What are Ley Lines?
If you have dabbled in the world of the strange and unexplained, it is likely you have come across theories surrounding “ley lines.” But, what exactly is a ley line and what do they have to do with the study of the strange?
Ley Lines, as we understand them now, grew from an idea established in 1921 by Alfred Watkins. Watkins was born to an affluent English family and was, by trade, a respected photographer and was even awarded by the Royal Photographic Society. However, his personal interests extended beyond photography and he was a self-taught archaeologists and fancied himself an antiquarian. While in Herefordshire, his hometown, he stopped to explore the archaeological ruins of a Roman Camp that was currently under excavation. While Watkins was taking in the sight, he realized a pattern: other monuments - like forts and churches = seemed to be placed in a specific relation to one another that suggested a theory of planning and not haphazard design by people centuries past.
As he walked around Herefordshire, his idea of this pattern continue to grow as he realized that centuries-old footpaths connected place to place in straight lines, which suggests human construction and not happenstance of nature. Based on his findings and experience, Watkins proposed a theory: that these lines were used as navigation system for early humans in lieu of other direction technologies. It is important to note that Watkins himself never placed any supernatural significance to the ley lines - he believed that they were just pathways used for trade or ceremonial purposes. However, he did acknowledge it was impressive that these lines seemed to date back all the way to the Neolithic era.
Thus began the idea of ‘ley lines’. There is also the belief, associated with Watkins’ original theory, that there was astronomic significance in these decisions and that extraordinary places like the Nazca Lines and the Great Pyramids fell on the same ley lines. A more “woo-woo” belief, as we like to say here at Astonishing Legends, is that there may be specific psychic power or that certain supernatural occurrences (particularly UFO activity) seem to happen at Ley Line vortices.
So, in short: Ley Lines are straight lines that cross (and criss cross) the earth to demarcate important locations. There are some strange connections, like the Washington Monument and the Grand Canyon being on the same line.
As this theory continued to grow, some believed it was believed these lines were something more special and ingrained in human thought - perhaps because they are imbued with electromagnetic energy.
It is common to hear ley lines associated with hauntings, UFO activity, and even the use of certain New Age rituals. What do you think? Is it mere coincidence or could everything really be connected?
The header image is Alfred Watkins (1855-1935), Map of two leys and is licensed under the Public Domain.