The Shaman - No 06 - 1984

Magazine Overview

Title: THE SHAMAN
Issue: No. 6 (AS&WR No. 23)
Date: May 1984
Publisher: PAUL SCREETON, 5 Egton Drive, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS25 2AT.
Subscription Rates: U.K. £2 for 4 issues; U.S.A. surface 6 dollars; airmail 13 dollars.
ISSN: 0140-9522

This issue of The Shaman magazine, published in May 1984, is dedicated to the work and life of John Michell, an influential figure in the fields of occult philosophy, geomancy, and earth mysteries. The magazine presents him as a 'living legend' and a 'last true antiquary' whose intellectual contributions have spanned over twenty years.

Lead-In

The issue begins with a "Lead-In" section, effusively praising John Michell and referring to him as the 'Reluctant Merlin of Hippiedom.' This serves as a second tribute to his warm personality and great intellectual stature, emphasizing that his material speaks for itself.

Books by John Michell

A comprehensive list of John Michell's published books is provided, including titles such as "The Flying Saucer Vision," "The View Over Atlantis," "City of Revelation," "Megalithomania," and "The New View Over Atlantis." The list details publishers and years of publication, showcasing the breadth of his work across various themes.

Booklets by John Michell

In addition to his books, a list of John Michell's published booklets is also included, such as "A Defence of Sacred Measures," "The New Jerusalem at Glastonbury," and "A Little History of Bladud."

The Last True Antiquary: A Portrait of John Michell by Anthony Roberts

This extensive article by Anthony Roberts offers a personal portrait of John Michell. Roberts positions Michell as a significant figure in the 'mystic West,' who has dedicated over twenty years to the vineyard of occult and geomantic philosophy. Despite being a 'living legend' to many, Michell is portrayed as a warm, eccentric, and deeply human individual. The article traces Michell's intellectual lineage back to 17th/18th-century antiquarians like John Aubrey and William Stukeley, highlighting their shared interest in ancient cosmologies, Drudism, and nature mysticism. Roberts notes that Michell coined the term 'radical-traditionalist' to describe his revolutionary pamphlets, which explore the 'lost eras of psychological tranquility and social harmony.'

Michell's critique of orthodox archaeology and Darwinian evolutionary theory is presented, advocating for a view of human history as a gradual deterioration from a profound ecological and intellectual balance. His work is characterized by a poetic and intuitive grasp of structures, correspondences, and patterns that form a cosmology based on divine revelation. This cosmology, he argues, influenced ancient civilizations like Sumeria, Egypt, and Greece, and is interpreted through the triadic facets of magic, numerology, and geometry.

Roberts details Michell's current life in London, his intellectual breadth, and his unique perspective on the world through 'geomantic eyes.' Michell's research encompasses a wide range of subjects, including UFOs, geomancy, and ancient metrology. The article emphasizes the synthesis and rationale behind his work, suggesting a 'triadic motivation' that needs proper assessment.

Michell's view of prehistory is consistent with a cyclical view of history, where the 'demiurgic forces' withdrew from fallen humanity, leading to the end of the Golden Age. His work is supported by scholarly documentation of factual evidence, making his arguments coherent and compelling.

The 'Reader' by John Michell

This narrative piece, subtitled "The Pattern for the Future," explores the journey of a character referred to as 'The Reader.' The Reader, once a librarian, becomes a UFO spotter and embarks on a quest for an 'eternally delightful state' through methods that are 'inexpressible.' His journey involves a bitter resentment towards compulsory education and a desire to escape the limitations of the physical body. He attempts to achieve invisibility, drawing inspiration from the idea of leaving bodies on public display while consciousness wanders.

His experiences include being admitted to Oak Lawn Asylum, where he observes and learns to control both embodied and disembodied entities. He also recounts an incident in a museum where he confronts erroneous descriptions of ancient artifacts, leading to a confrontation and a subsequent 'demonic persecution.' The Reader's research leads him to believe that many entities are 'time travellers from antiquity' and that finding a 'particularly delightful spot' to join their society is the most favorable route towards invisibility.

He discovers that different ages have distinct visual aspects and proposes that by analyzing surviving objects, poetry, and traditions, one can recreate the conditions of a past era and step inside it. His chosen era for an experiment is 1850 B.C., a time he believes has psychic conditions close to the Golden Age. The narrative culminates in his attempt to time travel on a green mound, where he, dressed in a white robe, disappears along with the setting sun, leaving observers bewildered.

