CROP CIRCLES: MYTH & MYSTERY

For those who believe, no evidence is necessary.
For those who do not, none will suffice.

—Stuart Chase

Massive, geometrical, elaborate, controversial … all these words have been used to describe the phenomena of Crop Circles. Strange designs pressed into crop fields, they range from simple circles to elaborate pictograms, some of which extend up to thousands of feet and acres of land.

Whether one believes that Crop Circles are associated with UFO activity, are messages from extraterrestrials, or prefers to find solace in the idea that all of these are man-made and nothing more than hoaxes; we think it’s fair to say that we can agree: Crop Circles are real. That is … they really do appear, and the fields of corn and grain are just another canvas on which some stunning pieces of art are created.

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Each summer, the Wiltshire countryside is host to the crop circle phenomenon. The county, with its fields of rape, barley, and wheat, is one of the most active areas for crop circles in the world, particularly around the historical stones of Avebury and Silbury Hill.

A crop circle in a field at Roundway, Wiltshire, created on 29 April, 2009.

The 2009 season began with an unprecedented six formations in April. Michael Glickman, an expert on the phenomena, said: “I’ve seen the odd [crop circle] in rape fields previously but this year I know of 11 giant yellow circles that have appeared this month alone. The crop is tougher and more brittle than corn or barley so it’s mind-boggling to think how the intricate designs have been made.”

A crop circle in a field at Clatford, Wiltshire, created on 4 May, 2009.

The phenomenon peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s, but continues today. An average of 30 crop circles appear each year in the UK, around 80% of them in Wiltshire

Crop Circle in a field at Roundway Hill, Wiltshire, created on 10 May, 2009.

One online alien “fact” site states that 85% percent of the world’s crop circles appear in England near Stonehenge. While we couldn’t find anything to back up that statement, a lot of Crop Circles do appear in England, and many along ley lines and sacred sites.

The circles can take the shape of DNA structures, scorpions, snowflakes, helices, webs, knots and complex geometric patterns.

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As the number of crop circles has grown, so has the mythology surrounding them.

Some invoke the theory of ley lines: mystical seams of spiritual energy that intersect at sacred sites like Avebury and Stonehenge.

More than 10,000 crop circle formations have been documented in over 50 countries.

“Others claim that the circles are created by an extra-terrestrial intelligence attempting to warn humanity about climate change, nuclear war and similar existential threats.”

Some circles are said to have been created by magnetic fields. Prominent crop circle researcher, Colin Andrews, said there’s a possibility that about 20% of designs are created by natural forces. This means that fluctuations in Earth’s natural magnetic forces electrocuted the crops, causing them to collapse and fall into shapes called ‘Fractal Patterns’. Research into this has shown readings of magnetic fields around circle matched the shape of the design.

“One even appeared in May 2020 in the shape of a coronavirus, leading some to speculate that crop circles are trying to give us clues about immunology and Covid-19.”

Orbs of light often appear near crop circles, either directly before or during when the circles appeared. This has led many to believe that the orbs of light are responsible for creating the patterns in the crops. Although, it has been noted that thousands of crop circles appear without lights seen.

Among those who discount the alien hypothesis, a common theory is that human circle makers “tap into” some kind of collective consciousness, perhaps explaining the prevalence in crop circles of universal mathematical patterns that also occur in nature – the fractal branching of snowflakes and blood vessels and spiraling shells

It’s true, many crop circles have outright been proven a hoax (as in man-made and not created by a supernatural force). One of the main methods is the “Bend Test,” as obvious crop circle hoaxes usually have the stems of the crops broken and snapped into place.

The community of seekers who devote their time to researching the paranormal possibilities of crop circles are known as “croppies”.

With other unexplained crop circles, a bend is found to have been made near the plant’s first node—a bend that is caused by extreme heat which then causes the stem to soften and bend rather than break. Although, the source of such intense heat remains a mystery.

Chief among these “croppies” is Monique Klinkenbergh, who established the Crop Circle Exhibition & Information Centre, in the Wiltshire village of Honeystreet.

This tiny hamlet has become an unlikely hub for paranormal research; in addition to the exhibition center, it is home to the Barge Inn, where croppies gather to swap reports of new crop circles and speculate on their origins.

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*fun facts from BBC Travel
*Some of the pictures

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COMING OUT OF THE DARK

Our yule logs have been burned, the Winter Solstice is passed, and we find ourselves, as Dr. Who once said, “Halfway out of the darkness.” And while January is “The Gate of the New Year,” and a time for setting fresh resolutions, this, winter’s second month, is literally and figuratively us … coming of the dark.

