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Parallel Community

Newsletter

The Parallel Community is a linking network and a platform

where people can express and develop their positive

contribution for change - human, social, ecological, creative and

spiritual. April 2012

HAMISH’S WORK CONTINUES TO RIPPLE OUTWARDS

By PC member Nigel Twinn, Hamish Miller’s biographer

Parallel Community founder, Hamish Miller, created several personal niches on his path towards the mezzanine floor of

enlightenment.

His engendering of a hugely successful commercial enterprise, which designed and made cutting-edge furniture in Sussex,

may be consigned to a footnote in the history of 20th century business - but it’s a footnote to which millions of today’s

industrialists can only aspire. His founding of Parallel Community deserves to be at least a thread of the tapestry of

alternative social development. It’s one vital element of the potential future DNA of interactive mankind that could act as a

template - a homeopathic cameo of information in aspic - around which some forthcoming society could crystallise. A third

niche is, of course, his insight as an Earth Energy dowser.

Michael and Mary, Apollo and Athena, pictograms

and manifestations. Not only are these words that

will forever be associated with his name, but they are

concepts that could profoundly affect the way we

humans understand the nature of reality. While

Hamish shunned fame as an irrelevance, he accepted

that if the information with which he felt he had been

entrusted was to be made available to a wider

catchment, someone had to stand up and be counted.

In that sense, Hamish realised that destiny had left

him, however unwillingly, holding a baby.

There are many other dowsers who could have made

those seminal discoveries, and doubtless some of

them came close to doing so, but Hamish had one, very rare, talent - not only was he a very accomplished diviner, but he

understood the implications of his discoveries. If earth energy dowsing works, then our matter-of-fact appreciation of the

world around us is incredibly limited. As we all know, he sought to embody that revelation in a very practical way, by forming

PC - and it forms a potent part of his legacy.

Hamish was aware that other earth energy dowsers were following parallel paths. But as they had their own heritage and

their own experience, they manifest their ideas in different ways. One of these is his contemporary Billy Gawn, from

Northern Ireland. As we referred to Billy’s work in A Life Divined, I had cause to contact him, to ask if it was OK to

incorporate a few snippets about that work. Billy, like Hamish, is very reluctant to take the centre stage himself, but replied

that he was pleased to be quoted and felt privileged to be mentioned in the same breath as Hamish. I am sure Hamish would

have said something similar, if the boot had been on the other foot.

For the last year I have been working with Billy to bring together the huge range of his articles and ideas into a compendium

of his life and work. Hopefully, we will get that book out into the public domain, via Penwith Press, in the not too distant

future.

Many PC members will have heard of synesthesia, which is a neurologically-based condition in which the stimulation of one

sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in another. Most commonly - in such a rare state

of being - a person can ‘hear’ the sound of colour, as well as being able to see it. In A Life Divined, Hamish mentioned that

the one factual snippet he could remember from his Near Death Experience sojourn beyond the veil was that he was shown

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the reverse of that - he could see the colours of music. The experience of Billy Gawn edges into this area too, in that as a

deviceless dowser, he has taught himself to ‘see’ earth energy, which is beyond the sensible spectrum for most of us. A fair

proportion of dowsers feel they can see human auras, under certain circumstances, but Billy has reached a new height of

awareness by training himself to visualise the invisible, almost at will - or at least to sense the locations and patterns of

invisible forces.

Hamish left many of us with various shards of his baton - to carry, to embellish and to hand on to others. He encouraged me

to start writing - and my collaboration with Billy is the next staging post on that particular part of the path. Yet, looking

through Mr Miller’s work, there are still so many more doors he left ajar, and still so many themes to be developed.

It is often said that the more we know, the more we realise how little we know. Every answer gives birth to a new cohort of

questions - and that this is one of the wonders of the world we currently inhabit.

In the wake of the work of Hamish, Billy and others, there is a deepening appreciation that science and spirituality are

starting to dovetail in this portentous era. Profoundly different ways of sensing and describing the cosmos are subtly

merging.

It’s an exciting time to be an earth energy dowser - and it’s an exciting, if somewhat unpredictable, time to be alive.

