Terrestrial Zodiacs Newsletter - No 05

Magazine Overview

Title: TERRESTRIAL ZODIACS NEWSLETTER
Issue: 5
Volume: 1
Date: 1979
Publisher: Paul Screeton
Country: United Kingdom
ISSN: 0140-9905
Price: Free, with contributions welcomed.

This issue of the Terrestrial Zodiacs Newsletter delves into the fascinating world of landscape-formed zodiacs, with a primary focus on the "Cuffley Zodiac" discovered by 15-year-old Steve Hamilton.

The Cuffley Zodiac by Steve Hamilton

Steve Hamilton details his discovery of a possible terrestrial zodiac in Hertfordshire, identified using Ordnance Survey maps. His research began with a lion formed by contours on John Rocques's 1754 map of Middlesex, which led him to uncover other figures and outlines. He notes similarities and differences with other known zodiacs, such as the Nuthampstead and Kingston zodiacs, and discusses how features like roads, rivers, and place names correspond to zodiacal symbols.

• Key figures identified include:
• Aries: North of St Albans, with two extra horns formed by the Devils Dyke and banks around a Belgic settlement. Ayres End is noted at the tail, and Nomansland Connon on its back.
• Taurus: Not extensively researched, but has its foot on the Cancerian boat.
• Gemini: Twins formed by paths, with Waterend on the second twin's throat suggesting swallowing.
• Cancer: The boat is well preserved, with Salisbury Hall on the mast.
• Leo: The lion figure is present, with Houndswood and High Cannons (Canis?) near its hind leg. Scratchwood is also noted. The Battle of Barnet is said to have been fought on Leo's neck, with an obelisk marking where "Warwick" died.
• Virgo: Her body is disappearing due to redevelopment, but her face, shoulders, arm, and wheatsheaf are preserved. The Roman Ermine Street forms her arm, and the New River follows contours.
• Libra: Depicted as a dove flying over the "Wonderful" Great Wood, with Justice Hill as a reminder of balance.
• Scorpio: The Cheshunt scorpion has one good claw; the other is damaged. It stings Arthur's horse, similar to the Glastonbury zodiac.
• Sagittarius: The horse and rider are depicted with woods forming hooves and roads forming the third. The rider holds a shield and a ley line as a spear.
• Capricorn: Represented by a unicorn, similar to the Glastonbury zodiac, with a tumulus for its eye.
• Aquarius: A squirrel scratching at a nut.
• Pisces: Two fish, or a whale and dolphin, swimming around each other. The whale has remains of a tumulus for its eye.

Hamilton also mentions Mr Hodges, who is working on a later zodiac that overlaps with his own, suggesting some zodiacs might be intentionally obscured.

A Huge Tableau Across Southern Britain by Mollie Carey

Mollie Carey presents her findings on a much larger terrestrial tableau spanning across Britain, suggesting that the Glastonbury Zodiac is just a small part of it. She highlights the work of St Joseph and St Aldhelm in marking out significant sites. Carey identifies a central "helmeted human head" on Salisbury Plain, stretching towards Swindon, with other features including groups of human heads, a bear, a winged dragon, and donkey riders across Dorset.

She notes that the tableau extends across the South Downs, with figures like the Wilmington dwarf and the Cerne Giant possibly serving as markers.

Review: The Bury St. Edmunds Terrestrial Zodiac by Michael W. Burgess

This section reviews Michael W. Burgess's booklet, which approaches terrestrial zodiacs with an objective, skeptical stance. Burgess argues that Bury St. Edmunds, like Glastonbury, possesses a terrestrial zodiac. He posits that St. Edmund, before being supplanted by St. George, was a martyr who chose the archetypal role of a divine sacrificial victim, with landscape features and dates reinforcing this interpretation. The review praises the booklet for its meticulous detail, its discussion of geomantic significance, and its inclusion of leys, references, and an Ordnance Survey map with effigies.

Letter: Hebden Bridge Zodiac Exhibition

John Billingsley writes about an upcoming exhibition of the Hebden Bridge Zodiac as part of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. The exhibition, to be held at the Birchcliffe Chapel Centre, is intended as a progress report on his research and a local presentation of the Hebden Bridge Zodiac information.

The Bolingbroke Terrestrial Zodiac by S. Satchwell

• S. Satchwell describes the Bolingbroke Terrestrial Zodiac in Lincolnshire, noting its similarities to the Glastonbury Zodiac. Key features include:
• Aries: A ram with its eye formed by a moat.
• Taurus: A bull's head, with the horn stabbing the center of the zodiac at Old Bolingbroke Castle.
• Gemini: A figure in a space-aged seat, holding onto something unidentified.
• Cancer: Situated under Argo Navis, with a ship that has a sail.
• Leo: Represented by a dragon, possibly with Hercules jumping on its back, pointing to something.
• Virgo: Similar to the Glastonbury figure, holding a sacred cone and another sacred tool.
• Libra: Depicted as a phoenix.
• Scorpio: A clear scorpion figure, with a moat in its claw and its sting indicating an attack.
• Sagittarius: A horse and rider with woods forming hooves and roads forming the third.
• Capricorn: A unicorn with a tumulus for its eye.
• Aquarius: A squirrel scratching at a nut.
• Pisces: A whale and dolphin.

Satchwell notes the zodiac's egg shape and the number of sacred sites contributing to its validity.

Editor's Note

The editor expresses skepticism about some aspects of terrestrial zodiacs, particularly the choice of symbols like a Libran phoenix or Piscean dolphin, but encourages further research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently explores the concept of terrestrial zodiacs, which are patterns of geographical features, roads, and place names that are interpreted as forming zodiacal figures. The publication encourages debate and research into these phenomena, linking them to geomancy, ley lines, and ancient history. While the editor expresses some personal skepticism regarding certain symbolic interpretations, the overall stance is one of open inquiry and support for researchers in the field, as evidenced by the featured articles, reviews, and letters.