Continue reading “COMING OUT OF THE DARK”

THE HOLIDAYS IN SPACE

We made it! Christmas Day has come and gone here in the States, and as the Holiday season wraps up, we wondered: how did people around the world spend their holidays?

And because we’re a speculative blog, that question in turn led us to wondering: how did people not on this world spend their holidays?!

So, a-searchin’ for answers we went, and we found some fun facts about how Christmas is celebrated in Outer Space …

Continue reading “THE HOLIDAYS IN SPACE”

Apocalyptic Predictions

If the end of the world came, would you be ready to face an apocalypse?

We’ve all wondered at one point in our lives: what would I do if the world were coming to an end? Popular books like Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, The Stand by Stephen King and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins each present the reader with an end-of-the-world scenario and some surprising plot twists. Let’s take a look at the plausibility of surviving an apocalypse by taking a look at past predictions and then examining some real-life options that exist. Whether or not you believe in any of the numerous end-of-the-world conspiracies, knowing what is available in terms of shelter, food and water storage, and other basic necessities is an interesting thought experiment if nothing else!

Early Records of Apocalyptic Predictions

Predicting an apocalypse has been a sign of power and influence for centuries. Many leading religious and philosophical figures have used these “special insights” to control masses of people and convince them to behave in ways that furthered the religion, cult, or ideology of the leader. One of the earliest known apocalyptic predictions was in 1284. It is said that Pope Innocent II had a reputation of pushing teachings of the end of the world in order to instigate political and social change. In 1213 he claimed that the antichrist would come in 1284, ending the world as it was known if the people didn’t rise up and reclaim Jerusalem. The year came and went without incident.

Not all dire predictions came from a religious source, however. Astrologer and mathematician Johannes Stoffler was deeply convinced that, based on his academic calculations, a flood would come on February 25th, 1524 due to a unique alignment of planets under the astrology sign of Pisces. He made this prediction in 1499. The people of Germany were struck with fear and scurried to build or buy boats, the most elaborate of which was a three-story ark. The day of the flood came during a time of drought. No flood magically appeared, and the day passed without danger.

The next great apocalyptic proclamation garnered a following of over 10,000 believers. In 1831 evangelist William Miller told his flock of believers that he had received a sign from God that the end of the world would take place in 1843 when Jesus would return. His followers scrambled to clean up their lives, dedicate themselves to the church, and spread the message far and wide to help others prepare. When the year passed without the return of the saint, Miller quickly recalculated the special “message” he had received and proclaimed the year was in fact 1844. When the following year passed without incident the whole prediction was labeled “The Great Disappointment”, and his following dwindled.

The Halley’s Comet prediction also failed when in 1910 many believed the comet would emit dangerous gases into the atmosphere of the earth. This conspiracy had a polarizing effect with believers buying gas masks, and skeptics hosting viewing parties on rooftops and other high places to watch the comet pass by without disaster.

Fans of the written word will appreciate this next failed apocalyptic prediction. Two astrophysicists from Cambridge wrote a book called The Jupiter Effect in 1974 that claimed massive earthquakes would destroy Los Angeles in March, 1982. Their science and data to support this hypothesis was compelling enough to stimulate mass panic. When the prediction proved false, their follow-up book, The Jupiter Effect Reconsidered was small consolation to the people who moved from the area to avoid death and doom.

We won’t dwell too much on the next two predictions as they occurred within the last twenty or so years. The Y2K prediction of technology being our downfall as a global society came and went without a bleep on our computers. The 2012 Mayan calendar misinterpretation stated the world would end with the close of the ancient calendar. The response to this was muted in comparison to other predictions from the past, and of course nothing catastrophic happened.

The final prediction worth noting is yet to come. In 1704 Sir Isaac Newton used a combination of biblical prophecy and occultic influences to predict the world was destined to end in 2060. He stated the biblical Christ would return at that time and reign on earth.

Preparing for an Apocalypse Today

Now that we understand the prevalence of end-of-the-world theories, let’s see how easy it would be to prepare for doom, on the off chance that Sir Isaac Newton or any future self-proclaimed prophets are correct. Not surprisingly, many companies globally offer bomb-resistant, self-sustaining bunkers the average citizen can purchase to install either underground or overground on their own property. With so many ways that disaster can erupt, a good shelter will have the ability to withstand heat from fires, flooding, and powerful weaponry from warfare.

Structural integrity is a primary consideration when assembling the bunker. Both under and overground shelters will ideally have a few layers to provide the most comprehensive protection. Layers of steel, concrete and soil help shield the inhabitants from the more commonly known potential disasters. The shelter should, as much as possible, be bomb-proof and ideally be capable of withstanding a temporary or long-term water submersion. While most shelters will be small, there must be enough space to both store freeze-dried and canned foods as well as allow the inhabitants enough space to live comfortably for several weeks.