HAMISH

From PC members Hamilton Hill and Natasha Hoffman

Mention in the February Newsletter of Hamish Miller and his first book, The Sun and The Serpent, vividly recalls the

inspiration his life and work have been for us personally and for so many other people. The hospitable welcome and sharing

of information from Ba and Hamish, when we stayed with them in Cornwall many years ago, was another factor that

encouraged us to look more deeply into the energies surrounding the megaliths, without feeling that we were alone in this

work. That led to two books, Let the Standing Stones Speak, a series of channelled messages that Natasha received through

the great standing stones of Carnac in Brittany; and a follow-up, Voices Out

of Stone, co-authored with an American writer Carolyn North, who had

previously had similar experiences at the same stones. Both books are

available on Amazon.com.

It was Hamish’s dedication that motivated Hamilton to develop his

dowsing skills, previously limited to use on his organic farm, and tracing on

maps the ley lines that link Sussex churches and other ancient sites.

Natasha, an intuitive healer who uses pendulum dowsing in her work, was

already in touch with other dimensions of being.

Using angle rods made by Hamish, we have since traced offshoots of the

main Michael and

Mary energy bands in Devon, Brittany, and the Auvergne. For us,

those twin energies are the interplay of yin and yang, a mystery of

planetary and angelic origin beyond current scientific belief, an

imprint and reminder of the trend towards harmony that is implicit

in the Universe. We feel they are there to provide sustenance for

humankind’s future. And on our journey towards understanding the

significance of the planetary networks, we continue to discover

more of what lies behind and beyond our daily lives.

There will be an opportunity to experience something of this on

Saturday, May 5th, the first International Dowsing Day, when local

dowsing groups up and down the country will meet on the nearest Michael and/or Mary Line and put on various events and

workshops (see elsewhere in this newsletter for further details).

Wherever you may be now, Hamish, our thoughts are with you still, and we thank you.

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ONE LOVE PROJECT UPDATE

From Core Team member Lynn Forrest

It has been a while since dozens of PC Members joined in

distant healing groups and we completed the One Love

project. From July until

December last year, we

focussed our efforts on

regular distant healing

meditations using the One

Love symbol. Each

group experienced

changes with the symbol

as they worked with it,

week after week. What

began as a rainbow-

coloured double infinity

symbol grew and

changed, though single

colours to gold and often

pure energy, but in the same shape. Its properties of

activation and 'quickening' showed its power to anchor

positive energy at our focussed intent, either at a specific

place or country, or on certain circumstances.

Groups began adapting the symbol's

use to their particular interest: Reiki,

earth healing, and dowsing, to name a

few. The symbol became part of its

user, showing up in people's chakra

system and energising healing

sessions. It showed up in leylines, at

sacred sites and at earth energy

points. However, quite independently

of one another, the experience of

most groups was that after a while,

the symbol became gold and full of

light.

So by the end of the project, the group here in Cornwall

decided to include it in our Winter Solstice ceremony at

the Seed of Life. This is a sacred site situated in Ba and

Hamish Miller's garden near Trencrom in West Cornwall,

where peace circles and ceremonies have been held for

over a decade. We cut the shape of the symbol out of the

turf and placed a rope soaked in paraffin in it. At a point in

the ceremony we set the rope alight and offered the

burning symbol to spirit for the healing of the Earth and its

peoples. It glowed golden, jumped into flame and burned

around the whole symbol, while the group stood and

stared into the flames. It was a magical and moving

experience with each person (whether they had been

involved in the distant healing groups or not) feeling

connected by the symbol and re-energised by it.

It has since inspired a

number of us to take it

forward into the work we

are doing and apply it to

some of the difficulties we

are experiencing at this

time. It remains gold in

colour, and, visualised at a

particular place,

circumstance or

person, really seems to

change the energy of that

situation. It appears to

allow for a more positive

outcome to be

experienced; moreover it has the ability to re-activate as

often as we put our attention on it. For example, if it is

applied to a person during a healing session, they and the

person doing the healing can visualise it any time after the

session and re-activate the healing

that was received beforehand,

keeping the energy going and

'topped up'. If it is offered to a place

or situation, it can be visited again

through visualisation and re-

activated in the same way.

Wherever our attention takes it, the

golden symbol can be re-activated

on a regular basis, just with a simple

visualisation.

This is really nothing brand new,

neither is it surprising. But what has

captivated people's imagination is just how simple and

effective the symbol has become because of our usage.

Now I am beginning to apply it to the attunement process I

do for Reiki Masters. I use it for the Earth at places I am

called to work with. I know others who use it in both

personal and distant healing sessions with very powerful

results; and it can be applied to almost any circumstances

(exams, tests, arguments, appointments, interviews,

meetings etc. etc.) to help surround it with a positive

energy. And the activity is sustained the more we return

our focus to it. So, I encourage you to try it for yourself;

and your family; and your community. And your country

and your work and your interests, your environment, what

comes to your attention and what you know needs help.

