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 1. ANCIENT SKILLS AND WISDOM REVIEW

NUMBER SIX

Published and edited by Paul Screeton: 5, Egton Drive Seaton Carew, Haatlepool,
Cleveland, TS�S 2AT.

LEAD-IN

Firstly an apology for th0 tine which has elapsed since the last issuo eppereared.
Various causes could be stated but without detailing these I feel I can suggest
that a better version �f this magazine can be expected in the not too distant
future. So to business, here we have the usual fare of books and �agazines published
which are likely to be of interest to the readership of this oagazine. I feel that
we are going through a .fruitful period with books of real value bein� published
rather than usual scissors and paste crass volUTies. So here we go:::::::::::::::
***�******************

"A GUIDE TO ANCIENT SITES IN BRITAIN" � -

JANET & COLIN BORD
--
( Latimer New Dimensions,
(&5-95)
There have been plenty of guides to the prehsitoric remains of �this country and
1
any book has to have special merits to warrant a publisher risking covering the same "

or similar ground over again. In this case the argument is that this. represents the
first truly pictorial guide to our ancient heritage. So it seems fair to judge it
foremost in this aspect, but also by a variety of other criteria: such as who is it
for, is the selectivi� approp�iate and adequate, does it add anything to our
knowledge of the earth mysteries, does it reflect the current turmoil in archaeology
and prehistoric study?

Firstly then, the book as megalithic portfolio ( mostly )

their own pictures . Here
is its strength and the pictures overall are of a high quality and in quite a nuober
(
of cases notably Whispering Knights, Stonehenge, Swinside, Stenness, and various
)
dolmens capture r..lOods of breathtaking intensity. They evoke the uncanny way in which
mere crude stone constructions can appear as intensely impressive as the most majestic
Gothic cathedral. They capture the way in which early man used his landscape and its
raw materials to fashion monuments which were complementary rather than alien to their
setting. 'Hillforts appear as natural appendages to the landforms. Here quality per­
vades.

Choice of sites is by impressive looking sites and accessibili�. The former is a

commercial consideration which is understandable -- and makes more or less for a
raison d' etre -- but certain less· obviously impressive and offbeat s·ites could have
been photographed in "r.1ood" circunstances, perhaps.

As for the readership, they state plainly that the book is as r.1uch for the
"arochair traveller" as the out-of-doors seeker, and as such it r.1UB.�, whet the app­
etite to visit more sites if its value is to be f�lly realised. For those with little
or no knowledge of the range of megalitic monUr..lents there is a section briefly
describing the archaeological types of structure and a tioe chart. For those wishing
to locate specific sites the details are straightforward, f�lly inforr.1ative and
laid out sioilar to Ward Lock Red Guides. This aspect is specially gratifying.
Details of measurements and mmnument types are balanced by references to the legends
associated with oany of the sites. Map diagrams and grid references are given plus
access information. "

Back to selectivity, some could unkindly infer that the non-appearance here of
sites not easily accessible suggests that a lightning tour was undertaken to create
this work and that the Bords fitted in as many sites per day as possible, but they
have, as readers familiar with their earlier work know, been photograph�g sites for
many years. However, there are large areas of Britain entirely ignored, such �s
southern East Anglia, where a page's worth of puddingstone sites would have been
useful -- even mark stohes -- with explanatory d�ta on such unimpressive but cont­
entoiuos and controversial artifacts. Northern England, too, is missing Briohan Rocks
and Ilkley's Swnstiza Stone.
 2.

Where I feel there is no excuse for what I .regard as travesties of judgQent are
the utilisation of the current "county" boundaries these are arbitrary, pureJy· (
ad.ninistrative - - and undigested by 99% of the population and Lletric weasureoents. )
For any student of -the sites -- orthodox or alternative -- there is not one co cimen t
of originality on any single site. Adoittedly such an ·approach could appear obtru­
sive, but leys for instance do not oake an appearance until an apologetic "sooe
theories" selection of a hadful of further reading books at the very end. The
average reader would be forgiven for believing that all is well in archaeology and
that no revolution as e xplosive as Vesuvius is underway� ·It is as if someone had
written a history of World Wax Two and oent i o ne d Adolf Hitl er in a footnote.
y
et it· must be realized that those who have recently becooe interested in pre­
history have largely been motivated by the current shifting of paradi gos in archaeo­
logy and i't is inforoation on leys and COL!Dentarics on actual energy that is reguire .Q.
oore than oeasureoents.

Gruobles aside, the final assessment of any book oust be essentially based upon
whether the work achieves its purpose. In th..:..s case the ans'iver is a reso tillding ''yes".
It deliv e rs th� goods Lnd that is to p rovide a s a t isfyin g pic torial rec ord of
visually .exciting and easily accessible ait e a of �n c i e nt nan.

"MYSTERIOUS BRITAIN" and "THE SECRET COUNTRY"

both by JANET � COLIN BORD ( b o th Paladin, £1-95)

When "Mysterious Britain" appvared in .hardback it was attacked by a nur1ber of

prominent coor1entators who were unhappy with what they felt were the authors'
intentions (and t ho se of the : p ubli sher ) and capabilities. As I wrote in The Ley
Hunter at the tirrre: "This book is basically a princr designed to·interest·the
general reader in m att e rs ·such as leys, zodiacs and gen� reveal the es oteric
.
significance of the forms and siting of sacred sites. I ao sure that no other·motive
is intended and that the Bords could have written a deeper study; but chose to set
more feet on the Aquarian path rather tha n guide a little further those already upon
it • • • • • • T he text is basic� �nd generalizes on prehistoric natters along the theoes
spotlighted in The Ley H unt �r . As for the price, £5-90, it is high and oay be
prohibitive for oany who·would benefit froo such a work. Do I reco ooe nd it? Yes,
.
with r e serv ations . It .is· a book-,for the ·beginner, and probably the pictures help
to give the flavour of .:o�d sites in a way which· poetic prose and an onslaught of
factual data -is
. -
incapabl e .. of doing. "

This book is. now av.nilhble at a reasonabl e price and sh ould now lose its coffee
table book aura _which sowered its ori inal r�ception s o oewha t . g
As fo� ''T.he Secret Co untry "· , here the o
B rds produce a distin c t thesis and thei�
a. �
interpret t on of the folklore of n� g a lit hic nonuoents is une qu ivocally related to
ley po�er.ori·�he.enrth s p irit , · wh e r a s I, too, regard it as hig�ly probable that
such a . naJ;lif��ta tiQ�l could. hav0 gener ated a high proportion of the l'egends, bmt I
believe there' are al'terna tive wayf!> . of ....arguing
having spent three years continuities '
solid.ly researching and writing "'rhc Living Ston_es" an unpublished investi g ation (
of prehistoric nionw:1ents.' f9lklo:re an<i the oodern equivalents). The creat ion and
distribution of folklore are factors not argued, but the Bards have taken car.e in
marshalling their information and provided useful bibliographies and indices.'
Pleasantly laid out, visually easy on the eye, "The Secret C""untry'·' balances a great ·

deal of detail without a l lowing the repetition to becooe overp owering .

·- It is a more nature work than "Mysterious B rit ain " and thematically by sticking
to their guns they have positioned theoselv�s to s tand or fall on a singular
.interpretatior of folkloric accounts. Reductioniso versus inclusionisQ, but it
.ans.wers those who felt "M. B." ha d no reai c oherence" They �rgue their thesis
H
·coupetently, constructively and convincingly, but as Evan adingham wisely �r o te :
i -" Iri
deed the sane stories can be interpreted in different ways to supply contr adic tory
· evide nce. "
·
·
·

' '
• o o o. o o • o o o • o o o
 " ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF ME'rAPHYSIC:f\.I� M$DICiNE" ·.by'.Berijaoin Walker {Routledge
.
&

_
· .
Kegan ·Paul,:. £6-75) ·and · . .
.·· l
·· · ·
. , . •
..
.
_;
:
·
. . • . .
.
. _"A BAREFOOT DOCTOR'S WlANUALII prepared by The. Revolutionary Ilealth �
· ·· · Cor1i:tittee of. Hunan. Province (�outlec;lge & K
e ga n �aul, £5-95). . . .

