Sussex Circular - 1996 no 50

Magazine Overview

SC, The Monthly Journal of Crop Circles and Beyond, celebrates its 50th issue in March 1996 with a special edition featuring prominent researchers. The magazine, edited by Andy Thomas, has evolved from a small newsletter in 1991 into an international publication with a significant readership.

Editorial Introduction

Andy Thomas, the editor, introduces the 50th issue as a celebration, inviting numerous crop circle researchers to share their views on the phenomenon's impact and future. He highlights the extensive collection of perspectives gathered for this issue, aiming to create a lasting testament to how people have related to crop circles. Thomas expresses gratitude to all contributors and supporters, hoping the phenomenon continues to inspire future issues.

SC's Historical Assessment

Andy Thomas provides a historical overview of SC, noting its growth from a local newsletter to an international institution. He emphasizes SC's role in spreading information and bringing the crop circle phenomenon to public attention. The journal's profits are reinvested into production and research. SC has gained a reputation for honesty and outspokenness, balancing light-heartedness with seriousness. Thomas acknowledges the voluntary contributions of many individuals who help produce the magazine, including Barry Reynolds for scanning, Debbie Pardoe and Nigel Tomsett for mailing, Kaye Thomas for proofreading, and Martin Noakes for finances.

Researcher Contributions

David Icke: "Goodbye Old Vibe, Welcome The New"

David Icke views crop circles as symbolic of a spiritual transformation, reflecting life's mysteries and challenging conventional knowledge. He believes the patterns herald a collapse of the old order and the emergence of a new world of spiritual freedom. Icke sees the geometric perfection of the circles as symbols of ancient knowledge and encourages embracing the 'new vibe' over the 'old'.

Michael Green: "The Message Of The Crop Circle Makers"

Michael Green, Chairman of CCCS, discusses the communication from 'crop circle makers' since 1989. He posits that these beings are from other levels of reality and are providing a 'crash course' in fundamental principles of the cosmos, God, humanity, and their relationship. Green highlights the use of ancient, universal symbolism in the formations and believes the ultimate message is about the Creator, wisdom, and love, guiding humanity towards a new spirituality for the 21st century.

Nancy Talbott: "A Really First-Rate Adventure"

Nancy Talbott, part of the US-based BLT Research team, describes crop circle research as a 'pilgrimage' and an 'adventure'. Her team investigates physiological and psychological effects of crop circles, having examined numerous formations and published scientific papers. Talbott expresses appreciation for groups like the Sussex team and SC magazine for their dedication and for providing a platform for diverse viewpoints.

Colin Andrews: "A Unique Opportunity To Learn About Ourselves"

Colin Andrews reflects on how crop circles drastically changed his life, leading him to the US and a new profession. He views the phenomenon as an opportunity to learn about oneself and reality. Andrews reminisces about early research teams and acknowledges the profound impact of the circles on his life, now focusing on the phenomenon as the most important event occurring on Earth.

Lucy Pringle: "The Learning Curve"

Lucy Pringle, Vice-Chairman of CCCS, explores the psychological and physiological effects of crop circles, suggesting they stimulate right-brain activity and creative expression. She notes that men involved in crop circle research often outnumber women, experiencing unconventional freedom. Pringle sees crop circles as symbols of humanity's highest aspirations and encourages embracing a 'learning curve' to expand consciousness.

ilyes: "The Most Important Event Occurring On Earth"

ilyes, National Co-ordinator of the CCCS US Network, believes crop circles hold the highest vibration on Earth and are a manifestation of intelligent, encoded sound, heat, and wind. She views them as two-dimensional slices of a larger, unmanifested entity, offering a glimpse into a 'new evolutionary path' and urging humanity to awaken to the certainty that they are not alone and to prepare for encounters with extraterrestrial beings.

Roland Pargeter: "Truth In The Circles?"

Roland Pargeter, known for the Glastonbury Symposium, questions the purpose of crop circles, suggesting they are a consciousness-raising process. He believes the phenomenon encourages openness, selflessness, and reverence, leading to an understanding of reality. Pargeter emphasizes that the present moment is key to shaping the future and urges a leap of faith to embrace truth.

Leonie Starr: "Astrological Significance"

Leonie Starr, a crop circle researcher and co-founder of CCCS, interprets crop circle patterns as astrological symbols representing the interaction of planets. She sees the early circles as symbols of the life force and wholeness, while later pictograms represent an expansion of this concept. Starr believes the phenomenon reflects the duality of human nature and is a catalyst for personal and collective understanding of wholeness.

