Most casual observers think the crop circle phenomenon is something out of an episode of the old X files TV show or some cheesy Hollywood movie.

They would be correct on both counts. But that is certainly not the end of the story. Not by a long shot.

The X files actually featured an episode on the subject, but it was the release of SIGNS, a big-budget science fiction film starring Mel Gibson in 2002 which finally pushed the enigma of crop circles into the pop culture spotlight – after making headlines for years in Great Britain.  

As bizarre and enigmatic as they appear, images of crop formations have been part of global popular culture for many years. By now, most people have seen pictures of crop circles and they are aware of the phenomena, at the very least.

Part of the reason for my fascination with crop formations popping up mysteriously in the fields of unsuspecting farmers is the very fact that it simply defies explanation in rational, scientific terms; even today. In spite of all of the advanced technology available to us, the crop circle phenomena still poses more questions than it answers, even after many years of study and observation.

The phenomena itself has certainly become an inescapable part of contemporary pop culture. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject and a quick google search will produce millions of hits; running the spectrum from serious scientific research to wild speculation.

Following the release of Disney’s crappy big-budget film SIGNS, crop circles began to feature in cable documentaries on History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Network, and others. Since that initial rush, however, interest in the phenomenon – as well as the frequency of the formations – has waned.

But that doesn’t mean it has gone away.

To this day there are few, if any, scholarly articles available on the subject, which shows the academic community still regards the matter with some skepticism. Crop circles are a real phenomenon, however, and the evidence is right out in the open. This is what makes the formations so fascinating to study.

The modern controversy surrounding crop circles began in the late 1970s in Australia, when strange circles were noticed in otherwise normal wheat and barley fields. Many theories were put forward – all speculation.

No one claimed responsibility in any case, but by the mid-80s the phenom had firmly established itself thousands of miles away in the gentle rolling farm country of southern England, particularly in the ‘Old Kingdom’ of Wessex [containing the counties of Wiltshire and Hampshire]. Intriguingly, over ninety percent of the world’s crop circles are found within seven miles of the famous neolithic stone circle, Stonehenge.

The fact that many crop circles routinely show up near the sites of ancient neolithic burial mounds and megaliths like Stonehenge, Avebury and Silbury Hill – sites dating back 4,000 years or more – has added fuel to the theory that the strange prehistoric rock formations are in some way connected to the crop circle phenomena, but this has yet to be proven.

It has been theorized that the circles are somehow a natural phenomenon, and a number of proposals have been put forth as possible explanations: from “plasma vortices” to ball lightning, to “earth energies” to rutting hares. Extraterrestrials have also been blamed for the formations by more than one researcher, since the appearance of the crop circles have been closely associated with unexplained lights in the sky, UFO sightings and other anomalous occurrences.

Still other theories point the finger at various super-secret intelligence agencies of the USA and Britain, such as the NSA, NRO in the USA, and MI6 in Britain. Some researchers claim the formations are part of some kind of high-tech psychological operation using classified technology from orbiting satellites. What purpose such an operation could possibly serve is unclear, however.

The crop circle phenomenon initially manifested in the UK as simple circles which mysteriously formed overnight in fields of almost ripened grain – much to the surprise of the local farmers, some of whom began to report their strange appearance. Others, however, harvested the fields as soon as possible among allegations that some farmers were being urged by the government to plow the fields as soon as possible; before serious investigations could be conducted.

Thus, most of the early formations went unreported. It wasn’t until curious researchers began regular overflights of the area in small planes that the frequency and complexity of the formations was noted. Soon, the genius of the mathematical precision and intricacy of the designs became evident. Upon further study it was observed that the crops had been ‘swirled’ into position, virtually undamaged, but bent in a way that would be impossible for hoaxers to duplicate…especially in the dark in the dead of night, with no witnesses.

Genetic mutations and other strange properties were detected in the crops after samples were studied in local labs.

While the controversy raged on, investigators determined that the ‘real’ circles also exhibited strange electromagnetic effects when analyzed, and cameras and other equipment would malfunction or break down inside the formations, but would function normally again once outside. People also experienced strange sensations inside the circles, ranging from mild nausea to headaches and dizziness – to spiritual enlightenment.

Some esoteric researchers consider the formations to be ‘temporary sacred sites’ considering their appearance in such close proximity to many of the ancient megaliths.

So, what do the crop formations mean, if anything? What message are they trying to convey?

