THE KENT CIRCLES
PART TWO
During the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s Arthur Shuttlewood who was covering the Warminster UFO flap at the time, discovered a number of flattened circles in marshland. A number of these events were mentioned throughout his series of books that specifically dealt with the so-called “Warminster Mysteries”. These swirls in common with many others that were being discovered world-wide at the time were usually found in reed beds or grass.
Throughout January and February of ’66 Arthur found several of these “nests” in nearby marshland. Immaculately swirled clockwise, these particular ones measured exactly 30 feet across, just as others had coincidently measured previously. (And something that once again added more credence to the “They’re the landing marks of UFO’s theory!”)
Just after Christmas 2001, we were invited by friends to stay for a few days in a beautiful period cottage that was just within a stones throw of Warminster in Wiltshire. Presenting us with a great opportunity to relive some of the “Warminster Mysteries” during our New Year stay, we covered many of the places that had become so familiar to us through Arthur Shuttlewood’s accounts. It was on New Years Eve when we climbed up Cley Hill, notorious not only for UFO sightings, but for its views over fields that have hosted many crop circles over the years.
Although that morning we’d had a light dusting of snow it really turned out to be a beautiful cloudless day. Upon an impulse the four of us, Nick, Thea, Janet and myself hit upon the idea of meditating for a crop circle whist surrounded by the very same fields that had received them in the past. The idea being that if by some incredible means a circle should just happen to appear nearby next summer, four devoted croppies would receive an incredible high!
On the following day which was New Years Day, Kent had also received a light dusting of snow. Early that morning one of our MCC members Jac Showell just happened to be driving along the M20 in an easterly direction when he was suddenly confronted by three circular shapes in a field over to his left hand side. Much to his amazement, here were three perfectly formed snow and frost-free circles that sported distinctive razor-sharp edges in meadow grass. Clearly stunned by what he had seen, Jac decided to investigate and pulled off at the next junction which was the Leeds Castle turn-off. Not in the least bit sure of where he was heading or letting himself in for, he found himself back-tracking through some very narrow country lanes until he eventually found the field.
The circles were approximately 40 – 45 feet across and appeared size-wise at first, to have echoed the branch spans of some nearby trees. Thinking that perhaps the tree spans had somehow influenced the ground temperature etc, Jac searched round hoping for some similar examples but couldn’t find any. This theory was quickly ruled out as it was also quite obvious that they’d been precisely formed. It isn’t known if the young grass was affected in any way and unfortunately Jac was unable to provide any photographic evidence.
These circles which by mid-afternoon had melted away were found near Charing at Hunger Hatch which is actually within the Ashford environs. The motorway actually slices the field in two and within the middle of the field and close to the southbound carriageway, lays Newlands Manor and the remains of an old chapel. Also adjacent to the next field southwards we find the remains of Chart Court Church. The Pilgrims Way, The North Downs Way, and The Stour Valley Walk, as well as the remains of an Archbishops palace and the Egerton Tumulus, are all within a mile or so of that particular field…And with a pedigree like that, how could it not be perfect for circles?
Opposite this field is a wooded area known as Hurstwood, which forms part of an alignment that runs from the Egerton Tumulus heading northwards towards the old ruins of the Archbishops Palace at Charing. The name Hurstwood rings bells with me because not only is it the name of my road, but coincidentally there’s also another wooded area in North Kent bearing the same name that’s also had a bit of a run in with crop circles! On that occasion the woods known as Hurstwood were situated bang on an alignment that connected two formations back in 2000.
Much later it was realised that the field the circles briefly occupied was exactly on the line of latitude (51.12° N) as is Cley Hill in Warminster, where we’d just meditated for circles on New Years Eve!
That summer Kent only received a couple of formations and somewhat surprisingly they were very simple affairs. This struck me and others as being rather odd, because prior to this (and since) we’d always received some beautiful designs. The first to arrive was a large circle accompanied by a smaller one, occupying a gentle slope on the outskirts of the village of High Halden near Ashford. The second one arrived just outside the village of Charing less than a quarter of a mile or so from the rambling ruins of the old Archbishops Palace. This interested me because this old palace formed part of the alignment that the earlier snow-free circles had led us to discover. Forming a triangular shape, the formation consisted of three 30 feet circles sweeping clockwise and distanced 30 feet away from each other.
Little did we realise at the time that these simple circles were disappointingly our quota for that year, but I was reminded sometime later that during the New Year meditation we hadn’t really focussed on any particular design…all that we’d asked for was circles – and it was only circles we’d got! But hey, wasn’t it simple circles that had appeared in the fields surrounding Cley Hill back in the early 70’s? And wasn’t it a fact that most of the circles found at the time were 30 feet across and sweeping clockwise?