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We don't have to decide what to do with it, just give it a

focus: love will do the rest.

I sincerely thank all those members who took part in this

project: their involvement was invaluable. We feel now

that in the UK, we should go to Stonehenge, our most

famous ancient monument, to anchor the symbol there as

part of the changing energies of 2012. We are currently

awaiting permission to take a party of Parallel Community

members to conduct the ceremony, later in the year. As

soon as we have details we will

let you know. Many thanks once

again to all who took part and

all who will be part of this

amazing journey with our

infinity logo.

GROW YOUR OWN!

From Core Team member Adam Price

Photos by Frances Watts

Spring is just around the corner, the clocks have gone

forward and all around us nature is bursting with new life.

There is no better time to think about growing your own.

Newspapers and magazines are full of information about

how to grow the amazing variety of fruit and vegetables that

thrive and flourish here in the UK. However the sheer scale

of it all is sometimes intimidating, and not everyone has

room for a proper veg patch, no matter how big or small, let

alone a greenhouse.

Don’t get boggled with it all. Keep it simple and dip your toe

in the water instead of jumping in at the deep end. You can

buy a packet of lettuce seed for less than a cup of coffee in

Starbucks. In a tub or flower pot on any patio, or on any bit

of garden, just scatter a few seeds; then next time you are in

a supermarket, check out the price of an organic lettuce. If

you can grow just three or four from your packet of seed,

(and I do assure you, you will grow far more than that), then

you will have more that covered your costs. But that really

isn’t the point.

People often write about the enjoyment of picking

something to eat from the garden. How it tastes better, and

is more alive when freshly picked. It’s all true. Watch the

lettuce grow, and soon you will be planting some runner

beans in a pot to grow up a few bamboo canes, and so it

starts. It won’t be long before you get the bug, and then

watch out, because it is a hobby that is so enjoyable that it

can mean you start tending your plants rather than watching

the TV during those long light summer evenings; but then is

that really such a bad thing?

Photos from the Facebook page of “Backyard Diva”

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THE TREE HOUSE STONE CIRCLE

From Core Team member Annie Turner

It was some years ago that I was in a community opera in Cornwall, set up by English

Touring Opera. There was a moment in our scene where we had to improvise our

own lines to produce an outraged cacophony of sound in reaction to developers

flattening our village for holiday homes. The indignant line that popped out of me

was, "But what about my stone circle?" over and over again. And when I found Tree

House five years later, I knew that it needed that stone circle. I was walking and

photographing the boundary in the winter during the inevitable months of

conveyancing, and came to the hedge next to where I felt the circle wanted to be -

and there, lying amongst the now receding brambles, were five great granite lintels!

Perfect for up-ending as standing stones. I looked at them in thrilled realisation, and

they looked back as if to say, "And you are surprised?!" I found four more stones

around the land and knew the stone circle would indeed become a reality, even if I had no idea how!

When I actually moved in to Tree House in January 2010, I discovered that the stone lintels

were from the old village church almost next door which had been demolished in the 1970s;

the stone had been put down old mine shafts, and also on the farmyard, where Tree House

now stands. So the stones felt like they had come back to where they may have been before. I

love the fact that within the remaining churchyard is the ancient Celtic cross that Hamish

dowsed in his documenting of the Mary line in The Sun and the Serpent - so this circle will be

very close to the Mary line, if not almost on it. There is certainly a line of soft energy running

through the house and circle area.

So, as soon as I moved in, I got out the dowsing

rods to see if I could find where the stones would

like to go. It was a bit hit-and-miss (as is my

dowsing!) but soon settled to definite places. I stuck short bamboo canes into the

ground to mark the spots and a stone in the middle. The grass then grew and

grew and I had no mower to deal with it yet! So I tied bits of white carrier bags to

make wee flags on the top of the canes so they could be found in the long grass.

In the autumn, a lovely man and his old 'Fergie' tractor came and gave the land

the once-over and so I took the canes out. I put them back afterwards roughly where they had been, but then the winter

came. However, when John and Jill Moss came and dowsed the land this February, John asked me if I was happy with the

placing of the canes to mark the stone placings. I said I was, and he said, "Good! Because they are working well already!"

