REVIEW
Not another meaningless book about landscape geometry - with allegedly arbitrary geographical points pointing to a hidden mystery in the Rennes-le-Château landscape.
These were my initial thoughts when i saw the Map and the Manuscript, the new book by author Simon Miles.
Not that i dont have a general interest in landscape geometry theories. As someone who studied Anthropology i find it fascinating that our ancestors could and did use their landscape, interacted with it and modelled it in to their daily lives. We also know that out ancestors used the stars and astronomy to map their landscapes and these studies are interesting in their own right.
But does it really have anything to do with the so called Rennes-le-Château mystery?
Miles says he has discovered a mysterious zodiac format ‘.. based on a genuine ancient intervention in the landscape, a twelve-fold division inscribed geometrically into the earth. It has roots in deep antiquity. The Templars and others knew in the thirteenth century, and possibly much earlier, [they] knew of it and built their chateaux and churches on pre-existing, significant sites in the geometry. Knowledge of these landscape forms, and some of the cartographic properties evidently came in to the possession of Henri Boudet, in the late nineteenth century, in Rennes-les-Bains. He wrote about it as the Cromlech…’ [page 204].
He goes on to assert therefore that ‘…we have arrived at the hidden treasure concealed in Boudet’s map … it is the confirmation of the persistence into the modern world of knowledge of an ancient landscape form, of great antiquity, and of exquisite construction’.
Landscape geometry that was carried out through different ages? Used by different groups [and dated to structures from the Middle Ages and even earlier]? If correct this certainly raised important questions for me; is the Miles geometry interesting because it shows the extraordinary knowledge of our ancestors? Or is it important because it has been constructed for a specific reason? Or was the ancient knowledge adopted for a reason making both scenarios possible? Does this geometry exist?
Miles is a diligent, intelligent, interesting and knowledgeable researcher and writer. Diligent because he started with the theories Lincoln talked about in the Holy Place [and presented in the BBC Chronicle programmes] and set about checking every single assertion he made. He found that Lincoln had made several errors and on the way discovered a 45 degree alignment that he found highly significant. It suggested to him the possibility that ‘the original architects and builders of the structures [along that 45 degree line] intentionally arranged the spatial relationships between the locations’.
It was then Miles became familiar with the poem, well known to all Rennes aficionados - Le Serpent Rouge. Mysterious and strange - no-one has ever offered a real solution to what this poem is about and how it relates to Rennes-le-Château. Miles asked all the questions other researchers have asked; who is the Grand Voyager, what are the 64 stones to be gathered, what is the ‘famous seal’, why is the Saint Sulpice meridian important? What actually is the point of LSR?
The book goes on to discover such answers. And what he has discovered is truly astonishing! It involves a zodiac over the Cromlech - often thought to have been hinted at by Boudet and most certainly referred to in the work of Plantard and Chérisey. Miles presents his stunning theory on the origins of this zodiac within this work. He has discovered the way the trio Pierre Plantard, Gérard de Sède and Philippe de Chérisey carefully and over many years piece-meal directed us to certain discoveries within Le Serpent Rouge. And one is to realise that the mystery at Rennes-le-Château is really not there, but with Henri Boudet and his mysterious book, La Vrai Langue Celtique and his imaginary Cromlech. Of course, seasoned and serious Rennes researchers already know this ….
For me the most astounding discoveries and the aspect that constitutes the ‘game-changer’ label is Miles’ analysis of the Boudet map. Simply breathtaking and sublime. Truly revelatory.
Miles is then able to deconstruct the so-called Saunière parchments in relation to this Boudet map. The whole thing unravels in a seamless whole. A connected whole and what we need now is someone to come along and take up the baton Miles has thrown down!
This new research throws up interesting new questions. Difficult questions. Boudet used a code in his map. Why? The code is provable and not speculation. It is not vague. It is there to see. So why? What are the implications? Is it really to show us ancient knowledge he knew? Did he adopt this knowledge for his own reasons?
And even more - how did Boudet come across this knowledge? But more pertinently there is always the persistent question, why? Why, one cries in exasperation. Why has Boudet encoded his map like this? Why is it that Plantard had this information? How did he come in to possession of it?
So the big question is this? Will these ideas of Miles encounter resistance in the Rennes research community? I think they will.
This resistance could simply be because it is difficult for the researchers in the Rennes-le-Chateau community to grasp what is happening here.
One respected researcher has already wrote to me; I am wary of those - including Henry Lincoln - who project precise geometric figures on any landscape in times when accurate measurement equipement didn't exist’. Others have mentioned about 'using the parchments in the Rennes Affair - saying that ‘we know - since 50 years now - [that they] are complete fabrications by Philippe de Chérisey, and this by his own admission'. Another has said - 'I am wary of people who release their first book and say "The book includes solutions to key riddles at the heart of mystery, first revealed. "... We have seen so much... so much!
I totally understand their scepticism. This genre has been littered with liars and fraudsters and those that claim much and when you read their works are severely let down because extreme theories are pit forward [such as UFO's etc]. So serious researchers are not given a chance! But i ask one thing of researchers and anyone for that matter - that they give this book a chance .. like i did. You will be richly rewarded and rewarded in many ways you might not expect.
It is not often that a book comes along in Rennes-le-Château studies which can come to be a game-changer … this book is one of them!
It is a claim i make myself!
Our thoughts may well require a paradigm shift and that is going to be difficult.
This book is going to take many years before it is fully understood and appreciated. It will take many readings. Even I read it regularly and find something new each time and appreciate and understand it more as i do so.
This is a serious and respectful piece of research, dare i say it a lifes' work? It deserves to be read by the serious researchers and considered in its own right.
But above all we have to thank Mr Miles for his tenacity & his dedication to pursue such a work. He deserves admiration for how he went about completing the task. And we also have to thank him for giving us such an exciting read in our favourite subject and to the new other areas of thought he has opened up … who can ask more of book?