Touchstone - No 111 - 2015 10

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 111
Date: October 2015
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone focuses on the Network of Ley Hunters Winchester Moot held in September 2015, detailing a field trip through Winchester and exploring its significance in earth mysteries and ley line research. It also includes various articles on dowsing, ancient sites, and related research.

Network of Ley Hunters Winchester Moot – September 2015

This article, written by Liza Llewellyn, describes a field trip organized by the Network of Ley Hunters in Winchester. The moot began with a talk by Gary Biltcliffe and Caroline Hoare, authors of 'The Spine of Albion,' highlighting Winchester's importance as a spiritual and political center. Thirty-two people attended. Winchester's location on the Belinus Line, the longest ley in Britain, and its cathedral being the longest in Europe were noted.

The group then embarked on a walk through Winchester. They visited the Court House, where the main ley passes, and heard a legend about a limping ghost. They proceeded to the church of St. Swithun, where a legend states that a burial outside the church, against his wishes, caused it to rain when he was entombed in the Cathedral.

The walk continued to a college built by Christopher Wren, featuring a statue of St. Mary believed to be connected to the female Elen current. Further down the street, they saw the Bishop's Home and Office, where Bishop Henri de Blois, known as the "Wizard of Winchester," reportedly stored talismanic relics.

They then moved to a tributary of the River Itchen, looking towards St. Catherine's Hill, which lies on the Belinus Ley and is a confluence of other leys. Nearby, they observed the remains of a stone circle and the statue of King Alfred. On the main street, they viewed stone reliefs above windows depicting notable figures and events, such as William The Conqueror and the Domesday Book.

At St. Lawrence's Church, on the main ley, the group noted the name Eclipse Inn and recalled Gary's account of King William Rufus's death, possibly a ritual sacrifice, on the equinox. A highlight was the visit to the Great Hall to see the Arthurian-styled Round Table. Gary and Caroline discussed the building's geometry and its potential to affect consciousness. The tour concluded at St. Bartholomew's Church, the burial place of King Alfred the Great.

St. Catherine's Hill Field Trip

This section recounts a field trip to St. Catherine's Hill in the early 1990s with Rob Stephenson and the London Earth Mysteries Circle, documented in a YouTube video. St. Catherine's Hill was purchased in the fourteenth century by Bishop William Wykeham for Winchester College. The hill is significant as it lies on the Belinus Ley and is a meeting point for other leys. The article includes a poem by Lord Selborne about the tradition of scholars climbing the hill.

The text describes the labyrinth on the summit of St. Catherine's Hill and how dowsing there seemed to indicate a date of 1250. Dowsing is presented as a versatile tool for detecting various energies and substances.

E.O. Gordon is quoted from her book on prehistoric London, suggesting that Winchester Cathedral was built on the site of a stone circle, citing evidence of stones found nearby. The late Dean Stevens is also mentioned in relation to this.

The Belinus and Elen Currents at St. Catherine's Hill

Gary Biltcliffe's book 'The Spine of Albion' is referenced, noting that the Spine of Albion alignment passes through St. Catherine's Hill. The serpentine Belinus and Elen currents cross twice at the site, at the "Inner Sanctum" mound and the adjoining turf and labyrinth. A rectangular raised area is suggested as the site of a former chapel. The article notes that the two currents form a vesica piscis figure around this area. It is mentioned that the hill was used for dark occult practices, and healing ceremonies altered its configuration.

The legend of the Wyntun Dragon is associated with the hill, described as a landscape figure stretching from Old Winchester Hill to St. Catherine's Hill, with the latter representing the dragon's head and snout. The site is described as a "hub or wheel of telluric forces," with St. Catherine's symbol being a wheel, possibly linking it to the concept of the axis mundi.

An alignment is described going through the hill, aligned on the setting point of the star Deneb, passing through Winchester Cathedral and other significant sites. The article also discusses Andrew Collins' film suggesting that the pyramids at Giza align with the stars in Cygnus, rather than Orion's belt. Brian Thirtle's work on an isosceles triangle with base points at St. Catherine's Hill and Bury Hill is also mentioned.

