The Spine of Albion Review. The Backbone of Britain.
The Spine of Albion is an intriguing book. It falls neatly into place as the third of a trilogy of books about long and important ley lines in Europe.
The first was The Sun and the Serpent (1990) which charts the path of the St Michael Line from Land’s End to East Anglia.
The second was the The Dance of the Dragon: An Odyssey into Earth Energies and Ancient Religion (2000) which follows the path of the major ley from Ireland to Israel. This crosses the St Michael Line at St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.
Now there is the The Spine of Albion (2012) which traces the Belinus Line from the Isle of Wight to Scotland. All three lines probably extend far beyond the start and end points mentioned in the respective books.
The Spine of Albion Review
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The Spine of Albion: Volume One, The South
The Spine of Albion, by Gary Biltcliffe and Caroline Hoare, is the in-depth research of a middle axis line that runs through Britain from the mystical Isle of Wight to Durness at the top of Scotland and connects the ancient capitals of both countries. This hidden axis has associated with it a yin and yang – female and male – energy force that weaves around the alignment and crosses at key places of power within the British landscape. The book reveals the significance of these mystical leys and networks of light, also called Dragon paths, and how we can interact with them and help to rejuvenate our planet’s sacred sites and raise the consciousness of man. The Kindle series is in three volumes:. Volume One: The South, Volume Two: The Midlands and the North, and Volume Three: Scotland.
The authors, Gary Biltcliffe and Caroline Hoare, dedicated fifteen years of hard work following the line and visiting all the significant sites along its route.
As they travelled from site to site they dowsed the path of the two complimentary male and female energy lines (or dragon paths), which they named Belinus and Elen.
Wherever the two complimentary currents cross the each other on the alignment there is a node point that is of particular importance and power. The ley line alignment itself follows a rhumb line path and the two dragon lines weave around it. The line tracks the length of Britain at 14.5 degrees west of True North. At each location along the line we learn a lot about its history, symbolism, and heritage. The authors investigated the legends and folklore, and the archaeology and historical records of each site.
The book is therefore not only the story of the journey along and around the line but it is also a detailed reference book. It is a guidebook to one of Britain’s most important ley lines.
Anyone living close to a section of the alignment who wants to visit just a few of the sites can turn to that section and glean plenty of information about each location.
The print quality is excellent with plenty of colour photos of the many churches, abbeys, earthworks, sarsen stones, trees, wells, masonry, and countless other evidence.
Inspiration and Exploration
Once you start reading this book your feet will start to itch. It’s an inspiration to start exploring the section of the Belinus line that is closest to you.
There will be sites you will want to visit for the first time. There may be sites that are familiar to you that you will return to with deeper knowledge and understanding. It is a book that compliments the resurgence of walking, following footpaths, and rediscovering Britain’s largely forgotten routes of pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage in Britain is usually thought of a purely Christian activity but travel along sacred paths goes back a lot further.
It is known that the early Christian monks and missionaries built their wattle and daub churches on or near existing sacred sites. By doing so and by following the old paths that interconnected these ancient sites the paths of Elen between stone circles and holy hills became paths of pilgrimage between churches and cathedrals.
Dip into The Spine of Albion, find a path, follow it, and see where it leads you. Use this book as your guide and you’ll know what to look out for at each location.
The Spine of Albion could easily be your guidebook for an exploration of the line that could take weeks to complete.
Albion’s Legacy
We are all familiar with the fact that our busy everyday lives tend to absorb so much activity and attention that we have little left after all the supposedly important tasks are done.
Just as light pollution prevents us from gazing in awe and wonder at the stars as our ancestors did, so our attention is drawn to the modern world and all its distractions.
It takes a conscious effort to devote some time and attention to books like this but it is vitally important that we do so.
For some it will be a pleasant enough read and an armchair journey to places that they may never visit in person. Whether you do manage to visit is not as important as being reminded of the significance of these alignments and the sanctity of the node points.
Gary Biltcliffe and Caroline Hoare’s book delivers an important message for the 21st Century. It reminds us of how long these sacred sites have hummed with power generating the fertile atmospheres for the benefit of all.
However, these power points in the earth’s energy grid need our attention and care. They need to be visited and and the paths need to be used lest they grow over. Neglected networks tend to atrophy and fall into disrepair. The result is a gradual depletion of vitality within the areas they designed to enliven. Be part of the restoration and learn about the node points nearest to you. Visit them and walk the paths that pass through them. You will not only become fitter and happier but you will also contribute to the restoration of Albion’s network of winding paths through the hollow hills.
For more information visit the authors’ homepage: belinusline.com
Why Albion?
Albion is an old name for what today are called the British Isles, but where does the name orginate?
According to one theory, the name Albion is derived from the Celtic word for “white,” in reference to the white cliffs of Dover. Another possibility is that it comes from the Latin word albus, meaning “white.” The name may also have been used to describe the entire island of Great Britain, as opposed to just the mainland.
Whatever its origins, the name Albion was once commonly used to refer to England, and it appears in several old poems and songs. In recent years, it has been adopted by some as a poetic or romantic name for the country.
Although not in widespread use and not considered an official name for England, it nevertheless remains an evocative and interesting piece of English history.
The song “Coronach” by the band Jethro Tull was released in the UK in 1986. It was used as the theme tune for a Channel 4 television program called “Blood of the British”. It contains this first verse:
Grey the mist, cold the dawn
Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull
Cruel the sea and stern the shore
Brave the man who sets his course
For Albion
Ancient Britain
Britain is an ancient country with a rich history and complex heritage. The first settlers arrived on the island thousands of years ago, and the English language of today has its roots in the languages of the settlers who arrived in the past two thousand years. Parts of Britain has been invaded and settled by a number of different peoples, all of whom have left their mark on the country’s culture and history.
Today, Britain is a nation of many different cultures and traditions, all of which contributes to its unique character. From its fascinating history to its diverse culture, Britain is a country that always has something new to offer visitors.
Megalithic Monuments
Megalithic monuments are some of the most enigmatic and fascinating relics of the ancient world. These massive standing stones, stone circles, and burial mounds have baffled historians for centuries, and they continue to be a source of mystery and speculation.
Some myths tell us that these structures were built by an unknown race of giants. What we do know is that some were used as ceremonial sites for Druidic rituals. Whatever their original purpose may have been, there is no doubt that these megalithic monuments are a fascinating glimpse into the past.
