One step forward, two steps back, one step forward, two steps back, one step forward, two steps…circles never end, a broken record set on repeat, a continuous smooth line. Where end joins to end seamlessly. There is no break in the perfect endless realm of shape. We can get lost forever in a circle, continuously going round and round, never knowing what its like to divert from the path. But how can you?  Our path has been mapped out for us, we say, we will find our destination when we reach the end. Never do we realise that their journey is merely a chalk circle on the ground, like goldfish we forget the signs three seconds later, never noticing that the same external features are repeating themselves over and over again.

We are trapped are when we inadvertently put one foot in front of the other for no other reason then because we should. Fear rests us when we shy away from corners and haphazard rusty lines. Change is inevitable and yet when we live in circles we refuse to accept the different, we simply respect and treasure the familiar cycle that leads us to the same places, at the same times, the same experiences constantly. How can we learn if all we ever do is spin around and around? We all say think out of the box, a square, should it not be think out of the circle? Circles being those constant connected streams of motion, initiating a thought that millions have had before, is that not thinking within the circle? As the thoughts have come full circle, past on from one person to another, to us, a giant hidden game of Chinese whispers. In squares there are hidden corners and sharp edges, so should we not think inside the box and lighten the shaded areas before we assume that we need to get out. Is it not being trapped inside a circle that we should be afraid of? At least in a square you can turn corners. 

1. Go out with friends, but remember, NO DRINKING AND DRIVE!

2. Play pranks on people (just do not hurt them)

3. Play a video game. BOOM! HEAD SHOT!

4. Run around in circles until you pass out of exhaustion (NOT recommended)

5. Go hunting (yep..shoot some animals…but please…DON’T SHOOT PEOPLE)

6. Watch the television (oooooooohhhhh look at the pretty colors)

7. Play a instrument (and no, a glass bottle that you blow on is not a instrument)

8. Post on Triond (oh wait…you are)

9. Read a book (well it works for some people, not me )

10. QUIT READING THIS AND DO SOMETHING, YOU IDIOT!

These crop circles are know common in England and Europe and some farmers in England charge about $3 to walk into a crop circle.

New age believers like cereologists (those that study crop circles) believe that crop circles are formed by aliens but this belief was based on the 2002 movie si fact is that back in 1991 two men, Doug Bower and Dave Chorley confessed to the formation of hundreds of crop circles. Companies like Nike and Pepsi pay farmers to make crop circles in form of their logos.

Instructions on how to make your own crop circles using ropes, wire and planks are available on the internet.

Crop circles are defined as patterns created by the flattening of various crops.  Since around 1990, the “circles” have evolved into complex geometric patterns but the term “crop circle” still remains.  These circles have supposedly been in existence since the 17th century — a devil was depicted in a pamphlet mowing circles into the crops.  Crop circles have popped up between then and now with an increasing popularity in the 70’s and 80’s in England.

The origins of the circles have been disputed by many.  The explanations have ranged from geological anomalies to man-made hoaxes or even UFOs.  In my opinion, the circles are almost always created by people with too much time on their hands.  People will do the oddest things when they are bored or in need of attention or popularity.  Everyone is looking for their “15 minutes of fame”.  Crop circles are definitely one of the odder pursuits of those who have an overabundance of time.

There have been over 12,000 documented circles world wide.  They are increasingly becoming an art form all of their own.  There are even companies such as circlemakers.org who will make advertisements in fields for products such as Red Bull, Mitsubishi, Discover Channel and NBC.  Some of the circles have been shown to have been made with little more than rope and two by fours to stomp down the crops into amazingly complex patterns.  Elements of three-dimensionality are becoming increasingly frequent and have culminated in speculator images of cube-shaped structures.

Take a look at these images below and try to imagine how much time they would have taken to create.  What I wouldn’t do for that much extra time in a day!  Or, on the other hand, look at the pictures through the eyes of a believer — if people didn’t create these than what did?

This intricate crop circle composes of circles and triangles was spotted August 5, 2007 on Sugar Hill in Upper Upham, Wilshire in the UK.  The symmetry of the design appears to be absolutely perfect and there are no signs of human interaction with the design from the air, at least.  This is one of the most baffling things about crop circles.  Makers will go to extreme lengths to cover their tracks which leads believers to believe even more.