There were many nights wondering how and when I would be able to start building the

circle; many discussions about mini-diggers and JCBs, and 'the impossibility' of it all (I didn't

listen to that one!): but I kept 'seeing' it going in with a group of friends in spring sunshine

... And then a friend had a weekend retreat here at Tree House in early March. And she

said it felt right to place the first stone. And so we did: three of us, in the sunshine of early

spring.

Before we started I went out and attempted to dowse for the circle's intentions. And

absolutely nothing happened! I was rather despondent, so sat on a bench and asked

Hamish and the Management, if there was indeed a definite plan, to please show me, for

the sake of the stones. And the rods leapt to life like never before! I was able clearly to

define the order of placing the stones in the circle, and also to dowse which stone wanted

to go where. The first two were fortunately the smallest ones, but numbers three and four were a bit more challenging; one

was semi-buried on the land, and the fourth couldn't be found. So I stood in the circle and asked for the rods to point to

where it was. Again the rod moved extremely clearly, no matter which way I faced, and it took me to an area where the only

possible stones were already standing at either end of a wobbly, short, dry-stone wall. OK, I thought, so be it, we’ll sort that

somehow! The 'ninth' possible stone seemed not to come into this plan, so I asked if it was to be placed elsewhere, and got a

clear, "Yes". Where, I don't know yet, but I am sure it does!

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So, the three of us began - two girls and one fortunately very strong, enthusiastic and

muscled man! We found an old piece of telegraph pole and cut it into three, and then

Jim got the stone out of the pile where it lay. Then we began the 15 yard journey to the

stone’s new home ... Jim pushing and me and Fee taking the log from the back and

putting it to the front over and over. We reached the

place and then turned and looked at all aspects of the

stone to decide on its orientation. Then with pickaxe and

spades, we began to make the hole. When done, we

placed a small amethyst chip in the bottom of the hole,

spoke a blessing, gifted the stone some water, and up-

ended it into its new home. It looked wonderful! Flowers were placed around it, and we spent

time just looking in wonder. It really felt a ‘wise woman stone’, the ‘Grandmother’ stone:

deeply knowledgeable and ancestral.

After a reviving cuppa, we decided to place the second stone. This was a little nearer, but the

same size; about 3’ 6” feet long and a foot in width and depth. We began our ‘rugger game’

dance, but within minutes the stone was right by its place. We felt it had almost done it itself! The hole was dug and the

stone up-ended before we had a chance to think - we then realised we had not placed an amethyst under it, no water had

been sprinkled on it, no blessing. This stone felt young and vibrant; the young man, full of raw energy and ‘go’, charging into

its purpose, yet perfectly balanced by ‘Grandmother’ directly opposite on the other side of the circle. And so be it: it felt just

fine to leave it be.

Fee placed the mountains of cut daffodils that Jim

had brought into lemniscate patterns between the

centre and each new stone. It seemed just right to

link them thus. And we placed the lovely rose quartz

she had brought, along with the huge selenite

crystal that Jim had brought, into the middle.

Two weeks later they and two others were back and

the five of us set to stone moving. We wonder if the

next three stone placings will have seven of us! Again the sun shone, but this next stone was a

big ’un! It took crowbars, muscle, and a lot of ‘instruction’ (from the ladies of course!) But we

got the stone out of its hole where it lay recumbent, and attached it to the back of Jim’s pick-up, and he managed to tow it to

beside its hole.

With much discussion as to which way up this stone was to go, (but again dowsing confirmed it), in it went; Jo sat down

within the circle amongst the primroses and grass and begun to play her Aeolian harp ... So this stone was literally ‘played

into place’ with music, and how lovely it looks and how beautifully it happened. This stone is ‘tooth-like’: larger at the top

with a flat area and many indentations and much texture. This time we could again place the amethyst, gift with water, and

bless - an even older ancestor seems to have re-joined us in this stone. And we now have an ‘enclosure’, three stones

forming a triangle that one can feel encompassed within.

The next stones will go in when they call, and what an honour it is to be part of this creation, or I am sure, RE-creation. The

three are already working and creating a space of great energy and purpose. How amazing it will feel when all nine are in -

but I understand why it doesn’t all happen at once; I think there would be an international incident on the news - Great Hole

appears in Cornwall caused by massive energy shift! Each stone needs time to settle and find its place. Ma te wa - everything

in its own time - indeed! (Photos by Annie Turner)

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COME AND SING THE LINES ON MAY 5TH - INTERNATIONAL DOWSING DAY!

