Touchstone - No 043 - 1995 10

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 43
Date: October 1995
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone delves into various aspects of Earth Mysteries, focusing on ley lines, ancient sites, and archaeological controversies, alongside a report on dowsing and a historical field trip.

The Twin Centres of Glastonbury

The lead article explores the ley line network in Glastonbury, identifying two primary centres: the well-known Glastonbury Tor and a previously less recognized site on Chalice Hill. The article details how Dod Lane, a path named after a housing estate, aligns with a ley but doesn't directly point to the Tor, presenting a puzzle. The path over Chalice Hill, passing through Scots pines, offers a view of the Tor, but the alignment is not direct. A lane is met which zig-zags, with a short stretch aligning with the ley, leading to Wellhouse Lane.

In the opposite direction, Dod Lane aligns with the ancient Retreat House, continues through the Abbey and Lady Chapel (site of the original Wattle Church, claimed to be built by Christ himself, who tradition suggests came to Britain with Joseph of Arimathea). The ley then passes through St. Benedict's Church, Glastonbury, a moat north of Shapwick, a crossroads at Catcott, and Chilton Trinity Church, continuing north of Bridgwater to two further tracks near Cannington.

Walking up towards Chalice Hill, the author's dowsing rods spun at a stile leading from the housing estate, indicating a centre where leys meet. A wide level area was found, with a clump of pines visible in the distance. A good view over the town was seen, with St. John's Church visible. The Meare road, which goes through a 'Cold Harbour', was seen aligning on the level area, suggesting a possible forgotten sacred site. Lines running into this site pass through most of the sacred sites in the Glastonbury area.

The ley running along the Meare road goes to the site, then over Chalice Hill to Chalice Well, and a coincident stretch of the Shepton Mallet road. In the other direction, it crosses moors, passes a church on Mark Causeway, and an earthwork near Burnham-on-Sea.

A more spectacular line runs south-east through Worlebury Hill, Weston-super-Mare, Bleadon Hill, and a tumulus. It then goes through Wedmore Church, and a mean-following road south of it, passing the Glastonbury site, and a large crossroads on the Fosse Way at Lydford-on-Fosse.

Another ley comes south-west through 'Hill Grove' and Prior's Hill north of Wells, Wells Cathedral, and another church in the city, a multijunction at Coxley, the site at Street, and a large multijunction. This line is parallel to the line through the Tor and Tor Hill, Wells. It passes through a clump on Knapp Hill, Tor Hill, Wells (from which Glastonbury Tor is visible), a cross-tracks south of Wells, and a crossroads/tracks at Woodford. It then passes Harter's Hill, Queen's Sedge Moor, a multijunction north of Glastonbury, and then the Tor. From here it goes through two crossroads, a large multijunction at Marshalls Elm, and Dundon Hill, the Gemini figure in the Zodiac.

The article concludes that Glastonbury has two important ley centres in close proximity, linked to surrounding sacred sites.

The Kopse Hof Sites

This section, by John E Palmer, details the discovery and subsequent controversy at the Kopse Hof plateau in Numegen, Netherlands. Archaeologists plotted the scant remains of a Roman camp, dating from 10 BC to 69 AD. More significantly, a well-preserved complex of early Bronze Age ring-cairns, a form of stone circles, was discovered outside the Roman camp. These sites were constructed using thousands of stones of various colours. The largest central cairn is egg-shaped, with its main axis aligned to the equinoctial line, surrounded by smaller cairn circles and an ellipse containing a boulder.

The site is described as sacred, with human burials and cremations found. A ritual road paved with stones links one cairn circle to a quadrangular temple aligned East-West, and a ritual platform was also discovered. Small cairns, circular graves, and post-hole sites surround the main cairn.

The author recounts his visits in February 1994 and early 1995. The alignment to Beltaine sunrise and Samhain sunset was established. Eight post holes surrounding a cairn circle were found to be related to the Celtic pagan annual cycle. Further study revealed solar alignments, including summer and winter solstices.