The type : c;rf. b'�

ak· covered by Ancio.nt Skills and Wis-doo Review generally lies in
the occ-q..l t �e.J.lo in. its widest-s-ense .and will be wr itten frooa non-orthodox vimv­
•

point. T�a_t .is.not· to presw..10 th er e -is a conscious anti-establishnent 9r anti­

science h'JU.SG 'ruld � but I try to give the average reader an assess:�ent of alter­
natives Ac for scidnce oost people take it for granted and their oain contact is
. .

wit� the oadical profession, whose j udgoents · are ge nera ll oada in hushed tones or y
oys:tifying· terns that the patient s.00s then as· priests or· even sorcerers. The
narvels o:' transplant surgery are now as inpr es s iv e as Filipino psychic surgery, ·and·
as for cloningnoo•••••
But at least the two books h er e oay appear t o be oore
esoteric ar..a_ technological than one would expect of British allotropic textbooks�­
they are both lucid and e�dlessly fascinating. Yle really do think too little of
o� bodies and this oay be partly the fault that we have been encour. aged to think
of the nind as divorced froo body a nd that oedicine should be left to doctors and
not to their inqu_:l:-�i,tive patients. Take these three tioes a day after oeal� • • • . . . .

-.
� p�
Walker sca·red oe sooething shock �g when 1 o rie d the bo.o k at randoo and began
with the sec . tio�_on asyluos. One is lef t . In n·o�d:oubt thq.t such institutions can be
living hells. creating·· docile vegetables for convenience s sake as so little cash is
deeoed available for their proper func tioning and that tb..e author disapproves of·
the DOdUs· ·operandi into which the average psychiatrist in such a place adopts. I was
.
aoazed to find the ratio of oen to v;ooen in a.syluos is above 1-:50. Why? Wooen, in:·',.
ny-- expei'ienpe do. not seeo o8t-e prone to breakdowns. Actually I've ha<l. this revie:W:'·�:·..!.·
copy since Ma:z:-ch nnd have been dipping· into it frequently rather than baking a con•
cex:_ted ef.f?.rt a:t yrriting·_up a cooprehensive overview.

On a nUndane l eve l .it covers oedicine historically a nd a great· deal of resear eh · ·· ·

by the author is indicate� by the cooprehensive reading lists follm-ring. eaoh topic{� .
His approach is to .atteopt· a synthesis of' orthodox nediqine together with all
shades of psychology along_with tha occ-ult and cooparative religion. Such a brave.
and ic]Jjense· ·project wiil .needle sariy practitiohers at each level, but ·to an inter.:_
y
ested outs::i.der like o self I find t�1is book proves· a :�1ore enlightening volune. than
the Pear' $. nec3 c o. l i encyclopaedia
-rve sub-editors on Th0 Mail, Hartlepool, consult
with unhenl thy· fr e q_lle nc y
M1. ny nundan0 o.ilcents such as piles are not included· by
. .

Walker in preference to oore less ·easily reoediGd cooplaints, such as vanpirisri, :

schizophreni.a;: .suicid0; .syphilis, cigraine, eccentricity, fear and exorciso.

g
! would ruoble O.t th e use of the word· "civilized" vrith rego.rd to countries vrhere
canc_er is sta_ted as six· tines r.mre ;Prevalent dur;ing th . . ; po.st 70 yeC.rs as, likely · as
not, :l t is ·the "civilized" society nodes causing this. But his tr�atoent this of
t'errifY.i�g nalndy covers. the \vhole area of possible causes inolusi6nistially and
che.er,fuJ__ly·_ ends with the reoedy fron folklore of disposing of it by consuoing toads
-
and- ·rrogs. · He incl u de s the proposition that geological oonditions · oay be a causal
'

factor� ..which. reninded 'ne that it Vvas s uggested .to De that the Black Death was ·

. ys. ·
·
·

tr4nsoJ.. tted by_ l�

. .
To suo up (:aqt.'an e s task with such a book as wide-ranging as this), w.e have·
;y
all: eJqlerienced orthodox nedicine ana· if ·we hnv0 not qonsidered alternatives the? here
seens a genuine ·and ·sensible gui�e to alternativ<;;s , and sho�ld we feel nauseated by
drug, thqrapy ·a:qd �·urgery then: we night u�efully avo.id the�re by· considering the ·. non­
oateric;J.l subst:r.:-.:ituo··of the. hwJan orga�so _nnd· o� _environoent. ·Easier said. than done,
b\?-t h8re is 9- :book which affor9-s·a.h.ighly readnbie "argubent'to consider;aJ:-1 opti()ns.

