REVIEWS

Local Curiosities. A miscellany of ghosts, legends and unusual facts from the Lowestoft area. Ivan Bunn and Michael Burgess.

This little book, available from the East Suffolk and Norfolk Antiquarians at Address, Lowestoft, Suffolk at 35p including p&p, covers many aspects of local lore:– ghosts and phantoms, old stones, ancient trackways, old trees and other phenomena generally associated with geomancy. Lavishly illustrated, it is a model for this type of publication which ought to be emulated. Highly recommended.

Aquavideo. Locating underground water. Verne L. Cameron, edited by Bill Cox.

Although published several years ago, this book is of interest to students of the geomantic arts and sciences in that it combines ESP and dowsing. The late Verne Cameron was a renowned dowser who was even used by the U.S. Navy to locate ‘enemy’ submarines by map-dowsing. A step-by-step guide to dowsing is given, and various techniques and apparatus are described and evaluated, including the celebrated Cameron Aurameter. The work is edited by Bill Cox, stalwart editor of The Pyramid Guide. It is available from El Cariso Publications, Address, Santa Barbara, California ZIP code, U.S.A. at $ 6·95 + postage.

The Holderness Zodiac. By Philip Heselton.

Produced by Philip to coincide with the First Cambridge Geomancy Symposium, this booklet describes in some detail the zodiac which Philip has discovered in Holderness, South Yorkshire. It deals with the approaches by which zodiacs may be analyzed, describes each figure in turn, evaluates the role of leys and compares the zodiac with others. There is an appendix on ancient sites in Holderness, and a discussion of possible sites of other British terrestrial zodiacs. Finally, there is an excellent fold-out map of the area. Essential reading for anyone interested in the geomantic mysteries of the landscape. It is available from the I.G.R. for 35p inclusive of p&p.

The Glastonbury Giants by Mary Caine.

The Glastonbury Zodiac, discovered by Katherine Maltwood, whose centenary falls next year (and deserves to be celebrated – any ideas?), is the best-known zodiac in England. Although James Clarke & Co. are to reprint ‘Temple of the Stars’, it is at present out of print. Mary Caine, who has done more than anyone else to publicize the Glastonbury Zodiac, has produced a comprehensive survey of the Zodiac in booklet form. All the figures are covered, and her refinements are compared with Maltwood’s original figures. There are aerial photographs of Gemini/Jesus, Virgo and the Aquarius phoenix/eagle. Mrs. Caine has photographed the zodiac from the air at her own expense – it’s a pity that the Maltwood Bequest isn’t available for such a purpose rather than rooting up mediaeval tower houses or aristocrats’ manuscripts. It includes a map of the entire area for visitors who wish to do fieldwork. It costs 75p + p&p, from Mary Caine, Address, Kingston, Surrey.

The Standing Stones of Callanish by Gerald and Margaret Ponting.

The enigmatic stone circle and avenues at Callanish, on the Scottish island of Lewis are described extremely well in this remarkable booklet, which is essential reading for anyone interested in megalithic sites. The authors describe the circle., and put it in its historical context. Every theory of the stones’ usages is mentioned, a useful summary of various ideas which are rarely collected together in one place. The studies of early antiquarians and the stones’ excavation are discussed, before the second part of the book which details the stones’ role as astronomical markers. Thoroughly recommended, it is lavishly illustrated with drawings, maps and photographs. It costs 75p + p&p from Gerald and Margaret Ponting, Address, Callanish, Isle of Lewis, Postcode, Scotland.