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Earth EnergiesBy Lise Hull |
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Britain’s Ancient and Sacred Stones -
Sources of Earth Energy The ancient standing stones, stone circles and burial chambers of Stone and Bronze Age Britain evoke a strong sense of mystery. While their often gritty appearance reflects the impact of eons of weather - rain, wind and erosion - and the lack of their original earthen covering, the stones’ upright stance and isolation in the countryside humanize them. Now located well off the beaten track in windswept moorland and high atop craggy hills, the enigmatic stones prompt awe and stir the imagination. Their strange shapes and out-of-the-way locations easily elicit images of funerary ritual and Celtic mysticism. Yet, for the beholder, the stones often produce even stronger feelings: an awareness of the past, of profound peace, of sacredness or of the intrinsic link between nature and humanity. The sites are just one component of a subject that has come to be known as ‘earth energies’ or ‘earth mysteries.’ From the greatest ancient sites, like Stonehenge or Avebury in England,
to the lowliest single stone upright still standing in cow pastures
throughout Britain, archaeologists and other scientists have agonized
about how and why the strange forms were built. They have determined that
sites like Stonehenge and Avebury had roles in the ritual lives of the
ancients and were used repeatedly over the centuries. Speculation remains
that stone circles may have been used as astronomic observatories. Many
people also think that such sites were chosen because they radiate an
energy that drew the ancients to them, inspiring them to haul massive
stones to build their prized monuments. Indeed, standing in their
presence, it is difficult to argue with that theory, for the stones do
seem to exude a palpable energy. |
| In the 1920’s, British businessman Alfred
Watkins made an intriguing discovery about Britain’s ancient monuments
while visiting Herefordshire, England. Looking at a local map, he noticed
that many prehistoric and other ancient sites were aligned. After further
research, Watkins developed the notion of the "ley line" to
describe the straight alignments of prehistoric stone sites, barrows,
hillforts and hill tops, moated sites, medireview churches and so forth
that he identified on maps and during his explorations of the British
landscape. "The Old Straight Track", written by Watkins,
prompted the creation of The Straight Track Club, whose descendant still
survives as The Ley Hunter’s Club. The book remains an intriguing read,
for it defines how to hunt for leys, amongst other topics. ("Ley"
is a Saxon word meaning "cleared strip of ground" or
"meadow".) |
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| Over time, Watkins’ theory evolved. Now,
many people believe that ley lines are energy lines, places in the earth
linking repositories of energy which are focused at ancient stone sites.
During the 1960’s, the notion of the existence of earth energies first
became popular and, in some circles, the definition of ley line broadened
to encompass folklore, mysticism and fantasy. Scientists formally tested
Watkins’ theory in the 1970’s at the Rollright Stones, in Oxfordshire,
England. There, a shorter but complete circle of 70 stones, known as the
King’s Men, rests in the earth close to the King Stone, an 8-foot tall,
curved standing stone, and the Whispering Knights, the upright stones from
a burial chamber now lacking its covering earthen mound. Led by Paul
Devereux, former editor of "The Ley Hunter", the Dragon Project
attempted to determine whether ancient sites radiate earth energy by using
scientific equipment. Even though the project did not prove the existence
of earth energies, workers did record magnetic and radiation anomalies at
some of the sites they examined. After the Dragon Project, Devereux went on to publish several fascinating and revealing books on earth mysteries; from time to time, he still does lecture tours around Britain. The Rollright Stones remain a favorite destination for people fascinated not only with ancient sites, but also with the subject of earth energies. Avebury, likewise, is a mecca for dowsers and others interested in the mysteries of the stones, and visitors may purchase dowsing rods to try their hand at pinpointing the energy sources. For the believer and non-believer, visiting ancient sites stimulates
the senses. As someone who has experienced the sensations of deeper
awareness and wonderment while standing in the presence of these curious
stones, who has felt firsthand the powerful surge of the rods while
dowsing at prehistoric burial sites, and who has had the needle of a
compass permanently reverse direction at Plumstone Mountain, Pembrokeshire,
Wales, in the midst of a thunderstorm, I believe in the power of the
energy, whatever its source. Plumstone is dotted with ancient hut circles
and crossed by an ancient trackway. Undoubtedly, Alfred Watkins would have
placed the site on a ley line! |
| Lise Hull is a freelance writer specializing in British heritage. She is presently living in Wales while completing her master’s degree in heritage studies. She has lived in and traveled throughout Britain for the past sixteen years, studying dozens of ancient sites and medieval castles, the stones of which also exude an energy. |
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