On Saturday 5th May, come to the Michael and Mary lines, and sing or dowse! As many people as possible are

asked to gather together to sing love and appreciation into the lines, from Cornwall to Norfolk. Dowsers will

measure the strength of the lines before and afterwards.

The British Society of Dowsers invites

Parallel Community members to join in

this exciting event along the Michael and

Mary lines which is part of International

Dowsing Day (May 5th was also Hamish

Miller’s birthday).

Cornish Dowsing Groups, Tamar Dowsers,

Trencrom Dowsers, and hopefully others,

are linking in with groups of Earth Singers

(led by Danu Fox of Cape Cornwall) who

are meeting at several nodes (eight at the time of writing) on the Michael &

Mary lines. The singers will sing, chant, and play music, with the intention of

focussing love and gratitude into the lines. All Dowsers and anyone else

interested are invited to be present at 3.00pm (and join in if they want to) and

dowse the lines before and after the ceremony. (We suggest 2.30pm and

3.30pm). We are not being prescriptive about what you are dowsing for; we will

be interested to learn about your reactions and discoveries. We know that

Richard Dealler and his pilgrimage group are also supporting the event

(www.marymichaelpilgrimsway.org )

We hope that people will gather at various points all along the lines, from

Cornwall to Norfolk. (You don’t necessarily have to be where the Earth Singers

are, or indeed at a node point). As you know, the lines cross various ‘territories’

of our local groups so we hope this idea will appeal. Thames Valley Dowsers are

hoping to meet the lines in Buckinghamshire; and we know that Brian Howard

(who is restoring the church ruins at Hopton, Norfolk) will be taking part.

The nodes with stars have no-one there at the moment, so it would be great to

get them all covered. Earth Singers are at the sites without stars.

Please let John Moss know what you are intending to do

(mossinthewoods@btopenworld.com) and also let him know afterwards what

your findings were.

Singing the Michael and Mary Lines …. The Earth Singers, led by PC member Danu Fox, will be singing the lines. Danu invites

all PC members to join in, and says, “Come and join us singing the Michael and Mary lines. We will be singing our stewardship

of the land, loving our planet through sound and song. Inspired by the Songlines tradition of Australia, as well as many other

indigenous teachings, Earth Singers are facilitating a singing and sounding of the planet, aiming to connect us back to the

sanctity of place and bring us into a reciprocal relationship with where we live - on every level. What we think, say and do

creates vibrations; and all vibrations are sound. We can affect the universe and where we live for the better, with sound.

Earth Singers aim to make this caring for the planet active vibrationally, and we can use our sounding on and for the land, to

bring ourselves back into balance, to become the responsible and blessed stewards of the earth we are meant to be, realising

our interdependence with nature and connecting to her. A deep respect for where we live is necessary; and gratitude is key.”

If you plan on getting involved with the Earth Singers please record your interest on their Facebook link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earth-Singers/281119381943225

Cornwall:

Carn Lês Boel - Trencrom Dowsers

St Michael's Mount *- site closed

Resugga castle *

Lostwithiel Church

The Hurlers - Tamar Dowsers

Devon:

Brentor *

Crediton Church

Somerset:

Creech St Michael *

Burrow Mump *

Glastonbury Tor

Wiltshire:

Bowerhill*

Oliver's Castle *

Avebury

Ogbourne St Andrew*

Ogbourne St George*

Oxfordshire:

Sinodun Hill, nr Dorchester

Hertfordshire:

Royston *

Suffolk:

Bury St Edmunds* (arguably not a

node)

Norfolk:

Hopton, St Margaret’s Church – Brian

Howard & friends

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Where do the lines go?

The node points, where the Michael and Mary lines cross, are

especially effective; they are all listed above in the blue box.

However, if you can’t reach a node point, you can come to any point

along either of the lines. The course of the lines is described in full in

The Sun and the Serpent by Hamish Miller and Paul Broadhurst, now

available from Penwith Press. Detailed maps of the Michael and Mary

lines are also available from Penwith Press, at

http://www.penwithpress.co.uk either as a full set or part-sets. In

addition, the Cornish section is detailed on

http://marymichaelpilgrimsway.org/route/

The lines cross southern England on a diagonal; the first node point is

at Carn Lês Boel in the far west, just south of Land’s End; and the last is at Hopton-on-Sea, in Norfolk, at the ruins of St Mary’s

Church. Anyone wishing to join in at Hopton is asked to contact Brian Howard on bhoward1@btinternet.com as soon as

possible; as this is a ruin, there are health and safety issues here and arrangements will have to be made beforehand.

