Touchstone - No 039 - 1994 04

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 39
Date: April 1994
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone delves into the "Pagan Project," exploring the theory that places of worship, both ancient and modern, are often situated on ley lines, indicating a subconscious connection to the earth's energy network. The magazine features detailed investigations into potential pagan sites and alignments, particularly in the Canterbury and East Kent areas, alongside book reviews, news from earth mysteries groups, and discussions on related topics like UFOs and earth energies.

Pagan Project: Ley Lines and Worship Sites

The central theme, the "Pagan Project," posits that worship sites are not randomly placed but are influenced by the earth's energy network, specifically ley lines. The author, after a talk to a Pagan group in Canterbury, gathered grid references for their practice sites. While these locations are kept confidential due to potential harassment from Christian extremists, the author notes that they appear to lie on leys, some with strong "feel" and "indicator points" like cross-tracks and roads. The alignments are primarily mapped around Canterbury and East Kent, with some near Kit's Coty on the Maidstone and Weald of Kent map.

Several specific alignments are detailed:

• Alignment 1: Track/road junction at Shottenden, involving a short track, Nickle Farm, Bigbury, a church in Canterbury, and a Roman road with milestones.
• Alignment 2: Cross-tracks, Ickham church, tumulus at Barham, and churches at Densole and Shorncliffe Camp.
• Alignment 3: Whitstable church, Herne Common, East Blean Wood, Hoath, and East Stourmouth.
• Alignment 4: Composed of road and track points, including Stone Stile Farm, Nickle Farm, Harbledon, Fordwich, East Stourmouth, Minster, and Thorne Farm.
• Alignment 5: Passes through Nickle Farm centre and includes points in Chilham like King's Wood, Chilham Castle, and Chilham Church.
• Alignment 6: Track multijunction at Dargate, Clay Hill, Stodmarsh Church, Preston Church, Elmstone Church, and Roman fort Richborough.
• Alignment 7: Features two milestones and passes near Old Wives Lee church, with points including milestones, Ickham, and a bridge at Wingham.
• Alignment 8: Includes a milestone at Biting, tumuli in Denge Wood, and points near Lower Hardres and Staple Church.
• Alignment 9: Connects Sandwich, Eastry Church, Shepherdswell, Lydden Church, Sugarloaf Hill, and Folkestone, with a notable road alignment near Eythorne.
• Alignment 10: Links Lad's Farm, Burham Court church, Kit's Coty House dolmen, and Thurnham Castle mound.

The author expresses interest in visiting these sites and proposes a field trip.

The Addle Stone?

This section discusses the "Addle Stone" in Godley Hundred, potentially named from "Attel's Dene." Although its exact location is unclear, it's thought to be in a small park off Caselden Close. Dowsing suggests the presence of a stone and several leys converging on it. One significant ley runs north through the Crouch Oak in Addlestone. Another ley aligns with Station Road and Shepperton Church, extending to Danewell Hill on Horsell Common. The house fence, possibly part of an old boundary, points towards St. George's Hill hillfort at Weybridge. Dowsing indicates the stone was placed 2,750 years ago and removed 85 years ago.

The E-Line and the Oxted Line

The author describes investigating leys near Wychcroft, a retreat house owned by the Church of England. The "E-line" is described as a wide, powerful ley investigated previously. Another line, found from clumps in Oxted, passes through a field and road junction near Wychcroft. A third ley passes directly through the house. The E-line crosses the road at an oblique angle, marked by Scots pines, and grazes a line of pines by the roadside. It also goes over Tilburstow Hill and through woods, where it meets the Oxted line and another ley connecting two clumps and a church in Oxted. The Oxted line is described as less clear on maps but passes through several cross-tracks and parish boundaries. A better ley runs through the library and chapel at Wychcroft, skirting Castle Hill, Tumble Beacon, and a round wood near Dormansland, and passing near Dry Hill fort.

Robin Hood's Bay

Norman Darwen recounts a weekend break at Robin Hood's Bay. He notes a brick-and-stone building identified as the "Boiling Well," a spring serving the community since the 12th century. He also observed parts of the road aligning with Whitby Abbey, a large carved stone gatepost resembling a standing stone, and a small markstone with a worn inscription dating from 1873. In the village, he found a carved wooden head above an old garage entrance.

