Paul D. Burley

"There is a cosmic consciousness within us that, through use of symbols, allows us to comprehend and communicate our relationship with the earth, the universe, and life itself. This is a common thread binding the fabric of all mankind. This is the nature of the Sacred Sphere. Stonehenge is the archetypal symbol, and its original purpose is now known." - Paul D. Burley

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BACKGROUND

Paul earned Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Science - Geology degrees from the University of Minnesota. His career has included design and construction engineer, and 25 years in the consulting arena including geotechnical engineering and environmental geology.

From 1994 to 2005 Burley owned an engineering consulting company, specializing in helping property owners, managers and developers to ensure that their land and facilities were managed to minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment. The company's clients were located across North America. Paul served as the consultant of choice for other consultants needing our expertise.

Paul has investigated physical landscapes at thousands of historic and prehistoric cultural site. He wrote The Business Owner's Guide to Environmental Assessment (copyright 2002, rev. 2004), addressing identification and mitigation of environmental concerns associated with properties ranging from undeveloped land to high density commercial and industrial properties.

THE SACRED SPHERE

Burley was always keenly interested in the history of architecture, engineering, science and technology, with specific interest in ancient and indigenous cultures. His book 'The Sacred Sphere' (Beavers Pond Press, copyright 2012) is the result of eight year intensive study of world mythology and the extensive record of pictographic and architectural symbolism expressed by secular and spiritual traditions around the world. The book addresses universal spherical symbolism and indications of cosmic consciousness exhibited by humankind throughout time. Those studies resulted in development of a new paradigm in the understanding of the sacred life way of indigenous people. The book presents the history of the circle as a two dimensional representation of the sphere, symbolizing our relationships with each other, the world, cosmos and Creator.

The Sacred Sphere presents evidence found in mythology, archaeology and architecture for prehistoric and historic social and cultural symbolism, mythical and cultural symbolic expressions of the human condition, and modern personal relationships within the larger community. Those interests and concerns are inherent in all cultures. It details ancient and indigenous cross-cultural mythologies, timeless religious and spiritual principles and practices expressed in traditions as varied as mathematics and monumental architecture, and the growing human concern for our relationship with Earth.

STONEHENGE: AS ABOVE, SO BELOW

Burley's latest work, 'Stonehenge: As Above, So Below' (New Generation Publishing, copyright 2014) identifies the original purpose and design for locating monuments such as the cursus, long barrows and henges where they were constructed on the Stonehenge Ritual Landscape during mid- to late-Neolithic. Understanding the spatial relationships between monuments increases our understanding of the intent for the landscape by the people who conceived, designed and built it. It also greater understanding of mid-Neolithic culture across Britain.

The book presents Paul's finds that the complex of elements on Salisbury Plain ca. 3500 BC exhibits a previously unrecognized unity of purpose. Newly identified spatial relationships between physiographic and monumental elements of the landscape demonstrate how those features relate to the broader context of people and landscape interacting with the stars - sky above and Earth below.

Geometrical aspects of long barrows, henges, cursus, lone megaliths, natural topography, and Stonehenge itself are considered during the period of about 3800 to 3200. This approach provides a means to demystify the purpose of individual features within the larger spatial and temporal context.

Thee book also details the configuration of the four Station Stones at Stonehenge, and shows that the stones served a purpose far more important than mere alignment with solar and lunar risings and settings. They form the framework for bringing together Sky King and Earth Goddess at one of the greatest prehistoric monuments to be found anywhere - Stonehenge.