Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 119
Date: October 2017
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, a publication focused on earth mysteries, delves into the intriguing concepts of alignments, Templars, and lunation triangles. The cover story, "ALIGNMENTS, TEMPLARS AND LUNATION TRIANGLES," by Mark Herbert, explores geographical alignments proposed to be associated with Norse settlers and the Knights Templar. These alignments, visualized on a map of eastern United States and Canada, appear to form lunation triangles, which are right-angled triangles with sides in the proportion 12-13-5, as described by Robin Heath.

Alignments, Templars, and Lunation Triangles

Mark Herbert's article, the third in his "Callarde Experience" series for the Network of Ley Hunters Newsletter, presents a map highlighting potential alignments. Two such alignments are suggested to form part of a lunation triangle. The article notes that while these alignments can be observed on the map, their certainty is limited by the map's scale. One significant alignment identified is the famous sequence of eastern American cities—Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC—which was discovered by Jim Alison and is apparently connected to the War of Independence. Alison's map also includes Baltimore, and Herbert's map includes Atlanta, bringing the total to six cities. This alignment is further extended to L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, recognized as the proposed first landing site of Norse settlers around 1000 AD.

Jim Alison's research also indicates that this alignment crosses the Atlantic as a great circle, passing through Stonehenge and London. Both of these locations are noted for their presence on other lunation triangles: Stonehenge on one described by Robin Heath (linking it to Lundy Island and the Preseli Hills), and London on a triangle formed by the three British capital cities (London, Cardiff, and Edinburgh).

The article further discusses the American triangle, with its western corner at Boston and its southern side extending to Oak Island in Nova Scotia, known for its 'Money Pit.' The pit is described as being constructed of log platforms connected to the sea, causing it to flood. Steven Sora's proposed theory suggests that the Sinclair Templars, who landed at Tor Bay in 1398, invented this structure. The third side of this triangle, forming the right angle, appears to connect two sites marked as "St. John Places," possibly referencing St. John the Baptist, who was revered by the Templars. This alignment is suggested to align with the long axis of Nolan's Cross on Oak Island. Excavation at the crossing point revealed a stone resembling a human head with a sword design, thought to link it to the Templars. A YouTube video suggests that this axis, extended as a great circle, passes through Bornholm, a Danish island historically occupied by the Templars and the subject of a book by Henry Lincoln and Erling Haagensen.

Network of Ley Hunters Moot

The magazine also reports on a Network of Ley Hunters Moot held in Staffordshire from September 8th to 10th, 2017. This event followed the discovery of the "Spine of Albion" ley by Gary Biltcliffe and Caroline Hoare, and its associated serpentine energy currents, Belinus and Elen. The group visited Laurence at Wall, a former Roman settlement and early Christian monastic center, where the female Elen current flows. They also visited Lichfield Cathedral, known as the "Three Ladies of the Vale," and explored a passageway through which the Elen current flows.

Further stops included an ancient mound near Lichfield, used as a gun platform in the Civil War. The group then visited Barr Beacon, a node of the two currents on the Spine of Albion ley, characterized by a clump of trees and nearby fault lines, identified as a "thin veil" area where strange phenomena are reported.

The next day involved a visit to The Cloud, a hill with a double sunset on the solstice, also featuring a Belinus-Elen node. Gary Biltcliffe discovered a small standing stone with a face-like depiction. The ley then passes to the Bridestones, remains of a long barrow damaged in the 19th century, where a ball of light was reportedly seen rising from the stones. The group also visited Knypersley, exploring Gawton's Well, considered the spiritual source of the River Trent, and a cave and the Gawton Stone, a balanced boulder.

UFO Sightings and Ley Lines

The "Notes and News" section features several accounts related to UFOs and paranormal phenomena. Brendan Davis-Markhall describes a strange event at Cannock Chase, UK, where he and friends encountered approximately thirty people dressed in unusual attire standing in trees, one of whom invited them to join them.

Genuine UFO sightings over Cannock Chase Castle Ring are reported, including flying saucer lights on February 13, 2012, noted for being stationary at times and rapid at others. Another report details a large, loud UFO sighted over Cannock Chase on September 17, 2016, described as a slow-moving object with three red lights and a loud droning noise. Paranormal investigator Lee Brickley noted the object's low altitude and slow speed, and Birmingham Airport confirmed no aircraft were scheduled to fly that low. A spokeswoman for BUFORA commented on the possibility of drones explaining such sightings.

Paul Screeton, editor of 'The Ley Hunter,' is interviewed by Rupert White about the revival of ley-lines in the 1960s and their connection to UFO theories. Screeton discusses Tony Wedd's theory that UFOs followed ley lines and the historical context of ley research, noting the shift in archaeological perspectives.

The Ley Hunter Magazine and Related Publications

The article traces the origins of 'The Ley Hunter' magazine, starting with Tony Wedd's encouragement and Philip Heselton as the first editor in April 1965. Early issues explored topics like the Long Man of Wilmington and Salisbury Plain ancient sites, with later issues suggesting Atlantean influence and discussing ley hunting basics. The magazine's continuation is attributed to Jimmy Goddard, who took over editorship. A significant event mentioned is the fateful encounter between John Michell and an audience member at a talk by Jimmy Goddard, which led to Michell's inclusion of the archaeology-ufology link in his 1967 book, 'The Flying Saucer Vision.'

The magazine also highlights several books and publications available through Touchstone, including:

• The Hidden Unity and Beginnings: Explores subconscious siting of ley points, worship on leys, and discoveries in earth energy, natural antigravity, and cognitive dissonance. It also includes an account of Alfred Watkins' discovery of leys.
• Earth People, Space People: A booklet detailing extraterrestrial contact claims, the history of the STAR Fellowship, and investigations into extraterrestrial language, stemming from Tony Wedd's manuscript.
• The Legacy of Tony Wedd: A CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

Touchstone itself is described as the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, with subscription details provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the interconnectedness of ancient sites, geographical alignments, and potential extraterrestrial phenomena, particularly UFOs. The magazine promotes the study of ley lines and earth mysteries, encouraging exploration of historical and paranormal connections. The editorial stance appears to support the investigation of these subjects, viewing them as valid areas of inquiry, even if they challenge conventional academic views. There is a clear emphasis on the work of researchers like Alfred Watkins, Tony Wedd, and Philip Heselton, and a belief in the significance of these 'earth mysteries.' The reporting of UFO sightings and the discussion of ley line theories suggest an open-minded approach to unexplained phenomena.