***image1***The wisest decision I ever made was to agree to check out the validity of the Arthurian ‘ethos’ through tangible historical sites and ancient monuments. I wanted to see if there was anything other than wishful thinking at work here, and the best way to do it was to visit the actual places and judge for myself. I reasoned that if Merlin could show himself to me at home, then other magical things might occur in the locations linked with his legends. The photograph of the face in the clouds peeping through the trilithon certainly appeared to confirm that notion.

Stonehenge proved to be an extraordinary place. We were fortunate enough to be allowed in among the stones before the whole site became strewn with barbed wire in later years. Stonehenge possessed an exceptional energy, unlike anything I had ever experienced before. There was a sense of welcome, which ordinarily one associates with greeting old friends. I found the whole experience particularly mystical and very moving. The day was a fine one and the sun shone on the stones, enhancing their greyness and mystery. Larks sang continuously, far up in the sky. It felt like one of those sylvan moments one reads about in classical literature and in such an idyllic, historical setting, too. I stood transfixed by the sophisticated stone technology that lay before us.

Like a lot of other visitors to the henge, my wife and I remained standing in awe for ages, wrestling with the question, which I am sure countless others have asked – why? What can have been the original purpose behind such a construction? Our first idea was that the henge could once have been some kind of gigantic ‘calculator’. Various investigators had discovered a number of astronomical alignments over the years, which pointed to a possible use as an observatory. On deeper reflection, we felt Stonehenge must have had a far greater purpose, other than mere stargazing. We wondered if clues could be found in the original, intact construction. However, the complete design seemed as enigmatic as the ruined monument itself.

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Curiously, archaeologists propose that there were different phases of building at Stonehenge over a period of at least two thousand years. The official archaeological view suggests that during this time period the monument went through a number of design changes, but was never totally completed. The official guide informed us on our first visit that another construction in the same area called ‘Woodhenge’ represented a kind of wooden template for the stone circle. Apparently, Woodhenge was created long before Stonehenge itself was ever attempted. If such was the case, why does Woodhenge look so much like the layout for the final phase of building at Stonehenge? This did not seem to make any sense at all. For the first time on our quest we felt ourselves to be in total disagreement with orthodox archaeology. It was not to be the last.

We are still not convinced there is enough evidence to confirm the fact that Stonehenge was never completed. The construction of the monument continues to be shrouded in mystery. Indeed, the site was used as a stone quarry for many years, so goodness only knows what damage was done in that period? Recent discoveries have only served to deepen the enigma. Apparently, the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works refurbished the henge during the early part of the twentieth century and this fact has only just come to light again! Nobody knows if they put various stones back in their correct places or not.

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Another notion we considered in our 1975 deliberations was that the trilithons might have been a celebration of the Greek symbol ‘pi’:

“p = A sophisticated mathematical concept for the ratio between the circumference of a circle and its radius …”

Of course, this idea does not explain how or why the circle of stones was ever erected in the first place. In recent years, there have been some singular attempts to duplicate the engineering principles that lie behind the construction of Stonehenge. To date, none of them have convinced me of their validity. The concrete trilithon, erected for one of the television companies a few years ago, eventually had to be lifted into position using modern technology, basically cranes and scaffolding. A brave attempt but not a conclusive one.

Anyone looking at the henge today, with uncomplicated eyes, has to admire the sophistication of the stonework. For example: the stone mortise and tenon joints; the curved lintels; the block shaping; and the perfection of the verticals and horizontals in relation to the natural topography of the site itself. The whole construction is awesome. For us to be still arguing today that woollyâ€‘minded savages might have erected the edifice with deer antler picks is utter nonsense. Could you, or I for that matter, undertake such a DIY task, even with all the modern technology at our disposal? Not a chance.

Peter Quiller had an extraordinary meeting with a cosmic energy in 1975 that he came to know as ‘Merlin’. It changed his life in that he severed all his connections with his previous career in the film industry to return to full-time higher education. After having graduated with honors from the University Hertfordshire with a degree in English and Drama, Peter became a fully qualified teacher in 1992. For ten years he taught both disciplines, whilst continuing his magical and geomantic interests. On a number of occasions he has been requested by Merlin to perform certain geomantic rituals and over the decades, has been studying and rediscovering the Round Table of Britain. These have formed the basis of four books, which appear under the umbrella title of “Quest”. Occasionally, Peter gives lectures about his experiences with Merlin to youth clubs, New Age groups and spiritualist churches.

To contact or find out further information on Peter Quiller and his work with Merlin, please visit merlinawakens@btinternet.com

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