Choosing the best location is vital when constructing your shelter. Ideally, you will avoid valleys, land next to or near oceans or large lakes, and separate yourself from thick forests or other flammable objects. On the flip side, you don’t want your bunker to be an easy target from the air in the event of a war of nations. A top layer of natural-looking rocks or earth can help disguise your overground bunker or the entrance to your underground bunker. Steering clear of all known military bases and other high-value targets that a potential enemy might bomb is also a consideration.

Organization within your bunker will help you feel safe in the event of a disaster. Installing shelving with sealed plastic bins that are clearly labeled will give you more space and also allow you to more quickly develop a routine while you are waiting out the disaster. Freeze-dried foods will likely be the best option when stocking up on foods. Rehydrating the foods is usually easy and not labor-intensive.

Now, for the fun part: sanitation. Removing human waste from the bunker is going to be a daily necessity, and one you won’t want to waste water or energy on. Some of the more upscale bunker makers offer an underground toilet system that runs off of your generator or other power supplies you may have. For the less-costly bunker owners, the old “dig a hole in the ground and cover it up” method works in the short term. Stand-alone macerator toilets also provide a longer-term option when there is a power source. Another popular option is the composting toilet. Peat moss in this type of machine helps to break down waste. Whatever methods your research reveals as the best option for you, a way to dispose of human waste is as necessary to have in your bunker as food, water, and proper air ventilation.

A Tenuous Future

While for many the future may look bright and chipper, there is a massive subset of people around the world who are quietly going about building protective, safe shelters that can be passed down in their families on the off chance that a global or regional disaster should occur. The general rule of thought is, just because it hasn’t happened yet, does not mean it won’t. And since bunkers take years to plan, build, and stock with supplies, the sooner one starts, the better. That is if you believe in the possibility of an apocalyptic event occurring within your lifetime.

Top 5 Sci Fi Books With Creepy Crawlies

It’s very easy to combine science fiction with horror. Whether you’re working with sentient artificial intelligence that’s hell-bent on control, or if you’ve got some weird, terrifying landscape that messes with the character’s minds, there’s always some kind of sci-fi fright to be had. 

But, perhaps one of the most terrifying things that authors can do with science fiction is include bugs. Spiders, wasps, slugs–you name it! Creepy crawlies scare the bejeezus out of millions of people, so it’s always been a perfect topic for sci-fi horror stories. 

We’ve collected some of the zanier sci fi books with insects in them, so it’s up to you if you want to pick them up to read before bed, or put them on the DON’T EVER READ list. 

The Bees by Laline Paull

the bees book

This is one of the more interesting, conceptual books on this list. Laline Paull crafts a sci-fi microcosm of a bee hive, where the main character is a worker bee. That’s right, Flora 717 is a sanitation worker, a drone responsible for cleaning up the walkways of the hive. 

But, as her role starts to change, Flora 717 finds herself getting closer and closer to the Queen, and closer to uncovering dangerous hive secrets. 

Paull’s book reads kind of like a story from Aliya Whiteley, but the unique take on the phrase “hive mind” makes this a fresh, interesting book. Not the conventional creepy crawlies you might have been expecting, but still worthy of a spot on this list. 

Petal Storm by Paul Kidd

petal storm book

It’s quite possible that Laline Paull’s The Bees was a tip of the hat to Paul Kidd’s Petal Storm. While the hive metaphor isn’t as fleshed out, there’s still a distinct similarity in Petal Storm

In this novel, the ancient civilization of The Hive is stumbling. They’re a warrior-class of bee-like humanoids, but their aging Queen will soon pass. Most of the novel revolves around this conflict, with court intrigue, skyborne battles, and assassinations. It’s a very inventive story, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. 

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

the metamorphosis

We can’t have a list of books with creepy crawlies without including this classic. This book was one of the first jaunts into the insect-humanoid genre (is that a genre?). It’s been a staple of English literature classes across the world for years, and it’s profoundly an early work of science fiction. 

If you haven’t read The Metamorphosis, you should! It’s a fast read, with an engaging plot. The main character, Gregor Samsa, awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect, unable to communicate with his family. All sorts of madness ensues, and it’s a lesson in compassion if I’ve ever seen one. 

Texas Chainsaw Mantis by Kevin Strange

mantis

This one had to be on the list simply because it’s so weird. Kevin Strange is known for writing, well, strange fiction. 

Texas Chainsaw Mantis is a parody of the popular horror film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But, instead of people, the characters are all praying mantises. And if you know anything about the praying mantis, it’s that the females rip off the males’ heads after they are done mating with them. 

