Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 97
Date: April 2012
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, a newsletter for the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, delves into the ancient sites and ley lines surrounding Avebury, Wiltshire. It revisits past expeditions and discusses recent gatherings, exploring the historical, mythological, and energetic significance of the landscape.

Avebury Revisited Again

The editorial highlights that the current issue's theme, "Avebury Revisited," follows up on a previous editorial from October 1986. It notes that the Ley Hunter's Club visit to Avebury in July 1962, fifty years prior, was attended by Tony Wedd, who was instrumental in bringing ley hunting to prominence. This year, two groups of ley hunters have also visited Avebury.

Avebury Revisited (1986)

This section recounts a visit to Avebury on July 15th, 1962, by the Ley Hunter's Club and the Pendragon Society. Attendees included Tony Wedd and Philip Heselton. The author also mentions speaking about the visit on television shortly after. Twenty-four years later, on August 11th, 1986, the author and his wife Doris visited Avebury again. Their exploration began by walking the outer bank of the stone circle, noting three beech clumps. The author speculates that these clumps, though possibly not original, might have been intentionally sited to create wind noise, mimicking prehistoric sounds. He also points out an intervisibility factor, with one clump visible from the Sanctuary on Overton Hill. The three clumps are seen to form an isosceles triangle with the monument's center as the midpoint of the base. The south-west quadrant of the Great Circle has few remaining stones, with the Southern Inner Circle markers being more prominent. Scanning the horizon reveals numerous barrows.

Continuing their walk, they encountered a deciduous clump and a road leading to the Downs. Crossing this, they observed the remains of the Cove in the Northern Inner Circle and the Swindon Stone, a massive diamond-shaped stone that has not moved. Many stones were replaced by Alexander Keiller. The route passed the Great Barn (now a museum) and continued towards Silbury Hill. The infamous Barber Stone, which fell and crushed a man attempting to bury it, is also mentioned. A third clump of pines is visible towards the church.

Returning to the village, they visited St. James's Church, noting its Saxon foundation, fifteenth-century rood loft, and a twelfth-century font depicting Christ trampling serpents, which the author suggests might represent Avebury's avenues. The church's orientation is noted as being subconsciously sited on a ley line. The author felt a 'head-hum' in the porch.

After lunch, the visit continued to the Sanctuary site. Clumps and Silbury Hill were visible. The alignment of the Sanctuary, East Kennet Church, and East Kennet Long Barrow with its clump was observed. The Sanctuary, originally a stone and wood circle, is now marked by concrete markers. The site, along with Woodhenge, is described as having welcoming atmospheres. Alignments of barrows were noted. The trip concluded with a visit to the West Kennet barrow, which the author found awe-inspiring, similar to his experience twenty-three years prior with Tony Wedd, describing it as a place of worship rather than a tomb.

The Network of Ley Hunters' Moot at Avebury, 23rd-25th March 2012

This section reports on the first Moot of the Network of Ley Hunters, attended by 37 people. On Friday, March 23rd, attendees dowsed the Michael current along the Avenue and the Mary current to the Obelisk, followed by a walk to their crossing point on Windmill Hill. Saturday, March 24th, featured a "Plough Jag" play demonstration by Michael Dames, followed by visits to Silbury Hill, Swallowhead, and West Kennet Long Barrow. Tony Charlton spent the night at the latter. On Sunday, March 25th, a nine-mile ramble included dowsing the Dragon Ley on the Ridgeway, a newly-erected stone near Fyfield Down, Devil's Den, and an archaeologist's "control pit." The moot involved socializing and inspecting Avebury's stones, with many remarking on the positive atmosphere.

Society of Leyhunters Moot at the Village Hall, Avebury, April 14th and 15th 2012

This moot commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of a 1962 trip to Avebury by the Ley Hunters' Club and the Pendragon Society, attended by Tony Wedd and Philip Heselton. The author was also present. The visit included climbing Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow, which the author felt had a powerful atmosphere of worship. Peter Knight noted its acoustic properties. The moot's first speaker, Nicholas Mann, discussed the stellar alignments of Avebury, acknowledging the use of planetarium software and Alexander Thom's archaeological work. A reconstruction of Avebury at 2300 BCE was presented, showing its four entrances, inner and outer circles, and the Cove and Obelisk at the centers. A map displayed other local sites. The discussion touched upon Avebury's possible astronomical observations, including the sun, moon, and stars visible in Neolithic times. Windmill Hill, a causewayed enclosure from 3700 BCE, was also mentioned, along with other horizon sites and stars no longer visible from Earth.

Nicholas Mann also discussed the Obelisk-Cove alignment at 3300 BCE, relating it to Alpha Centauri and Crux. He noted the Earth's axis wobble affecting visible stars and suggested Silbury Hill might have been built as a marker during a period when certain stars were being lost. He posited a potential power struggle at the end of the Neolithic period.

