What does the symbol FOj mean?

This is old news to many of the long‑timers, but still worth revisiting. A short post, but a fun one. Back in the 1990s, a curious little symbol began appearing beside certain crop circles. At first glance it looked almost like a fragment of hieroglyphics — a compact, angular mark that seemed to hint at something esoteric. But with time, and with enough sightings, the pattern resolved into something far more down‑to‑earth: three letters. F.O.J. 
Those initials stood for Friends of Julian.
Julian Richardson was one of the rising talents of the era, a respected, inventive circle maker whose work was instantly recognisable to those paying attention. His assistants, when branching out to create their own formations, would sometimes leave this small signature tucked discreetly into the design. It wasn’t a boast, and it wasn’t meant for the public. It was simply a quiet nod to the community, a way of saying this one’s ours, a marker for those who knew how to look.
In a scene where anonymity was often the default, FOJ acted as a kind of informal calling card. Not a code, not a mystery, just a practical identifier. A wink across the field.
Some things don’t need grand explanations. Most of the time, it’s just a matter of paying attention to the small details, the ones hiding in plain sight.
Now you know.

Steve Alexander (C) 1998 Temporary Temples

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