Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 118
Date: July 2017
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Focus: Earth mysteries, ley lines, prehistoric sites, UFO phenomena.

The Princetown Triangle

This article introduces Princetown, a settlement founded in 1785 by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, which is situated at approximately 1,430 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest settlements in the United Kingdom. The area is noted for its connection to Dartmoor Prison, originally built for prisoners of war. The core of the article focuses on the 'Princetown Triangle', identified by ley hunters as an isosceles triangle formed by three ley centres: North Hessary Tor, the Plume of Feathers pub (the oldest building), and the chapel in Dartmoor Prison. The base angles of this triangle are stated to be 25°, and the leys themselves are described as dowing at about sixteen paces wide and originating from prehistoric sites.

Several specific leys are detailed: one forming the eastern side of the triangle runs from the prison chapel and Plume of Feathers towards South Hessary Tor, leading to a cairn circle and cist. The baseline ley passes through a stream junction, North Hessary Tor, and St. Michael's Church (noted as the only church in England built by prisoners of war), continuing to a cist on the moor. Another ley through North Hessary Tor connects to Great Mis Tor, Rundlestone, and Nun's Cross. A third ley through the Plume of Feathers goes via Leather Tor, a stone row, and the Methodist church, ending at a pine clump and Powder Mills clapper bridge. The perpendicular ley, centred on the prison chapel, passes through Sharpitor and a cairn.

Interestingly, the author realized that the two right-angled triangles forming the isosceles triangle share the same proportion (12-13-5) as the lunation triangle demonstrated by Robin Heath, suggesting a possible basis for a prehistoric solar/lunar calendar. This proportion is also noted in the landscape triangle connecting Stonehenge, the Preselis, and Lundy Island.

Society of Ley Hunters Moot, Princetown, 10th June 2017

The moot took place at the community centre in Princetown, Dartmoor. Despite challenging weather, attendees were treated to four talks.

Mythogeography and Landscape

Phil Smith discussed mythogeography, exploring the relationship between humans and the landscape, and how meaningful actions, ancient or modern, can imbue places with performance-like properties. He suggested a crossover between mythogeography and the interests of ley hunters.

'Lovecraft Country' and Geological Memory

The edge of Dartmoor is described as 'Lovecraft country', linked to the horror writer's ancestors. The area features hollow hills and a hillfort. A fictional account from the horror book 'Borderless' is mentioned, involving an exorcist and a mythical worm. The landscape is characterized by a 'traumatic geological memory', emphasizing the importance of the 'genius loci'.

Ley Lines and Diffusion

The discussion touched upon the dispersal of dogmas and the welcoming of the strange. The nature of leys was questioned: are they energy lines or tracks? The experience of Alfred Watkins is cited, suggesting a narrative of hidden meaning in the landscape, with parallels drawn to the National Grid.

The Scoriton Mystery

This case involved an alien-human encounter on the edge of Dartmoor, where gardener Arthur Bryant reportedly met three extraterrestrials in a circular craft. The incident involved enigmatic artefacts and a message, though the witness's wife later suggested it might have originated as a sci-fi story idea. The artefacts reportedly disappeared.

Sensitivity to Forms

Pat Toms spoke about sensitivity to forms in the environment, including leys and geometric shapes, noting that many people feel spirals and find certain buildings uncomfortable. Using a dowsing rod, he intuitively located manifestations.

Dartmoor Crosses and Ancient Sites

Paul Rendell, a Dartmoor guide, discussed Dartmoor crosses, noting their religious and potentially earlier origins. He highlighted the bleak environment and the quick mist. Crosses mentioned include Horns Cross, Fox Tor Mire (immortalized by Conan Doyle), Childe's Tomb Cross, Nun's Cross (dated 1240), Hutchins Cross, Crossgate Cross, Pixie's Cross, and Little Mis Tor incised cross. Some crosses have associated legends or historical events, such as a prison officer killed by lightning.

Dartmoor Mindscapes

Peter Knight presented on Dartmoor Mindscapes, viewing the landscape holistically through walking. He described Dartmoor as a fossilized landscape shaped by granite and water, with quartz as its heart, significant from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age saw a proliferation of stone rows, settlements, and cairns. Myths are seen as anchoring to the land, making it a dynamic and nurturing place. Examples of sacred landscapes worldwide are mentioned. Vixen Tor is likened to the Sphinx of Dartmoor, and other tors like Great Staple Tor and Black Tor are discussed in terms of ancestral or mythical significance.

Merrivale Stone Row

Merrivale is described as a rich prehistoric landscape. The stone rows there are aligned similarly to the Stonehenge Cursus. The area features balanced rocks, rock basins (cauldrons of life), and stone rows up to two miles long, possibly Neolithic, associated with energy flows.

Earth Mysteries and Ley Hunting

Professor Chris Tilley

Archaeologist and site poet Professor Chris Tilley's approach involves interacting with rocks and seeking meaning in landscapes, drawing parallels with Australian songlines.

