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The editor and committee would like to wish all our members and readers a Merry Christmas (or Yule) and a Happy New Year. A big thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to the newsletter and to everyone who has attended meetings and other events and made them a big success. Another thank-you goes to the members who have generously donated raffle prizes for the raffles at the monthly meetings, and books for the library. Every few pounds we raise helps to keep the membership fee at a sensible level.
After our fire festival at the end of October Barbara found a tray and a knife had been left by one of the guests. Prospective owners should give Shaun a ring.
And just to leave you with an uplifting thought for the New Year. “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
Since the weather may not be conducive to much outdoor work, the Jan. trip will be to the Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford. It is situated in part of the Natural History Museum and is in Parks Road, Oxford. Meet outside just before 2pm. The museum specialises in anthropology, particularly the weird and wonderful. Lots of shaman and witchy things. [Recommended by some of our members, after a recent visit.] If anyone feels like an early start, Oxford also has the oldest Botanic garden in Britain, which we plan to visit before lunch. It is at Rose Lane beside the River Cherwell near Magdalen College.
It is often claimed that the reason that many ancient sacred places had Christian churches placed on top of the pre-Christian remains in order to help stamp out what went before, but I have just been reading a theory that the placement of early Christian churches was more to do with the Celtic church having the ability to “co-exist” with the pagan forerunners, and having respect for any item with possible religious significance. This may be why pieces of Roman altar, for example, have been built into church walls, possibly as a kind of talisman.
The church at Wroughton is dedicated to St. Helen. The name Helen is often linked with Elen, a goddess of roads and highways. There was a local landmark called Elen’s Thorn in A.D.956. Wroughton’s territory extends to the Ridgeway, a major prehistoric highway – it is just possible that St Helen’s church was built over a shrine to the pagan Elen, and was named after her.
The cross shaft at Codford St. Peter may be of pre-Christian origin. Some experts claim that it features Sucellos, a pagan fertility god. The inclusion of old pagan images such as “green men” and sheela na gig carvings may have been allowed “just to be on the safe side”, a sensible precaution as anything with a supernatural power deserved respect. Dylan Thomas once talked of a shepherd, who when asked why he went into fairy rings and made ritual observances to the moon to protect his flocks, replied: “I’d be a damn fool if I didn’t!” S.C.
November’s meeting saw a welcome return visit by Serena Ronay-Dougal. Serena is an eminent parapsychologist, who last gave us a talk several years ago, Since then she has done lots more research and has spent six months of each of the last three years in India, testing meditators to work out exactly how meditation affects the brain and what effects it can have on the body. She will be going back to India soon to do more research on this. The results of the research may well answer questions about the way other altered states, and paranormal experiences affect us,
The talk Serena gave this time was about her findings on the way we can be affected by the Earth’s magnetic field and the changes that take place in it, and the way this relates to “sacred space”.
She finished with a lovely anecdote about an experience she had in a chambered long-barrow at Tara in Ireland. After settling her children down for the night in a tent close to the barrow, she went inside it and had a number of strange, fascinating visions. Eventually she heard a voice telling her that she had to make a decision whether to stay, or leave immediately. Not knowing how long she might be in there if she opted to stay, she decided to come out straight away, as she was conscious of her children being on their own.
On her exit from the barrow, she was rewarded by the sight of an enormous shooting star passing right overhead. She has not seen such a marvellous one before or since!
Thanks to Serena, for such an entertaining, thought-provoking talk.
During the weekend that the WDS had it’s stall ’n demos at Chedworth Roman Villa, the water supply failed completely, causing the closure of the visitor-centre toilets and the curator’s house also ran dry.
The supply is a bit marginal at the best of times, as it comes from a borehole up behind the rear of the site, which was adequate when it was installed in Victorian times. However, since the rise of the motor car, visitor numbers have shot up and the supply frequently fails, usually at the height of the tourist season.
Several of the members have helped sort out some more esoteric problems [odd phenomena in the curator’s house] and had dowsed the location of his main water supply pipe, in addition to some archaeological dowsing there, so when he was thinking about the possibility of a second borehole to improve the water supply, he gave Shaun a ring and suggested that some dowsing might be in order.
Off to Chedworth we went, [forgetting to take any dowsing rods – a promising start!], to be met by the curator who explained the type of discrete location that was required. By the time we got our boots on Pete had managed to find a lone pair of rods and we went off to see what was on offer. Up in the woods there is an old railway track that has been cleared off its sleepers, rails etc., and this is where we started to dowse.
