Earth Magic

by Francis Hitching

J. Francis Hitching is a dowser & author whose books often focus on the paranormal. According to the biography in his The World Atlas of Mysteries, he was born in 1933, growing up in Stratford-upon-Avon, where a grandfather, Randle Ayrton, was a noted Shakespearian actor. He studied in Warwick, but in 1950 left, becoming a newspaper reporter, then a magazine journalist, before producing the tv music program Ready Steady Go!
While filming a documentary at Carnac in France, the megaliths he saw there inspired him to spend the next four years researching Earth Magic, on the subject of standing stones. According to The World Atlas: "he was impressed by the dowsers he met who seemed instinctively to know why the stones had been erected. Some of their information about psychic matters was so extraordinary that he decided they warranted a full investigation & explanation; hence his next book Pendulum."

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Charles Shahar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this book a lot and thought it was well written. The writing style was vivid and honest. In fact, I thought it was exceptionally well researched. However, one needs to keep an open mind as the author deals not only with the scientific aspects but also "soft" evidence regarding the nature and origins of megalithic standing stones, including dowsing, ley lines and earth energies. Nowhere does he lapse into outlandish speculations, but rather describes some of the more mystical experiences people have had around these structures as an objective narrator, without prejudgments. Note however that I have an old edition of the book (1976). This publication may have been considerably updated since then!

-Charles

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was much different than I expected. I loved the archeology part of it. I loved the theories. I was less impressed with the ley line information - not the theory(ies) behind it, but how much of it was stated as fact and how many incidents were given as uncorroborated fact. I don't trust people who tell me in hindsight that they knew something was going to happen when they are the only people who can prove it. I'm a sceptic. I'm also a believer in a lot of this hocus pocus stuff. I just want more to substantiate it than I got here most of the time.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written but has bits of pseudoscience and exaggerated claims of evidence to solidify his beliefs (Francis hitching firmly believes in dowsing but can see the other side of the coin). It is somewhat a good source of knowledge on myths and legends, archeology, theories, experiments and beliefs concerning the stone sites. However it is to take with a grain of salt and further research is prompted.

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up at a used bookstore in East Rogers Park, Chicago and read it during winter break from school. It is neither particularly well-written nor well-researched. The book, about megalithic culture and religion, served as my introduction to the concept of ley lines. There are much better books out there on the same subjects.