Session II Sacred Spaces and Places 2 April 2009

Better late than never. Sorry that I did not post this outline yesterday as promised, but here area a few comments along with the outline for the session on 2 April with the topic Sacred Spaces and Sacred Places.

The photo is of Mt. Rainier in Washington State, a volcanic peak, the highest one in the Cascades, said to have been sacred to pre-Contact peoples who lived in sight of it. There is no evidence that any of those peoples ever ascended to the 14,410 (4,392 m) feet peak, said to be one of the most dangerous in the United States. Its danger is both to those who attempt to climb to its summit, several of whom die almost every year, and to those who live in its shadow for it could erupt at any time and cause immense damage and loss of life. Rainier is an example of an dramatic landscape feature and also of a dangerous place, both important types of sacred spaces and places.


Sacred Spaces and Sacred Places 2 April 2009

I. Some general comments:
A. Almost every inhabited place on earth, and many uninhabited ones as well, is sacred to someone!
B. Sacred spaces and places are necessary but not sufficient conditions for pilgrimage.
C. Some sacred spaces do not attract pilgrims.
1. Tabu places
2. Places restricted to small numbers of elite groups.
3. Other places that may be venerated but not visited.
D. Some categories of sacred spaces and places.
1. Natural features like Mt. Rainier.
2. Historically and culturally defined features, places where great people, real or legendary, lived; or great events occurred; or where significant objects may be found.
3. More-or-less arbitrary places.

II. Sacred Spaces defined by natural environments.
A. The dramatic in nature, awesome places.
1. Readily visible high places.
2. Violent environments.
B. Dangerous places.
C. Evocative places.

III. Ecological aspects of sacred spaces.
A. Resource sources.
1. Water.
2. Food supplies.
B. Behavioral constraints.
1. Linked to resources.
2. Linked to human contacts.

IV. Cultural Spaces and Places.
A. Places linked to people, real or legendary.
1. Life-cycle events (birth, marriage, death).
2. Career events.
3. Post-death appearances.
B. Events.
1. War.
2. Events central to foundation stories and myths.
C. Sites of relics
D. Arbitrary choices, no clear reason.
V. All pilgrimages are to sacred spaces and places, but all such sites do not generate pilgrimages.