THE AMPLIFIED MEDITATIONS!
On a couple of occasions the Medway group devoted an evening to “Meditating for a Crop Circle” enclosed within a giant geometric shape...And although an inch or so of snow on one such evening during January of 2003 nearly put paid to it, eight MCC members (plus one other) braved the icy conditions which later proved to be the perfect number with regards attendance!
Employing accurate lengths of copper tubing that slotted together, we all helped Roy Luck (who apart from being quite a spiritual guy also happens to be a plumber!) to construct a geometric combination of a dodecahedron / icosahedron’s shape that took up most of the room. Although it measured roughly 15 – 20 feet across and stood around 12 feet high, at least eight people could just about sit inside.
The dodecahedron symbolises the ether whilst the icosahedron symbolises fluid. Linked together these energies supposedly enhance our awareness of the universal consciousness of one, or as Roy put it “The Grid of Consciousness”. The shape itself creates a resonating amplifier…a transmitter if you like that assists in meditation and communication. And as such it’s therefore important to approach it without negative thought, for otherwise negativity would also be amplified.
On this occasion all eight of us managed to squeeze inside and we began the meditation in our usual way. We always began by thanking “The Circle makers” for the wonderful gifts they’ve sent us in the past etc, and then we usually went on to say something along the lines of “Please could you acknowledge us for our devoted interest” etc.
We focussed on a couple of shapes that were loosely based upon previous Kent formations as well as a couple of numbers. One of those shapes was a figure of eight, whilst one of the numbers we chose was the number eleven.
The dodeca-amplifier was set up in our usual meeting place…a Quaker Meeting House that has a three-line-lay running through it. The dodeca was purposely placed precisely on that line, and after the meditation we found that its energy level had definitely risen. The openness of the construction allowed you to place your hand outside the structure whilst inside…Imagine how amazed we were to find that there was definitely a difference in temperature from within the structure compared to the rest of the room!
On April 20th 2003 the first reported crop circle of the year arrived at Privett in Hampshire in a field of oil seed rape…it was a figure of eight.
Our meditation evening took place on January 8th and we had meditated upon a figure of eight. We also focussed on the number eleven and the formation came down on the 20th of the 4th 2003…the sum of which is eleven! Now whilst we’re not going to go as far as to say that we’re totally responsible for somehow telepathically creating this design, it simply has to be said that we might have done! Both the meditated for design and the formation had something quite specific in common…they were both broken eights that didn’t quite complete.
The Privett formation by virtue of its break hints at clockwise spirals…
The ancients looked upon a clockwise spiral as “Life in ascendancy”, whereas an anti-clockwise spiral meant “Life descending”…Either way though they both symbolise “Life eternal” in that they both return to source. Similarly the direction in which a crop circle is swept embraces these very same meanings.
That year Easter Sunday which celebrates in one sense ascendancy, fell on April 20th which becomes even more interesting when you consider that the esoteric number of Christ is eight (…well, 888 to be more precise)
Similar to a circle the figure eight is a symbol of eternity for it’s without a beginning or an end. Laid upon its side it becomes the infinity symbol. And with it being the number of Christ it appears to suggest that through a belief in Him, eternal life may be sought.
Just over a month later on May 24th at Woodingdean in East Sussex, another figure of eight arrived that was also quite similar to an “S” shape.
This broken figure amazingly resembled our meditated one in that it was made up of eleven diminishing circles. Our meditated pattern consisted of twenty nine circles (2 + 9 = 11).
Interestingly this second figure of eight was placed close to a “thought-bubble” formation that had arrived in the same field a week or so earlier. Lying side by side they couldn’t have appeared much closer together if they’d tried. Now is it too fanciful to suppose that the “thought bubble” was suggesting a thought transference? Did it arrive first in order to indicate the arrival of a meditated for design?
CELTIC LINKS
Almost without exception the local Kent circles are to be found close to ancient trackways, standing stones and tumuli etc, and usually upon land once farmed by the Celts. Many of Kent’s beautiful designs are Celtic inspired and could quite easily have originated from the brush strokes of Celtic illuminators.
The Celts were a tribal based society that sprang from a patchwork quilt of many other cultures founded long ago in ancient Europe. Evidence has suggested that the first arrivals of these ethnic types to Kentish shores was during the fifth century BC. These invaders from Belgic Gaul settled throughout the river valleys where they began to lay down their ancient culture which later “Celticised” the British Isles. Being earth loving, the Celts sought peaceful sanctuary within sacred space and chose to settle near lakes and rivers where they could practise their rituals. The Medway and Darent valleys were no exception to this, with the Medway Valley in particular being one of the earliest known areas of permanent settlement.
