No 4: Winter Solstice

by Patrick MacManaway

Geomancy is the study of the dynamic and interwoven relationship between human consciousness and it's subtle energetic matrix with the consciousness and subtle energetic matrix of the earth. Both exist as spirit manifesting in matter through the expression of sacred geometry in space-time, and as such, dance in dynamic interdepencent relationship with the ebb and flow of the tides and cycles of the cosmos, as witnessed on earth by the ever-changing aspects of the stars and planets.

Earth is a smooth pond which is imprinted by and reflects the web of planetary influences, as soft putty carries the imprint of a gently-pressed finger. We humans are as water spiders on the surface of the pond, weaving into physical form the web that we see and feel reflected from above. There are reflections also from the sand on the bottom of the pond which are felt and woven on the surface, and in this way the stars hear not only their own echo from earth, but the music of Gaia's own sphere intermingled with their sweet symphony. Incarnate humans thus can be the creators of a heavenly web on the spherical surface of the earth, attuned simultaneously to the above and below, swimming in the ecstacy of creation.

Number is archetype. Number expressed in space is geometry. Number expressed in time is music. Number expressed in space-time is astronomy / astrology. Number expressed in space-time also is geomancy. Human form is created in phi proportion, the proportion of harmonious interaction and of mutually-enhancing relationship.

We are the weavers. Ours is the web. This is our birthright and our destiny.

Issue No. 3 >>

Write comment (0 Comments)

The Gathering Earth Energies: An Interim Report
by Sig Lonegren

(If you have not read my intital article on the Benton Castle Labyrinth in the Summer Solstice issue of MAG E-zine, you might want to read it before you read this article.)



Benton Castle Labyrinth

In the Summer Solstice issue of MAG E-zine, I reported my findings at the newly constructed Benton Castle labyrinth in SouthWestern Wales. Built by the owner, Mrs. Elizabeth Sulivan, this Chartres type labyrinth has demonstrated some fascinating properties. Elizabeth is an extremely competent dowser, and she dowsed it's location, orientation and the specific location of each stone in its walls. ( Labyrinth terms described) In April, I calculated that the major axis of the labyrinth and the concomitant orientation of the energy ley which exits out of the mouth of the labyrinth should align with the Winter Solstice Sunrise (this will have to be seen this Winter Solstice to be verified, but my measurements indicate that this should be the case).


Sig & Elizabeth
Sig Lonegren and Elizabeth Sulivan on top of Benton Castle

But even more interesting, when Elizabeth first dowsed the location of the labyrinth, there were essentially no Earth Energies under the space it was to occupy; however, after its construction both a dome of water and number of energy leys (also called "e leys") were also drawn to it! The dome was initially noticed by Maj. Gen. Bill Cooper, President of the British Society of Dowsers, who is a friend of Elizabeth's. He was having lunch there (always a gourmet fEast) when he happened to notice that there was a dome of water under the dining room table, which had not been there when he had dowsed the castle on previous visits. To make it even more of a puzzle, the dome was apparently moving - towards the recently completed labyrinth! When I first visited Elizabeth several weeks later, the dome was in place, at the center of the labyrinth. But also, there were a number of energy leys Crossing there as well. The dome is yin, and the e leys are yang - thus making a complete circuit.


April energies
The energies at Benton Castle Labyrinth
as dowsed in April 1966

There have been other dowsers who have also noticed the apparent ability of new labyrinths, that were used regularly, to draw water to them - John Wayne Blassingame and Marty Cain, both good dowsers in the US - to mention two. Here at Benton, was the first time I had seen that energy leys were also drawn to the newly constructed space. Notice that there are two through e leys. One running along the major axis of the labyrinth and out the mouth. I call this the major axis e ley. The second through e ley runs from North to South. For me, North is the direction of Wisdom, so I think of it as bringing Wisdom in to the labyrinth, so I call it the Wisdom ley. The other two half e leys are a bit odd. At first, I thought that they were one through e ley, but they did not actually align. They were two earthing points. I had not seen two "half e leys" at a sacred site before, so I proposed at that time that this might be an interim stage of the energies "settling in," there might be some shifting still to come.


October 1996

I recently returned to visit Elizabeth Sulivan at her home at Benton Castle. Once again, I found her to be a gracious hostess full of ideas, stories, and enthusiasm for her work in the areas of dowsing, healing and labyrinths. I was anxious to check out the energies at the labyrinth, so after another unbelievably good lunch, I headed down to do some geomancy.


October energies
The energies at Benton Castle Labyrinth
as dowsed in October 1966

Major Axis E Ley

After making sure my protection was working and checking in with the spirit of the place, with a handful of small rocks, I began to dowse with my L rods around the outer wall of the labyrinth, starting with the Major axis e ley that flowed out the mouth toward the SouthWest. I put a rock down in the center of the path at the mouth, and went on in a clockwise direction with my rods in the search position.


