+Mt. Fuji

Places of Peace and Power

In all such qualities those places excel, in which there is a divine inspiration, and in which the gods have their appointed lots and are propitious to the dwellers in  them.
—Plato    

            

Certain areas on earth are more sacred than others, some on account of their situation, others because of their  sparkling waters, and others because of the association or habitation of saintly people.
—Mahabharata Anusanana

Table of Contents

01

Introduction to Sacred Places

02

Categories of Sacred Spaces

03

Factors contributing to the power of place

04

Geophysical characteristics of the sacred site location

05

The visual beauty of the location of sacred sites

06

The location of sacred sites according to regional configurations of sacred geography

07

The visual beauty of the structures at the sacred sites

08

The sacred geometry used in the structures

09

The building materials used in the structures at the sacred sites

10

The influence of light and color

11

The influence of sound and music

12

The ceremonial and therapeutic use of aromatic substances

13

The influence of the 'visual scriptures' which embellish the shrines

14

The legendary discovery of sacred sites

15

The intent of the builders of the ceremonial structures at the sacred sites

16

The presence of accumulated energy from centuries of ceremonial activity at the shrines

17

The presence of accumulated spiritual energy from large numbers of pilgrims that have visited the sacred sites

18

The intent of an individual pilgrim, the physical activity of his or her pilgrimage, and the heightened effect of religious practice performed at sacred sites

19

The influence resulting from a culture's collective belief in the power and ideals enshrined in a pilgrimage center

20

The power or charge emanating from relics, ceremonial objects, and miraculous idols

21

The mysterious influences of spirits, devas and angelic beings associated with sacred sites

22

The religious use of psychoactive plants

23

Celestial influences on Sacred Places

24

Connecting with the Power of Place: A Meditation Practice

25

Conclusion

26

References

Martin Gray

Martin Gray is a cultural anthropologist, writer and photographer specializing in the study of pilgrimage traditions and sacred sites around the world. During a 40 year period he has visited more than 2000 pilgrimage places in 165 countries. The World Pilgrimage Guide at sacredsites.com is the most comprehensive source of information on this subject.