As the years went by, the crop formations became increasingly complex; demonstrating intricate mathematical formulas, “sacred geometry” and even musical harmonics. The genuine phenomenon even produced unambiguous images of human DNA strands and depictions of the solar system. Most of the formations exhibited a highly sophisticated knowledge of mathematical principles. Several formations embody the ratio of Pi, the golden mean, and fractal geometry – including an actual ‘Mandelbrot set’ spectacularly formed back in 1991.

Scientific investigations ensued, but each time a new “rational” explanation was trotted out, the phenomena became more elaborate and unpredictable. Further ‘rational’ explanations for the continuing phenomenon didn’t hold up to scrutiny, as straight lines do not appear in nature – in addition to the other physical effects noted.

Some recent examples of the circle-maker’s art contain formations with 3-D effects, holographic illusions, and even musical harmonies encoded within.

It is true that hoaxers are responsible for many of the crop circles seen today, but certainly not all of them. The fakes are simply too easy to spot compared to the ‘real thing’ – although the fakers are getting much better at it. The counterfeited circles don’t exhibit any of the electromagnetic effects or genetic mutations shown in the genuine formations, however.

The best known hoaxers to come forward were Doug Bowers and Dave Chorley, who conveniently went public at a time when “crop-circle fever” was running rampant in the UK. In 1992, these two men, both in their 60s, claimed to be the creators of all of the crop circles, everywhere. They claimed they were reluctantly coming forward to tell their story over three days for a series in Britain’s TODAY newspaper.

The problem was that the story was completely ridiculous – they claimed they started the whole crop circle phenomenon for “a laugh” one evening over a beer at their local pub. They further stated that the increasing complexity of the designs was their “defiant reaction to the ever increasing seriousness of the so-called crop circle researchers.”

They said they were coming clean now because they were getting too old to carry on, and they were tired of lying to their spouses about their whereabouts at all hours of the night for the last 13 years!

It was clear to the genuine crop circle researchers that Doug and Dave’s claims were pure hogwash – especially considering the phenomenon continued unabated in their absence.

But the general public had already been sold their improbable story by the time the two men’s claims had been thoroughly debunked. The damage was done. In the public’s mind the case was closed: the whole thing was just a hoax by a couple of bored old codgers with nothing better to do.

Another glaring problem with Doug & Dave’s story was that they were unable to recreate even a simple circle when they were asked to demonstrate their methods before the cameras. There were no perfect swirls; no mathematical precision; no undamaged plants – none of the characteristic features of genuine crop formations. By all accounts it was a complete disaster, but the global media was satisfied the mystery had been solved.

The entire narrative reeked of a high-level government Psy-Op disinformation campaign, and in that regard it was successful in its primary goals: to discredit and humiliate the research community and put the matter to rest in the eyes of the average citizen.

So who does make them?

Genuine crop circle formations remain a mystery both in their creation and their function. The ‘real’ circles seem to appear almost instantaneously, with some eye-witness accounts claiming it happened right before their eyes! But usually they appear overnight with no visible signs of human intervention (such as refuse or footprints) and there are generally no witnesses.

As we’ve previously seen, the crop formations also exhibit various measurable electromagnetic fluctuations, and the crops show signs of genetic alteration – so it’s easy enough to determine the ‘genuine’ crop circles from the ‘fakes.’

One of the most prominent groups to use the formations as a marketing tool is company appropriately enough called The Circlemakers. They are located in London, UK. They designed and created many high-quality crop circle for big name clients ranging from the BBC, Mitsubishi Motors and Weetabix to The History Channel and Oldsmobile. More recent sightings of crop circles have appeared in adverts by Mercury insurance, Spirit Airlines, BMW China, HBO, Hovis and Papa John’s Pizza.

A couple of years ago, a California computer-graphics company called Nvidia commissioned a fake crop formation for an ad campaign, and the feat had the desired effect of creating controversy around the world. Stories were planted in the press that the crop circle which appeared in a field in Salinas was of an astronomical calendar forewarning an impending doomsday comet.

Instead, it turned out to be a schematic of the company’s new Tegra K1 processing chip.

The quality of the “faux” circles has definitely improved over the years – to the point where it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between the real ones and the fakes anymore. But the question remains: why would any corporation want to use something as strange as a crop circle in their marketing plans?

There are a variety of reasons, depending on the product and the message advertisers want to get across.

Cable mainstay History Channel commissioned a huge crop formation displaying their ubiquitous “H” logo in a barley field to promote a program about the phenomenon; but what point are car makers like Mitsubishi or Volkswagen trying to get across with crop circles? This marketing strategy seems almost as strange as the phenomena itself.