·.- As. for · the .C hinese

'bo.ok, it is esigned o.s a ,oanual. ddiagnosis and. t� etitnent of .fo�
d!seasos, which in addition to building upon ·conteopornry techniques leans heavily
upon traditional foundations of herbs, acupuncture and ooxibustion. Massively detailed
.
its high price as a paperback seons justified, but to the average English reridei its
foroat can hardly, sadly , nttro.ct all but the prnctitioner with proven expertise. A
bold publishing venture, I feel, and I recouoend the book heartily, but its applic­
ation to our nedico.l viewpoint is probably li:.�ited.
 "Dylan: An lllustrated History", produced by
"Bob Dylan: An mustrated Discography", by
Express, £1.90).
"Rolling T!;:an��i: LubJJOuJ(.,., by
EARLS COURT and
Blackbushe concerts
by Bob Dylan
brought about a spate
of new books on the
transatlantic trouba­
dour and the three
reviewed here are all
valuable additions
for the serious
Dylanologist or just
those who wish to
know more of roek
music's only tme
genius.
Dylan towers over con­
temporary music and
despite mi l l ions of words
and with so much of his
output easily available, he
remains a monumental
talent though persona l l y
shadowy and ambiguously
elusive as a character
in himself.
AJ3 alW!a�s much is
written, yet in th� final
analysis little is reveaJled.
Dylanology-as the study
of the minultiae of Dylan's Mfe
and work has become known
(with even A. J. Weberman
combing Dylan's garbage for
clues)-naturally has its pit­
falls and one's approach, if
oot tempered by common
sense can lead to many cala­
mitous avenues and pointless
cu.Js-de-sac.
There are those who see in
Bob Dylan their own meagre
thoughtts magnified, justified,
or isolated, and there are
those who regard the whole
exercise as intellectual accu­
mulation.
In my own case, I have
found key phrases in Dylan's
songs pertinent to serious
problems and acted accord­
ingly. I hope I can honestly
say that I was not using them
as justifications, bUit rather
that they met my needs with
a synchronicity which
expressed both the require­
ments of reason- and intui­
tion.
PITFALL
Anirl.her pifall must always
be that with a character so
elusive, anyone's assessment
must be off centre and there
is always the likelihood that
any admirer will visualize his
hero as an ideal image of
himself or even project his
own ego upon that charac­
ter.
His attractiveness as a sub­
ject for scrutiny is multi­
faceted: he appeals to fue mind
for hi-s obvious learning, ex­
perience, erudition, and wis­
dom; to the ear for his excep­
tional music; to the romantic
in us for his mystery and his
publicized personal conquests;
tlo the less serious side for his
humour, which abounds
throughout h'is songs and his
book "Tarantula"; and to all
who are sensitive, we see
reflected in his overall per­
sonality reflected aspects of
ourselves.
These books have all been
motivated by admiration for
the man and two of the books
seek to unveil Dylan's mys­
tique and the third is an
annotated discography.
There are no serious
attempts here to assess Bob
Dylan's art, but the essence
and special value of his work
permeates a�l of Vhem.
EXCELLENCE
Few have been unmoved by
his songs and their compell­
ing power is based upon
deeply felt ex;perie.nct!6 and a
�ascination with people, his
(Jewish) faith and a close
affinity with the psyche, all
expressed in his art as highly
personal and original view­
points and universal.He com­
ments upon the ordinary
human condition and more
spiritual and cosmic aspects
of man's existence.
Stuart Hoggard and Jim Shields f,.....
�am �hepa.-d ( Penguin, £1.75).
Michael Gross is at pains
to "produce" an illustrated
history of Dylan. The format
is suggestive of the paper­
back coffee table production
job, but such cynicism would
be untoward, I feel. for the
sheer excellence of the pic­
tures requires such size so
that they can be presented
viably.
These cover all eras of
Dylan's career and though I've
seen many equally observant
studies (notably in Stephen
Pickering's works), they are
of a high quality and lend
depth to their subject, yet it
seems this work is aimed at
the spectator of rock keen to
know more of this man whose
career seems to have sud­
denly reblossomed, but who
does not require being re­
galed with the author's meta­
physics (and by association
those of his subject).
Gross basically treats his
subject objectively and we
learn nothing of Gross's per­
sonality (unlike Shephard's
treatment, as we shall see).
I found the book on one
level, as when it comes to
Dylanology Magnus Magnus­
son would have difficulty
coaxing the word "pass" out
of my mouth if interrogated
on this subject. Yet it is a
good, general introduction to
the man, playing down for
the sake of not having to
become encumbered in dicey
subjects such aspects as
drugs, sexuality, and meta­
physics.
Not that it is simply a scis­
sors and paste journalistic
job by a disinterested obser­
ver, though the authoritative
"sources" concluding the book
show that the author has used
BOO LE!TJ
much seminal material, but
little personal research. In
fact, only Bob Markel's back­
ground as editor responsible
for "Tarantula" and former
record producer John Ham­
mond offer any real new
material.
LABOUR OF LOVE
Another view of Dylan pro­
- 35 pictures. has bibliflgr:>nh·•
duced by authors who have
also never had any contact
a?et�.s:·;;
Michael Gross (Elm Tree Books, £3.95).
with the man himself is The writer is a playwright,
offered by · Haggard and but he seems to have sca'1t
Shields. Th;s is a labour of abillty to reproduce interest­
love and has grown from a ing dialogue between the
series published in Sounds assembled superstars and in
magazine. It offers as full as some of his passages h s
has ever been attempted a observations-as on Dy!a .. 's
coverage of the official and dog-are worthy of reproduc­
tion in Private Eye's Pseud..;
bootlegged recordings of
Dylan, plus chronicling ses­ Corner.
sions on which Dylan played.
Everything they could Stunning
track down (no pun intended)
is listed chronologically by Shepard does not even
date of recording (not release
strike one as being a Dylan
dates) and it makes good
admirer, unable even to iden·
documentary reading (as with
tify certain songs, but one of
Gross they provide an ade­
quate number of events those people who by tuck hap
which influenced and were pen to be in the righ place
influenced by Dylan's place at the right time.
in the musical countercul­
This chronicle of a key
ture).
phase in Dylan's career could
It achieves the purpose of
have been done far bette ,
cataloguing information on
but let's be thankfu l for what
Dylan's music, his sessions
we have. It is a useful piece
and those with other musi­
of' documentation but rke
cians plus information on
the discography it basically
those who worked directly
whets the appetite and leaves
with him; is informative but
visions of what could hav
not adding much that' the
been.
seasoned Dylanologist would
As with the Gross book the
have access to elsewhere.
Cross-referencing and dupl!­ pictorial display is quite stun­
cation a!e, however, necessary ning (apart from some really
and without which there incongruous c h o i c e s),
would be no point in this spec:ally the pictures of Dylan
being added to the not incon­ and a super one of Joan Baez
on Page 75 worthy of Page 3.
siderable number of books
on Dylan. There must have been more
Despite two years of re­ gossip and excitement than is
writing and checking after here revealed, but though far
�he _S_ounds appearance, plus from the "startlingly intimate
mab11Jty to be sure of defini­ look" claimed by a New York
tive .aut�ority (naturally). Post reviewer, it is rather
there Is still a fair amount of more like a captain's "log "
mis-statement (such as the with the basics given for pos­
identity of persons on the terity, but none of the real
"John Wesley Harding" cover below decks goings on.
and misidentification of Pete
Hammill, etc ... ). So, here are three rock
books all worthy on their
own terms. for you to con­
sider.
Another qu'bble-not at the
authors, but one with which
I'm sure they would sym"la­
thize-is how infuriating if is
that there is so little officia1
recorded material avaihtble
compared with the bootl(\gs.
The ratio being about 4:1.
In addWon to fact aft"'f
fact, the 134-word paperb:'lcl{
is illustrated with more than
index. and stop press upda •.
ing it to .Januarv this vear
Essential for Dylan freaks
With Shepard virtually
noth'ng is de1ivered as fa"' as
insights into Dylan What the
book tells us primarily about
Dylan is that his wish for
privacy remained despite the
huge entourage necessary for
the Rolling Thunder tour and
the parallel filmin� of h;s
"Renaldo and Clara" eo:c.
Shepard was hired to produce
sc'ntPlating dialogue for th;s
film, but bis influence appears
minimal and he r>f'ver noi,.,t�
out whe�e and wh"n hP W""
phased out.
In fact, we learn a fair bit
about the egotistical Shepard,
not only from his bizarre
Kerouac-era writing c;:tyl<>,
which is wholly redanda�t
today, but that he must have
a toilet fet'sh, for he men­
tions this room and its pur
pose on page 3, 5, 17, 47, 98,
131. 137, 169, and 182.
 4.

"THE MYSTERIES OF KING'S COLL.1�GE CHAPEL" by Nigel Pennick

· ( Thorsons, £2-75) . .•
I

Perhaps, because i�s nane is souewhat nisleading King's College ·chapel has
not recieved the critical attention it deserves. No huoble ·Christian edifice this,
for when King Henry VI (th0 "royal saint" -- he failed canonization tvvice)
enlarged his· · original foundation in Canbridge, he _decided to endow it 'with
co.thedral dioensions -- o.nd oetrologi.cally .o.nd o:f�·ti_cally ·s ignificant ones, too.
Visitors ·nay wonder at the unsurpassed fan-vaulting and atained glass, but these
aspects -- detiJ.iled·lovingly o.nd in scholarly fashion by the author, along with.
·the background to the work and its beginnings . -- had an occult and synbolic purpose
which oake this book·oore than a handy guide to this t9lirist attraction.
' '

As with nuch of geooantic inter

. est -- a subject in which the author is an
authority-- there have been "ioprovenents", of v..rhich Pennick is scathing; th·e
latest being a "botch-up job, o.tteopting to nix perpendicular and renaissance
with 1960s
coffee-bar oodern without regard to the trus purpose of the chapel as·
a oicrocosn of creationn. He sees as a scandal the placing of a Rubens painting
and this £110,000 "travesty" as o. "litany of the till." There is �lso oention of
·the oiro.cles associated with the geonantically-sited toob of Henry VI and it would
have been interesting to ·have had a dowser look . into the siting and also atteopt
location by oa.p dowsing· of the oissing foundation stone. Also the distance �ton�
was·transported,froo Yorkshire in pnrt, is interesting. The author has written
authoratively and fascinatingly (�hough v..rith sooe quirky spelling) and·his ovvn
illustrations i:Jake this a v7orthy reprint of � privatly published (1974) local
study.

"GASTJtNEDA 'S JOURNEY'' by Richard de l':lille (Abacus, £1-50)

Obviously part of the worth of this book is lost if one has hot read the four
books by_ Carlos Castanoda claioing to be his account as ethnographer anong
Yacqui Indianso The central thesis is, however, an arguoent by several Qeans to
show that Casteneda was writing fiction.·I first started "11. Separate Reality" and
·was enjoying it iGoensely until page 42 when_an incongruity relating to a car
being left and thep reappearing elsewhere left ne sh.ocked, baffled.and betrayed.
The apprentice and the soreceror relationship -had seeoed so real. It was like·
realising as a child �he�e is no Santa Claus.

Yet by the subtitle, "The Power and the Allegory",- de Mille entertainingly,
wittily �nd constructively rebuilds one s faith by pointing out that as a .creation
"don Juan the oyth h11s cone to stay". Ag fictional literature de Mille equates
Castaneda as sooethi:z:g o� n Shakespeare, of oetaphys·ics though he does not heartily
endorse the style. He adr:iires Castanedn :s .. nbility to find, select, transforo and
. .
onrshall others'S t�
_ oughts, discltliD his sources, fict . ionalize· .the work and pass ·
· ·

it off as doctoro.l dissertation.! ·No nean feat.

.
'D� Mille was not the first t o suspect a ..hoax had been perpetro.ted upon the
UCLA prof_essors, but it was he who diligently sifted the evidence nnd intervmwed
protagonists before concluding that Cnstaneda is a story teller who tricks us
into le{+rning, n fantasist v-rith ·a ::Jission, and o.. nythnnker who ho.s- becooe n oyth
·

and a culture hero hinself.