Merrivale Complex

Visits included the Merdon Down circle, White Moor stone, and Lakehill triple stone row, many aligned on tors. Simulacra like White Buffalo Rock and Bowerman's Nose are noted. Little Mis Tor overlooks Merrivale, and Vixen Tor gazes at the Merrivale rows.

Robin Heath's Research

Robin Heath discussed his extensive work on the Preseli landscape, focusing on megalithic science and astrology. He explained how prehistoric geometry used rope and pegs, referencing Alexander Thom's work on Stonehenge. The Preseli Vesica, composed of four sites (Nevern Castle mound, Carningli peak, Pentre Ifan dolmen, and Waun Mawn standing stone), forms equilateral triangles matching the 'vesica piscis'. The Stonehenge Lunation Triangle, a right-angled triangle involving Stonehenge, Carn Wen, and Lundy Island, matches a 12-13-5 proportion, suggesting a solar-lunar calendar construction.

Castell Mawr and Landscape Zodiac

Castell Mawr on Preseli, initially thought to be an Iron Age hillfort, is identified as a henge monument matching Alexander Thom's egg shapes. It is considered a centre of a 'wheel' with significant sites on its circumference, potentially forming a landscape zodiac.

Mabinogion Story

Milly Jackdaw recounted a story from the Mabinogion about a queen, childbirth, and a quest for Olwen, daughter of a giant.

Lakota Sacred Sites

Paul Burley presented on the Sacred Sites of the Lakota World (Sioux), discussing their sacred hoop (circle and cross with feathers) and a medicine wheel on Cloud Peak. The geography of the Lakota area, including North Kildare Mountains, Medicine Hole, and Bear Butte, was shown. Despite treaty violations and reservations, Lakota traditions persist, with the Sun Dance altar resembling Stonehenge.

Celestial Alignments

Orion, Castor, Pollux, Procyon, the Pleiades, and Sirius are discussed in relation to the Milky Way and ecliptic, with parallels drawn to Neolithic landscapes in Britain and Australian traditions.

Working with Elementals

Susan Raven discussed working with elementals, following Rudolf Steiner's teachings. Elementals are described as subtly primed consciousness at the junction of spirit and matter, each with a mission. The concept of the 'etheron' and elemental beings are linked to a vast, diverse universe.

Bovine TB and Spiritual Science

A chemist from Germany noted the presence of beings in elements and the connection between profound science, heart, and emotion. In the context of bovine TB, the role of trees, fungi, and pathogens was questioned, with reference to sorrow in the astral realm and the need for collaboration between spirit and science.

Sunday Field Trip

Robin Heath led a coach trip to several sites in the Preselis, including Pentre Ifan, Waun Mawn, and sites overlooking Pentre Ifan. These locations were presented as evidence of a prehistoric science utilizing advanced mathematics, geometry, and astronomy. A demonstration of surveying a stone circle and constructing a lunation triangle with a rope for a solar/lunar calendar was conducted. This trip is documented on YouTube as 'Stone Age Science in the Preseli Hills', with 82 attendees.

Tony Wedd's YouTube Exhibition

Tony Wedd, who revived ley hunting in the 1960s, has an exhibition on YouTube titled 'The Exhibition that Never Was', a virtual representation of his proposed travelling exhibition on flying saucers.

YouTube Videos and Publications

Several YouTube videos by Jim Goddard are listed, covering earth mysteries field trips, ley lines, UFO sightings, and ancient sites in various locations including Berkhamsted, Guildford, Kingston, Norfolk, Horsell Common, Glastonbury, and the Isle of Sheppey. Other videos discuss electronic voice phenomena and Stonehenge research.

'Meyn Mamvro' offers publications on ancient stones, sacred sites, ley paths, and megalithic mysteries in Cornwall.

Letters

Norman Darwen writes about a visit to the Summit Complex at Great Orme in Llandudno, North Wales. The complex features tourist information, including posters on UFOs and the local area. The Orme itself is noted for its Bronze Age copper mines, springs, wells, and a tumulus, and has been the site of several UFO sightings.

Publications from Touchstone

Several booklets and a CD-ROM are advertised:

• The Hidden Unity and Beginnings: Explores subconscious siting of ley points, the apparent necessity of worship, and discoveries in earth energy detection, antigravity, and subconscious siting. Includes an appendix on Pagan religion and a chapter on cognitive dissonance.
• Earth People, Space People: Details claims of extraterrestrial contact, the history of the STAR Fellowship, evidence for life in the Solar System, and extraterrestrial language. Originally a manuscript by Tony Wedd.
• The Legacy of Tony Wedd: A CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's travelling exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology. (Note: May not work on modern operating systems).

Touchstone is the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, available via subscription.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Touchstone revolve around earth mysteries, particularly ley lines and their connection to prehistoric sites and ancient knowledge. The magazine explores the concept of 'genius loci', landscape memory, and the intersection of science, spirituality, and the unexplained. There is a strong emphasis on field research, dowsing, and personal experiences of ley hunters and earth mystery enthusiasts. UFO sightings and extraterrestrial encounters are also a significant recurring theme, often discussed in conjunction with ley line theories and ancient sites. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, presenting research, theories, and anecdotal evidence from various speakers and contributors within the earth mysteries community.