The Earthing Point E Leys

Elizabeth has constructed two relatively small partial stone rings - one on either side of the labyrinth. Just after I passed a tall stone in the circle nearest the castle, my rods went out indicating that the shorter end of the 'L's' were directly over the center of an energy ley/e ley. I put down another stone at that point. This was one of the earthing points that I had dowsed the last time. It was flowing towards the center, and it did not hit any of the stones in that circle.


Benton Castle Labyrinth
The labyrinth from the top of Benton Castle
Notice the people to the right at the mouth.
The walls that mark the end of the first quadrant of the labyrinth
come from the goal and point towards the castle
mark a new energy ley


New Earthing Point E Ley Runs Through Castle

The end of the first of the four quarters of this labyrinth is clearly marked in this labyrinth. Actually, an impressive alignment of walls coming out from the center clearly delineate each of the four quarters. It is ninety degrees from the mouth, in the NorthWest. To my surprise, my rods went out at this point, indicating a new e ley had come in. There had not been one there when I had dowsed in April! It flowed through the castle towards the center. I deposited another small stone, this one marking the center of this new energy ley. As I did not find another e ley on the other side of the labyrinth, I determined that this new one was yet another earthing point.


Wisdom E Ley

The through ley that had run North to South when I dowsed in April was still coming in from the North. Each of the Four directions can have meaning for those who learn to read Nature. It is entirely possible that each reader may have a slightly (or radically) different meaning for each of them. There is no "correct" meaning. It is what is right for the individual. For me, North has to do with Wisdom. Working with the Sun and the naked eye alone, one can tell East and West twice a year - given a level horizon, the Sun comes up due East and sets due West on both Equinoxes. South is the point on any given day when the Sun is at its zenith. With out tools, this is a good way to go blind relatively quickly. On the other hand, given a clear sky, on any night, if you live North of the Equator, by using the two pointer stars on the big dipper/the plough, you can find the North star, Polaris. Point at that star with your finger. Allow your arm to drop directly to the horizon. That is North. If you know where you're going, that's called Wisdom. I'm calling this e ley the Wisdom energy ley, because it comes from the North, and brings Wisdom into the labyrinth. I put a stone at that point.

Shortly after this Wisdom e ley, I came to the other end of the Major axis e ley. Another stone.

The Bent E Ley

But it was the next e ley that I hit that really excited me. It was flowing away from the center. When I had been there in April, this had been an earthing point, going towards the center. I took a moment to walk to the goal of the labyrinth to dowse and follow this differently flowing e ley. At the center, my aurameter (an advanced Spring loaded dowsing instrument that you can get from the ASD Bookstore) bent slightly and went along to that first e ley clockwise from the mouth that I had thought was still an earthing point! It was as if the two e leys coming in initially as two distinct earthing point e leys were in the process of becoming one. But bent? I have never seen this before. One common characteristic of all leys was that they were straight - and here was a bent one! Another stone marked the center of that bent e ley.

I continued on around the edge of the labyrinth, and found the other end of the Wisdom e ley, and left a final stone there. Then on back to the mouth, and the Major Axis e Ley.

When I dowsed in April, I found two through e leys, and two earthing point e leys *almost* diametrically opposed. Now I was finding two "normal" through e leys, one "bent" e ley, and a new earthing point e ley!


Map
April Map October Map

These findings change the way I have been looking at power centers for the last twenty-five years. I had always come down on the side of our ancient formothers and fathers locating their sacred sites on earth energy centers that were already there. In fact, I still suspect that for the most part, this was the case; however, there is no denying that new sacred spaces (at lEast labyrinths), when used with intention can draw the Earth Energies to them. And in that birthing process, the energies do things that one just doesn't see at long time sacred spaces.

I will be curious to see what happens when/if the major axis of the Benton Castle labyrinth aligns with the setting Winter Solstice Sun. My pendulum tells me that at that time, there will be a major burst of energy in to the labyrinth, and the bent e ley will snap into straightness. Unfortunately, I'll be in Vermont at the Winter Solstice, so I have asked Elizabeth to dowse what happens there for me, and I shall certainly check it out myself the next time I'm up there in Southern Wales, and write a further report about the gathering of the energies at a new sacred space.

Next >>

Write comment (0 Comments)

by Billy Gawn,
Templepatrick, N. Ireland

I am the "fine" water dowser that Sig mentioned in the Summer Solstice 1996 Edition of the MAG E-zine. I agree with Sig on most points but that is his description and don't blame me if he is wrong. Yes I dowse for water but I dowse for many other things as well. I am one of those people who likes to know why something happens and continually asks: What if? I believe that there is a reason for everything and I like to know the reason.

I am very interested in the idea that labyrinths can draw blind Springs to them and I intend to get at the truth of the matter. If they do then there is a good reason why. Don't expect the answer in the next day or two as it takes time to carry out an experiment like this.