"SDI.:E SYl;ffiOLS OF TI-U FEI.1ININE PRINCIPLE" by Kay Thonson

"'
( frou P.. Oo· B ox 152, L.ondon NiO 1EP ,. no pric -;given)
A slio voluoe written by Kny and 1llustrnted by Jay Devereux for t4e Festival
of Mind and ·Body. After a challenging, correct, conprehensive, coopa9t three
chapter introduqtion there is a startling o.nd nntm-clioactic holding .· aloft of the
ponegranate, whose sy::Jbology then follows-� This
·
jolt is explained by this ·being a
saopler culled as a·work-in-progress and it goes• on to 9ther aspects of natriarchal
 5.
··- -·
lore, though KD.y was nt ··pains
- to ·persuade..oe-· that s4S3- is :not- of· the fierce �· :• ·
.

�eninist bra-burning fraterni�. It augurs well for a larger work on oythology; a

subject whiph i::, going to be criticnl to our understanding of our inner worlds
: .erD. of _ pns t · civil{zo.tions.
ra t.h�r than_ ns .cntcgorizn �le ephet:-
o

.
o o � o e

. . c. • o o o o o.J o o c. o

"SPELLCRAFT" by-� §kelton (Routl�dge & Kegnn Pnul, £3..:.95)

·
It·is appr o p ri � te.t�1L1t-
.
� distingusiheC. po e t �-nd [lan of letters such as Robin
Skelton �:Qould.· have Ylri tten su c h a book, for who but the poet is nore likely- to
invoke -- 90nsciously or. unconsciously -- the r!use, one of th-.:; best · kno-�rn (if often
referred to facetiously) spirit aids. This work is subtitled "A 1/Innual of Verbal
iagic" and ·in addition to being' a survey of the history of spells is intended n:s a
practical handbook for those willing to believe that thought is energy and that it
can_b� utilised beneficially. · ·
·The connonsensical approach is to be heartily applauded. His way is· not that ._of
shrouding in nyster-ious _terns what are basically fairly siople and straightforward
· eqt)irE?oents._-For . .instance by addressing St c·hristopher if one wishes
n . to travel
safely is ne,i-ther Chris.tian idola:try; akin to pagan superstition or _an act of witch­
crnft, but_ a neans of instruction whereby a code understood by the psyo:he is· trans­
oitted. . J'he author .is confident of the efficacy· of calling upon the correct .spirits
for ;nece�sary aots and that if done purposively the spell-miker's ,deep oind .wiil .
.

attune and :·· succeed. The qnjori� of people �ould regard this as wish-fulf:i;.lnent ·

fantasy, yet would be less ' certain if challenged to draw any dividing line. between
secular spell-oaking and Christian prayer. ·
Much of the book's value is that although it is strongly acadeoic and wide-ranging
in its historical and-geographical sweep, it.is des�gned to create faith i� such
.
acts as invocation and incantatict>n to . ericoura·ge s-pell-onking ·to bless- ..and �heal, acts
whio-h ioprove the qunlity of on� s own life a!ld that of others around us, and also
it is not difficult, requiring faith rather than years of study an� pr�ctis� • .

If_ ·one's · goal is sir."iply to find inne� pence · and sa tisf'action gained frop·� helping
·others ·then spell�oaking vvill be rewarding.· It oust no,t be for self-aggrnndizeoent
or p-ower· fo_r ·its owri sake, nor should the novice be · deiud.ed into thinking ·_it is a
r·out·e� --t_o spiritual i l:luoination and an easy path to· r.1ystica1 experience -arid coso�c
consciousness. The result. if the · rule·s ·are followed, plus patience a:hd . practise-,·· will
be the developoent of utilising psychic ener-g-ies and gnJ..�ipg a deeper· �nderst9-ncling
of Qne..r�::psyche. "I wish I •" Vlell, with faith and effort that wish can becooe·
• . .

-:- reali,ty vi_a s:pell-oaking. .

•. o o o .o o o •. o
··
•
. • 'o • o o
.
Go o o
.
.o a • o

- �
ttN'�EDLES OF STONE" by 1.£!2 .Graves (Turris tone, £4-95) .
.
.
"PENDULillh: THE Psi CONNECTION" by Francis Hitching (Fontana, 85p)'
-· . .
. . ' . � .

"DIVINING THE PRD·:l.ARY SENSE" by Herbert Vl�aver (Routledge & Kegari Paul,
£4-7{5)
:-These three books are welcooe expositions of types · of energies generally. 'ign �ed 6
by orthodox science. Hitching's account is extraordinarily detailed and. .wide r�p;.tging,
Graves draws parallels to substantiate the effects the interaction of_ oan has upon
landscape, and �eaver hypothesizes unfaoiliar radiation in nature, art; and science.
Francis Hitching's previous book, ''Earth Magic;', drew upon the talents of Bill
Lewis to expl.or� :tbe · energy which had b.�J:;n discovered at prehisto;ric standing stones.
The oost interesting part of that book was · the experioents carried out at Crick­
bowel with Prof. John Taylor and Dr. Eduardo Baianovski to deoonstrate by utilising
a gaussoeter that so:-Je for:J. of :rower is extant at the ancient. sites. Unfortunately
Taylor has subsequently described the results as inconclusive (f!raves ·being_ -­

scathing in his CiSSeSSDent· of-- the preconceptions Of ;r-ationalist_ reductionisn

brought to the probleo by Tnylor). Hitching's approach to psi is
· · s'iciilar to·· that
brought to leys: a journalist's look at a subject (�.e. objectivity can s6oetioes

----------------------
----�----�
 6.

be an irri tant where the reader would prefer to feel the wri ter to be oore c ooo­
·
i t ted on . · cer t ain a� pe c t� ) q.rid a well baltnwed ope , too Maybe its paP.erb a ck f or­
· •. .

oa t -gives an:· und.e_s erved iopi'e s s i�ri, "- but its ·length and the· tightne s s _ ·of wri ting
could nake . it _ cla:us troph_o bic f or the average ren der , though i ts c ooprehens ivenes s
will be appla-uded by c onoi t te d dovm er s and i t c er tainly bring s the s ub j e c t up to
date and shows whi ch way devel opoents are likely . I t is no t a " wow , gee-whi z , what
about thi s ? " quick guided tour around tha t landoarks of the p sychic lands cape , but
a s oberly ¥IT i t ten a s s e s s o�nt of the- dows er ' s ar t and its ioplications as a key
to expande d c ons cious ne s s . ·
-- .
.
- The book . is divide d. into three : · the f irs t par.t , dealing w.i tb dowsing his tJ;Jrically,
_

i t s applica tions , and ti'dvic e· o'n d�veloping the abili ti e s of dows ers ; par t twO' : deals
wi th radiations a nd our s ens i tivity to the s e ; and the third part c onne c ts divining
with o ther a s pe c ts · of · the parapsychological s pe c trun .
Hitching appe ars unav.,rnre , - however , of s o ce i::1portant oa terial . He no tes tha t
dows ers · " could probably de te c t the tiny drif t in the magne tic field o f the earth
each d:ay" ; when ·s uch . an a c c ount by_ C ir 9_unlibra - - " Tides of the Day" in The Ley
Hunter · �- had c over e d this • . Als o h� ignores the pioneering work in dows ing pre­
his tori c s i te s by Guy Undenvoo d, . who s·�� " Pa -t tern of the Pas t" is e s s ential reading
for a�� tho s e .interes ted in oegali thi'c oonuiJents .
' '
In fa c t , Underwood s s terling work wa s the oain iopuls e l eading Grave� : to
.- · be c ooe - interes ,� �d _ in'"' the ;r:ole pl�yed by oegali thic , oonuoents in geonancy an<;l ·

_
tions of .Underwood s central the s i s of the
·.le d hio . to. oak.e . extens ive adapta -
earth � s" . s ub tle pa. t terns �
. .
Al�eady ·archaeology i s . in the oain grudgi�g1y . a c c-epting the work · of :Pr.of ·• Aiex
Thoci ' ·ahd· o thers· �-�'hich · deoons tra tes the high abi;Li ties of ob.n 4 , ooo : year s ngq , to
enc ode· de tailed _geooe tri cal and as tronor:licni, f_e a tures in s tone circl es and,
alignnents . Graves take s to the s e ancient s ad.r ed s ites hi s dow-s-ing abilities and
adds a · new di'o ens ion to our cooprehens ion of the · c ooplexi ty of thes e s i te s .
" Needles Of S tone" de tail s ·how he · and colleagues have nappe d the chariging \����gy
patterns and flows as s oc. in: te d wi th the oegali ths . · ' _ _ . .-
·
. . . . . . .

