Sussex Circular - 2001 no 94

Magazine Overview

This is the final issue, number 94, of SC, 'The Bimonthly Journal of Crop Circles and Beyond', published in Spring 2001. The cover boldly declares 'THE LAST WORD' and 'CELEBRATORY FINAL ISSUE', with the SC team looking back and forward. The issue marks the end of nine years of publication for the journal, which was edited by Andy Thomas and produced by Southern Circular Research (SCR).

Editorial and Farewell Messages

Andy Thomas, the editor, writes his final editorial, expressing mixed feelings about ending the venture. He states that the decision is right and that he needs to focus on other projects, including a book about the collective mind and a photographic book. He also mentions continuing as webmaster for Swirled News and co-organiser of the Glastonbury Symposium. He reflects on his ten years of involvement with the crop circle phenomenon, highlighting the life-altering experiences and the people he has met.

Numerous readers and contributors send their farewell messages, expressing sadness at the magazine's demise but understanding the reasons. Many praise SC for its informative content, incisive commentary, and unique approach. Special thanks are given to the SCR team, including Di Brown, Jason Porthouse, Martin Noakes, Barry Reynolds, and Kaye Thomas, for their dedication.

Swirled News: A New Beginning

The issue announces the launch of 'Swirled News' (www.swirlednews.com), a new online platform intended to carry on the spirit and ethos of SC. It will not be a circle reporting site but will provide rolling news, current affairs, commentary, analysis, and humour, similar to SC's style. Michael Glickman's column and Danny Sotham's 'A to Z of Cerealogy' will continue on the new site, along with contributions from other familiar correspondents and a new cartoonist, Brett Parrott. The service is intended to be free, with updates every few days.

Parting Shots from the SC Team

Several SC team members offer their final thoughts:

• Michael Glickman reflects on his six years of association with SC, expressing gratitude and calling it the 'luckiest man on the planet' to be involved. He recounts how he became a crop circle columnist despite knowing nothing about the subject, starting with 'The Cerealogist' and later moving to SC. He laments the 'hoax story' and the 'strident revisionism' surrounding the phenomenon, calling for a return to respect and a new understanding of life and the environment.
• Karen Douglas praises SC for its international success, regularity, and commitment to listing crop circle reports. She highlights Andy Thomas's struggle for civility in a sometimes uncivil community and SC's role in raising and debating serious issues. She expresses pleasure that this commentary will continue on Swirled News.
• Martin Noakes notes that crop formations have led him to meet interesting people and that his life has been 'monumental'. He believes the phenomenon has not brought him closer to unmasking its creators but has led him to embrace a new perspective on life and the environment. He emphasizes that crop circles are 'not rocket science, but common sense'.
• Jason Porthouse & Di Brown reflect on the end of SC, acknowledging that the circles themselves are transitory and have evolved over time. They see SC as having mirrored this progress, from a simple photocopied sheet to a more polished publication. They believe the phenomenon will either prove to be the biggest hoax or a turning point in humanity's evolution. They express relief at no longer having to stuff envelopes and look forward to the next chapter.
• Barry Reynolds describes the end of SC as 'final' but emphasizes that the phenomenon and SCR meetings will continue, with Swirled News arising from the ashes. He looks back at his journey since the first issue of SC in 1990, highlighting life-changing experiences and the importance of researchers like Andy Thomas. He concludes by noting that his beliefs remain strong, supported by figures like Dr. Levengood and John Burke.

