ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

MANY SUBGENRES OF ANCIENT and modern mysteries as well as esoteric ideas have been integrated here without recognition of the background sources, perhaps to some readers’ relief. Major influences have been Giorgio de Santillana and Hertha von Dechend, Mary Douglas, Ernest McClain, George Gurdjieff, Peter Ouspensky, and John Bennett. More direct influences have been Anthony Blake, megalithic pioneer Robin Heath, the metrologists John Neal and John Michell, and Carnac investigator Howard Crowhurst.

I am very grateful to Anthony Blake for reading, editing, and discussing much of this work as it was in progress. The megalithic itinerary of chapter 2 went through many revisions, with Robin Heath providing some editing as well as the all-important survey at Le Manio. Thanks to my wife, Jane, for supporting another book project.