Sacred and Magical Places

An Exploration of Their Mysterious Powers

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
1		Introduction to Sacred Places
2		Categories of Sacred Spaces
3		Factors contributing to the power of place
4		Geophysical characteristics of the sacred site location
5		The visual beauty of the location of sacred sites
6		The location of sacred sites according to regional configurations of sacred geography
7		The visual beauty of the structures at the sacred sites
8		The sacred geometry used in the structures
9		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

All photographs and text ©copyright 1983 - 2011 by Martin Gray.
All rights reserved. No part of these writings or photographs may be
reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the autho

Sacred and Magical Places

An Exploration of Their Mysterious Powers

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Sacred Places