There were several criteria to be aware of when locating a borehole in this particular situation. Firstly, any underlying archaeology must not be damaged. Secondly, the site is a beauty spot, so a pumping house has to be in a discrete place. Thirdly, not all of the land at the rear of the site is owned by the National Trust, although the boundary is not immediately obvious, and you can’t put a borehole on someone else’s property, however good the potential water supply might be.
A walk along the old track, playing “pass the parcel” with the dowsing rods, soon showed that there are numerous underground streams passing under the track, and we found two that were possible, having a reasonable amount of water only just over 200 feet down. These both seemed to converge a short way down the slope, and the amount of water potentially available at this point should be sufficient for the purpose of servicing the visitor-centre’s needs. One thing I dowsed for was whether the supply was subject to any large seasonal fluctuation. The answer I got was a “no”. On the return walk, we all made improvised dowsing tools from bits of twig, and confirmed the previous findings with these.
Shaun reported the findings to the site curator, who was pleased. It will be interesting to see what happens now. S.C.
He was the first person to produce a reliable plan of Stonehenge where, to this day, some indentations in the ground bear his name.
Six years into the Civil War in England, at Twelfth Night in 1648, he met near Marlborough with some aristocratic chums of the Royalist tendency:
“…met with their packs of hounds at the Greyweathers. These downs look as if they were sown with great stones, very thick; and in a dusky evening they look like a flock of sheep: from whence it takes its name.
“One might fancy it to have been the scene where the Giants fought with stones against the Gods. 'Twas here that our game began: and the chase led us (at length) through the village of Aubury, into the closes there: where I was wonderfully surprised at the sight of those vast stones, of which I had never heard before; as also at the mighty bank and graffe {ditch} about it.
“I observed in the enclosures some segments of rude circles, made with these stones, whence I: concluded, they had been in old time complete.
“I left my company a while, entertaining myself with a more delightful indagation: and then (steered by the cry of the hounds) overtook the company, and went with them to Kynnet, where was a good hunting dinner provided. Our repast was cheerful; which, being ended, we remounted, and beat over the downs with our greyhounds.
“The evening put a period to our sport, and we returned to the Castle at Marleborough, where we were nobly entertained.”
Disdaining those who quipped that he was principally interested in Avebury because it bore, in those days, the same name as him, Aubrey was to seek royal patronage to protect the monument from the villagers, who were in the habit of breaking up the sarsens to build their houses.
He had some time to wait. Just over a year after his discovery of Avebury, in January 1649, the monarch, Charles I, was beheaded.
Apart from interrupting Aubrey's student days at Oxford, the wars and the Commonwealth had surprisingly little direct impact on him. He seems never to have been in physical danger from the Roundheads, or under arrest, although he and most of his connections were Cavaliers.
Luckily for him perhaps, his immediate ancestors had kept themselves to themselves, remaining entrenched in their country estates in Wiltshire and Brecon, despite repeated offers to join the glamorous life of the Court in London. Now, in the remoter reaches of the country, many aspects of life went on more or less undisturbed.
Aubrey was also, perhaps, perceived as rather a lightweight character, a gadabout, and no threat to Cromwell and the Puritan factions.
After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and the return from exile of Charles II, Aubrey became a founder member of the Royal Society, and managed to gain the king's protection for Stonehenge, Silbury and Avebury.
“It is very strange,” he wrote, “that so eminent an antiquity should lie so long unregarded.”
Without him, it is fair to say, these great prehistoric temples might not exist today. Antiquarian as he was, he was romantically inclined towards their preservation.
Other things which he conserved were the Brief Lives - biographies and character sketches of his friends and contemporaries.
He was reclusive and studious and a great man about town. He loved gossip and old wives' tales and the latest scientific developments. He was philosophical and whimsical and socially well connected.
He turns up in some unexpected places.
Twelve miles north of Oxford in the village of Great Tew is one of those ancient pubs, untouched for centuries, endlessly coming back into fashion on account of its unfashionability. No juke-box, no slot machines, no make¬over. It's called the Falkland Arms.
Parking isn't too clever in the lane outside and you can't book in advance and it's often full of yuppies in big jumpers, but it has log fires and single malts and fantastically worn and warped flagstones. I recommend everything on the menu.
There's a large garden at the back where breast-feeding is allowed, as it so often is in the Cotswolds, and the dandelion lawn slopes away into the farmland and woodland which make up the estate of the Falkland family.