A dispute exists between the archaeologists of the Rijksdienst voor Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek (R.O.B.) and the landowner, Mr. W. F. Marggraff, regarding a house building scheme. Although protection was granted by Royal Decree, it was set to end in September 1995.

The future of the complex is uncertain, with residents reportedly stealing stones. The author suggested informing residents and fencing the site, possibly with a viewpoint, but these suggestions were not taken up. Disaster struck when the archaeologists, Harry van Enckevort and Glenn Tak, who specialize in the Roman era, removed the entire solar construct to a depth of two feet, losing the observatory. This action is described as wilful destruction and vandalism.

Attempts to contact the R.O.B. and the Secretary of State for Culture and Sciences for intervention were met with bureaucratic delays. A journalist from 'De Gelderlander' was informed, and Harry van Enckevort stated he had to 'scientifically research it', finding only a single human tooth during the destruction. The Sacred Sites International Foundation (U.S.A.) plans to feature the issue, and readers are urged to support the campaign to 'SAVE THE KOPSE HOF CAIRN CIRCLES' by writing letters of protest.

DACORUM FIELD TRIP

This report by Lionel Beer details a field trip on Saturday, June 10th, to various sites in West Herts. The group visited Berkhamsted Castle, noting its Norman motte and extensive remains. They also visited the Wild Boy grave at the Saxon church of St. Marys, Northchurch, learning about Peter, who was found in a forest in Hanover in 1725.

Lunch was taken on a golf course near Grim's Dyke, followed by a visit to St. Mary's Church, Hemel Hempstead. The group then toured the walled garden where Henry VIII may have courted Anne Boleyn. The final stop was Verulamium Roman Theatre, described as the best-preserved actual Roman theatre in England, located on a ley centre.

Astronomer divines the secret of dowsing

This article, based on a Sunday Telegraph report from March 5th, 1995, discusses research by Professor Vincent Reddish into the phenomenon of dowsing. Dowsers use rods that twitch over buried water sources or minerals, and their accuracy has led to their use by utilities and oil companies. Prof. Reddish, a physicist, became interested after witnessing a builder accurately locate a drain on his property.

His experiments revealed that linear structures, such as overhead cables and pipes, cause dowsing rods to cross. When a second linear structure was placed near the first, a complex interference pattern emerged, suggesting a steady, uniform radiation field. Prof. Reddish hypothesizes the existence of undiscovered particles, dubbed 'dowsons', which produce this field. Tests indicated that aluminium blocks these effects, as wrapping dowsers' feet in foil stopped the rods from crossing. Prof. Reddish suggests aluminium acts as an insulator against the 'dowson' and believes further research could lead to a Nobel Prize.

Book Reviews

Two books by Philip Heselton are reviewed: 'Earth Mysteries' and 'Secret Places of the Goddess'. 'Earth Mysteries' is praised for its exploration of leys and subtle landscape aspects, referencing Alfred Watkins and Tony Wedd. However, the reviewer expresses surprise at the book's dismissal of large-scale geomantic patterns, terrestrial zodiacs, and dowsing, and the lack of mention of 'Space People' and flying saucers. 'Secret Places of the Goddess' is described as expanding on significant places through Pagan religion.

Other Content

The issue also includes a section on 'Notes and News' with details of upcoming meetings for the London Earth Mysteries Circle and TEMS, including seminars and parties. A list of 'Exchange List' publications is provided, along with subscription details for Touchstone and information on other booklets available from the publisher, such as 'The Hidden Unity and Beginnings' and 'Earth People, Space People'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on Earth Mysteries, ley lines, ancient sites, and alternative perspectives on history and phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on the spiritual and energetic aspects of landscapes. The editorial stance appears critical of mainstream archaeology, particularly when it conflicts with the preservation and understanding of ancient sacred sites, as evidenced by the Kopse Hof controversy. The publication also shows an interest in phenomena that lie outside conventional scientific understanding, such as dowsing and extraterrestrial contact.