Sussex Circular - 1997 no 64

Magazine Overview

Title: SC
Issue: 64
Date: May 1997
Cover Price: £1.25

This issue of SC Magazine, a monthly journal focusing on crop circles and beyond, presents a mix of news, features, reviews, and opinion pieces. The cover highlights the start of the 1997 crop circle season, with articles on Earth Energy & Geology, Secret Texts Of The Pyramids, and the Oliver's Castle Rifts. The magazine also announces an increase in subscription prices due to rising costs.

Important Notice & Subscription Information

SC Magazine has implemented a price increase for subscriptions, effective from this issue, due to rising postal and production costs. The new annual rates are £12.00 for the UK, £16.00 for European countries, and £22.00 for other overseas regions. The US rate remains $33.00. The cover price has risen to £1.25 to accommodate retail outlets. A special offer allows readers to renew or subscribe at the old rates (£10.00 UK, £13.00 Europe, £18.00 overseas) if they send their payment before June 15th, adding a year to their existing subscription.

The magazine emphasizes its non-profit status, with all income reinvested into improving its service and quality, citing the use of higher-grade paper as an example. The late arrival of this issue is attributed to organizing the Sussex Cerealogical Bonanza.

Contact details are provided for the editor, Andy Thomas, and for subscriptions in the UK and overseas (Di Brown & Jason Porthouse), as well as for US subscriptions (Michael Glickman).

News: Circles '97 Update #2

This section reports on the beginning of the 1997 crop circle season in England, following earlier overseas formations. Andy Thomas reports on new formations, acknowledging that initial reports can sometimes be inaccurate and encouraging readers to inform the magazine of any new information.

Devon: A triangle formation, approximately 15' along each side, was reported near Bradninch, Devon, on April 29th.

Essex: Near Littlebury Green, a large ring formation, about 300' across and 3' wide with a curved 'V' design, appeared around April 23rd. A smaller ring is also present. The formation is located near an Iron-Age hill-fort.

The Bullshit Starts Here

This segment, penned by Andy Thomas, addresses what he terms 'bogus formations' and the persistent claims of hoaxes that emerge early in the season. He expresses frustration with what he calls 'debunkers' tactics' and the 'circle-slagging' from people who seem to invent stories to avoid confronting the phenomenon's deeper implications.

The Barbury Castle Incident: The article details a controversy surrounding the Barbury Castle formation. A researcher named Kerry Blower reportedly gave an initial description over the phone that differed from the actual formation. Subsequently, a fax or email emerged, purportedly from hoaxers claiming responsibility for creating the formation. Paul Vigay, who received this document, is questioned about why he did not immediately disclose it. Suspicion fell on Vigay as the author of the fax, which he denied. This led to counter-accusations and threatening communications directed at Blower, Steve Alexander, and Karen Douglas. The SC team itself was also implicated. Thomas dismisses these claims as 'junk' and a 'huge conspiracy', urging people to focus on the phenomenon itself rather than getting caught up in such controversies. He challenges those making high percentage hoax claims (70% and 90%) to substantiate them, offering to publicly acknowledge hoaxes if they can prove ten formations were faked in 1996.

Features: Echoes of Atlantis

This feature explores the possibility of an unknown script found on the walls of the Red Pyramid in Egypt, visible only in infra-red. Michael Green, President of CCCS, outlines the discovery and its potential significance to lost civilizations and crop circles.

The article connects this script to the mythological island civilization of Atlantis, as described by Plato. It suggests that the destruction of Atlantis, possibly due to a massive event and sea-level rise at the end of the last Ice Age, led Atlanteans to flee to various safe havens, including ancient Egypt.

Reference is made to Edgar Cayce's prophecies of a 'Hall of Records' located below a lost pyramid adjacent to the Sphinx. Geological assessments by Robert Schoch and John West suggest that the Sphinx and surrounding structures are much older than conventionally believed, dating back to the ninth millennium BC or earlier, based on visible water erosion.

Raymond Houghton reported that infra-red photography of the Red Pyramid's interior chambers revealed an unknown script. The author, visiting Egypt, used Ilford SFX200 infra-red film on the Valley Temple, noting faint traces of demotic glyphs. While acknowledging the need for expert photography, the author posits that the Valley Temple might be the Hall of Records, containing inscriptions in a non-hieroglyphic script, potentially dating back 12,000 years.

The origin of the glyphs is discussed, with superficial resemblances to controversial Davenport stele and various petroglyphs. The script is also compared to glyphs from the Corby and Sibson crop circle formations of 1996. The article mentions a phonographic, semi-syllabic system purportedly conveyed by an Atlantean priest, Azimuru, which shares similarities.

The feature concludes by suggesting that these ancient records, the Great Crystal of Atlantis, and cosmic plans are of academic interest but their association with Earth-change is highly significant.

