Touchstone - No 089 - 2010 04

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 89
Date: April 2010
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, a newsletter for the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, delves into the intersection of earth energies, literature, and geographical phenomena. The primary focus is on the E-line ley in Surrey and its potential influence on literary works, alongside extensive explorations of ley hunting on the Isle of Lewis.

The Surrey E-Line in Literature by Bob Shave

The article by Bob Shave examines the E-line, a ley discovered by dowsing in Surrey in 1990 and subsequently traced across southern England. The author notes that the E-line has been the subject of study by the Society of Leyhunters. Previous articles in Touchstone have explored how authors might be inspired by leys in other regions, such as Dorset. This particular article returns to Surrey to investigate the connection between the E-line and a literary work published in 2009.

Introduction to Louis de Bernieres' 'Notwithstanding'

Louis de Bernieres, known for 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', has set his latest work, 'Notwithstanding', in Surrey. The book is a collection of short stories based on characters from the Wormley/Hambledon area, where de Bernieres grew up in the 1960s and 70s. The collection is described as a celebration of eccentricity, evoking a charmingly rural Surrey of the past. Specific locations in Brook, Wormley, and Hambledon are identifiable, despite 'Notwithstanding' being the fictional name for the area.

The article notes that previous Touchstone issues have documented the E-line being dowsed through this area by individuals like Jimmy Goddard and Eileen Roche. Shave's article aims to explore whether de Bernieres' writing can be related to the E-line, highlighting three stories of particular interest.

Observations of the Surrey Landscape

Shave shares personal observations from a recent visit to the area, noting its surprising remoteness despite being only ten miles from Guildford. He describes a densely wooded landscape with large, hidden houses. He mentions Wormley churchyard, its gate chained, and the adjacent 'incongruous edifice' of a large school, King Edward's, Witley (formerly Bridewell Royal Hospital). A new road, Bridewell Close, leads to apartments on the site of the former Institute of Oceanography, whose location in the countryside is noted as a mystery, possibly linked to the nearby railway line to Portsmouth.

Analysis of 'All My Everlasting Love'

One story discussed is 'All My Everlasting Love', about a teenage boy and girl communicating via letters. The passage describing the boy, Peter, making his way to a meeting point is analyzed. Peter passes the site of the Institute of Oceanography, described as a former workhouse housing 'noisy and emotionally damaged children' called 'Notwithstanding Homes'. He walks along a sunken track and through woods, passing Busses Common and a fence separating the convent from the outside world. The description of the landscape from the crown of the hill is quoted, evoking an 'archaic atmosphere of Arthurian romance' with dense trees, suggesting quests and a 'pink tower' of curious appearance. The distant Chanctonbury Hill is also mentioned, associated with Sussex witches.

Shave suggests that this descriptive passage reflects de Bernieres' own thoughts rather than Peter's, and that it evokes themes of enchantment, Arthurian romance, knights, imprisoned maidens, and pagan ritual, stimulated by the mysterious landscape.

Comparison with 'The French Lieutenant's Woman'

Shave compares de Bernieres' description to John Fowles' writing in 'The French Lieutenant's Woman', where Charles Smithson walks along the Undercliff near Lyme Regis. Both passages describe a man or boy in love, searching or waiting for a female companion in a mystical landscape charged with ritual. Fowles' description of 'dewy green vaults of young leaves' and a 'green sweetness' is quoted.

The conclusion drawn is that both authors use vivid descriptions of nature to signify an impending encounter between lovers. In 'Notwithstanding', after Peter's disappointment, the text mentions how certain locations retain emotions, with Peter thinking that others must have felt similarly at Maclachlan's bench on Busses Common, a natural place for rendezvous. De Bernieres' use of powerful imagery, like 'resin bursting out', is noted to evoke the energy of the place.

Hambledon Church and Ghost Stories

Two stories, 'Mrs. Mac' and 'Footprint in the Snow', are discussed in relation to St. Peter's church in Hambledon, which is on the E-line. 'Mrs. Mac' features a spiritualist who sees her dead husband's ghost, and the story becomes clearer when she visits the churchyard and sees his gravestone. 'Footprint in the Snow' tells of a premonition of a resident's death. The ghost in 'Mrs. Mac' appears around Christmas time, once at the rectory and again at the church. The area around the church is noted for stimulating the imagination regarding hauntings, with Jeremy Harte speculating that earth energies might be a factor, though he emphasizes studying the land itself rather than just maps.

Conclusion on de Bernieres' Work

Shave concludes that Louis de Bernieres, through his stories set in his childhood area, has evoked enchantment, the paranormal, and an energy in the landscape that may be a response to the E-line. He recommends 'Notwithstanding' as a read that will evoke smiles and tears.

Ley Hunting on the Isle of Lewis

This section details extensive ley hunting conducted on the Isle of Lewis by the author during a visit to his daughter. The island is described as a peat moor interspersed with lochs, with many prehistoric sites partially or completely covered by peat.

