Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 121
Date: April 2018
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Focus: Earth mysteries, ley lines, ancient sites, and related phenomena.

American Cities Alignment Goes Through Jerusalem

The lead article details the discovery by lawyer and researcher Jim Alison that five American east coast cities involved in the American War of Independence—Baltimore, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston—are aligned on a great circle course. This alignment crosses the Atlantic, passing through Britain via Stonehenge and London, and continues to Jerusalem. The article explains that for this plotting to be accurate, the northernmost and southernmost points of the circle must be at the same latitude, and the course must be a straight line viewed from above.

From London, the line proceeds through Belgium and Germany to Venice, then crosses western Turkey, Cyprus, and the Neolithic village of Khirokitia. The article notes that Khirokitia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consisting of round buildings in a wall of stone, occupied from the 7th to the 4th millennium BC. The name's derivation is suggested to mean "sacred place" or be connected with palmistry.

The alignment then crosses to Israel, passing through Jerusalem, which is sacred to three religions. It continues through Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, then swings south of Australia and New Zealand before reaching Mexico. In Mexico, it passes through Mexico City, the site of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, built on an island with canals and artificial islands. The Templo Mayor was part of this sacred precinct. The line also goes to Teotihuacan, a major Mesoamerican center before the Aztecs, known for its pyramids and the Avenue of the Dead.

Finally, the alignment crosses the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans, where the Bayou St. John area was a center for mound-building Native Americans. The article also provides links to YouTube videos discussing ley lines and alignments.

The Ley Hunter Moot at Glastonbury, 1979

This section recounts the significance of a moot held in Glastonbury in 1979, which is described as a milestone in ley hunting history. It coincided with the beginning of the Dragon Project, instigated by Paul Devereux to investigate energies at ancient sites. The moot featured several speakers, including Paul Screeton, John Michell, Don Robins, Mary Caine, Geoffrey Ashe, and Tom Graves. A recreation of this event is available on YouTube.

Network of Ley Hunters Moot, Isle of Lewis, 14th-20th April 2018

This report details a week-long moot on the Isle of Lewis, led by Jill Smith. The participants were introduced to the prehistoric landscape, which is described as a peat moor similar to the Somerset Levels but larger. The moot began at the Callanish stone circle and rows, noting its Celtic cross-like structure and figures visible on the stones, including Merlin, a lion, and a Druid. The southern outcrop is known as "Old Grandmother Turtle." A ley line running along the northern avenue connects various ancient sites, including a chambered cairn and the Callanish cairn. The "Sleeping Beauty" reclining figure formed by hills was also observed.

The group visited Callanish III and IV, circles investigated by Professor Thom for their Pythagorean geometry. A ley from Callanish IV, discovered by R. Carpenter, connects to other sites. The alignment with the horizon stone at Callanish IV is discussed. The report mentions a ley line extending through Callanish II, Callanish XII, and to a peak beyond Dun Carloway, as recorded by the Society of Ley Hunters Newsletter.

Other activities included visiting a beehive hut shieling, used by shepherds, and exploring a quartz cliff. On Sunday, a mini-moot was held with speakers at the Heb Hostel in Stornoway. The author gave a talk on the 1979 Glastonbury moot, and Tim Willcox spoke about his spiritual quest in New Zealand, suggesting the islands' first people were a fair-skinned, red-haired race from the Himalayas, not Maori. Dave Shead reported on a talk about the Knap of Howar in Orkney.

Further explorations on Lewis included the Arnol "blackhouse," a traditional dwelling, and Dun Carloway, a broch tower dating from around 200 BC. The site of Tighnan Calleachan at the Ness of Lewis, described as the "third eye" of the Goddess, was also visited. The week concluded with a visit to Callanish. The moot was attended by 26 people from various countries.

Other Articles and Features

Obituary: Bart O'Farrell (11th August 1941 - 24th December 2017)

This obituary honors Bart O'Farrell, a highly respected dowsing expert known for his work at standing stones and ancient churches. He was described as "The Wizard of the Lizard" and was credited with pinpointing King Arthur's death site and identifying plague pits. His death is noted as a great loss.

Book Review: Modern Mysteries of Britain

Norman Darwen reviews "Modern Mysteries of Britain" by Janet and Colin Bord. He notes that while the book details strange events and locations, it lacks the specific information needed to link them to leys and earth mysteries. However, he considers it a useful pointer for further research and an entertaining read.

Films on YouTube

A comprehensive list of YouTube videos related to earth mysteries and ley hunting is provided, covering topics such as ley lines in various locations, UFO sightings, and ancient sites. Specific videos mentioned include "The Leys of Berkhamsted Castle, and London's Camelot," "The American Cities Alignment goes to Jerusalem," and "The Ley Hunter Moot at Glastonbury, 1979."

Booklets and CD-ROMs

Several booklets and a CD-ROM are advertised for purchase: "The Hidden Unity and Beginnings," "Earth People, Space People," and "The Legacy of Tony Wedd." These publications cover topics like subconscious siting of ley points, extraterrestrial contact claims, and Tony Wedd's research on flying saucers and landscape energies.

Touchstone Subscription Information

Information is provided for subscribing to Touchstone, the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Touchstone are ley lines, ancient sites, earth energies, and unexplained phenomena, including UFOs and historical mysteries. The magazine appears to adopt a stance that explores these topics with an open mind, presenting research, personal experiences, and historical accounts. There is a clear emphasis on the interconnectedness of ancient sites and landscapes through ley lines, and an interest in uncovering hidden patterns and energies in the Earth.