Tht;; , vQ.;rie ty of �oana tions .f ound by Underwoo d are extended froo pat terns of the
pas t to patterns- als o ' of the . pres ent . U nderwo o d. ignor�d leys and it is . . good that __

Graves has been able to liiJ.k . the two c ohes ively and identif i e s · a · d-is tinc tive
" overground" puls e he ha s dow s e d · wh::tch is apparently .the . . oos. t.: _e u1:Js'tantial
evidence ye t pres ented to - · bnc}c_ ::w> . the _ clnios for ley power , which in the pas t
have ' bee n generally ac c ep te d , tho.ugh des cribed with such ' woolline s s as to be
aloos t · wor thle ·s s • .
.
·
.T h e needl e s of. : .the ti tle are th.e s tones s e t· in t�� �and P.a.r.alleled by the · use
- -

_ of_ . ne0 dles in Chines e. a cuplin·c ture healing· to affe c t . the flov�s : of energy in h't:ma:n·s �
�he analo gy i s ' utiiis e d_ · throughout · the' work, arguing, for th� .e ffec ts _caus ed· upon
the Ear th by :oan ' s i:nte-rventio'n. with energies to b oo s t - fertility or reduc e i11:... .-
nes s . The war� of. the la te · Tari-t e tbhridge on ghos ts_· and " ghoUl s " : is found to ·
·_ '
aoplify the- arguoents as · ]_ f is . :identifie d : to fo·r:J a bas i_s f or Graves s bel ief that
wen ther control ·i� part of the c � ding =inherent in thG e.nergy pa tter� .
. _ .
T here is - ouch pe·r ;·on.al da ta ,. which �� a refre shing fnc-e t ; but .one - area -vvhich
is likely to caus e s o oe dis agreeoent is over the · clash 'be twee n pa gnniso. and ­
Chris tiani ty , which will prob ab ly- ':be regarded as offens ive . tp qany of the l a t te r �
I think Grav e s i s ois taken in believing .thn t . to day ' s Chris ti anity i s as :unenl�gh t­
ene d about e nergies as }:le . s to. tes or tha t . a · re turn"' .t o paganisn woul d. ·Be the · ·

.
panacea he env,i s age s � Grante d : hi s · points · are val i d , _ but i t is h�llcin · na ture · whi ch
is the ghos t in the oa chinery of rea s s erting oe gali thi c c -ivili zation ,. s 'ideals
and religions tend to be largely s hndmvs· of huob.n �- - rather than divin� ---· :

thought.. : As a Gno s tic/pn gan oriented_ pers op., I have found the power. �s tronges.t - f or
oe in' C.hr i s tib.n edific es . · · .· . - . . :_ · ' · · ··· · :
__
-

j
·

' ,' I

It ��- a .· dis·'t ti!-bing book, for i t leaves one· . pa_ran�:L d , abb:Ut oicrowaves ahd the ·
_ _ -­

oili tary/,ec oriq pic . s tr.a t_e gies involved and ioplt�-d ; p.,i.s o the pos _p-,ible haro tb . one 1 s
heal th fron the var ious · invis ible - ·enana tions . Hm-v�v.e.r;,._ , _ if a:s d!3odns tr_a ted here1
the powers were onc e us ed to enhance the quality of life , - there is no reas on Why'
we s hould no t a in to bring ab out ano ther golden age by utilis ing the saoe pri nciples .

- -- �
 7.
.. , . ..
Weaver is a · different w.ri · ter indeed. Not wi�hqut reason , I suspe c t , _. pave his.
publishet-·s >chos ' en .to · pro.no t� . bo oks by T . U . · L�· thbridge on the dus t j ack,� t , · for
Vienver ' s ·approach is very silf}ilar o.nd s�· i's · his v7ri ting style . His hook; i s not the
eo.sies { of reads . - I t is erudite and .to th e . line nli gh t e ne d Dus t · a p p e a r - s onewhnt
cranky::� The· · render .is expe c ted to ., t ak e : eve_rything ci t face value - - and �i th s o
extra·o rdino.ry n the.s is _this appe ar $ disarningJ._;y arrogant .
I aD 'sure tha t the ·r eader of this oago. zin� will , howeve_r , be synpnthe tic. to his ·
central thesis tho. t peopl0 , living things and ob j e c ts eoit ro.diations and that
preh �si toric :.1an · wa s be tter able to sense the f? e - - without the us e of · the Revealer
Fi�ld D e te c tor - us e d by._ th0. author - to find pr o te c tive foros throughout na ture and by
non-indD.S tri:J.li z ed on� . .
Mainly he argues the use of syobols. thro.ughout history 'in buil dings and rit(tuo.ls : .·
taken direc tly froo � cute Dbservation of flora and fauna . ·
Weaver is no.t .with � ut 'tas teful. huoo i.:lr of a s o r.t ., as· when noting _ the current increase
·
in w afi rirrl:f . o.f · or�adents' he stat'e s· , " I an aware that. even a deoure little cross when ­
·

worn :a$ . a. ·p endant ineyi tp.biy·_. leads · the · nale eye to a girl ' s. bos or.1'1 , though this . · · . .
oight .. _not have the su:r;ipressive effe c t ne cessary for . the gi:r,-1 to re ta;in virginal- ·_ py.ri ty • .

: .
In today ' � world h � sees the us e o f his findings via the Revealer . - � � helping ·. rf . .
__ {.
oedical diagnosi·s anq. the seeking of . oissing pe�sons .
.
No doubt he will . be cri t::J.. c ised fbr his naverick ioperiousne·s s of presen�ation, but
.
I would sugge s t tha t here is n useful line of · res earch wor thy of fur ther inves tigation • .
The. origiJ1n�ity . and obvious thoroughness of research is iopressive I t is also tg the • .

s
publisher ' : .credit' ' tha t the hook ' s ' layout r:efl ec ts the . text ' s originality and it is
not geared t o a· · p:rec onc eived s tereotype . Tne · s et ting . of type is unj us tified ( " ragged"
..
or not s , qup.re d . off' . �-- 'to the uni�i tiated) .· · with synbots abound aoo�gst the text . .
. . . .
To sun u p : · here are three books , all of yery _ different charac te;r-s , b�t �11
providing vi ta l infornation on . areas hitherto · ne -gle c te d .- .

'• • •
·
• • • • • • • • 4 0 G 0 • • • • � C> 4. • • •. e •
·

. -
." THE �OLKLORE. OF · S TA-FF
'
ORDSHIRE " by Jon · Raven ( B . T . B a tsford ,: £4-95 )
-- . . .
· . . .

. '�.COuNTRY YffiEE LVJRIGHT " by JcJ c€lyn B � iley (;B . T . -Batsford, £5-95 )
. .
. ,. .
. . .
Jon Rav�n s book the l §. test of the ·finely res·e ar�he d . country folklore v61Ubes
published by Batsford . The ·foroo. t is o.s · in sis te:,r 'books in the s e�ies , with t,he - ·
seasons , birth to dea th , the working day , spor ts o.nd �as tioes , and lol�� oedicin� - ·
and s1:ipers t::i,tion , ghos t l ore , legends of th� D evil , wic thes , giants , d.rcigon ( onlJ!
in-: ·a brief rhyme ' fairies nnd others .. This C OUnty ' in c l ud ing- a rural area plus .- .the
Po-tteries · - ·a nd the ·B·l ack Country is as rich in tale's as ' any dis tric t . Th� - . .s uperna tural
is -balanced wi tn ri tua ls . and prac tises conne c ted with fes tival s and annual .· event$ .
Jon Raven write$: ho·th .- authorn tiv.e ly and enter taingly1 :: bringing:· his s cholar-ship a s a
tolks on� - co l l� c tor to c bear � 6 nd t�i� inte�e� � is' also �efle c ted in the weal th of
-
urban and indus trial. oat�rial genera ted· during the. pas t 150 years . I t is not ; �j p.s-t
a rewriting . of dusty tones , but a living record of the· huoour , pas tioes and. .' wo.:d . . d.n g
life ' 6£" :c olliers and pot ters ' rather than the thoughts of credulous rustics .
. .
· · On :witches he reports a r.1ode�n instahce of wMte witches opening . a shop to -s�ll
-e qu:fpment for fellow faith follow�rs , _ . b ut · do�s ·I?-ot d'elve into such ar.ens of the. new
folkloPe as UFOs· and ruoour tranf3 nission . Unless such · regio-ris · of folklore are ·
accorded their . pr oper · pla ce such -
.'books will -�ecooe
.,
pe trified .
.
Ther� are . extensive no tes ; bibliography , indic es of tale �pe and . ootifs and
gene_r a� index.
Dying crafts .. touch an eootive : chord :?-n oo's t · people and
with i ts period pic tures , " Country Wheelwrigh t" , will be an. �ttra c tiye buy for r:iany .
Nostalgia for trades Wh:ich. . arf3 only. j u� t hanging on in our oecharrl zed society nay
seeo even oore attrac tive wi th oany� pepple ' s hankering for " The - Good Life" - s tyl e
serf s Ufficiency and a . new awarene' s s of the value · ' 0� _t raditional cgaf ts . '.
. .