Chad Deetken: "A Matter Of The Heart"

Chad Deetken, founder of Pacific Research, views crop circles as a deliberate attempt at communication by an unknown intelligence, designed to raise consciousness. He notes that the phenomenon has personally led him to a spiritual path, with crop circles acting as 'Guides of recognition and awakening'. Deetken suggests that the true purpose of the circles may be to fill the empty space in people's hearts.

Mary Bennett: "Not 'How' But 'Why'"

Mary Bennett, an editor specializing in metaphysics, explores the 'why' behind crop glyphs. She believes they encode information about the universe, transdimensional physics, and human history, serving as a catalyst for understanding. Bennett suggests that the glyphs contain the basis for a new energy requiring consciousness and technology, offering a path to avoid self-destruction and pollution.

Doug Rogers: "The Human Capacity For Imaginative Creation"

Doug Rogers highlights the role of individuals like Doug Ruby, who published 'The Gift', in deciphering crop circle designs. He sees Ruby's work, which interprets multi-element designs as three-dimensional images, as a significant step forward. Rogers believes that an unknown intelligence is providing assistance to humans to unravel the mystery of the circles, and that physicists may be key to understanding the potential of these spinning images.

Jim Lyons: "A Scientific Perspective"

Jim Lyons, CCCS Scientific Research Officer, approaches crop circles from a scientific perspective, acknowledging the limitations of current science in detecting and recording the phenomenon. He connects crop circles to ancient sites, energy fields, and the concept of the 'Life Force'. Lyons suggests that the phenomenon is a manifestation of our own creative intelligence and a sign that reality is stronger than our mistrust, urging us to embrace the miraculous and our role in creating reality.

Wolfgang Schindler: "A Strange Visual Aftertaste"

Wolfgang Schindler, initially fascinated by crop circle geometry, notes a decline in graphical quality over the years. While acknowledging the possibility of human invention, he finds it insufficient to explain associated phenomena like strange lights. Schindler is more interested in the 'why' behind the circles, suggesting they may be a form of art or communication, even if the source remains unknown.

Stanley Messenger: "The Battle For Reality"

Stanley Messenger frames the crop circle phenomenon within a larger 'battle for the human mind' against scientism and dogma. He believes the circles are a symptom of a breakdown in materialistic projections, allowing reality to manifest more strongly. Messenger asserts that humans are the agents of creation and that crop circles demonstrate the power of mathematics and the potential to remould the world through love.

The Small Print

This section provides explanations for cryptic phrases and references that have appeared in the margins of previous SC issues. These range from quotes from TV shows and movies to inside jokes and commentary on events within the crop circle community.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the crop circle phenomenon as a catalyst for spiritual transformation, a form of communication from unknown intelligences, and a means of expanding human consciousness and understanding of reality. The magazine maintains a stance of open inquiry, encouraging diverse perspectives from researchers while also engaging in critical analysis and commentary on the phenomenon and its community. The editorial emphasizes the importance of research, personal growth, and the potential for a new era of understanding and harmony.

This issue of SC Magazine, dated January 1995, is titled "$50 THE SC TEAM - MEET THE GANG". The cover prominently features a group photograph of the individuals who make up the SC team, with their roles clearly identified. The magazine's focus on crop circles is further emphasized by a visual collage of previous magazine covers and related circulars.

The SC Team

The cover photograph showcases the core members of the SC team. Identified from left to right are: Linda Reynolds (described as a "long-suffering wife"), Sloane Noakes (also a "long-suffering wife"), Andy Thomas (the Editor), Martin Noakes (responsible for "purse-strings"), Kaye Thomas (the "proof-reader" and "long-suffering wife"), Barry Reynolds (who serves as the CCCS Sussex branch convenor and handles "photo-scanning and diagrams"), Nigel Tomsett (managing "mailing and subscriptions"), and Debbie Pardoe (also handling "mailing and subscriptions").

Content and Focus

The magazine's primary subject matter revolves around crop circles and related phenomena, as indicated by the title and the visual elements on the cover. The inclusion of "Sussex Circular" and images of past "SC" magazine issues suggests a history and ongoing engagement with this topic within the Sussex region.

The issue is noted as being copied by Colourfast, with a contact telephone number provided: 01273 609132. The volume number is indicated as 45, and the issue date is January 1995.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance appears to be one of community and dedication, as highlighted by the description of team members' roles and the affectionate, albeit humorous, "long-suffering wife" designation. The magazine positions itself as a monthly publication dedicated to exploring the mysteries of crop circles and related subjects, suggesting a commitment to ongoing research and dissemination of information within this niche field.