Callanish Stone Circle and Rows

The impressive stone circle and rows at Callanish are described, resembling a Celtic cross with a central stone, a chambered tomb, and rows marking cardinal points. The site is noted for its energetic feel. A ley is described running along the northern avenue, through the circle, and continuing eastwards. The equinox sunrise line is also mentioned, running through the circle and burial chamber. The ley was dowsed at 17 paces wide.

Other Callanish Sites and Alignments

Callanish XIV, a single upright stone, is mentioned, over which the equinox sunrise occurs when viewed from Callanish I. The ley continues to Beinn Riabach and Gallows Hill. Other alignments include a clump of trees and a horizon hump at Gallows Hill, Stornoway. Another ley described by R. Carpenter involves two stones in Callanish IV aligning with a stone on the horizon, possibly a sighting stone, with a line at 340° relative to grid north.

Clach Stein and Energy Lines

Clach Stein is described as a single stone on the map but found to be two sites about 100 yards apart, both aligning with a ley. These sites may have been small circles or cairns. The pendulum recorded a strong energy line between a sighting stone and the circle, and also towards a hill. This line can be extended through other Callanish sites and a peak beyond Doune Carloway. A ley was dowsed at 12 paces at Callanish II, IV, the church, and Callanish XII standing stone.

Achmore Stone Circle and Martin's Memorial Church

A stone circle at Achmore, discovered by peat cutting, is described as a circle of recumbent stones aligning through Callanish I, II, and XVII. The ley was dowsed at 15 paces wide. Martin's Memorial Church in Stornoway is identified as a seemingly important ley centre, built on the birthplace of Sir Alexander Mackenzie. A ley through the church connects various sites, including a cairn, a chambered cairn, and an unmarked centre on the Eye Peninsula.

Solar Transition Effect and Other Leys

The author measured the solar transition effect on Lewis, finding it to be thirty-nine minutes, longer than observed in Derbyshire and Edinburgh. Another ley runs from Martin's Church to summits and through Francis Street, connecting to the Scottish Episcopal Church. A ley from Martin's Church also goes to Tom an Riseal and Clach an Truiseal, Scotland's tallest standing stone.

St. Columba's Church and Energy Lines

St. Columba's Church on the Eye Peninsula, a ruined fourteenth-century church, is identified as a ley centre. Leys are described linking hill peaks and passing through the church. One ley is 15 paces wide near the church, and another is 20 paces wide. A third ley aligns with a track going to the church.

Ley Widths on Lewis

There is a tendency for leys found on Lewis to be wider than those found in southern England, with no 6-pace leys encountered. The author concludes that despite the rich prehistoric landscape, subconscious siting is active on Lewis.

Letters

From Des Coakham, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

Coakham discusses his architectural work and observations on 6" scale maps, noting that 'raths' (circular enclosures) and old parish churches often fall in a straight line. He suggests this could be evidence of 'three-rath' alignments and that church builders might have been 'tapping in' to energy flowing from rath to rath.

From Norman Darwen, Lostock, Bolton, Lancashire

Darwen writes about Rivington Pike near Bolton, a destination for Good Friday pilgrimages. The hill is topped by a squat stone tower and has been the focus of UFO activity. He provides a link for more information.

Notes and News

TEMS

TEMS (The Environmental Mystical Society?) will not have a program of meetings this year, but Lionel Beer's annual garden party will take place.

London Earth Mysteries Circle Meetings

A schedule of meetings for the London Earth Mysteries Circle is provided, with topics including crop circles, Beating the Bounds ceremonies, travels in Tibet, and the Dragon of Mordiford.

Book and CD-ROM Reviews/Promotions

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings

'The Hidden Unity' examines subconscious siting of ley points and the prevalence of worship places on leys. It investigates two ley centres: the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking and the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Scunthorpe. An appendix by Eileen Grimshaw discusses the significance of the Pagan religion. 'Beginnings' covers Jimmy Goddard's discoveries over twenty years, including earth energy detection, natural antigravity, subconscious siting, ley width, and the solar transition effect. It also includes a chapter on cognitive dissonance and an account of Alfred Watkins' discovery of leys. Both are available for £2 plus 30p p&p.

Earth People, Space People

This booklet is based on Tony Wedd's unpublished manuscript 'Earth Men, Space Men', detailing extraterrestrial contact claims. It includes articles on the STAR Fellowship, evidence for extraterrestrial life, and investigation into extraterrestrial language. Available for £2 plus 30p p&p.

The Legacy of Tony Wedd

A CD-ROM containing Tony Wedd's travelling exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology. Available for £12.

Subscription Information

Touchstone is the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, available for £2 for four quarterly issues. Subscription details are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the interconnectedness of landscape, energy lines (leys), and human consciousness, particularly as expressed through literature and ancient sites. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into earth mysteries, encouraging exploration and documentation of phenomena like leys, hauntings, and potential extraterrestrial influences. There is a clear emphasis on personal experience and observation, as seen in Bob Shave's article and the ley hunting reports. The magazine also serves as a platform for promoting related publications and events within the earth mysteries community.