Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 31
Date: October 1991
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, a publication focused on Earth Mysteries, delves into several intriguing topics, including the 'Solar Transition Effect' observed on ley lines, the history of ancient monuments, the significance of place names, and critiques of scientific paradigms. The magazine features articles, book reviews, and news from the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group.

The Solar Transition Effect

The lead article, "The Solar Transition Effect," by an unnamed author, details personal dowsing experiences in Youlgreave, Derbyshire, and later in Surrey. The author discovered that ley lines, which are invisible energy lines believed to crisscross the landscape, appeared to double in width during sunrise and sunset. This effect was observed on multiple ley lines, including one in Youlgreave that grew from six paces to about twelve paces wide, and a significant 'E-line' in Surrey that expanded from its usual 100 paces to a staggering 212 paces.

The author initially considered the ringing of church bells as a possible cause but later concluded, after testing on a day when the bells were not ringing, that the sun was responsible. The effect lasted for approximately twenty-five minutes around sunset and sunrise. Further tests in Edinburgh, where the sunrise window was slightly longer due to the more northerly latitude, confirmed the phenomenon. The author posits that this effect is like a 'great standing pulse' following the terminator as it moves around the Earth, suggesting that at any given moment, leys are being stimulated somewhere on the planet.

The Hog's Back Barrow

Authored by Chris Hall, this piece recounts the destruction of an ancient barrow on the Hog's Back, between Guildford and Farnham, in 1817. The barrow, recorded by Rev. F. Kerry as being 17 yards in diameter at the base, was situated high on a chalk ridge. Due to severe winter conditions and unemployment, local ratepayers decided to remove the mound to provide work, carting the soil to a nearby farm. During the process, human remains, pottery fragments, and iron work were discovered. Rev. Kerry later dug into the remains in 1869 and found another human bone. The author notes that the site's interpretation is ambiguous, with suggestions of pagan Saxon internment or Bronze Age origins. The article highlights the loss of historical sites for practical or economic reasons, questioning whether any misfortune befell those involved in the destruction.

Book Reviews

Several book reviews are featured:

• The Place Names of Hampshire by Richard Coates: This book is reviewed as a valuable resource for understanding the landscape through place names, which can offer clues to historical uses and meanings. While acknowledging the author's reliance on map work, the reviewer emphasizes the importance of place names in Earth Mysteries studies and warns against modern spelling corruptions.
• The Elements of Earth Mysteries by Philip Heselton: Recommended for those new to the field, this book explains Earth Mysteries from a holistic perspective, tracing the development of ideas from the 1920s to contemporary understanding. It is praised for its comprehensive approach and its potential to enrich the reader's relationship with the Earth.
• The Search for the Omphalos by Bob Trubshaw and John Walbridge: This booklet explores the concept of a central, sacred spot in England, often a nodal point or meeting place. It argues that these 'omphali' form a network of equals rather than a single dominant center, referencing the idea that 'the central mountain is everywhere'.

Letters and Notes

Letters

• From Chris Street, London: Discusses the concept of 'The Hidden Unity' and an interesting alignment through a mosque in Regent's Park, part of a seven-pointed star pattern around London. The alignment includes various significant sites such as churches, a temple, and educational institutions, highlighting a connection to healing and learning.
• From Mike Ayton, Alton, Hampshire: Reports a disappointing year for crop circles in Hampshire, with few occurrences. However, the author describes several sightings of colored light phenomena over fields at night, characterized by a soft, diffuse glow and unusual bobbing and floating movements, distinct from conventional aircraft lights.

Notes and News

• Aligned circles: Mentions a report in 'The Circular' detailing alignments of crop circles with tumuli in the Cheesefoot Head area.
• No knowledge of Horsell Stone: The Surrey County Archaeologist has no information on a standing stone on Horsell Common.
• Sailor stone: Provides historical details about the Sailor Stone at Hindhead, its relocation, and the local desire for a stone on that site, suggesting it may not have been the first.
• Trade and Tourism Symbols: Notes that the Alfriston and District Association for the Promotion of Trade and Tourism has adopted two ley symbols as symbols of fair trading: the Long Man of Wilmington and the Alfriston Market Cross.
• Two good Moots: Briefly mentions attending a Ley Hunter Moot in Dinas Mawddwy and a Northern Moot in Nottingham, both featuring diverse speakers on Earth Mysteries topics. Fuller accounts are promised for the next issue.
• Up, up and away...again!: Describes a balloon flight over Surrey, offering aerial views of Chinthurst Hill, St. Martha-on-the-Hill Church, and the field where Squadron-Leader Shipwright saw a UFO in 1967. Videos of this flight and a trip to Stanton Moor are available.

The E-circle

This section details the plotting of the 'E-line' as a great circle course around the Earth, passing through significant locations such as Mount Everest, Ayers Rock, and the Lines of Nazca in Peru. The line also extends through the Indonesian Archipelago and New Zealand.

The Psi Cops

This piece critiques the organization CSICOP (Council for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), describing it as a group dedicated to discrediting paranormal claims. The author characterizes CSICOP's motivation as a strong belief that no non-material reality can exist, referring to this as the 'Grand Paradigm', and notes their organized, almost military, approach.

Einsteinism

An account by R.D. Pearson, BSc. (Eng), from the second International Scientific Conference concerning Problems in Time and Space, criticizes Einstein's theories of relativity. The author states that numerous scientists and engineers found internal contradictions in relativity, with unanimous rejection from nearly all participants. The article alleges that alternative theories were rejected without proper communication and that some publications supporting Einstein's relativity may have been manipulated by altering signs in equations to achieve desired results. The peer review system is blamed for fostering a climate where physics is treated more like a religion than a science, with assessors exhibiting 'religious fervour' in rejecting alternative ideas.

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings

This section reviews two booklets brought out by the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group. "The Hidden Unity" examines the subconscious siting of ley points and the tendency for places of worship to be located on leys, discussing environmental and philosophical implications. "Beginnings" covers potentially useful discoveries made over twenty years, including earth energy detection, natural antigravity, subconscious siting, ley width, and the solar transition effect, along with a chapter on cognitive dissonance. Both booklets are available for purchase.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Touchstone revolve around the exploration of subtle energies and phenomena not typically recognized by mainstream science, such as ley lines, dowsing, and UFO sightings. There is a strong emphasis on personal experience and anecdotal evidence, particularly in the 'Solar Transition Effect' article and the 'Letters' section. The magazine also displays a critical stance towards established scientific paradigms, as evidenced by the critique of Einstein's theories and the discussion of CSICOP. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unconventional subjects, encouraging readers to explore alternative explanations for phenomena and to connect with the landscape through Earth Mysteries.