Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 86
Date: July 2009
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone delves into ancient sites, ley lines, and earth mysteries, with a primary focus on the Puriton-Pawlett Polden Ridge in Somerset, England.

The Puriton-Pawlett Polden Ridge Ley and Wells Diagonal

The article details the ancient churches of Puriton and Pawlett, situated at the end of the Polden Ridge near Bridgwater. The ridge is significant as it aligns with stretches of a Roman road, which connected the Fosse Way to a Roman port at the mouth of the River Parrett. This route is also believed to have been a pilgrim route to Glastonbury, possibly even used by Joseph of Arimathea. Evidence of Roman settlement, including villas and a Roman shrine site at Puriton Hill, suggests continuous occupation from the Mesolithic period. The churches themselves have historical significance, with St. Michael's in Puriton possibly built on a Roman shrine site, and St. John the Baptist in Pawlett replacing a Saxon structure and serving as a medieval pilgrimage stop.

The ley line running between Puriton and Pawlett extends along the ridge, passing by Swayne's Jumps, an enigmatic site with four small, milestone-shaped stones. Local legend attributes these to a man named Jan Swayne who escaped capture during the civil war by leaping into the woods. This ley also intersects with a diagonal line passing through Wells Cathedral, St. Cuthbert's, and St. Thomas's churches. Another ley runs along the ridge, meeting the first at Swayne's Jumps, and passes through various points including a Roman settlement on Puriton Hill and Cock Hill.

Moot at Dorchester

The issue reports on the Society of Leyhunters Moot held in Dorchester. The town is noted for its rich history, including hillforts like Maiden Castle and Poundbury, and Maumbury Rings. The moot featured a talk by Tim Previtt on the roads and trackways of North Wales, discussing factors like technology, topography, and climate in their development. Anglesey is described as being dense in monoliths and Bronze Age barrows, with some stones serving as trackway markers. The longest cursus in Dorset is mentioned, along with cursuses in North Wales. Pont-y-Cromlech and St. Winifred's Holy Well are highlighted as significant sites in Wales, and Bardsey Island is compared to Santiago de Compostela.

Earth Mysteries and Site Investigations

Peter Knight discussed personal experiences with sacred sites and the concept of earth mysteries, emphasizing interaction with the earth for self-discovery. He mentioned various sites, including Vixen Tor on Dartmoor, Roccia Il Funghi in Sardinia, the Hellstone Dolmen in Dorset (aligned to the midwinter sunrise), and the ruined church at Knowlton. The Grey Mare and her Colts is described as a winter solstice shrine. The article touches upon Einstein's quote about solving problems and the idea of a living, conscious universe.

Carolin Comberti's research into using voice and vocal harmonics as a healing tool is mentioned. The concept of 'dreaming the land' is linked to alchemical harmony and balance, with connections drawn to geometry, DNA, and crop circles.

A demonstration of pure sound by Dean Carter of the Centre for Pure Sound is described, focusing on its effect on the nervous system.

A tour led by Peter Knight visited local ancient sites, including the Hellstone Dolmen, a puddingstone, and the Hampton Hill stone circle. Other sites visited included the Moot Stone, the Grey Mare and her Colts long barrow, and the Nine Stones circle, which has solar alignments for Beltane, equinox, and solstices.

TEMS Field Trips

Two field trips by the Thames Earth Mysteries Society (TEMS) are reported:

St. Albans and South Herts (June 28, 2009): The group visited the Roman Theatre in St. Albans, Gorhambury Estate (former residence of Sir Francis Bacon), and St. Michael's Church. They also saw a puddingstone, Beech Bottom Dyke, and an alabaster monument to Sir Francis Bacon. The trip included a visit to Welham Green to see the 'Balloon Stone', commemorating Vincenzo Lunardi's hydrogen balloon landing in 1784. Dr. Thomas Muffet, a keen entomologist, is mentioned as possibly having lived at Moffats Farm.

St. Albans and Northaw (date not specified): The group visited the 'Folly Arch' at Gobions estate and St. Thomas a Becket Church in Northaw.

Notes and News

This section includes listings for London Earth Mysteries Circle meetings and TEMS meetings, with topics ranging from Theosophy and ley lines to NDEs and dowsing. It also mentions Bishop Jocelin's Crozier, which features dragons.

Specific Articles and Features

• Jocelin's Crozier: A crozier head believed to belong to Bishop Jocelin of Wells, featuring depictions of dragons, is described.
• A Burial at Beacon Hill: The re-interment of the bones of a young woman who died around 1600 BC by the Beacon Hill Society is reported.
• UFO at the Field of the Cloth of Gold: During a TV program about Henry VIII, a round object was observed flying across the sky over the Field of the Cloth of Gold, with commentary suggesting it was solid and not a light phenomenon.
• The Hoker Stone: This stone, located outside Wells Museum, is described as a 'hoker stone' traditionally used for sealing bargains.
• Letters: Norman Darwen writes about his positive experience in Wells and his meeting with John Michell. Sheila Broun discusses the Tor pig and ancient beliefs surrounding Glastonbury, mentioning the goddess Morgen and the sacred animal of the Dark Goddess.

Publications and Subscriptions

Several publications are advertised:

• The Hidden Unity and Beginnings: Booklets by J. Goddard exploring subconscious siting of ley points, earth energy detection, and cognitive dissonance.
• Earth People, Space People: A booklet by Tony Wedd detailing claims of extraterrestrial contact and evidence for life in the Solar System.
• The Legacy of Tony Wedd: A CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

Information is also provided for subscribing to Touchstone, the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley lines, ancient sites, earth energies, pilgrimage routes, and unexplained phenomena, including UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting research, historical accounts, legends, and personal experiences from a perspective that values the connection between the earth, history, and the mysterious aspects of existence. The magazine promotes a holistic view of the universe and encourages personal interaction with the earth for self-discovery.