- ---- ---
--------- -----�
 8.
Tha author ' s husband ms a wheelwright , as have be�n meobers of his faoily since
1847 � a nd b o th the old a nd new in the ,trade is lovingly recorded in photographs ��d
.

oeoories .
All fa cets of the trade are dealt wi th fr o n the a c tual tiober , through the ·p ractic­ :

a lities to the hors e which draws vehicles . The book ' s l ayout is a treat with plenty
o f whit space and balance . behreen ·varied illus tra tions and. the text .
* ,.,. * ..;: )� -:� -:� ,�
Quite a nUDber of b ooks have been .held over until
* �� :� ;;o�c * �� *
the hext i s s ue of ASVffi , which will appear in the no t too
dis tant future - - h o p a f ul ly .
. .. . . . . . ,)()()(�(()()()()()()()()()((
• • o • • • ,. o • c o � • • • o • O • • ..e

MAGAZINES & . JOURNALS

UNDERCURRENTS : A d e oo cra tic ,
non�profit naking oagazine devoted oainly to alternative technology and radical
viewpoints . Bi-oonthly D
( B ) . £3 s ub . Fr o Undercurrents , 12 S outh S tree t , Ul ey ,
D urs l.ey , Glo s . No . 2 8 . . Unfor t-c.na �ely no thing o f s p e c i a l inter e s t t o tho3 e intere s te d
i n earth :-:1ys teries , non-all o tropic n 8 d icin e r eligions o r drug s , and the A tl a�tis . ·
,

here is :-a ·. ter apeutic c o a;. Juni ·ty-.� · I t · is g o o d · on b icy ci e s ·, -out I f ou�d the re ua ind.e r
dull . T opic s. include Winds cale , vv in do il l s , water turbine s , .AT c erit.ce and Bas que c o�
operatives . · No 29 .ft special . is sue on ( and by) wo o en and energy . Parts . far be tter
• . •

than No . �8 , b ut oas t du11 and feoinis t extreoiso . Being in a profes s i on for �4

y e a rs where woo'en have always been e qua l s , I found r:tuch of the oateriai cra ze d , but
recoor.ie nd· the i s s s ue for T h e E ar th , 0'Ll!' Hooe'1 , an excellent. piece on the feoinine ·
"

pr incipl e and our plane t by S t eph anie Leland , and Irene C oa tes ' s "\7alking Round
Winds qale" Also covers wooen in indus try, hous ehold' ..gadetry, c ontrac�p tion, child�
•.

birth, cooounes and SF ." No . 50 . John S outhgate bored oe s tiff with ;' The ·c.reening of
Socialiso" while other· -t:opics are -. nurs er ie s , Fa s ci so , Ectopia', s olar p owe r and ·
Winds cale The oycological book. reviews interes ted oe po s t .
•
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S e iS . REVIEVlo Journal of the S o c iety for Interdi s ciplinary S tudies . S ub . to S IS , inc .

j ournal , is £8 . Treasurer is A o H. H o oke r , 11 Broad Oak� Cars eley Road, Grooobridge ,
S �s s e�. _Vol . I I, N o . 4 Foruo for Velikovsky ' s theories . Area s eval"t?-at�d in this issue
•
.

include : Irving Wo l f e on cat as tr pphis o in Shakespeare , D on Robins on is otopicanooalies

in chronooetric s cience ( advanced dating · t e chni que ) an e nl ightening suonarY by Brian ,

Uar-tin of t}le :respons e of s c:j._entis ts to " cranks " putting the - fori:ler in a'": poor· light,
and M i c hael S tart· considering the que s tion of how Duch knowl e dge anoint ·c ivili s a.t ions
h?-d . to h_and . P:Ltis book reviews and hard-hitt�_ng �i.tlionated news 11 froti E]co·a.us ·to .. ·

Akhnat on" is a s p e c i a l i s s ue. ti:f' S . I .; S Review an4 contains eight vimvs of V ' s
• ·

controversial "Ages · in Chaos 11 , including contributions by :nanny hioself � and an .r: ·

.

offshoo t of S . I . S . R . is Workshci>p , the -s·ociS;y · oeobers ' ne\vsletter , edited by D erek

S p.ell ey-Pea�c e , of 2 9 C udh a o Lane _.: Noz:-tf1., Orpington, Ke nt· BR6 6BX . No � 2 . :tt is a oore
_ ,

i rif oroal · j oUr-nal provid.lng s cope ge ne ially f o:r;: the geroination·· of ideas , though' s till
on Velikovsky and ideas related to his work. S ub j ec ts included . here are another
attac� on Carl S a gan, . horology a nd the z o diac , cave · paintings , dragons as cooets ,
� o s ui c inagery and . ca tas trophic s tructures , plus _ bo ? k r ev_iews , letters � nd news .
_
PENDRAGON : Quarterly ( Q ) . J o urna l of Pendragon S ociety � Cover price 50p . Froo Hon.
S e c . , Garden F�at, 22 Al oa Road, Clifton, Bris tol , BS 8 2BY . Vol . 10 , No . 4 . More
pr ofe s s i q nal iciproved layout with o ve rall · theoe qf dragons Ma rilyn Por ter on · . .• · ·

" S erpen�s , Dragons and th� M o tpe r Godde s s " ( a nd �is o lat�r on T � H � Ylhite) ? a c o n­
.

·
tent�ous arguoent for 11Dragon· Pers �cutio� �tn D evonshire" , _ Chris tine Bris tow on
.

" S ooers e t .D'j; agons " , D erek · Brown on " Three Northuobrian Dragons" , Qhris- � L o v e gr ove on .

"A B r i s t o l ·b r � g o ii ? �nd S t Marga�et , a Norwi qh dragon,_ R :A" G-ilbert on dragons and ·

.- '. '

alcheoy , plu� S in . _Birchby on Ki·ng· Arthur ' s �anc he s ter .' .Vol ll , No . 1 . Mos tly ideas.
.

and interpi':etations . of ·Merlin. En�d Griffi ths on hi s Car nar th e n conre · c tion, Sid ' ·

Btrchby on his .i\lderly Edge _ a.s s· o c in t i o n a. · ·vvide ra ng ing p�e c e by ChJ:'is . Lovegrove ,
, - ·
.

Marilyn Porter on Merlin as "Fool" , an anonyoous pie c e. on ' S tonehenge , Roger D avie ·
·

Web s ter on Merlin as oan or oyth . There is a i s o · a ques· t f or dragons · in �fi c tion by
R .A .. Gilbert an� · a rather . . . . vague p�ece . on "Trinities 11 by S tephen B a nk s • . .
.
. . . . . .. ... . . 'i . - ' .
·. . .
SKY\\TATCH: Pub l i cat i o n of lYianches te r 1_\erial . Phenooena Irives tiga tiori T ean; . >:froo · 92 . ·

Hillcres t Road, Offerton, S tockport, Chesh�re . · No . 2 9 . C o nf erenc e reports � increas e

in UFO reports , UFCS and earth energies , s ighting s cene , plus group news · and l � tters .
9,

FORTEAN TIME&-:· A · ois c ellany of . news ·, no tes and refere nc es on c ur:ce nt and his tor-ical
s trange phenooe na , rela te d s ub j e c ts and philos ophies . Q . £5 . iFr on R . J . M. Rickard ,
c/ o Dark Th�y Wer� & Gol den-Eye d , 9-1 2 S t Annes Cour t , L o ndon � . 1 . N o . 2 5 . E d� tor
B ob Rickard .ques tions -s cientific pnrndigos , fin·a·s theo . wanting a nd s hif ting a nd
intro duc e s new though t. on reality and the brain/oind problen� Paul S cree ton
dis cus s es a Dutch S chool '' UFO" p ainting with artis tic cri ticis o by Chris C as tle .
The naoe Faye t te and high s �rangenes s are dis c us s e d by B ill Grios tad . There i s
the editor ' s gre a t F orte an cooputer pro j e c t , a nd the pro c e s s ion o f the daone d this : :
is s ue include s s ho cks , forc efields and curs es , phantoo c n ts and atta cks by anioals ,
outer s p a c e oddities , s trange falls , feral chil dren , and phantoo f-igures . Plus ex­
ce lle nt review s· e c tion , l e t ters nnd ·· s nippe ts .· N o . 26 . Us ual fea tures and topics c overe d
include anti qui ties , feral chil dren , coopuls ion, o dd. wilcllif'e , C hr is t '·s fa c e a t
S haookin, Ml-..s , ele c troongne ti c o ddities , falls and a T oo Be&rden article which s e es
deep oe aning · in ca ttle outila tions ( and whi c h I appre c ia te but feel far-fe tched ,
ye t loo� for �urther devel opoe nts ) . ·

MUFOB : . .An inf oroe d j ournal devo te d to uf ology and rela te d s ub je c ts Q . �1-25 froo .
• .

