Touchstone - No 022 - 1989 07

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 22
Date: July 1989
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Focus: Earth Mysteries, Ley Lines, UFOs, Ancient Sites, Folklore.

NOSTALGIC JOURNEY

The issue begins with a personal account of a weekend trip on May 27th-28th, visiting various earth mystery sites. The journey started with a visit to Chiddingstone, Kent, which coincided with the anniversary of the first STAR Fellowship Rally in 1960, a pivotal event for the earth mysteries movement and the launch of the booklet "Skyways and Landmarks". The author, accompanied by Philip Heselton and his family, visited a cave in the hillside mentioned in the booklet, noting its cruciform chamber. After a meal, they proceeded to Lyewood Common and Gills Lap, both tree clumps that had suffered damage from a hurricane but showed signs of renewal. The journey also included a visit to Pitch Hill near Shere.

The following day focused on the Addlestone area, exploring several tree clumps and alignments. These included the Samaritan Centre clump, the Spratts Lane clump (with a depression possibly from a former clay pit), and Ether Hill clump, noted for its impressive size and proximity to a new motorway. St. Anne's Hill in Chertsey was the final destination, described as a tree-covered summit with a hillfort and visible earthworks, highlighting its status as a public open space in contrast to the commercialized St. George's Hill.

The author notes that the alignments around Addlestone are interesting but may be subconsciously sited and have been damaged by time, emphasizing the need to consider such situations.

CLUMP ALIGNMENTS ROUND ADDLESTONE

A map illustrates the clump alignments around Addlestone, showing connections between sites like St. Anne's Hill, Woburn Hill, and a tumulus on Chobham Common.

THE HURT WOOD TRACK

This section reprints an article from Touchstone, July 1984, detailing the Hurt Wood track in Surrey. Described as a straight, over two-mile long track, it is considered a significant example of an aligned track. The article discusses its potential as an ancient ley track, noting its straightness, difficulty on steep hills, and its passage through various points of interest including a Scots pine clump, a junction near Holmbury St. Mary, and a Roman road. The author recounts an anecdote from Philip Heselton about a strange object seen on a ridge near the track in 1966, which coincided with reports of puma sightings in the area.

Report of UFO sighting given to Gordon Millington May 1989

This section details a UFO sighting that occurred on November 5th, 1988, near Shere and Ewhurst. A 21-year-old woman and her boyfriend observed a UFO with a flattened top and a red light, which circled and then flew away. The report suggests this sighting may have occurred over the Hurt Wood track, near a Scots pine clump mentioned previously.

NOTES AND NEWS

Donovan the Diviner

This segment discusses a recent television series about a professional dowser named Donovan, covering his work in finding water and using specialized equipment like a color wheel and a 'gismo' to filter out influences on dowsing.

Fenland avenue

An article from "The Independent" is summarized, detailing excavations at Fengate, Cambridgeshire, which revealed a 900-yard straight avenue of wooden timbers, requiring the felling of approximately two million trees. The avenue connected the mainland to an island, with evidence of buildings and offerings of weapons found nearby.

London Earth Mysteries Circle

An announcement for the next meeting of the London Earth Mysteries Circle on September 12th.

Addlestone meetings

An invitation to monthly meetings of the local group in Addlestone, encouraging attendance and the sharing of research.

Two exhibitions

Details are provided for two exhibitions:
1. "The Goddess Reawakening" at Glastonbury, sponsored by the Matriarchy Research and Reclaim Network, featuring work by several artists and including evening talks.
2. "The Salmon Leaps" at Tigh-a-Ghlinne, Isle of Lewis, focusing on ancient sites of Scotland's Western Isles.

BOOK REVIEWS

LINES ON THE LANDSCAPE, by Paul Devereux and Nigel Pennick

This review describes the book as a worthwhile work with new original research, particularly noting the discovery of a French term for tracks ('laie') and research into ancient sites. However, it criticizes the book for downplaying the energy aspect of leys and omitting ley centres. The review acknowledges the book's historical overview of leys and mentions the STAR Fellowship and UFO connections but notes the absence of deprecatory remarks. Despite its shortcomings, the book is recommended for its original information.

LETTERS

From: Chris Hall, Fleet, Hampshire.

Chris Hall shares an account from the Natural History Museum about a "remarkably fine lunar rainbow" seen at Reigate on the evening of October 9th, 1889. The phenomenon was described as a brilliant arch of prismatic colours, visible for about a quarter of an hour.

James B. Crosfield, Proceedings of Holmesdale Natural History Club, pp. 46-47, 1890.

This letter references an account of a moon-casting sunset, noting it as the first actual account the writer had encountered.

PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM JIMMY GODDARD

• A list of publications available, including:
• "SKYWAYS AND LANDMARKS REVISITED" by Tony Wedd (£1.18)
• "CAMPUS LINES" (£1.18)
• "COSMIC FRIENDS" (68p)
• "TOUCHSTONE" Newsletter (£2 for four issues)
• "AMSKAYA" Newsletter (£2 for four issues)

EXCHANGE LIST

A list of publications with which Touchstone exchanges, including "QUICKSILVER MESSENGER", "CAERDROIA", "FORTEAN TIMES", "NORTHERN EARTH MYSTERIES", "THE PIPES OF PAN", "FOLKLORE FRONTIERS", "WORD SPIRIT", "THE LEY HUNTER", "MAGONIA", and "GLOUCESTERSHIRE EARTH MYSTERIES", "MEYN MΑMVRO".

Publisher's Information

Touchstone is published by Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, 25, Albert Road, Addlestone, Weybridge, Surrey. Subscriptions are £2 for four issues. All articles are welcome, as are visitors to the monthly meetings in Addlestone.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of earth mysteries, particularly ley lines and ancient alignments in Surrey. The magazine promotes a sense of personal discovery and investigation into these phenomena, encouraging readers to visit sites and share their findings. There is a clear interest in the energetic and historical aspects of these locations. The publication also maintains an open stance towards UFO phenomena, including reports and discussions of sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and community building within the earth mysteries field, encouraging participation and the sharing of knowledge.