Ley Hunter - 1975 no 68

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LEY HUNTER
Issue: No. 68
Date: October/November 1975
Publisher: Not specified
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Price: £1-50

This issue of The Ley Hunter delves into the world of ley lines, ancient sites, and folklore, with a particular focus on Wales and Leicestershire. The magazine features a blend of scholarly articles, personal accounts, and reader contributions, exploring the spiritual and historical significance of the British landscape.

Articles and Features

"THE EARTH SPIRIT" by JOHN MICHELL

This review discusses John Michell's book, which explores the concept of the 'earth spirit' – the former sacred view of the landscape and its connection to prehistoric monuments. Michell's work is described as a picture book with extensive illustrations, relating folkloric traditions to a central factor of supernatural association and a living force. The author notes that the prehistoric monuments relate to this force, and that the landscape is being encroached upon by modern development, yet the spirit paths and power centres remain. The earth spirit is influenced by celestial bodies and is not constant. The essay highlights the consistency of traditions related to prehistoric remains and the human attempt to institutionalize the earth force, with the ley system serving as a reminder of this historical endeavor.

"LEY HUNTING IN WALES" by JIMMY GODDARD

Jimmy Goddard recounts his personal experiences of ley hunting in Wales. He describes the idyllic setting of Mynydd y Gaer, a ley centre with a peaceful atmosphere, and the energy felt from its position. The article details visits to Llanefydd church and St John's church in the parish of Llanfair Talhaiarn, both noted for their strong energy. Henllan church, between Llannefydd and Denbigh, is also identified as a ley centre with a detached tower. Goddard also explores a stone circle on the other side of the Clwydian Range, near Nannerch, noting its largely intact state and a peculiar leonine face on one of the stones. He discusses the ley connecting the circle to Henllan church and the challenges of determining ley visibility between points.

POWYS, BRITAIN AND THE GOLDEN AGE by ANDREW LARMAN

This extensive article examines the life and work of novelist, essayist, critic, and philosopher John Cowper Powys. Larman highlights Powys's deep connection to Wales and Wessex, his unique awareness of ancient British spiritual wisdom, and his poetic expression of hidden powers. Powys is portrayed as a visionary who believed in the recovery of lost sensual and spiritual capabilities, envisioning a Golden Age where society and spirituality were unified. The article discusses Powys's belief that the fullest survival of the Golden Age was found in Welsh traditions and mythology, and his imaginative recreation of ancient traditions. It delves into his "Autobiography," his assertion that "the oldest Welsh wisdom was the wisest," and his mission to convey a "magic message" through lectures. The article also analyzes "A Glastonbury Romance," tracing its geographical and spiritual progress, and "Maiden Castle," where Powys explores the concept of the earthwork as a symbol of ancient powers in conflict with archaeology. Powys's ideas about a lost civilization predating the Celts and the potential restoration of the Golden Age are also explored.

Part 3: THE FORGOTTEN HEART OF ALBION: Some Aspects of Leicestershire Lore by PAUL DEVEREUX and ANDREW YORK

This section presents a collection of "Loose Ends" related to Leicestershire lore, including:

• CROSSES: Mentions various crosses found in Leicestershire churchyards and tumuli, detailing their origins, designs, and historical records.
• BEACON HILL: Discusses a ghost legend and the historical use of the hill as a beacon site, with evidence of ancient masonry and burnt pitch.
• FOUR DRAGONS: Notes carvings of dragons and other mythical beasts in churches, including a carving on a Norman font at Thorpe Arnold depicting St George fighting a dragon.
• SONIC ANOMALY: Describes a remarkable echo phenomenon at a specific location near Bradgate Stones, where sounds are thrown back by the surrounding wood.
• HINCKLEY: Mentions the exorcism of a child's ghost at Old Hall, which is said to account for buzzing or humming sounds on nearby moats.
• ROTHLEY: Relates a tradition of a subterranean tunnel connecting the Temple at Rothley to Nottingham Castle.
• BLACK ANNA: Recounts a local legend about "Black Anna" who was said to crouch in a cave near an old pollard oak.
• IBSTOCK TO WALES: Explores a tradition of a path linking Ibstock to Wales, suggesting a connection to a large circle centered on Whiteleafed Oak and a Welsh centre of ancient wisdom.
• STONEY STANTON: Notes the historical fame of Mill Hill for fairy rings and fairy dances.
• LEA WOOD: Describes a wood that was known to "draw the thunder," attracting electrical storms.
• SWITHLAND WOOD: Highlights the wood's notoriety as a focus for suicides and its potential connection to negative forces due to landscape alteration.
• MAP DISCREPANCIES: A reader reports discrepancies in Ordnance Survey maps.
• FORTEAN ODOUR: Mentions a strange smell reported in Charnwood Forest that baffled investigators.
• THURNBY "SPIDERS": Reports a swarm of money spiders on Thurnby Lodge Estate, followed by UFO sightings in the vicinity.