J ohn Riooer , _11 Be verley Road � New . Mal den , S urr ey . New s eries - -�o , · · � pring 1978 . T enth ­
a�vers ay is s �e -- · c ongra tula t� ons l The thinking p ers on ' s UFO oagaz ine whi c h l eaves
i ts rivals as als o-rans . A�:; always a unif orrJly ' intelligent and chall enging - is s ue . · ·

A worthy c all for "A · S truc t�ed Approach T o the · Analys is of Non-Phy$ icy.l UJfO
Evidenc-e"_ by D onal' d A J ohns on opens · the pro ceedings . I ts three-man ed.:Lto" r �al tea n
.
reviews the pas t de c a de in uf ol·o gy and the ir v.ie:wp o ints are bas ically c oeval and f

ones I find syopo thy � th . Curious ly I hnd forwarded a pi y ce on the Har tle poql Pres s. s
_ 0
re_p. c tiori to the �909 ai:Cs hip s cete and found N igel rla ts on s archive delvings in ·
·
Lincs o reporte
. d . in ano ther article . Roger S andell reviews re cent oanifes tations of .
ancient �s tr onautology . Plus highly rea dable b o ok reviews N ew . ·s crie_s 11 . My . .article .
• .

"1,. News paper L ooks At The Airs hip". dppears . "Ana tomy · of a · perc ip ient" .h as Nigel :
.

Ha ts on inves tiga ting the firs t part of the c as e of wines s Paul · Benne tt . O n the - . s ane
area· of ufology Harry Tokarz asks whe thor UFO wi tne.s s es are p ublic property·. i�s us ual
the rer:1ainder is als o of a high s tandard .
. · · · · · ' .

. . .. . .
THE LEY HUNTER : Unsurpa s s able in ·the f ietd ·of- earthy oys teries . S ix is s ue s.ub £5 . · (.u � s .
9 do l l ars ) _. P . O . B o x; 152 , L o ndon N10 1EP . No . :Si . A spec ial readers· ' is s ue - wi th l e t ters
o� � huge nUr:lber_ of · ear th oys teries top ics which all ovvs f or nany points : . to be . . oade
.
whic,h though har_diy worthy of expans ion to article l'ength are certainly valid . 1�-t . .
gre taer �ength e�itor . PaQl De vereux and Ian Thoos on give a · C o tswold ley as their
.
alignme n-G for this :i:'s s ue ' arid -- incYUB.e ae rial s upplement -- no les s . A f orper · e ditor �
J::hn:uny G oddard , reports o n the highly ins truc tive Moo t · '-78 . Pa ul S cree ton ' �-� - colur:u�.
fo cus es on the DoE policy at S tonehenge . N o . · 82 . I ar:i jo ine d by ano ther :9 ()lur:1nis t ;
John A . Glover , ' di s cus s ing as trol ogy froo :a·n earth oy_s teries s lant . . J.e rer1y - Harte . · . , . .
dis cus s es early ganes , Paul s. cr ee ton cons ideri.eys as a-n ti-s c ienc e syo'Qoliso, . Dr -D�re.k
Banks l qoks at 1' re ali ty" and P aul D evereux argues for co oounity ge omancy , C hris . . · ·
C as tle goes to an exhibi ti�n by J ili- Bruoe and · Bruce L a c ey and c ooes away deligh te.d.,
Davi-d Furl ong s ee s c ircle s b ef ore his eye s· as round l eys and Guy Ragland : Phillips • .

s e eks Blacko . S uper is s ue wi th exc ell ent book reviews and o the r mis c:E,; llane ous fteos .
A maga z ine you canno t afford �o ever oiss .
; 1.
UARK : :Fr::o m ·Rc.s eoary J�ardoe , Fla t 2 , 38 S a:ndown La:rie , L iverpo ol 15 • 30p or 85p for·
.

3- is � ue · s uh . A _review of fanziries and s eoi-pro z ines . F or thos e unfarJ�liar,.· with the

mags 'produc � d - by fa�s of various genres of wri ting Hark offers a . guide to wh4t is
.
availe3.ble � No . 11 . The. e dit�r revie·ws Briti.3h fantasy oags , Raos ey Caopb ell on the
.
U . S . _ s c e ne , . Mike · Grac e ;_ on U . K . c obic z ines , but there i s·· a ludi:crottsly ill;� inf aroe d.
Dave L.at1gford on " o c c ul t fanz ine s n ( ac tually j us t Que s t -and : S t�r Cbil d) )l : Which · is
an ins ul-t to . ans:. ' que s ting individual and :unworthy of \7ark . 1� l e t ter c olu_.on : and grand
. · ­

cover. of wil d cq. t 'and C el ti c heads . N o . 1 2 � r:lakes up · s omewha t with .Ho ' · s kirid apd
.
involye d. ( as ih . interes ted� . c omme ntary upo n the liniforoly e xo e1:le nt ':F ortean T i-m es .,. , .
Fantasy , c offi.ic$ ; "'The · pris oner" and le tters ; too . , . .
·_
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COVEN : Froo .A . ij . S ervic es , 505 Cauldwell. :Hall Ro� d , ·· I p swich , S uff olk;c IP4 5AJ �- Q �
S ub . £1 . N o . 2 . Pe tc� Kiz:l? fails to ' iopre s s on "The Illuoinn ti Cons piracy" ' wh� eeas ·
I en j oy� d Jtrnol d Uee tch on "The fl.yana C Ul t '·'· • .. D er.ck J Rolls is s ens ible on J?r :I?ee
o

an� T Zs � Po e E , one review and �.d.v.erts

. • · ·
 �o .
THE l..T LitNTEliN : _Q ong of s o- naoe d
s o cie ty w ithppil o s o phy of toler�
If your �ub � Drip tion e xp_t:r e s wi th this
nnc e , under s ty.rtding and s p iri t�� ...
i s s ue a 'X wi -�l a p p e a r in the b o x b elow .
expans ion . l1.n nual s ub £ 2-40 froo
S ub s crip tion is s till £2 f.or four
The �tla nteans , 42 St Ge orge
i s s ues .
S tree t , Chel t enhno ; _ GL5 0 4AF . No .

_�, . · /
1. 74 . ll. thene \1ilJ:ia os wr i te s of · the.
� f
ul t e f e c t of mus i c , whib h i s 1 !
ye t ·
denigr � ting towar ds po p ic
��� ( I
I .
·

.
r o ek S l -?- ge� h,tl S c h ang e d u' VY h 0 1 e
� : · . _ · _.

-
I • I

/.
·

.
) - '-.
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I
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gener a tlon - - f or the b e tte-r � ; S lr

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George Trevelynn o n Nei;: l�ge Though j t ; --/ - ---- --- -- .

Mnry _C ollier on D ru�d:Lc/R ooan tise s 'ip /the S outh-He s t ; a nd S us CLr.. Rc<lliff o n . � � "1"Ihat
-
.1J
i t h�e �ns to be an d c c ul ti s t'·' ., B e t ty ,b o d ' s " S i gns Qf th-.; T iue s " c o::.m:m i s
fa s c ina ting , as evfJr ; . nnd aoong repor ts a r e inf orna tion o n wea ther _, ear thtruake s ,
· UFO s Turin . s hroud , fo s sil s , · s enrch for G o d , ye ti and a huge vul ture in \Inles .
� b
Ther �r8 al s o · o ok - revi ews , · ne s s a ge. froo Helio-Anc anophus 2nd n dver ts e No . �75
·
•

. I can ' t s p.y.· .to o ouch here · o.s pages 10 and 3 1 vve r e b l Ll nk s o fores tt:lli:i1g cooment ·

on tv-:o S e 9 oingly iD.porta nt ,., r ticl e s ' but Nerys D e e has a s ens ible pie c e on dTec:i.bS
and I c ontr'ibute - a Fortean pi ec-e on aophib i n rep tilian c urios i ti es . n/
LANTERN : Pub l i s he d by the B o rderline S c ience Inve s tigat ion Group in E a s t Angli.a .
Q Mng s ub is . . 05 p and ful l necrb ership £�-50 . Froo I van B unn , 3 D unwi ch Way , Oulto:n
•.

