Sussex Circular - 1996 no 49

Magazine Overview

Title: SC
Issue: 49
Date: February 1996
Publisher: CCCS Sussex
Price: £1.00

This issue of "SC: The Monthly Journal of Crop Circles and Beyond" delves into the experiences and observations from the 1995 crop circle season, offering detailed surveys, personal accounts, and theoretical discussions. The cover prominently features the "SC" logo and a stylized crop circle design, with headlines highlighting "Experiences In The '95 Formations" and "Rarities From 1995."

Editor's Note and Administration

Andy Thomas, the editor, begins by mentioning a questionnaire enclosed with the issue, seeking members' views on the future of the Centre for Crop Circle Studies (CCCS). Barry Reynolds, chairing the "Review Body," explains the purpose of the survey. A note also mentions a pair of lost reading glasses found at the Scout Centre in Burgess Hill.

Features and Articles

Experiences in the '95 Formations

Lucy Pringle recounts her fascinating experiences aboard the "swings and roundabouts" of the 1995 crop formations in the first part of a two-part article. She notes that the 1995 summer season was unusually hot and ended abruptly. Pringle has collected numerous reports of unusual effects on people in formations, receiving forty reports, seventeen from men, in 1995. She emphasizes the importance of all five senses (taste, smell, touch, feeling, and hearing) in understanding these phenomena.

Pringle highlights five outstanding formations from the summer. She details the seven-ringed spiral in barley at Avebury Trusloe, noting its narrow ring and its connection to a previous 1991 formation. She describes an experience with Keith Wakelam in this formation where his dowsing rods behaved erratically, indicating a possible "dynamo effect" or alternating energy polarity. Her own compass also oscillated wildly. Both experienced severe migraine-like symptoms, including dizziness and flashing lights, particularly in the center of the formation, leading her to reconsider her hypothesis that energy was strongest at the perimeter.

Another notable formation was the "Telegraph Hill 'Clutch Plate'," which appeared on the night of June 11/12th. Pringle describes it as a beautiful "quintuplet of quintuplets." During research in this formation, multiple camera batteries (a Pentax ME Super and a Nikon FM) failed, only to be found fully charged later. This phenomenon was also observed with other cameras and batteries, leading to a caution about potential health problems for those using sensitive equipment near certain formations.

"Rarities From 1995"

This section presents a collection of photographs of crop formations from 1995, described as "stragglers & oddities." These include formations that may have escaped attention due to being ragged, odd, or low-profile. One example is a formation at Wilmington, East Sussex, which upon closer inspection, appears to contain the letters "SC." Another is a series of billboard posters advertising a new "Sci-Fi" TV channel, featuring a crop circle logo, which is noted as likely being created using computer graphics and not existing in reality.

Formation Surveys: Sussex Crop Formations '95: 10b) Cissbury #2

Barry Reynolds reports on the additions to the Cissbury Ring formation, discovered on July 25th, 1995. This complex formation, consisting of a dumbbell, circle, and triangle, was over 500' long and considered the largest ever complex formation in Sussex. Reynolds, along with Nigel Tomsett and Debbie Pardoe, surveyed the additions. Tiny pathways were found connecting different parts of the formation. Barry concluded that "something" had moved from the original six-ringer, creating a pathway through the crop. The survey noted that the additional dumbbell formation appeared less precise from the air than the original six-ringer, leading some to suspect a hoax. However, the report argues that imperfections and elongations correspond to tramlines and the slope of the land, suggesting a natural phenomenon.

A remarkable anecdote is shared about finding de-headed stems from the Cissbury formation. Barry Reynolds returned to the site where control samples had been taken and, after searching carefully, found the de-headed stems within the flattened crop, only hours after the formation had appeared. This discovery is presented as significant for research into crop circle formation processes.

"Cornography" with Michael Glickman

Michael Glickman critiques the debunking efforts of figures like Carl Sagan, arguing that Sagan's arguments against crop circles are based on third-hand, anecdotal evidence and fail to acknowledge the complexity of the phenomenon. Glickman contrasts Sagan's approach with that of scientists like Dr. Levengood and Jim Lyons, who he believes are courageously exploring unconventional theories, including unified energies and Neolithic sites.

Glickman also recounts a call from the BBC about a program confronting hoax claimants with their victims, expressing skepticism about the possibility of "experts" in the unknown and criticizing the trivialization of the subject. He concludes by announcing the winners of a prize for the best tabloid-style screamer based on the initials CCCS, all submitted by Graham Holman.

Letters

Anthony Cheke, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Cheke criticizes the CCCS calendar project, stating it was "hijacked" by a few individuals rather than being handled by the publications committee as intended. He explains that financial difficulties led to an emergency meeting of CCCS officers who decided to accept sponsorship from Christine Green, provided she chose the pictures, overriding the Council's original decision and excluding the publications committee. This led to Patrick's resignation and Cheke's own lack of notification.

Michael Newark, Coventry, West Midlands

Newark discusses the reported change in the planet's ley structure in 1995, noting an increase in ley lines. He posits that crop circles are connected to these ley lines and that the increased energy may lead to more formations, particularly in the UK. He also mentions that aura dowsing suggests that formations in the Midlands and Shropshire have weaker aura samples than those in Sussex and Essex, implying the power source for formations may come from farther afield, possibly from ancient sites in the north of the UK.

Anne Cooper, Midhurst, West Sussex

Cooper questions the possibility of a "nuts and bolts" human connection to crop circles, specifically referencing the proximity of the Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring formations to "Wiston House" at Steyning, a secretive government establishment. She speculates whether Wiston House could be a "Command and Control" post using satellite-based weaponry, such as laser or maser beams, to create crop patterns. She suggests looking for discreet establishments near crop formations.

Reviews

Ruby Finds Pearls

This review discusses Doug Ruby's book "The Gift," which explores the idea that crop formations are two-dimensional diagrams of three-dimensional energy fields, potentially leading to new clean energy sources. The reviewer, Doug Rogers, notes that Ruby, who has not witnessed a formation himself, has lifted elongated designs from aerial photographs to view them as three-dimensional images. The book is described as a "timely gift to mortal humans" to aid in the quest for clean energy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the detailed investigation and documentation of crop circle formations, particularly those from the 1995 season. There is a strong emphasis on personal experiences and the potential physical and electromagnetic effects associated with these formations. The magazine also explores theoretical connections, such as ley lines, planetary energy, and the possibility of advanced technologies or extraterrestrial influence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging detailed research and critical thinking while acknowledging the mysterious nature of the phenomenon. The critique of debunking efforts and the celebration of unconventional scientific exploration are also evident.