The Ancient Art and Practice of Dowsing

This section discusses dowsing as an ancient practice, inherent in animals and humans. It highlights its utility in finding water, minerals, and identifying places of benefit for dwellings or meeting places, relating to underlying resonances and energies. The term "ley line," popularized by Alfred Watkins, is explained as a "sight" line linking prominent sites.

The article touches upon the use of dowsing by Druids for boundary maintenance and by miners. It also mentions the Victorians' term "rays" and the modern concept of "earth energies" or "particle energy." The text notes that while dowsing has been used throughout history across various cultures, it has remained a niche practice.

Flow lines and Celtic Traditions

This section explores the concept of "flow lines" and their connection to Celtic traditions. It suggests that the orientation of buildings and the flow of earth energy became features of subsequent constructions, originating from Ireland and spread by missionary movements. The Romans are mentioned as having used dowsing, but Druid scholars and later Christian brothers are credited with using it for architectural planning.

An example is given of a flow line at St. John's Church, Carhampton, and another illustrating a flow joining a church and an older chapel, running along an old road. The article connects these flows to Celtic law and tradition, particularly the freedom of pathways as a means of national communication. It suggests that the understanding of undersea currents likely led to the recognition of similar ground currents on land.

Whirls of Energy

This section describes a video made in 1991, a sequel to the St. Catherine's Hill field trip, focusing on energy whirls in addition to straight-line leys. The video covers hillforts, labyrinths, stone circles, crop circles, and places frequented by animals. It mentions a dowsing session at Old Sarum, detecting energy flowing around a bank, and discussions on labyrinths. The video also features dowsing at the Nine Ladies stone circle in Derbyshire and a crop circle formation at Cheesefoot Head, where a double whirl was observed.

The Pumpsaint Zodiac

This article discusses the Pumpsaint Zodiac near Lampeter, Wales, discovered in 1948 by Lewis Edwards. Edwards believed it was a temple and identified two hills as inner and outer sanctuaries. The atmosphere of the site is described as uplifting, with banking around it. The article compares the atmosphere to that of Llwyn wood, which had a feeling of decay, and Park Wood in Somerset.

The Pumpsaint Zodiac is compared to the Somerset one, noting differences in the representation of Scorpio (scorpion, serpent, eagle) and potential interpretations of place names like 'Bwlch Cefn Sarth' (pass at the back of the serpent). The article also touches on the representation of Aquarius (squirrel or phoenix) and Leo, and the difficulty in locating them on maps.

The Carreg-y-Bwchi (Hobgoblin Stone) is highlighted as a striking place on an alignment that skirts two sanctuaries and coincides with a stretch of Sarn Helen. The article mentions Alfred Watkins' connection of this road with Helen, daughter of King Coel.

Other Publications and Media

The issue includes advertisements and information about various publications and media related to earth mysteries:

• The Hidden Unity and Beginnings: Booklets exploring subconscious siting of ley points, pagan religion, and Jimmy Goddard's discoveries in earth energy detection and antigravity.
• Earth People, Space People: A booklet detailing claims of extraterrestrial contact, the STAR Fellowship, and evidence for extraterrestrial life.
• The Legacy of Tony Wedd: A CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's research on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.
• Touchstone Newsletter: Subscription details for the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group newsletter.
• Meyn Mamvro: Information on publications about ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall.
• Films on YouTube: A list of YouTube videos by Jimmy Goddard covering various earth mystery topics, including leys, crop circles, and UFO sightings.
• Book Review: A review of "Lancashire Magic and Mystery - Secrets of the Red Rose County" by Kenneth Fields.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley lines, earth energies, ancient sites, and dowsing, all viewed through the lens of "earth mysteries." The editorial stance appears to be one of exploration and documentation of these phenomena, encouraging research and sharing of findings through articles, field trips, and multimedia resources. There is a clear interest in the historical and spiritual significance of landscapes and ancient sites, often linking them to esoteric concepts and potential extraterrestrial connections.