Megalithomania by John Michell (Review)

This section reviews John Michell's book "Megalithomania" (Thames and Hudson, £8-50). The reviewer likens the fascination with stone circles and prehistoric structures to a 'malady' that has struck individuals throughout history. Michell is credited with identifying this 'virulent strain' as megalithomania. The review expresses hope that Michell's book will further spread this 'feverish enthusiasm for ancient monuments.' The reviewer also mentions Alexander Thom and his work on 'astroarcheolological megalithomaniacal geometry.'

The Concordance of High Monarchists of Ireland

This section discusses a proposal for a unified Ireland based on looking to prehistoric times rather than historical conflicts. Michell suggests a 'concordance' with a High King presiding over a federal parliament, seeing geomancy as paramount and the High King as a fertility figure. The proposed administrative city-state is designed by Martin Brennan. The concept is presented as a sound and harmonious alternative for Ireland.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the work of John Michell, emphasizing his contributions to geomancy, megalithomania, ancient history, and his 'radical traditionalist' philosophy. The magazine appears to endorse Michell's critique of conventional archaeology and his belief in a lost Golden Age of human civilization. The editorial stance is one of reverence for ancient wisdom, mystical traditions, and alternative interpretations of history and human potential. The narrative piece about 'The Reader' further explores themes of consciousness, time travel, and interaction with non-physical entities, aligning with the magazine's focus on esoteric subjects.

This issue of the magazine, identified by the page number '10' and '11', features reviews and articles primarily focused on earth mysteries, ancient sites, and unusual phenomena, with a strong emphasis on the works of John Michell. The content delves into topics such as megalithic illustrations, ley lines, cryptozoology, and the philosophical significance of numbers.

Review: 'The New View Over Atlantis' by John Michell

The review of John Michell's 'The New View Over Atlantis' (published by Thames & Hudson, £3-95) highlights its enduring strength and revised form. The author praises Michell as a sensible champion of earth mysteries, possessing an intuitive grasp of the mystic combined with an analytical realist approach. The book is described as a "Whippies' bible" that has inspired a post-psychedelic generation. The reviewer notes that Michell's seminal work has stood the test of time and has been a guiding light for researchers into ancient civilisations. The reviewer expresses personal indebtedness to Michell's work, which helped direct their life, and describes him as a private, compassionate man of conviction who publicises truths often dismissed by academia. The review emphasizes that the book incubates themes later developed in Michell's other works, such as 'City of Revelation'. It suggests that the earlier version of 'The New View Over Atlantis' offered a poetic panorama, while 'City of Revelation' was more esoteric. Michell's early argument that knowledge becomes purer the further back in history one looks is echoed in this book, which presents a multitude of ideas and insights that cross-fertilize in a unique way, akin to Charles Fort's ability to assemble mental cross-indexing of relevant concepts.

Review: 'Living Wonders' by John Michell and Robert J.M. Rickard

'Living Wonders', subtitled 'Mysteries and Curiosities of the Animal World' and published by Thames & Hudson (£7 paperback), is presented as a follow-up to 'Phenomena' or a field guide to exotic wildlife and paranormal natural history. It sits between Charles Fort's inclusionist worldview and Rupert Sheldrake's 'formative causation' hypothesis. The book is said to bring back tales of lost and refound species, including fauna from the deep and skies, winged cats, loyal canines, globsters, and entombed toads. It invites readers on armchair expeditions to explore apemen, neo-dinosaurs, krakens, and avian battles. The style is described as studious, light, factually concise, witty, erudite, and entertaining. It is divided into three parts: an introduction to cryptozoology, the usual debates between academics and eyewitness accounts, and a review of a catalogue of attributes shown by members of the animal kingdom. The book covers topics like rains of frogs, toads, and fish, and explores the multiplicity of explanations for unexplained phenomena, suggesting 'teleportation' as a possible model. The illustrations, numbering 170, are noted as well-selected and presented, with commendable layout and good referencing. The reviewer's only regret is the lack of more theorising and a winding-up chapter.

