4.1.2 SEE-I Model
State
Ley lines have no significant evidence backing it, other than what one might imagine is evidence through magical thinking.
Elaborate
The Ley line theory is not all that complicated to understand: A man in the early 20th century noticed that completely straight lines could be drawn from different historically significant sites to another to create patterns. From this observation, it was concluded that these “patterns” must have some significance. It has been shown, however, that the human brain is apt to find patterns in nearly anything it sees. For instance, in a slice of Swiss cheese, one might see a face from the different holes in it, but obviously, this does not logically lead one to believe there is significance to the cheese looking this way, other than through superstition and magical thinking. In a similar way, there are, no doubt, countless patterns that could be drawn up between different historical sites, but this does not logically indicate that these lines or patterns have any significance. The only thing Ley lines logically can lead us to believe is that the human brain has an extraordinary knack for finding patterns. As one author put it, “Whether Ley lines exist or not, the fact that many people believe they do provides insight into the human brain’s amazing capacity for finding patterns in the world around us” (Radford, 2013).
Exemplify
One way that the Ley line theory seems to be intertwined with magical thinking is how Ley lines are used as evidence for ancient astronauts. Ancient astronauts (or aliens) are another example of pseudoscience, and so it is no surprise that something like Ley lines would be used as support. It is theorized by Ley line conspirators that the supposed patterns created by Ley lines are maps, guides, or creations of extraterrestrial life. Historical sites such as the pyramids or Stonehenge are already theorized by ancient astronaut supporters to have been created by aliens, which makes it seem even more probable that Ley lines have some deeper significance—likely because of aliens—considering those same sites fall on Ley lines. But Ley lines, like ancient astronauts, have no scientific backing, and their reliance on one another does not improve their arguments. In fact, the connection between the two seems to point to how each is grasping at straws, so to speak, to find ways in which they can solidify their arguments. After all, the Ley line conspiracy is simply an observation of straight lines from different historical sites to another, that, when considered by the human brain, seem to create patterns, but to think that a deeper meaning follows is magical thinking.
Illustrate
In Greek mythology, many of the myths end in a tragedy of some sort. For instance, the life of demi-god Hercules comes to an abrupt end when his wife is tricked by a spiteful centaur to put hydra poison on Hercule’s lion pelt robe, which, once put on, kills Hercules. According to the myth, after his death, the lead god Zeus puts his body in the sky in the form of a constellation, as he does with other fallen heroes as well.
Greek mythology is appropriately named: it is obviously all myth; yet, we see the constellations up in the sky that are depicted in Greek mythology, such as the Hercules constellation. This may persuade some that the Greek myths may actually be true because otherwise, the constellations would not be there.
When observed through critical thinking, however, it becomes clear that the constellational outline of Hercules was observed first by the Greeks, and the myth came after as folklore of sorts. And it’s not that the stars were designed to be shaped like Hercules, it is simply that the Greeks observed a pattern in the sky. In a similar way, Ley lines patterns are not supporting evidence for aliens, earth energies, or even past civilizations’ coordination, but simply a pattern observed from the randomness that had meaning added to it later on. As one author puts it, “Ley lines exist in the same way that astrological constellations exist. You can draw (or imagine) lines connecting certain stars to form the horns of the Taurus constellation, the scales of the Libra sign, or the Big Dipper. But that doesn’t mean that those points were placed there to make that pattern” (Radford, 2013).