Anthony Thorley spoke on "The Great God Lugh and the Enchantment of Legendary London," emphasizing the landscape's consciousness and information. He referenced landscape zodiacs, including the Somerset Zodiac.

In medieval astrology, Aries ruled the head and Pisces the feet. The town of Street is discussed in relation to the Somerset Zodiac, with Silas Clarke's sheepskin business on the Aries side and shoemaking on the Pisces side.

Philip Heselton presented a map of terrestrial zodiacs found across Britain, mentioning the Gypsy Switch, a journey through twelve places with landscape zodiacs. The galactic center's relation to Sagittarius and Scorpio was noted.

The discussion then moved to Ireland and the mountain associated with St. Patrick, a pre-Christian tradition of assemblies on high places. The god Lugh is discussed, whose festival of Lughnasa in August became Lammas. Lugh is described as a ubiquitous male god associated with the sky, metalwork, oaths, trickery, and arts. The Romans replaced him with Mercury, and later, Christians associated him with Michael. The text links Lugh hills to a multi-faced god associated with sovereignty, kingship, festivals, and games. The convergence point of four kingdoms in Ireland, Mide, was a place of Lugh games. In Welsh tradition, Lugh is an eagle, and in Norse tradition, Loki. King Lud and his sons in London are also mentioned.

The Saxons associated the time of Lammas with saints Michael, Mary, Anne, and Margaret. St. Anne was the patron saint of midwives. Tan Hill Fair and Milk Hill are also mentioned in relation to Lughnasa and the Milky Way.

The original Olympics in Greece are mentioned, and the modern revival by Pierre de Coubertin. The Michael/Mary ley is suggested as potentially being the Lugh/Brigid line, with Brigid being an associate of Lugh, and Minerva to the Romans.

Lugh's spear is linked to Luton, and the River Lugh to the River Lee. The land is described as Lammas lands, with a global festival on the Galactic Centre.

Celia Gunn presented "A Twist in Coyote's Tale," discussing helpers in nature and Coyote's role as a trickster and co-creator. She shared her affinity with Native Americans, her time in Jerusalem, and her emigration to British Columbia. She recounted a dream and a significant event involving the death of Red Cloud.

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings

This section describes two booklets. "The Hidden Unity" explores subconscious siting of ley points and the tendency for places of worship to be on leys, discussing environmental and philosophical implications. It examines two ley centers: the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking and the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Scunthorpe, with an appendix on Pagan religion by Eileen Grimshaw. "Beginnings" details discoveries made by Jimmy Goddard 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 concludes with Alfred Watkins' discovery of leys.

Earth People, Space People

This booklet, prepared by Tony Wedd, details claims of extraterrestrial contact. It covers the history of the STAR Fellowship, personalities within it, evidence for extraterrestrial life, and investigations into extraterrestrial language.

The Legacy of Tony Wedd

This CD-ROM is an electronic version of Tony Wedd's travelling exhibition, featuring his research on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

Notes and News

Tunnel on Wells stone ley: A report on discovering a tunnel entrance near the Hoker Stone site on the Bath Road, Wells. The tunnel appears to be natural rock at the beginning, with stone blocks further back, and is blocked by locked iron gates. An alcove at the entrance is noted.

Banks round Puriton Church: Clearance of undergrowth revealed a significant bank around Puriton Church, identified as a ley center.

• Letters:
• Norman Darwen writes about discovering the 'megalithic yard' while researching old measurements.
• Bob Shave discusses the potential reopening of South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall and its relevance to two major leys crossing the area.

Meyn Mamvro: An advertisement for "Ancient stones & sacred sites in Cornwall," offering guides and books on the region's paganism, history, and megalithic sites.

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings (Booklets)

This section details two booklets available from Touchstone. "The Hidden Unity" examines the subconscious siting of ley points and the prevalence of worship sites on leys, with examples from a mosque and a Sikh temple. It also includes an appendix on Pagan religion. "Beginnings" covers Jimmy Goddard's discoveries in earth energy, antigravity, and subconscious siting, along with a chapter on cognitive dissonance and Alfred Watkins' discovery of leys.

Earth People, Space People (Booklet)

This booklet by Tony Wedd compiles claims of extraterrestrial contact, the history of the STAR Fellowship, and investigations into extraterrestrial life and language.

The Legacy of Tony Wedd (CD-ROM)

This CD-ROM offers an electronic version of Tony Wedd's exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

Touchstone Subscription Information

Touchstone is the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, available for £4 for four quarterly issues from J. Goddard.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley lines, ancient sites (particularly Avebury), prehistoric archaeology, mythology, and earth energies. The magazine appears to adopt a stance that explores these subjects with an open mind, presenting research, historical accounts, and personal experiences from various contributors. There is a strong emphasis on the interconnectedness of landscape, history, and spiritual or energetic phenomena, with a particular focus on the work of ley hunters and researchers like Tony Wedd and Alfred Watkins. The editorial stance seems to be one of promoting investigation and discussion within the field of earth mysteries.