However I will tell you what I believe to be the case about blind Springs or water domes as I know it at the moment. Sig gave a god broad brush description of what a blind Spring is in the Summer edition. But to recap. It is an ascending vertical shaft of water which does not reach the surface of the earth but is dispersed through several horizontal fissures which intersect the vertical shaft. These horizontal fissures are often at different levels and of different sizes. To look down on a blind Spring is like looking down on the stays of an open umbrella or the spokes of a wheel. As these veins flow away from the centre in many cases they subdivide into several flows. Looking at the side view it is probably more like a tree with the branches coming away at different levels and the branches becoming twigs.

Cross section of a blind Spring rising from an underground stream and dispersing through smaller veins of water. The water is forced upwards due to a narrowing of the underground stream just past the vertical fissure.


3 blind springs
Sticks marking the position of three
blind Springs inside a stone circle

Where the water went to did not fascinate me as much as where it came from in the first place. In some of these vertical shafts of water there can be huge volumes flowing. Thousands of gallons per hour. That amount of water does not just appear from nowhere. So I went looking for the source. There is a line of thought that water is being formed within the rock structure on a continuous basis. This was well documented by Chris Bird in a section of his book The Divining Hand called New Water From Rock. There seems to be a lot of evidence to support that view. The geologists viewpoint is that all underground water comes from rainfall and the surface water soaking down into the crust of the earth. This also is undoubtedly true so why look any further.

When I dowsed the area around the blind Springs I found that they were being fed by very large, deep underground rivers. These could be up to 100 yds across and with enormous flows of water in them. They could be several thousand feet deep.


Stream Stream
Sticks on ground and fingers show both edges of a deep underground stream which is the full width of the stone circle.

So never mind the blind Springs, where is the water coming from that is in these underground rivers. I have had some very good water dowsers check out their existence and position and they agree that they are really there. I followed some of them on the ground and found that they led me from ancient site to ancient site. It has been well recorded for many year that all ancient sites have blind Springs beneath them and I would support that claim.

Walk as I would the source of these underground rivers were a long way away. So I resorted to map dowsing and found that I was led back to the Arctic Ocean where the most of them seemed to originate. Could that be so. Is it possible that at some places on the ocean floor faults occur that allows sea water to sink deep enough to a level where it is heated up and turned to steam. This steam then being forced upwards through other fissures until it condenses and forms these large underground rivers. As it flows along in these rivers restrictions occurs in the flow and pressure builds up forcing water up through existing vertical fissures to form blind Springs. As Sig has said this is repeated several times with the flows getting smaller as they get nearer to the surface.

I have developed a method of deviceless dowsing that allows me to dowse in a three dimensional manner. Therefore I can detect where water is flowing upward and where it is flowing downward. In the title of this piece I mentioned up, down and round and round. The blind Springs are the up of the story. It is generally true that everything that goes up must also go down. At lEast it is true in the case of water. Although not as common there are many places where water descends downwards in a vertical shaft and enters a lower stream. Recently I unearthed another phenomon which is to be found where uppers and downers are reasonably close together. This is what I call the round and rounder. The water comes up the blind Spring runs along a horizontal vein and in the matter of several yards plunges down a vertical fissure and then at the bottom runs back to the blind Spring again and starts another trip.


Diagram showing Uppers, Downers and Round and Rounders. Arrows indicate the direction of flow

There is a complex of stone circles and alignments at Beaghmore Co. Tyrone, one of the places where I took Sig when he visited me in May last. One of these circles is very unusual in that it has hundreds of smallish stones placed inside it. It is locally called the sharks tooth circle. At Beaghmore there is a lot of the kind of underground water that I am talking about. A very wide, deep river. Dozens of blind Springs and hundreds of lesser veins coming from the blind Springs. The sharks tooth circle is the prize of the lot. The outer stones are in an egg shape and accurately mark the outer edge of a very severely fractured area of rock. The small stones inside either mark the position of a blind Spring or that of a down shaft of water. All the uppers and the downers are connected and the water is moving like that in a boiling pot. This great turbulence creates a unique energy field around it. This was the only circle where Sig dowsed an energy ley Crossing it.


Beaghmore

If my map dowsing is correct then Elizabeth Sulivan's labyrinth not only has the blind Spring that Sig mentioned but two others, one to each side and five downers which are round and rounders. An on site dowse to see if this is correct would be interesting. It is possible that the construction and use of a labyrinth changes the levels of the magnetic field in such a way that water that would be flowing beneath the site is attracted up existing dry fissures. That is only a wild guess and may be totally wrong. Hopefully some day I will be able to give a better answer. In the mean time you dowsers out there get your rods out and start searching for those uppers, downers and round and rounders. Good luck.

Next >>

Write comment (0 Comments)