The first example I can find of crop circles used for commercial purposes goes all the way back to October 1990 and Led Zeppelin’s now famous Remasters box set – released just four months after the crop formation appeared on July 12, 1990 in East Field, Alton Barnes, in Wiltshire UK. It consisted of swirled circles, concentric rings, keys, spurs and coffin-like boxes, all linked together by a long corridor of flattened crop. The box set designers appropriated this much-publicized crop formation for the cover of its $60, 4-CD box set of greatest hits, with the shadow of an enormous zeppelin super-imposed over it.

They continued the theme with the follow up, Box Set 2. The use of crop circles to promote Led Zeppelin’s music seems somehow warranted in this case. The concept served to enhance the mysterious, brooding image of the band as rock icons by associating them with the bizarre and enigmatic phenomena.

The effectiveness of using crop circles in advertising is hard to measure, but based on the proliferation of formations ‘cropping’ up in marketing campaigns worldwide, advertisers seem to agree that images of crop circles appeal to certain target audiences.

The Circlemakers certainly do a lot of business in the UK; they’ve created genuine-looking formations in crops, with stones, in sand on the beach – on just about anything. Founding members of the Circlemakers were even flown out to Washington State to create a formation for Mountain Dew.

Examples of crop circles in corporate advertising are prevalent. The formations have been used to market calendars, postcards, T-shirts and beer, among other things. A cotton industry has grown up around the phenomena over the last 30 years, and it shows no sign of abating – even though the frequency of their appearance has waned somewhat.

Pop bands and major corporations alike tend to use crop circles to lend an aura of unspoken power and omniscience to their brand.

So why are images of crop formations used so frequently as marketing tools? It would appear – especially to the conspiracy minded – that the powerful corporate forces behind the mainstream media (MSM) have been compelled to downplay and trivialize the phenomena in the eyes of the public. The Powers That Be want to lessen the significance of the deeply symbolic nature of the formations, as well as their possible implications for humanity, and they have largely succeeded.

By associating crop circles with commercial products while at the same time denying their authenticity they have been able to divert attention from the fact that the phenomenon is very real, and that it continues to this day.

Advocates for the validity of the phenomena point to the many personal implications inherent in the study of such awe-inspiring brilliance, as well as the myriad spiritual and philosophical connotations embedded within the actual formations. The Powers That Be want to restrict humanity’s access to planes of higher consciousness and ‘supernatural’ events as much as possible to keep us firmly rooted in the material world, where everything has a logical explanation and modern science knows all the answers. So they co-opt the phenomena and turn it into another product to be marketed.

But the fact remains that crop circles simply defy logic.

The formations challenge us to look deeper into the reality that surrounds us. They are created to remind us of the bigger picture and to show us that the universe we occupy is still a fantastic and incredible place.

According to crop circle researchers, some of the formations represent the universal language of geometry which contain deeply embedded symbolic messages for humanity. They have been likened to 21^st century mandalas, whose purpose is to affect humankind on a subconscious level, recognized by every cell of our physical bodies, connecting us to a higher state of consciousness. Researcher Freddy Silva notes that crop circles help facilitate “a clearer dialogue between Heaven and Earth” and that they “regenerate the transcendental nature latent in every human.”

Heady stuff, indeed!

And just when you thought there was nothing more to the crop circle phenomenon, in May of 2020 an astonishing new formation appeared in a field in Kent. The COVID-19 crop circle appears to depict the virus under the microscope, on a molecular level. It features an enlarged spike protein which displays either 8 amino acids or peptides. Microbiologists refer to this as “Sp8” in scientific literature. This is a spike protein which is also found in SARS, and it has an unusual positive immunological function.

The body of the virus in the formation displays 3 small circles, likely the three letters of RNA, while the larger 3 circles may represent nonstructural proteins. Virologists suspect that Sp8 in SARS may have that function in COVID-19 as well.

In other words, as Professor Jerry Kroth suggests, the COVID-19 crop formation appeared to be proactively suggesting remedies. One wonders if government scientists covertly used the information to come up with a vaccine so quickly.

Kroth’s white paper, The Covid-19 Crop Circle is available on Kindle via Amazon.

So, crop circles: real or fake or what?

To true believers, crop formations empower us to question the true nature of our existence. Even though the number of crop circles has been steadily decreasing over the last decade or so, the genuine formations continue to defy explanation and inspire our imagination. The more one is drawn into the wonder and mystery of it all, the less one understands.

And modern science is nowhere near figuring it out!