Reviews: Wessex Badman

Barry Reynolds reviews 'Crop Circles of Wessex' by Kent Goodman, finding it factually lacking despite its affordability and color photographs. Reynolds criticizes the book for using outdated theories, such as Terence Meaden's 'mini-whirlwind' theory, and for making sweeping, unsubstantiated claims about hoaxes by 'witchcraft groups, the military and ordinary people'. He also questions the book's description of 'outerspace-type insects' and finds the diagrams to be 'appalling', citing inaccuracies in the Winterbourne Bassett formation diagram.

Despite its flaws, Reynolds notes that the book might be useful for anorak collectors or as a basic introduction to the crop circle phenomenon, particularly for those who don't object to speculative statements about 'unknown weather conditions'. The book is described as having 30 pages with color and black and white photographs, maps, and diagrams, retailing for £4.95.

Features: Geology and Prehistory

This section, by David Tilt, explores the concept of 'Earth energy' and its connection to crop circles and prehistoric sites. Tilt, a dowser, believes that formations utilize this energy source.

His investigation into prehistoric sites in Sussex revealed energy lines radiating in various directions, leading to the discovery of a henge buried about four feet deep. The henge features a pattern of diamonds and squares, with energy lines connecting to pits around the perimeter. The pattern is noted to comprise numbers five, six, and eight, suggesting the pits may have been decorative. The henge is believed to be constructed based on a geological pattern of energy, with fifty-six pits forming a ring around the perimeter, possibly related to lunar phases.

Tilt suggests that energy lines may have been tapped using shaped pieces of flint, and that heating these pebbles can make the energy flow permanent. He notes that many sites, including henges, mounds, and stone circles, were constructed in relation to underground water and energy lines. The piezoelectric properties of quartz are highlighted as a potential main energy source.

The article discusses how mounds elsewhere in the countryside also exhibit strong signals, particularly those with radiating energy lines. Some mounds have circular energy patterns (type B), with the shape of the pattern influencing the henge's shape.

Sussex henges, unlike Stonehenge, appear to have lacked stones, suggesting a phase solely for energy production. The number 56 is linked to lunar phases. The discovery of henges in Sussex with similarities to Stonehenge, and the complex web of artificial energy lines found at sites like Avebury, are noted.

The feature also mentions that energy lines have been introduced into prehistoric burial places and hill figures, suggesting they were seen as a 'life force'. This knowledge appears to have faded with the advent of the Bronze Age.

Opinion: The Danger in Dualism

Mark Bloomer, a meteorologist, addresses the controversy surrounding the Oliver's Castle video (OCV), advocating for a non-dualistic approach to crop circle phenomena.

Bloomer argues that the tension between viewing formations as 'hoax' or 'genuine' can fragment and confuse the crop circle community. He suggests that if the OCV is a hoax, allowing it to become a scandal would mean the hoaxers succeed in their goal of undermining enthusiasm. If it's real, it will likely continue to cause controversy due to lack of definitive proof.

He proposes viewing the OCV as a 'poetic and allegorical work of art' that expresses the mystery of the phenomenon. This 'third category' approach, free from the dichotomy of hoax or real, offers a non-dualistic perspective.

Bloomer criticizes the English language's inherent duality (e.g., good/bad, right/wrong) and its dangerous ramifications. He suggests that crop circles themselves may convey a message of 'non-dualistic balance', citing the 'triple Julia set' formation as an example. He calls for transcending duality within the crop circle community by allowing science its discipline, hoaxers their actions, and the poetic expression of the phenomenon to unite and balance the diverse perspectives.

Cornography

This section features a letter from Michael Glickman responding to accusations of stating 'there are no hoaxes'. Glickman clarifies that his argument is that hoaxes are few and insignificant in the overall crop circle phenomenon, except for what they reveal about people's paranoia.

He challenges two individuals, referred to as 'Mr 70%' and 'Mr 90%', who claim that a high percentage of formations are hoaxes, to substantiate their claims. Glickman calculates that 70% of 1996 formations would be 212, and 90% would be 273. He argues that these high, rounded-off figures are used to support unsubstantiated claims and enhance personal significance.

Glickman issues a challenge: to demonstrate, not just claim, that ten formations were hoaxed in 1996. If they can prove this (about 3% of the 1996 season), he will publicly acknowledge it. If not, he will characterize them as liars. He also suggests that if they cannot prove ten, they should at least supply a list of claims, with the formation name and hoax claimant.

He concludes by expressing his belief that this is an impossible task for them, as they likely cannot provide the evidence. He reiterates his stance that these exaggerated fantasies should be checked.

Other News

A brief mention is made of a company in Texas offering novel funeral arrangements for $4,600, which involves sending cremated ashes into orbit. A film of the first launch showed the remains of Dr. Timothy Leary and Gene Roddenberry being sent into space.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the ongoing debate about the authenticity of crop circle formations (hoax vs. genuine), the exploration of ancient civilizations and their potential connection to crop circles (Atlantis, Egypt), and the scientific and geological aspects of crop circles (energy lines, geology). The editorial stance, particularly from Andy Thomas, is critical of unsubstantiated hoax claims and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based research and a focus on the phenomenon itself. There is a clear call for a more nuanced and less confrontational approach to the subject, as advocated by Mark Bloomer in his opinion piece.