Email info@parallelcommunity.com if you need information about the course of the lines in your area. (It’s also possible to

find the lines by map-dowsing for them – give it a go!)

PC Open Day

The PC Open Day won’t be taking place in May this year. However it is hoped to have a Members’ Day later in the year,

possibly around the Autumn Equinox at Stonehenge. More information will be available later.

SO HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT DOWSING?

By PC member John Moss, Director of the British Society of Dowsers

Mention dowsing to most people

and you will generally get one of

three reactions. The first is a

completely blank look. The second

is: ‘Isn’t that something to do with

looking for water?’ The third: ‘It’s

a load of rubbish!’ It is interesting

that those who have heard of

dowsing fall into two categories-

just like Marmite; you love it or

hate it!

Of course PC Newsletter readers are much better informed,

especially those who were fortunate to attend dowsing

workshops run by Hamish and Ba at Treviscoe. But

seriously, how much do you really know about dowsing?

I consider the best definition is: finding things and finding

out about things which are beyond our normal five senses.

Although I was never fortunate enough to be taught by

Hamish, I know now from working with Ba, that he was very

much in favour of a ‘no nonsense’, ‘keep it simple’ style of

dowsing, (plus the compulsory need to be able to laugh at

yourself). Over the last 15 years or so and particularly after

7 years as Director of the British Society of Dowsers, I have

become increasingly convinced that ‘keep it simple’ makes

dowsing a much more useable and accessible tool.

It seems an intrinsic part of human behaviour to elaborate

and complicate. Some dowsers are no different and go to

enormous lengths to create complicated tools and

procedures and in doing so are in danger of losing sight of

the fact that they are the dowser. The tool is simply an

amplifier of the physical reaction. So often, at BSD Office,

we are presented with: ‘The best tool which always works’

and whilst they are often very interesting, beauty is usually

in the eye of the inventor.

We as dowsers can easily be led up the garden path. For

example if I was to teach you to dowse and tell you (I can be

very convincing!) that you cannot dowse in Wellington

boots, then you would not be able to. This was once actually

an accepted theory which was only discounted when a

strong-minded individual decided it was rubbish! We have

an infinite ability to trick ourselves with dowsing which is

why so many people become disheartened with it when

after some early success, acceptable results seem to elude

them. The only solution is to keep practising and think

carefully about the techniques being applied.

The next aspect is the tool being used, (with apologies to all

crystal therapists). A dowser contacted us requesting a

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black tourmaline pendulum. When asked why he needed

such a thing he stated that it was what he needed to dowse

for black streams (non-beneficial earth energy lines). He was

convinced this was what was required so, for him, it became

reality. I wonder how the rest of us manage with a steel nut

on the end of a piece of string. There is nothing wrong with

using a nice crystal of course, but for dowsing it is the

weight, the mounting and a flexible chain which turns it into

an effective tool.

At this point I must admit to having my own favourite tools

but I can honestly say that they are tools which I find easy

and comfortable to use. Their composition is irrelevant to

me.

It is vital for a dowser to obtain permission for the job in

hand. The British Society of Dowsers (BSD) is very hot on its

Code of Ethics. Dowsing is generally held to be more valid

when permission has been gained and there is a genuine

need to know the answer. So from whom do we seek

permission? This debate has continued for a long time, but

generally speaking, if you are dowsing for someone’s health

for example, you must ask them first. The same applies if

you are dowsing their home. If you are out in the country,

dowsing a stone circle for example, you should ask the site

guardian/spirit of place (I don’t mean English Heritage!) as it

is generally accepted that such places are commonly owned

by us all. Some dowsers ask for permission from their

‘higher self’ or their ‘guardian angel’ or even ‘God’, thereby

considering that they have blanket approval to do whatever

they like. But take care; I have seen too many cases of

invasive dowsing when a dowser blunders in thinking they

have a hot line to their ‘God’, only to see harm being done

or poor results being obtained. How many armies have gone

to war with God on their side? My view is that we must take

personal responsibility for our actions and one aspect of this

is that we must ask appropriate permission before dowsing.

Before moving on there is one more important tip for

dowsers to remember and that is the question of psychic

protection. Ask any well trained complementary therapist

about this subject and they will tell you how vital it is to look

after one’s mental well-being. Therapists working within a

client’s personal space/aura are trained to use techniques to

insulate themselves from their clients. If they fail to do this

effectively their own health can be seriously compromised.