Special Features

• 'BALKING WITH DINOSAURS' by Danny Sotham: This satirical piece presents a guide to 'cerealogical dinosaurs' that readers should watch out for, including 'Egotrippus (Biggus Headus)', 'Goldenageasaurus (Rosetintus Mythologicus)', 'Ignoranodon (Ignorant Pigguss)', 'Kissass (Bathesin Reflectedglorius)', 'Mattinthedockus (Crimeosaurus Proudus)', 'Ptellatalltail (Lying Bastardus)', 'Teemsatan (Mediawhoreus)', 'Theydoassureus-saurus (Hot Airus)', and 'Undergrounduss (Satirist Invisibilitus)'. Each 'dinosaur' is described with its feeding habits and points scored for sighting.
• 'CLOSURE' - A Short Story by Michael Glickman: This fictional narrative explores a covert operation within a crop circle research organisation. It details how a unit (CC2) was established to create disinformation and confusion, manipulating people and the media to discredit genuine research and distract from the phenomenon's true nature. The story highlights the use of 'sleepers', 'psych-ops', and 'human crop circle facilitators' to achieve these goals, ultimately leading to the unit's closure due to its 'overwhelming success'.
• 'The Small Print': This section explains the cryptic messages that appeared at the bottom of pages in previous SC issues, revealing their often humorous or personal origins.
• 'Formations 2000 Gallery #4': This section features full-colour photographs of crop circle formations from August 2000, with reports and credits to photographers Steve Alexander and Lucy Pringle.
• 'Lewis Jotter and the Circles of Niarg': This is the first chapter of a fictional story by M. Bennett, introducing a character named Lewis Jotter who is involved in a magical, mythosophical world related to crop circles and 'Witzas'. It delves into concepts like 'Vastermind', 'Inti-Tuts', and different 'shapes' of Witzas (Circlebuffs, Glyphindoors, Claimemfoax).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this final issue of SC revolve around the conclusion of an era, the transition to new media (online platforms), and reflections on the crop circle phenomenon. There is a strong sense of camaraderie among the team and readers, with a shared appreciation for the journal's unique contribution to the field. The issue grapples with the nature of crop circles, acknowledging their mystery while also addressing issues of disinformation, hoaxing, and the importance of genuine research. The editorial stance, as expressed by the contributors, leans towards a belief in the significance of the phenomenon, not as a hoax, but as something profound that can lead to self-awareness and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world. The transition to Swirled News signifies a commitment to continuing this dialogue and analysis in a new format.

Title: SC
Issue: 94
Date: Spring 2001
Publisher: SC
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue marks the final print edition of SC magazine after a nine-year run. The cover features a prominent "THE LAST WORD" headline, signaling the end of an era for the publication. The main article, written by Andy Thomas, reflects on the magazine's journey and its stance on phenomena like crop circles, drawing a parallel with the public reception of the Millennium Dome.

The Millennium Dome and Crop Circles: A Metaphor for Skepticism

Andy Thomas begins by discussing the Millennium Dome, describing it as a symbol of hope and achievement that was met with widespread public and media dismissal, akin to the treatment of crop circles. He recounts his personal positive experience visiting the Dome, finding it a "towering achievement" despite its acknowledged flaws in management and public perception. He argues that the negative attitudes towards the Dome, driven by ignorance and cynicism, mirror the way crop circles have been stigmatized.

Thomas criticizes the public's tendency to surrender their powers of discernment and observation to others, a behavior he sees in both the Dome's reception and the crop circle community. He posits that the "negative attitudes projected from positions of total ignorance" have led to the condemnation of both phenomena.

The Crop Circle Phenomenon: Beyond Hoaxes

Thomas addresses the ongoing debate surrounding crop circles, particularly the persistent narrative of hoaxes. He states that while acknowledging man-made formations, he does not accept that this explains the entire phenomenon. He expresses frustration with the media and some within the crop circle community who promote hoaxing as the sole explanation, arguing that this trivializes the profound personal experiences of individuals who have been transformed by the circles.

He defends the SC publication's stance, stating they have never promoted a "pseudo-religious" cult or claimed celestial origins for the circles. Instead, they have sought to inform and counter misinformation. Thomas emphasizes that "nobody knows what makes the crop circles, nor why, if there even is a why. That is the honest truth."

The Role of Conflict and Personal Experience

Thomas delves into the dynamics within the cerealogical community, comparing the conflicts and ego struggles to the galactic war in the TV series Babylon 5. He suggests that these conflicts, while seemingly negative, might be part of a larger scheme to stimulate evolution and innovation, as explained by the Shadow representative in the series. He encourages readers to choose their sides and fight their battles based on what feels right, acknowledging that ultimate realities are elusive.

He champions the idea of "believing in things because they're fun to believe in," as espoused by Richard Bach, suggesting it's a valid template for life. He believes that this personal conviction can drive processes that ripple outwards into a wider system.

The End of SC and a Look Forward

Thomas announces the conclusion of SC magazine's print run, explaining that the contributors will move on to new avenues of investigation and understanding in other areas of life, while retaining their affection for the crop circle phenomenon. He encourages readers to continue their own research with compassion, discernment, and integrity, avoiding second-hand opinions.

He concludes with a quote from the final episode of Doctor Who, urging readers to explore the wonders of the world and acknowledge that there is always "work to do."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue's primary themes revolve around skepticism versus belief, the critical examination of phenomena like crop circles and the Millennium Dome, the impact of media narratives, and the importance of personal experience and independent judgment. The editorial stance, as represented by Andy Thomas, is one of open-minded inquiry, a defense against unfounded skepticism, and a belief in the significance of unexplained phenomena, while acknowledging the complexities and uncertainties involved. The magazine champions critical thinking and personal conviction over blind adherence to any single explanation, particularly the 'hoax' theory.