"LAST WORDS" on Leicestershire

This concluding section summarizes the approach to covering Leicestershire folklore, aiming for a comprehensive framework for ley hunters. It acknowledges the challenges posed by the county's materialism and the cartographic issues with maps. The authors hope to have provided a useful overview of the county's revelatory aspects.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the exploration of ancient British history, spirituality, and the landscape, particularly through the lens of ley lines and folklore. There is a strong emphasis on uncovering hidden wisdom and lost powers, contrasting ancient beliefs with modern scientific and materialistic approaches. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, encouraging reader participation and the sharing of personal experiences and research. The magazine promotes a holistic view of the landscape, integrating archaeology, mythology, and spiritual phenomena.

This issue, presented as pages 10 and 11 of a publication, focuses on the potential significance of Leicestershire, England, in the study of ancient structures, ley lines, and their connection to natural phenomena and aerial events. The content is primarily text-based, with a strong emphasis on research and historical inquiry.

Leicestershire as a Key Research Area The article begins by discussing the importance of Leicestershire for understanding prehistoric science, suggesting that the county holds clues to deciphering the 'mystery of the landscape.' It highlights the need for more detailed mapping and research into prehistoric tracks and old stones within the county. The concept of 'ley lines' is introduced, with a caution against over-reliance on map alignments, but also an acknowledgment of their potential significance. The area is presented as a 'model area' for studying the relationship between ancient structures and natural phenomena.

Croft Hill and Natural Phenomena Croft Hill is singled out as a potentially crucial site, with its omphalos (navel stone) linked to the incidence of aerial phenomena. The text poses questions about the relationship between these ancient sites, fault lines, and aerial events, inviting deeper thought from the reader. A unique aspect noted in Leicestershire is the connection between old stones and trees, suggesting that trees might have a significance beyond simply marking points on leys, potentially augmenting 'land/sky (earth/atmosphere) power.' This aspect is noted as being under current investigation.

Folklore, Mythology, and UFOs The issue delves into the folklore and mythology surrounding June 24th, which is identified as St John's Day. This date is significant in Leicestershire due to popular church dedications to St John the Baptist and its association with rituals and fairies. It is also noted as one of John Keel's key UFO/occult days. The article explores the 'oak-king' myth, the sacrificial burning on this day, and suggests this sequence might account for a 'death' of UFO activity in Leicestershire. The Roman god Janus, with his two-faced nature representing the turn of the year, is also mentioned in connection with a Roman temple in Leicester and the burial of King Lear. The text links Janus to the pre-Roman British god Llyr, the god of England's heartland, suggesting Leicestershire is the 'Land of Llyr.'

Research Support and Acknowledgements A footnote references a letter from M. Paul Dare of Leicester, quoted in Alfred Watkins's 'The Old Straight Track.' Dare, initially skeptical, found his own investigations in Leicestershire entirely supported Watkins's work. The author commends Dare's admission, acknowledging his contribution to highlighting Leicestershire as a significant area for research.

Literature Consulted and Reviews Page 11 provides an extensive list of 'Literature Consulted,' including numerous books on British folklore, history, and archaeology, with a particular focus on Leicestershire and ley lines. This section serves as a bibliography for the research presented. Following this is a 'Reviews' section.

Review: 'This Holyest Erthe' by Oliver L. Reiser This review discusses a book about Glastonbury, criticizing its 'chauvinism' for failing to mention the terrestrial zodiac around Glastonbury. Despite this, the reviewer finds the book a worthy introduction to sacred and geomantic research, though 'flimsy.' It highlights Mary Caine's views on the connection between lingam and yoni, and cosmic forces assisting in the formation of giant effigies, a point the reviewer agrees with.

Review: 'European Metrology' by Nigel Pennick and 'The Propaganda of the Metric System' by Edward Nicholson These two items are briefly mentioned. 'European Metrology' is priced at 20p, and 'The Propaganda of the Metric System' is 15p. The latter is described as a refutation of the metric system, warning of the dangers of abandoning traditional measures for a confusing and irrational system, but noting that it has brought together people from different backgrounds to fight a common cause, likening it to the Spanish Civil War.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of ancient sites, ley lines, and their potential connections to unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs. There is a strong emphasis on local research, with Leicestershire being presented as a region of particular interest. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging deeper investigation into historical, mythological, and anomalous events, while also acknowledging the need for rigorous research and evidence. The importance of local folklore and its potential links to broader historical and even extraterrestrial mysteries is a key element.