This amazing three dimensional crop “circle” measured approximately 350 feet.  It was found near the village of Ashbury in Oxfordshire in July of 2006.  This crop circle is a stellar example of how crop circles are now more than just circles.  The three dimensional nature of this formation is incredible and an art form all of it’s own.

This crop circle was found in Savernake Forrest in Wiltshire in June of 2006.  The wheat crop shows stunning symmetry and three dimensional attributes with two of the circles appearing to be cones more than flat circles at all.  The complexity of some of these designs is absolutely stunning!

This crop circle is 150 feet wide and was found in June 2008 near Barbury Castle above the village of Wrought in Wiltshire. The design is said to represent the first 10 digits of 10 (ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter).  The tenth digit is said to have even been correctly rounded up.  The dot near the center is the decimal point while the ten angular segments with the radial jumps are the indicator of each sequence.  I wonder how this would have been completed in the dead of night with boards and ropes?  Be interesting to see that’s for sure!  These people with too much time on their hands like to interweave ideas of mathematics and planetary alignments to make their hoaxes appear more mysterious.

This is a view of a pentagram crop circle in Fosston. The pentagram has longed been linked to the occult and devil worshiping.  In this circle, the paths to and from the design can be clearly seen, even from the air.

This photo is an aerial view of a crop circle in South Korea.  This one contains many circles of various sizes over top of each other.  Their meaning, if there is one, is unapparent and elusive.  You’d think if the aliens really wanted to send us a sign, it would be readable!

This crop circle was discovered in Smithfield, Utah in July of 1997.  It resembles a petroglyph of some sort more than it resembles the “usual” crop circle design.

This huge crop circle is reminiscent of the base of a tornado shape with various sizes of circles spinning out in three directions.  Perhaps it’s a giant, alien pinwheel of sorts.

This elongated view of a crop circle in the United States also seems to have some sort of “secret” meaning.  It is more than just various circles, one after another.  Some of them seem to have key shapes protruding from them.  Perhaps one day we’ll find the “key” to these mysteries — even if it is just a bunch of guys drinking beer with too much time on their hands!

This compelling crop circle resembles an eye ball, always open, always watching.  The weaved portion surrounding the pupil of the eye look like eye lids and eye lashes.  A little bit creepy, for sure.

This crop circle is an elaboration on the basic pentagram shape with moon shapes protruding from each point of the star.  Very reminiscent of early pagan symbols.

The squiggly lines of this crop circle look like ribbons undulating from the interior circle.  This one is also reminiscent of an alien pinwheel  which is huge and covers a wide area of the crop.

In the end, beauty is in the eye of beholder.  While I may think these shapes are awesome, fascinating and downright pretty, some farmers are probably getting pretty annoyed at the continual destruction of their crops.  These incredible works of art can be very damaging to farmer’s crops, regardless of how they are made.  Although when one field was damaged with a crop circle in 1996 near Stongehenge, the farmer set up a booth to collect a fee to see his “circle”.  He collected£30,00 in four weeks while the value of the crop if it had been harvested would have been approximately £150.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Images via Flickr.

America is also a place where many so called UFOs are sighted regularly and on several occasions after a UFO sighting, a crop circle is soon found in the area. The reason for this is unknown. The UFOs might just be strange looking balloons or toys that fly in the air that could be filled with helium gas. When these things are sighted, people can be very suspicious about these things and many people think to begin with that they are UFOs.

Since there is no solid proof that aliens exist, we have to believe that humans made the crop circles and deny any possible unknown extra terrestrial activity. The reasons why there is a very, very unlikely possibility of alien existence is because earth is the only planet that can support the lives of living creatures. This is firstly because of the distance from the sun, secondly, the fact that there is water on the planet, and thirdly, because there is enough oxygen and carbon dioxide around for creatures to breathe.

The main connection with crop circles and UFO sightings is the strange aftermath of events that occur after a UFO has been seen. Lots of alien and UFO films have been set in Eastern America because this is where these UFOs have been spotted to have been seen the most.

For the time being, we humans are unsure that aliens or any other type extra terrestrial exists and we only know a tiny bit about our planet, the other planets in our solar system and the universe itself. There is so much to explore and so much to discover that it could take years and years for the human race to find out the truth about extra terrestrial and alien life. Hopefully with more technology available and more scientific results we will get that little step further in to our knowledge of the universe.