It is exactly the same with dowsing. No matter what you are

dowsing for or where you are dowsing, you are opening

yourself up to various unseen forces and energies, some of

which can make you feel very unwell. I would urge

everybody who takes up dowsing as a hobby or profession

to pay great attention to their psychic well-being.

I was not intending this article to turn into a rant, but I

strongly feel that there are some poorly educated and

superstitious dowsers who have allowed their egos to

become over-inflated, thus putting themselves and their

clients at risk.

Dowsing has so much to offer us: to enrich our lives, to help

others and to enable us to perceive the world around us in a

completely different way. Since I first became involved in

dowsing I have been invited to dowse in some fascinating

places, and as a professional dowser I have been amazed

that the skills I have learned over many years from more

experienced colleagues have enabled me to make a real

difference to other people. Dowsing has quite simply

transformed my life and I have met some extraordinary

people (both sides of the veil!) Teaching dowsing is a hugely

satisfying activity, involving so many interesting, unusual and

wonderful people. Jill, Ba and I are looking forward to

another successful season of courses at Treviscoe. Join us!

mossinthewoods@btopenworld.com

TRENCROM DOWSERS

The Trencrom Dowsers meet approximately six-weekly; the group has a full

programme of well-known speakers, presentations and visits to sites with fascinating

dowsing opportunities. Initial meetings have been held at Sennen Churchtown

Village Hall, but as the group explores the area, meetings will take place in various

locations around West Cornwall. Anyone who has an interest in dowsing will be

made most welcome. For programme details, please contact the secretary, Jill Moss,

on 01736 786506, or email mossinthewoods@btopenworld.com

ROZ SAVAGE UPDATE

In the February PC newsletter we ran an article about Roz Savage, ocean rower and environmental campaigner, and her ‘Trashmobs’ project. This campaign is being postponed until next year as Roz is now planning to row with others across the Atlantic, arriving in Britain in time for the Olympics; the crew intends to make landfall in Bristol, and then row through rivers and canals to London on the other side of the country, popping out there just in time for the London Olympics. See www.rozsavage.com

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St Margaret’s Church, Hopton

PC member Brian Howard has been dowsing the strength of the Michael and Mary lines around St Margaret’s Church,

Hopton. He reports that the lines are growing quite rapidly this year; last winter Michael measured 5 metres wide (mean

width) and Mary 6.7 metres, at a time of maximum lunar effect. He measured them at the equinox, and found them both to

be in the region of 12 metres wide, almost encompassing each other’s centre lines. The other strange phenomenon is that

the Michael line seems to be around 6-9 feet above ground level. He plans to update the data before and after Singing the

Lines on May 5th. He has produced a chart of the measurements taken at the equinox; contact him on

bhoward1@btinternet.com if you would like him to email you a copy of this.

Peru Passes A Ten Year Ban on Modified Foods

From PC member Nancy Bell

On April 15, 2011, in a groundbreaking move, Peru passed legislature that imposes a ten year ban on genetically modified

foods. The Plenary Session of Congress brought the law into force three years after it was originally written. The move was

due mainly to pressure brought to bear by the Parque de la Papa in Cusco. This is an association of 6000 people from six

farming communities. Their concern is that genetically modified organisms will be harmful to the native species of purple

and giant white corn. The main concern is the many species of Peruvian potatoes for which the region is famous. The general

consensus is that the ban is needed to prevent any danger of cross contamination that might come from the use of

biotechnology.

The ban will prevent the import and propagation of genetically modified plants in Peru. However, tests done by the country’s

Association of Consumers and Users at the time of the implementation of the ban had disturbing results. 77% of supermarket

products tested had genetically modified contamination. It is the association’s contention that consumers are buying and

eating genetically modified foods without knowing it. They believe this is a violation of their right to information. There

seems to be a growing grass-roots movement by consumers who desire safe, organic foods that are locally grown, which also

implement farming methods that are environmentally and wildlife friendly. How this decision will affect the big chemical

companies remains to be seen.

CARN LÊS BOEL and the NODE STONE POEM

From PC member Brenda Desborough

Be still, for this is sacred ground,

A place to stand and pause. Reflect

Upon the pathway here –

The lessons learned, the gifts received.

Be still, and listen to the voice

That sings a song of unity,

Blessing the journey still to come

With love and deep humility.

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In the December newsletter I wrote about a poem that had been created to be carved into a slate node stone to mark the

last crossing point of the Michael and Mary lines in the ruins of Old St Margaret’s Church at Hopton in Norfolk and the

end/beginning of the Michael and Mary Pilgrim Way.