Skilled in the use of dry-point compasses that enabled highly complex patterns to emerge, the Celts became the creators of beautiful geometric designs. Within these highly stylised forms we’re able to see where Celtic art has had such a profound influence on many of our circle designs…Take the two for instance that landed together back in June ’99 below Trottiscliffe (Trosley) Country Park…
Photos © Andrew King
Lying half a mile from the Coldrum Stones upon land that was once worked by the Celts, both these formations geometrically relied upon three circles overlapping each other in order to reveal their striking designs. The jawdropping “Circle of Circles” that was found in winter wheat is actually a very ancient Celtic symbol known as a triskele or triskelion. This symbolism was often employed in beautiful border patterns created by highly skilled illuminators during the early Celtic middle period of 350BC – 100AD. The triskele symbolises the cycles of life within the threefold (summer = life and winter = death, whilst spring = rebirth and renewal). The way in which the three circles intertwine, perfectly illustrates the cyclic aspect of the ever-flowing outward returning to source.
Within the triskele formation we found the importance the Celts attached to three and this was further stated if you like, by its very elegant tri-circular neighbour. The Celts loved style and their admiration for elegance was absolute…Such was the quality of this design that the sweep of the crescents ran out into single stems! One thing though that acts as a common denominator in Kent circles is the number three and although we receive formations that outwardly express six and twelve, it’s usually three that importantly forms their backbone.
The main features of Celtic art were closely tied to the most ancient forms of Celtic Paganism. Throughout the first millennium Celtic Traditions were being worked into the background of early Christian art, with the result that ancient Celtic styles were being re-born into Christian iconography…Just take a look around our churches!
Etched within the masonry, the stained glass and the pierced carvings, we find Celtic-Christian iconography in abundance. Mitre shaped windows are topped by trefoils, alongside beautifully leaded roundels that feature eight or sixteen-fold spans signifying Celtic “Wheels of Fortune” etc. Also found within the churchyards are the Celtic crosses, that apart from functioning as headstones, often serve as highly stylised stand-alones that are rich at times in Celtic artwork. Inspired and influenced by the geometric motifs featured on megalithic stone carvings, spirals, triskeles and Celtic knots, share the ideas of shape and form from many ages past.
Celtic art is spiritual…and that’s why I believe “The Circlemakers” employ it within their vehicles. It was the Celts that recognised the Earth as a living entity and gave love and respect for all creation…Ideals that have been lost but that which, when you look deep enough, are now echoed by “The Circlemakers”.
“The Circlemakers” issued a very profound statement through a lightly pressed Celtic knot that appeared near Wrotham during May 2000.
I mentioned this formation in part one and within it we can immediately recognise the continuity of everlasting life, for this is a mystical knot that symbolically represents “the flow of eternal spirit” or “spirit-flow”. By placing a knot within our fields “The Circlemakers” have implied a connection, or a link…for a knot unites through the power of binding. It’s a pity the farmer didn’t quite see it that way…but that’s another story!
BESIDE ANCIENT TRACKS
Almost without exception the Kent formations place themselves beside our ancient walkways. One such track that’s commonly known as The Pilgrims Way clearly acts as some sort of magnet for circle activity. And by bearing that in mind it offers quite a safe bet as to where they’re likely to land!
Photo © Graham Tucker
Often merging with the Pilgrims Way is the more recently named North Downs Way. To some extent this was partly an add-on trackway that was used by foreign pilgrims arriving from the Channel coast on their way to Canterbury.
On the 29th of December 1170, Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury was overwhelmed and murdered within the cathedral. This was after four knights overheard King Henry ІІ remark “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” A few years later, Becket was canonised and the cathedral became a shrine which led to Canterbury becoming one of the most important pilgrimage centres in Europe. Slowly over the years a small network developed, with one such route from London becoming immortalised in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” and acknowledged by “The Circlemakers” on a couple of occasions at Istead Rise near Gravesend.
For mediaeval pilgrims the journey along these “ways” imbued much meaning for the times were steeped in mysticism and cultish devotion. Common to all pilgrims was the heightened sense of enlightenment they encountered. Ancient energies reside along trackways and ancient sites, and pilgrimage is a way of encountering these old currents. The Kent circles it would seem, deliberately link us to these old energies in order that we may feel and experience the very same ambient presence of place.
Pilgrimage by definition is a journey to a sacred place that holds the promise of personal contact with all that’s sacred. True pilgrimage changes lives…It’s a journey that’s embarked upon in order to find an inner path. A journey if you like, upon which you can take your soul for a stroll!
End-notes
Arial photographs used by kind permission from Dr Andrew King © 2000
All diagrams by G Tucker © 2000
G. Tucker © 2001-7