leysists

Leysists are individuals who believe in the existence of ley lines, supposed alignments of landmarks, ancient monuments, and geographical features across the landscape that carry spiritual or energetic significance. They may study, map, or follow these lines, and some claim that sites along the lines share heightened power, resonance, or healing properties.

The concept originates in the early 20th century, notably with Alfred Watkins, who in The Old Straight Track (1921) proposed that prehistoric trackways run along straight lines between places. The idea was expanded by occultists, folklorists, and later New Age writers, who argued for deliberate planning or cosmic importance behind such alignments.

Practitioners often survey landscapes to identify alignments between stones, churches, tombs, hills, springs, and other features, and some create maps or grids of perceived lines. Some leysists use dowsing or other intuitive methods to locate lines or junctions. Beliefs frequently attribute energetic currents, sacred geometry, or solstice- and equinox-based significance to the lines.

Reception and criticism: mainstream archaeology, geology, and geography generally view ley lines as patterns formed by chance, selective recording, or pareidolia rather than evidence of real energy channels. There is little peer-reviewed evidence for global networks of intentional alignments. Nevertheless, the idea remains influential in popular culture, neo-paganism, and some spiritual or tourism communities.

See also: ley line, dowsing, alignments in archaeology.