Ancient Mysteries no. 17, October 1980  (continuation of Journal of Geomancy)

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REVIEWS

Terrestrial Astrology: Divination by Geomancy Stephen Skinner.  Routledge & Kegan Paul.  £15.00

In these days of rampant inflation and tight belts fifteen pounds is a lot of cash to pay for a book.  This book is a scholarly, well-researched treatise on all aspects (well, most aspects) of microcosmic geomancy.  That is to say the geomancy beloved of Aubrey Burl and Glyn Daniel when attacking the IGR – divination by dots at random, bits of earth, beans, seeds and the like.  Fortunately, the author in a note makes the distinction between these geomancies, and also in the introduction where he distinguishes between ‘ley line’ studies and feng-shui.  A book on the latter subject we are promised from the pen of Mr Skinner, and await it with anticipation and trepidation.  However, the present volume in question is without doubt the best exposition to date on divinatory (fortune telling) geomancy, covering its use in the Islamic world, Madagascar (though missing the divinatory game Fanorona, which was played during the siege of Antananarivo in 1897 to decide the outcome, the battle being seen as merely an outward manifestation of the game); medieval European geomancy; Renaisaance geomancy, and the astrological revival; and finally a ‘how to do it’ section.  Thoroughly well researched, this will make a useful Yule present in the stocking of any aspiring Adeptus Major (or Minor). 
Nigel Pennick

QUERCUS ROBUR VARIEGATA – notes on the history and lore of the Whiteleafed Oak in Herefordshire – compiled by Clive Harper, Hereford Philosophical and Antiquarian Society.

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Research Paper No2 of the HPaAS deals with various ideas about this place and the tree after which it is named.  The place has been claimed by John Michell and Michael Behrend among others to be at the significant geomantic point in terrestrial geometry.  A botanical identification of the tree’s species, its veneration etc. makes up the contents of this short but interesting paper. 

MYSTERIOUS DERBYSHIRE, by Philip Rickman and Graham Nown.  Dalesman Publishing Co., 80p.

When I was sent this booklet for review I saw the front cover with its ghostly letters and its repainted megalith photographs and I thought: it must be another one of those heilige linien books.  And it is, but for a book which is sold to tourists in the Peak Area of Derbyshire it must be more good than bad.  For it deals with esoteric things like earth rites and fairy lore and lays down maps of leys.  But my friends in the IGR report the several mistakes of the authors which base all the ideas on Watkins and miss W.H. Black and his colleagues in Victorian England.  Still, if we take a pinch of salt with the book we can enjoy much of it and hope that it will make a trip to Derbyshire, if we are going there, much more pleasant. 
Andreas von Stammheim

THE MAGIC OF THE RUNES By Michael Howard.  Aquarian 95p.

Michael Howard is well known for his editing The Cauldron, newsletter of the Old Religion.  His occult books on Runes and Candle Burning, too, have become standard works for witches and magicians in their rituals and conjurations.  Now he produces a small book on the use of runes and their history, mainly intended as an introduction to the complex and massive subject.  Also it has a section on amulets and {56} talismans, including the swastika, which it is good to see is making a comeback divorced from its Nazi connotations.  Along with a lusty defence of Paganism – all power to his elbow – Michael Howard shows the runes in their proper context – not as objects of archaeological quibbling, but as usable magical symbols. 
Nigel Pennick

THE ROUND TABLE OF THE GODS – an Inquiry into the Origins of the Somerset Zodiac.  by Barbara Crump.

Barbara Crump has been writing about leys and zodiacs for many years and was a regular contributor to the Screeton era Ley Hunter.  Now she has produced a nicely-printed booklet on the Glastonbury Zodiac which ties in the iconography of the temple of the stars with Phoenician and other near eastern symbolism.  Of great interest is her discovery of the orientations visible from Butleigh Cross, which she appeals to people with greater technical knowledge than herself to check.  Here’s one for the astroarchaeological people!  Barbara has also produced a small reprint of a part of Maltwood’s work on SOMERSET ZODIAC, which just outlines the figures and has a simple sketch plan of the effigies.  The former publication is available at 50p, the latter at 5p plus postage from Address, Nr. Glastonbury, Somerset. 

TALES OF THE HEXHAM HEADS by Paul Screeton From Address, Hartlepool, Co. Durham.  75p incl postage.

The Hexham Heads are a complex tale of Fortean happenings, archaeology, psychic oddities and just plain weird things.  {60} These bizarre bonces dug from the ground have been said to be the cause of werewolf phenomena at the house of Dr Anne Ross, the Celtic scholar.  Later reports that they were neither Celtic nor ancient by their supposed maker just cobbled up the tale yet more.  Paul Screeton chronicles the strange and conflicting data surrounding the whole ludicrous yet sinister tale and comes up with several conclusions.  Great stuff for the fortean/mystic/bloody weird aficionado. 
N.  Caputmontis

A GUIDEBOOK TO ARTHURIAN BRITAIN By Geoffrey Ashe Longman Travellers Series £6.95

Arthurian Scholar Geoffrey Ashe has done a very useful job in compiling this guidebook, which alphabetically deals with the places, events, and personnel of the Arthurian story.  Illustrated with photographs of key places, the Guidebook is certainly worth getting if you are an Arthur enthusiast. 
N.P.

A HARVEST OF FESTIVALS By Marian Greene Longmans Travellers Series £6.50

At the same time as the Arthur book, Longmans have produced a more pagan and folk oriented work by Marian Green, editor of the Pagan/occult Journal Quest.  This book covers the Padstow obbyoss, Helston Furry Dance, Glastonbury, Thaxted morris dancers, Stonehenge’s modern Druids, Lewes bonfire night, mummers’ plays, wassailing, giant hill figures and other ancient British festivals as yet unsuppressed by the church and dialectical materialism.  Of interest more to the novice than the participant, the book nevertheless is a good record of our ancient Pagan heritage. 
NP