Book Reviews

• Two-Thirds by D.P. Myers & D.S. Percy: This 470-page book is described as an "epic tale" spanning seven billion years, covering the origins of extra-galactic beings, human creation, and explanations for UFOs and abductions. It discusses concepts like energy generation through meditation or sex, and the influence of extraterrestrial beings (Essenes) on human history and culture. The review highlights the book's meticulous research on sacred geometry, comparing Martian sites with British ones like Avebury and Stonehenge. It also mentions the authors' theory that crop glyphs are messages from early Martians. The review notes the book's complexity and philosophical depth, referencing Jimmy Goddard's theory on the subconscious siting of worship places, termed 'planetary torun'.
• A Psychic Jigsaw by Adele Butler: This book investigates ghostly manifestations at Ash Manor in Surrey, attempting to verify the existence of an entity named Edward Charles Henley from the reign of Henry VIII. While a Henley family connection to the Earl of Huntingdon was found, Edward Charles remained elusive.

Notes and News

• Earth energies and health: An article in Psychic News by Rob Stephenson discusses research linking earth energies and mystery illnesses, mentioning Chinese ideas on energies, Alfred Watkins' work on leys, and earth acupuncture. A teacher found geopathic stress affecting pupils' desks and noted that moving desks or beds could help. It's emphasized that good places exist in every room.
• HAYSEEDS cartoon: A humorous cartoon illustrates advice on sleeping positions relative to the Earth's magnetic field.

London Earth Mysteries Circle Meetings

Announcements for upcoming meetings of the London Earth Mysteries Circle (LEMC) are listed, covering topics such as permaculture, the Holy Grail, lucid dreaming, Feng Shui, and sacred stones of Japan. A turf maze event is also mentioned.

Surrey Earth Mysteries Group and TEMS Joint Meeting

Details are provided for a joint meeting of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group and TEMS on June 8th, focusing on a ley discovered by Lionel Beer running from Littleton to Kingston and Merton. The meeting will include a video of field trips.

TEMS Activities

TEMS is described as a non-profit, non-political social and study group for people in South-West London, Surrey, and Middlesex, covering topics like ancient sites, UFOs, and healing. Past meetings included a talk by Miles Johnston on the UFO Congress in Las Vegas and discussions on "Area 51." Other meetings covered mystery cats and the Turin Shroud, with Lynn Picknett presenting theories about Leonardo da Vinci.

Courses by Rob Stephenson

Rob Stephenson is offering two summer courses at The City Literary Institute: "Earth Energies and Mysteries" and "Mystical and Legendary London."

Alien Encounters by Gordon Millington

A book titled "Alien Encounters" by Gordon Millington, an investigator for the British UFO Research Association, is advertised. It offers an interpretative approach to UFO phenomena and crop circle mysteries.

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings

Two booklets from the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group are reviewed: "The Hidden Unity," which examines the subconscious siting of worship places on leys and discusses environmental and philosophical implications, using the Shah Jehan Mosque and Guru Nanak Sikh Temple as examples; and "Beginnings," detailing Jimmy Goddard's discoveries over twenty years, including earth energy detection, antigravity, and subconscious siting, with a chapter on cognitive dissonance and an account of Alfred Watkins' discovery of leys.

Exchange List

A list of publications for exchange is provided, including Fortean Times, Northern Earth Mysteries, Folklore Frontiers, The Ley Hunter, Magonia, and others.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around earth energies, ley lines, ancient sites, and their connection to spiritual and pagan practices. There's a strong emphasis on investigation and discovery within the field of earth mysteries, encouraging readers to explore these phenomena through field trips, dowsing, and study. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded and inquisitive, presenting theories and research without necessarily endorsing them as absolute fact, while also acknowledging the potential for harassment and the need for discretion in certain areas of research. The magazine serves as a platform for local earth mysteries groups and their activities, fostering a sense of community among like-minded individuals.