The main character of this story is a mantis named Matthew, whose wife almost bites his head off and leaves him for dead. But Matthew brings himself out of the garden shed with his trusty chainsaw, intent on destruction. 

It’s a bizarre premise, but a fun, quick read. 

Slugs by Shaun Hutson

slugs

If you’ve ever seen the 1990 movie  Arachnaphobia, then Slugs will be familiar. Published in 1982, Slugs follows a classic horror plot, with dozens of characters in a small town having different harrowing experiences with carnivorous slugs. 

It takes the main character, Mike Brady, a good long time to figure out that these dangerous slugs are not only eating people, but poisoning them too. Slugs is a classic 80s horror novel, and definitely a throwback.

Medieval to Modern Bestiaries, Studies in Cryptid Classification

For thousands of years, people have been aiming to identify and classify pretty much everything from insects and plants to the mysterious and supernatural. 

As a kid, I was fascinated by bestiaries and compendiums of the weird and paranormal. I’d spend a lot of time admiring the crisp artwork and smart descriptions of nymphs, faeries, trolls, and pookahs. 

But bestiaries aren’t exclusive to the supernatural or cryptid. While modern fantasy stories have turned the bestiary into a kind of compendium of arcane knowledge, they were originally used to provide valuable information about plants, animals, minerals, and many other parts of the natural world.

Having grown up hasn’t changed my love for bestiaries, and I figured I would share some of the most interesting things I’ve learned about the bestiary, and recommend some of my favorites.

 

The Earliest Bestiaries

I was curious about when the first bestiary came about, and I was surprised to learn that it dates back all the way to ancient Greece. The first recorded book is called the Physiologus, and it had descriptions of all kinds of animals. It was more of a naturalist’s handbook than a black book of arcanum. 

The Physiologus included writings from various Greek scholars, including Aristotle, Herodotus, and Pliny the Elder. 

As time went on and religion started to take over Europe, bestiaries started to deviate from the fable-like teachings to include Christain themes. Medieval bestiaries reworked the naturalist content of books like the Physiologus to create animal hierarchies and messages from God. 

Despite being vessels for Christain teachings, many of these bestiaries included creatures that we consider to be part of the fantastical. Unicorns, dragons, and griffins made appearances in the pages of these illuminated manuscripts, which set the precedent for future bestiaries that set their sights on the purely mythological. 

(If you’re interested in learning more about medieval bestiaries and want to see some of the illuminated texts, The Medieval Bestiary database is a great place to start.)

Becoming Even More Fantastic

So there was a pretty large jump from the early Greek days where bestiaries were used to record natural history to the medieval age where they became a means of spreading religious teachings. 

There is still yet another jump to the modern bestiary, where it’s used almost purely to classify magical beasts. These are the bestiaries that I grew up reading, and in my opinion, they are the coolest. 

Some of the bestiaries that I recommend taking a look at include:

spiderwick field guide

Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You – This book was my bread and butter as a kid. It’s filled with great artwork from Tony DiTerlizzi and history from Holly Black. It’s based on their popular Spiderwick Chronicles, and the Field Guide is a big part of the original story. You’ll find all kinds of great info in here, and my personal favorite entry is the Wandering Clump, a fun little grass fairy. 

labyrinth bestiary

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Bestiary: A Definitive Guide to the Creatures of the Goblin King’s Realm – This one is just like it sounds! The Labyrinth is such an awesome movie, visually and creatively speaking. This book features all the different goblins, fire monkeys, hobgoblins, and dog knights that fill the world of the Labyrinth. It’s illustrated by Iris Compiet, and has accompanying text from S.T. Bende. (Iris Compiet worked on another bestiary along the same vein, focusing on The Dark Crystal.)

And while this next one isn’t necessarily a bestiary, it certainly fits into this category:

natural history of dragons

The Memoirs of Lady Trent series by Marie Brennan – This series combines Victorian steampunk era drama and exploration with dragons. Yup, the first book is called A Natural History of Dragons, and features Isabella Trent, a dragon naturalist, and a damn fine one at that. Her adventures take her all over the world as she learns more about dragons and their evolution. 

I’ll admit I haven’t finished the Lady Trent series yet (there are 6 books and 1 short story), but I really enjoyed the first two so far!

And as a runner-up that I discovered while writing this blog post (that definitely makes it onto the TBR list) was originally written in Spanish by Jorge Luis Borges called Manual de zoología fantástica. It translates to The Book of Imaginary Beings, and is sort of a cultural compendium of literary and mythological entities. It borders on seriousness and hilarity at the same time, with stoic creatures like the centaur situated in pages next to things like a Goofus Bird.

Are there any prominent bestiaries we failed to mention? Old or new alike, feel free to drop their names in the comments!

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