Review: 'Pallinghurst Barrow' by Grant Allen

This piece, subtitled 'The effects of a medicinal dose of Cannabis Indica on a Victorian country-house guest, and how it led him into the clutches of the mound dwelling elf king,' is an unearthed story from the 1892 'Illustrated London News' Xmas number. It links drug-taking with earth mysteries fantasising, drawing a parallel between the high of dope smoking and expanded states of perception experienced at megalithic sites. The story is praised for its masterful flair, evocative prose, wry humour, and detailed characterisation. It is considered a period piece with archaic illustrations. The reviewer notes John Michell's afterword, which gently chides Allen's evolutionist beliefs while contextualising them within his time, and provides a lucid portrait of Allen. Michell calls it a delightful example of literature about the influence of Cannabis Indica on megalithic fantasies.

Review: 'The Ley Hunter's Manual' by Alfred Watkins

'The Ley Hunter's Manual' by Alfred Watkins (Turnstone Press, £3-25) is described as a monument to his vision and lucid expression. The manual provides a clear guide to ley hunting, explaining what leys are, their function as mark points, and how to discover ancient 'old straight tracks'. Watkins' central thesis, as a Herefordshire businessman, magistrate, inventor, and photographer, was that prehistoric man laid out a precisely-surveyed system of dead straight tracks connecting monuments, standing stones, stone circles, camps, beacon points, holy wells, and cathedrals. The scheme is presented as simple and easily demonstrable. The book's simplicity and truth have made ley hunting popular, but it has met resistance from scientific orthodoxy, particularly archaeologists, who are unwilling to accept challenges to neo-Darwinism and the occult dimension. The review notes that John Michell, combined with John Michael, reissued this 1927 book in a Pentacle Books edition in the Seventies. The book is praised for its evocative photographs by Watkins and its reasoned argument for ley reality. The preface is a clear exposition of Watkins' conviction.

Article: Thoughts on the Discovery of Number by John Michell

This article, based on notes for a forthcoming book, explores the discovery and significance of numbers. It begins by observing that while birds can count, some are more adept than others, and all can detect the theft of a single egg. Similarly, some parts of the world have populations unable to count beyond the first few numbers. The article posits that the discovery of 'one' occurred when the first man became aware of himself, with 'two' and 'three' arising from the reproductive process. As time progressed, the existence of other numbers became apparent, leading to the discovery of 'nine,' which provided a deeper insight into the Universe's harmony. Initially, progression was seen on a single plane, but the structure was later understood as three columns of three numbers. The article notes that it was repeatedly thought the limit of numbers had been reached. A momentous event was the discovery of 'zero,' which opened new fields of logic and speculation and led to the discovery of 'ten.' This figure perfected the 'tree of life,' fostering intellect and magic, and enabling the expression of inherent knowledge of correspondences and inter-relationships between the microcosm and macrocosm. The acquisition of reason elevated the human species. Revelations led to the discovery of numbers greater than ten, with tentative experiments in multiplication suggesting the existence of numbers like 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90, even before the discovery of numbers in the teens. There was controversy regarding the demonstration of numbers like 20, and some believed the teens were more numerous than thought. However, numbers as we know them emerged, each discovery marked by a 'magic rite.' The article highlights the celebrations in honour of 'twelve,' which was divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6, leading to clubs advocating the duodecogram and influencing the calendar and measurement units. A practical mathematical system was developed, expressing ratios through the progression 1, 8, 9, and 12. However, the dual nature of 'twelve' made it less satisfactory than 'ten,' and by the time its advocates developed their case, the discovery of '100' had firmly established '10' as the unit of multiplication. The article concludes by stating that despite discovering millions and billions, humanity is no nearer achieving all numbers between the familiar and infinity. Unknown groups of numbers may exist in any direction, and expressing them might require new means of communication.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are earth mysteries, ancient civilizations, the significance of megalithic sites and ley lines, and the exploration of the unknown through cryptozoology and unusual phenomena. There is a clear editorial stance favouring unconventional research and a critical view of mainstream scientific orthodoxy, particularly archaeology, which is seen as resistant to new ideas. The magazine champions the work of John Michell and Charles Fort, celebrating their ability to connect disparate ideas and challenge established paradigms. The importance of intuition, mystical insights, and a holistic understanding of the universe, as opposed to purely technological or materialistic approaches, is evident throughout the reviewed works and articles.