B r.QO:§i , L owes- tof t , S W' f 9l� , NR 32 4RZ . No . 2 2 .- Nigel Pennick on " Ea s t Angl;ian Field
N_n_oes." , M . rljt B ur ge s s on · , r The
h
S e cre t Tunnel s of Norf olk and S uff olk" , UFb report ,
. ·. , ' -
. .

plus b ook revi ews , exchange oags lis ting · and s nippe ts froo ol d copie s o.f The
·

0
L owe s tof t J o urnal . No . 25 . I nclude s two pages of S pell thorn J ourhal of the E a s t (
)
S uffolk and Norf olk Antiquarians . Al s o Mike Howard on w i t chcraf t, r e c e n t hauntings ,
UFO and oys te ry lights reports , nnd an excellent -- if o n- goingly unfini shed -­

piece of inv e s tigative j ournali s o b y r•an B unn o n B l a c k T oby oore work o f thi s (
qual i ty woul d be appre c in te d froo all ma ga z ine s . )
PIC\711:'-JNJJID : The ma gaz ine of Ues s ex l eys and folkl ore . B . £2 froo Hythe B ow ,
Cheddar , S ooer s e t , BS 2 7 3EH . NO . 5 . F er d l e V ere s urvey s p re-Chris tia n Glas onbury ,
Jan Lilly l o oks a t ' ' Mid s UI"Jr.e r " , A . D . Jack l o oks a t !!lore " Pa t terns of Mys tery" , an
Exmoor l ey hunt , ,tJa ul Hernioan c oncludes his " C orni s h : A language of 17e s s e x" ,
Vince Rus s e t t deb a te s on gho s ts and " B orb orygnus " lis t s a f ew i teras of For teana .
Plus b o o k reviews , oa g a z ine s lis ting , plus o ther ois c ellaneous i teras and ending
with churches as ley po ints .

NES S LETTER : Fron Rip R epple , Ne s s I nforoa tion S ervic e , Hunts hiel df or d , S t J ohn ' s
C hapel , B i shop Aucklnnd , C o . D urhno ,. DL13 1RQ . £1-75 (u.s . 7 dollars . No . 28 . )
T ony S hiels " No . 1" s li de inve s tiga te d and c ooes through wi th flying c ol our s .
There is al s o a copy of an affa davi t oade by this colurful chara c te r . Plu�
s ightins s and o ther odds and ends . No . 29 . Rip ' s own hol i day experie nc es at L o ch
Ne s s , Theo B ro�n ' s r ea c ti ons froo an under�a ter experiennt �hi c h s ugge s t s a 50 '
crea ture , �ork by the hca deoy of Applie d S cience , s ighting , e xhibition and
oi s c ell any .

QUES T : Froo B CM-S CL Q ue s t , Lond o n , UIC IV 6XX . Q . S ub . £1-75 ; s ingle c opies 5 0 p .

No . 34 . D . A s h crof t-Nowi c ki on the A quarian Age , B eryl M . Mer c er l o oks n t the
wea the r , J . D . Elli o t t diagno s es e s omeric oe dicine , C . D . F . S hepherd c ontenpla tes
' S ilbury Hill , editor Marian Green l o o ks a t " Ma gi c ia ns , Mys ti c s and S c ientis t s " ;
Dr \7 . G . \ l o o d l o oks at nuob er s , D iana D eodike l o oks at s uoae r f e s tivals and C arlyle
I A Pus hong oe dita te s on " The C el ti c C ro s s And O ther S ymb ol s " . Plus b o ok r eviews ,
notices and announce8ne ts . As alwnys pl e a s antly b alanc e d and wi th s ooe thing for
everyone .

SiiliGREAL : Q . S ub . £ 2-50 froo B M S angreal , L o ndon VCIV 6XX . Vol . 1, No . 1 . A new

a�g of the Vles te rn Mys t ery Tradition plus folklore and craf ts . I parti cularly
endorse the � ti cle by Gare th Knight on I s i s and o ther top i c include the Holy
Gra il , the Rollrights and S ilbury Hill , plus announc ement s and b ook reviews . Nic ely
pr e s ente d .

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11 .
PARiPSYCHOLOC.Y<BOOK NEWS : · ·B . £1-5 0 · s ub ! .: Publi she d "Qy The Trans pers onal Books ho p , .
-
19 S tirli n g Place,· Hov�, ·
' Eas t S us s ex , BN3 3YU . Vol. · 1 ·� No . 2 � Li s t s - : of. books · on ..
parapsyb'h ology � reincarnation and pS:ychic experiences· ; plus nags an d j ourna l s .
Articles on l i tera ture of S piri tu�li s t QOvement pl us book reviews " .
_
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Nig_el Pennick, of 142 Pheasan t Ris e , Bar Hill, C a ob r idge ? CB'3 8SD , i s a prodigio us.� '
·

producer of ear th my s te r ie s publ i c a tions and a full . r ev'?- ew of· the la te s t \v'orks ; :wi.ff
appear· in the ne xt is s ue . H owever , the f oll owing two i t ems are available fnrJn · the �

ab ove addre s s . JOUi.NhJ�. OF GEOI!JAN CY : Q Bag o f the Ins titute o f GeorJantic Rsearoh ,
.... -- . 0 .. .

pr o mo t ing deb a te o n s uch topi c s a s s a cred geome try , T:Z-s , ley s , ge oDa tic lore·· and · · ·
ear th 'inys ter.til®-:. :-60p p�r i s s ue ; q��P.er s hip .of ;I . G . R.� is £3 (and includes all IGR . ·
occasional . =p ap�rs - produced during c.l.irrencj: o f s ub ) � - -V o]:'. 2 , No. · 4 . The wa:ndleb�y · · "

de.ba te - �oritinu�d , . 11:C ol dharb our.s.-" . by .L.t . -Q ol . J . B P. Ka:rsla:ke ; Michae Burges s· on h�s .•

Bury .S t . Edflunds TZ , S tepl_len Oaqne� on ·· ge �oancy', R up er t Penni ck on Ma s ons ; 'Ivtichael ·· ,

·
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. .

Beh:r,e�_:on Andover .c hurch ; a�ignnents ana Day:L.d Ada�s on l ey hunting · cbrrige·nda . Pl us

l e t ters , -r.evi.ew:r c;l�Q. - 1o ther :L.�t�qs . )�.LBION : Dubbed on the c over · as " �he Na ti ona l . • ·
· ·

Maga z ine : i'o r En.qill.. �Y .:· ·t�to. th e .,A; ' nc�.�.nt VJY-s t �. ! t',ie
'
l�
s of Bri tain" S ub . £ 2 . No.� � Edi tor
• . ' •' "-' �
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· • •,. ,L ,.
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on oa z e s and la.by]'filjlt� .,._. �_: ge � m ���� ; : B.P�.-�·�n,cp � i}t s tone · · c�os s e·s ; Rupert ·· ·Pe�nick on holy
' • V .-......-.

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well�_ ; M ._ � e�enq. on hobbyho r s e s ; 'Ariri 'Peniii ck on s tep charos Al s o there '� s an

.

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inj;er�s tfng piece oh S c'o ttish�·. Ei ubtet'if!anea • .;':-':. ; .,

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·-� . · · Last � . J>ut not leas t, 'tTHE . ! LAMBTON . W.Qg_¥�ND :< OTHER )�013-THUMBI,UJU� . DRAGON LEGENDS "
by ' PaUl · _� cteeto�, is s·till available at £2 35 � fro o 5 E gton Drive � ,.S e� ton C ar ew , .....
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Ha� tlepo o l Cle velan�, TS 25 2AT . Buy · one yourself o r for· a fri en<}. f o r Xr.J.as . · * ):: ::: �� * ::: ::< *
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