This is the poem.

It has no title and no real author because, as I have already described, although I put the final verses together, three

important words: stand, ground and reflect were suggested by other people, and many more became involved in its

development. It was inspired by a meditation close to the node at Hopton during which the living connection between the

two end points of the lines, in Norfolk and Cornwall, was strongly felt.

The intention was to create a very simple, gentle, pilgrims’ poem - one that could be

said anywhere along the route of the lines and by anyone, whatever their personal

beliefs might be; and there was never any intention to publish it, in print or online

until it was inscribed into the slate of the proposed node stone and set into the

ground inside the enclosed space of the ruins. It was just passed from person to

person by word of mouth or in handwriting so we all expected it to remain in

obscurity until the funds were raised to buy the slate and pay for the carving. This

was why it did not appear alongside the article in the newsletter.

It has, however, been spoken aloud in different settings: to open a space for

meditation and at a vigil in Sussex; and Brian Howard read it at a simple ceremony in

Hopton to mark the timing of a funeral. He gets frequent requests from people wanting to plant memorial roses in the

community gardens surrounding the ruins, and plans to use the poem as a universal blessing when each one is put in.

Richard Dealler, who has been co-ordinating the walking and mapping of the Michael and Mary Pilgrim Way through Devon

and Cornwall, was given a copy of the poem and took it with him while test walking and mapping the extreme south western

end of the route with two colleagues.

What he did with it in the wilder context of Cornwall is best

described in his own words:

“I read the poem, twice! Somehow the expansiveness of the

landscape seemed to call for that. It was at the Carn, the spot

where Hamish had dowsed a star shape. The poem was the

cornerstone of a ritual, including silence, prayers and

affirmations and the placing of a few objects - a small heart

stone found on a beach in south Devon, and a buzzard feather

from Carn Lês Boel, found when we arrived and seemingly

appropriate, as the buzzard has been a familiar companion as I

have explored the lines. I interpret their presence as

reassurance that I am on the right track. Finally there was the

jawbone of a small mammal. A mouse perhaps, also found in

situ, a reminder of the story of Little Jumping Mouse who

wanted to see how far he could go (a North American Indian tale). Within the ritual was a desire to connect: the beginning

and the end and all that lies in between.”

When Richard then sent me an email asking if he could use the poem both in the map book for the Cornish section of the

pilgrim route and in the newsletter on their website, this presented a real dilemma. I thought it a lovely idea, but because of

the way the poem was created, I felt I didn’t own the copyright and was not, therefore, in a position to say yea or nay

without consulting all the people involved both at Hopton and elsewhere. Everyone agreed it would be good to share the

poem more widely, but it meant a strange “letting go” when the words were finally typed into a computer – a change from

the expected order of events and the end of its slow beginning.

It will be published in the map book for the Cornwall section of the Mary and Michael Pilgrim Way; and when the Norfolk

section is eventually completed, that map book will mirror the format of its Cornish counterpart and include it as well.

Carn Lês Boel (Photo F Watts)

St Margaret’s, Hopton

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Obviously this will free things up creatively for the team at Hopton, as the poem can now be circulated more widely via their

website and in other ways. Hopefully this will help generate funds to pay for the Node Stone itself. As a project, it is financed

separately from the ruins restoration fund. Stone calligraphy is very expensive and several quotes for the slate and cutting,

plus VAT, have come in at around the £1000 mark. A young but talented

craftswoman has offered the project a 50% discount on this because she is

interested in the history of the site and the creation of the Pilgrim Way but, like the

little mouse quoted by Richard Dealler, we still have a long way to go…….

http://oldstmargarets.com/

Post script: Before forwarding this article to Fran for editing, I was checking out

information with Brian Howard and read him Richard’s account of the ceremony at

Carn. He was particularly interested in the mention of the heart-shaped stone

Richard used there as, just the other day, he too found a small heart-shaped piece

of pink/brown marble lying on the ground beside the ruins at Hopton.

The deadline for the May 2012 newsletter is Friday April 27th. Send articles, letters or comments direct to Frances at

watts@penare.ndo.co.uk, or by post to the address below.

Please do pass this newsletter on to any friends you feel might be interested.

The Parallel Community, PO Box 11, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 6YF, UK

info@parallelcommunity.com

www.parallelcommunity.com

Carn Lês Boel (Photo F Watts)