the cliffs. She describes the excitement of finding alignments that stood out like 'glowing wires' and the realization that many place names, crosses, chapels, zigzags in roads, and ancient sites were part of these ley networks. Huitt details her investigation of specific leys, including one that ran from Minster Church along an odd pathway to Pierremont, and another that passed through an orchard estate and ended near an old cottage with a large stone, possibly a boundary mark. She also mentions finding a small stone similar to one found near Upton on a hunt through fields.

Link with Earth Currents

This section discusses the potential link between dowsing and earth currents. It references Y. Rocard's work, which proposes that a dowser's reaction is linked to infinitesimal variations in the local magnetic field caused by 'electrofiltration currents' from underground water. These variations can be traced with a proton magnetometer. The article also mentions 'Dragon' currents, which are linked with the 'Vouivre', an ancient Gaulish serpent god or goddess, and are widely accepted in contemporary esoteric French publications.

Other Content

• The News: A bi-monthly miscellany of Fortean news, with the February 1975 issue mentioning Lincolnshire, mystery group illnesses, mock suns, and anti-gravity devices.
• LANTERN: A publication featuring East Anglian hauntings, mysterious stones, UFOs, and faery folk.
• Event Announcement: A talk and discussion titled 'ATLANTIS FACT OR FICTION?' at Caxton Hall, Westminster.
• Book Notice: A review of W.B. Crow's 'A History of Magic, Witchcraft and Occultism', noting it is a reprint with an index, but correcting a biographical inaccuracy about the author's degrees.
• Spectrum: An advertisement for a new occult magazine featuring astrology, magic, witchcraft, Atlantis, and psychic happenings, with Issue No. 4 including an article on leys by Paul Screeton.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores themes of esoteric knowledge, ancient mysteries, and unexplained phenomena. There is a strong focus on ley lines, geomancy, and their connection to prehistoric sites and historical structures, suggesting a belief in ancient wisdom and earth energies influencing human history and landscape. The UFO phenomenon is also a recurring topic, linked to ancient civilizations and psychic experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting research and theories from various authors while also offering critical reviews and corrections, as seen in the notice about W.B. Crow's book. The magazine seems to cater to an audience interested in the occult, Fortean phenomena, and alternative interpretations of history and the unexplained.