Around the second Viscount Falkland, Lucius Cary (1610 - 1643), grew one of the first colonies of artists, philosophers and writers known in England.
Known to Aubrey as “this great wit, the greatest master of reason and judgement of his time”, Lucius Cary makes a memorable appearance in the Brief Lives.
“My Lord in his youth was very wild, and also mischievous, as being apt to stab and do bloody mischiefs; but 'twas not long before he took up to be serious, and then grew to be an extraordinary hard student. He would sit up very late at nights at his study.
“The studies in fashion in those days (in England) were poetry; and controversy with the Church of Rome.
“My Lord's mother was a zealous Papist, who being very earnest to have her son of her religion, and her son upon that occasion labouring hard to find the truth, was so far at last from settling on the Romish church that he settled and rested in the Polish. He was the first Socinian in England.
“My Lord lived much at Tue, which is a pleasant seat, and about 12 miles from Oxford; his Lordship was acquainted with the best wits of that university and his house was like a college, full of learned men.
“In the Civil Wars he adhered to King Charles I, who after Edgehill fight made him principal secretary of estate which he discharged with a great deal of wit and prudence, only his advice was very unlucky to his Majesty.
“He persuaded him, after the victory at Roundway Down and the taking of Bristol, to sit-down before Gloucester, which was so bravely defended by that incomparably vigilant Governor, Colonel Massey and the diligent and careful soldiers and citizens (men and women).
“The siege so broke and weakened the King's army that it was the eventual cause of his ruin. After this, all the King's matters went worse and worse.
“At the fight at Newbury, my Lord Falkland being there, and having nothing to do to charge; as the two armies were engaging, rode in like a mad-man (as he was) between them, and was (as he needs must be) shot.
“Some that were your superfine discoursing politicians and fine gentlemen, would needs have the reason of this mad action of throwing away his life so, to be his discontent for the unfortunate advice given to his Majesty as aforesaid.
“But I have been well informed, by those who best knew him, and knew intrigues behind the curtain (as they say) that it was the grief of the death of Mrs Moray, a handsome Lady at Court, who was his mistress, and whom he loved above all creatures, was the true cause of his being so madly guilty of his own death.
“The next day, when they went to bury the dead, they could not find his Lordship's body; it was stripped and trod-upon and mangled, but there was one that waited on him in his chamber would undertake to know it from all other bodies by a certain mole his Lordship had in his neck, and by that mark did find it.
“He lies interred at Great Tue, but, I think, yet without any monument. In the dining room, there is a picture of his at length and like him ('twas done by Jacob de Valke, who taught me to paint.)
“He was a little man and of no great strength of body; he had blackish hair, something flaggy, and I think his eyes black.”
No-one taking Sunday lunch in the Falkland Arms ever mentions Lucius Cary, and none seems to know of John Aubrey, but perhaps one day the drinkers might raise a toast to these two geniuses, who illuminate the poetry and melancholy of the seventeenth century.
Grey Wolf
I know you are fired up to visit a Long Barrow Chambered Tomb after Serena’s talk but I would like to make a few comments to anyone who wishes to spend time in one.
Orgone Energy is cosmic life energy first described by Dr. Wilhelm Reich who demonstrated the energy and built units called Orgone Accumulators to collect and use the energy.
Serena suggested that long barrows may have been built as Orgone Accumulators and whatever the original purpose was they appear to be constructed in alternating layers of organic and inorganic material in the same way as Orgone Accumulators. They are not Faraday cages although modern Orgone Accumulators generally are.
It is claimed that exposure to enhanced levels of Orgone have a health elevating effected. But, Reich also pointed out that Orgone Energy irritated or excited by certain environmental influences could become toxic.
What does this mean if visiting Long Barrows? If your visit is going to be brief very little, but if you intend to spend an extended period in one, say over an hour, do some research first.
Is the long barrow near any high voltage lines, a nuclear reactor or other sources of electro magnetic smog? By near, Reich suggested 5 kilometres as being a safe distance!
Another problem is that many long barrows have been reconstructed. Have they been reassembled correctly? Or, have they been reassembled using inappropriate materials. For example Stoney Littleton has several large copper bars used to hold things in place. Reich warned against the use of some materials in the construction of Orgone Accumulators one of which was copper which made the energy collected toxic.
Having said all that, as a once or twice in a lifetime experience, spending time in a suitable Long Barrow should be a rewarding experience. Pick a quite barrow (West Kennet is not recommended), treat the whole experience with respect. Start with space clearing to rid the barrow of any build up of unwanted energy, pick your spot inside (dowsing will probably help here) and sit down and let things happen. If you feel uncomfortable or unwell leave. Don’t forget warm clothing, a blanket, something waterproof to sit on and a torch. Leave nothing behind when you leave - no litter or candle wax (if you use a candle put it in a lantern).
Many Long Barrows are aligned to the mid winter solstice sun rise or sun set. If the barrow you have chosen is one of these, sit in the rear chamber and you will be able to watch an unforgettable experience.
If you want the experience of watching the mid-winter sun set from a chambered tomb in the comfort of your homes, Maes Howe in the Orkneys has had a live web cam in the tomb so people on-line can watch. I believe it runs for several days over the solstice period.
PC
The latest info on the future of Stonehenge thanks to Nora.
THE PROPOSED A303 TUNNEL AND THE NEW VISITORS' CENTRE
There are over eight hundred thousand visitors to Stonehenge each year. Avebury and Stonehenge are linked sites with World Heritage status. They have different management plans.
World Heritage status is an UNO award; it is part of UNESCO's responsibilities and is looked after by ICOMOS- The International Commission of Monuments and Sites, they have offices in Paris, France.
The A303 is the trunk road that joins London to the West of England. It joins the M3 near Basingstoke and goes west almost to Honiton where it changes to the A30. The A303 is part of the EU international highways policy.
The proposed tunnel will be south of the present A303. The eastern end will be just west of the road that comes from West Amesbury and the western end will be just west of two round barrows beside the A303 on the north side and a long barrow on the south side.
At Long Barrow Roundabouts, the A303 will go under the A360, Salisbury- Devizes road, with the usual interchange link ups. The dissected village of Winterbourne Stoke with its garage and pub on the north side of the A303 and the houses south of the A303 will have a by-pass to the north which will rejoin the existing road near Scotland Lodge, the B & B place.
The Countess Roundabouts -the A303-A345 Salisbury- Marlborough crossroads- is to have a fly over, there is sufficient land there already. This will reduce the roundabouts traffic so that any extra caused by the visitors' centre will be easily accommodated. The visitors centre will be on the north east corner behind the petrol station.
The proposed visitors centre will be terraced along the hillside with a grass roof and will be looking towards the River Avon. This is the Magical River Avon that the crop circle people know, that rises in the meadows between Alton Barnes and Alton Priors churches and collects the waters of the four other rivers at Salisbury and proceeds through the New Forest to the sea at Christchurch. The entrance and exit to the site will be alongside the existing ones used by the petrol station. There will be a land train that will go under the A345 to take the visitors around the landscape to various dropping off points, much of it along the existing disused railway track which is already screened with hedges.
Both planning applications have been made. The A303 tunnel and road works has had its public inquiry, Mr Darling is expected to tell Parliament in the New Year of his decision. The visitors' centre application has been subjected to a public consultation around Amesbury and the villages with manned displays. The councillors have yet to make their deliberations. Should this all come to pass, we would see completion about 2008-2009.
If the New Year's Eve night the wind doth blow south,
It does promise warmth and growth.
If it bloweth west then much milk and fish in the sea.
If it bloweth from the north then much cold and storms there will be.
If east, the trees will bear much fruit.
If north-east then flee it, man and brute.
If Old Christmas Day - 6th January comes during a waxing moon a good year would follow - if waning a hard one is predicted, and the nearer to the end of the moon the worse it will be. 2004 a waning moon!
Wishhound
And as you sit and contemplate the woeful weather for the year ahead you can cheer your self up with:-
1 lb SR Four ½ lb Butter
½ lb Sugar ½ lb Treacle
½ oz Ground Ginger 4 chunks of Crystallised Ginger finely chopped
Raisins and currants to decorate
Mix flour with butter, spice, sugar and treacle and add ginger. Roll into ball and place in fridge to cool for an hour.
Roll out to press out shapes, decorate with dried fruit and cook in a preheated oven at 180°C until golden. Remove quickly from tray and place on wire rack. When cold put into airtight tin.
Really nice decorated with lemon icing but needs to be eaten quickly.
Wishhound
Find your date of birth and read about your attributes. No guarantees of accuracy.
December 02 to December 11 - Hornbeam Tree (the Good Taste) - of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.
December 12 to December 21 - Fig Tree (the Sensibility) - very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, a social butterfly, great sense of humour, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, has artistic talent and great intelligence.
December 22 (only) - Beech Tree (the Creative) - has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).
December 23 to January 01 - Apple Tree (the Love) - quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.