Sacred Places to Visit in the United States
The
World is chock-full of sacred places that have been honored and visited for
thousands of years. From South America
to Europe, to the mountains of Tibet and the sands of Egypt, there are a number
of sites around the World that are places of magical energy and power. Stone circles can be found around the World,
and Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK is one of
the World's best known and most recognizable. The Egyptians built some of the World’s most
amazing structures such as the The Great Pyramids. The Norse has sites in Garðar
Eastern Settlement Greenland, L'Anse aux Meadows Newfoundland Canada, Oseberg
Museum of Cultural History Norway, Ribe Jutland Denmark and more.
Many
Pagans embrace the idea that the universe is enchanted; that even the most
mundane and ordinary elements of nature are, at least potentially, pregnant
with spiritual power and possibility. Paganism
celebrates all space - all of nature - as sacred or holy. But within that framework of overall
immanence, particular sites or points within the natural World are revered as
places of special spiritual power and worthy of reverence and veneration. Ancient sites that connect the old to the
new.
There are a number of sites in the United
States that are places of magical energy and power - The Chapel in the Hills
Rapid City South Dakota, Runestone Museum in Alexandria Minnesota, Columbia
Hills Petroglyphs Washington...
Bighorn Medicine Wheel, Powell, WY
The Bighorn Medicine Wheel isn't easy to get to, but it's
been recognized as a place of spiritual power for hundreds of years. Sacred to several Native American groups, the
Medicine Wheel is steeped in mystery. The
Crow, Lakota Sioux, and Cheyenne peoples all recognize the Medicine Wheel as a
place of great power. If you go there,
take the time to explore the path around the Wheel - you'll be surprised at
what you may hear!
Sedona, AZ
Our
Guide to Southwest Travel shares a look at the magical energy of Sedona. This site is known as a place where many
spiritual seekers end up on their quest. Sedona is perhaps most famous for its
spiraling energy vortexes, which draw people in from around the World.
Land's End Labyrinth, San Francisco, CA
High
on a rocky mountainside, just a few minutes from San Francisco, there is a
labyrinth in a public park. Although
it's right in the middle of a large city, there are few people who take the
time to hike out to this labyrinth, which sits right above the crashing waves
of the Pacific Ocean. Take some time to
check it out, because it's an absolutely magical place.
Serpent Mound, Peebles, OH
This
mound is the largest known serpent effigy in North America. In some Native American legends, there is a
tale of a large serpent who has supernatural powers. Although no one is certain why the Serpent
Mound was created, it's possible that it was in homage to the great serpent of
legend.
Mt. Shasta, CA
Mt.
Shasta, located in northern California, is not only one of the state's most
beautiful sites, it also has a reputation of being a place of great magical
energy. The Native Americans in the area
believe it is the home of the Great Spirit. Today, it is a destination not only for hikers
and campers, but for people in the metaphysical community seeking to nourish
their Spirit.
Aztalan
is one of Wisconsin's most notable historical and archaeological sites. It is the home of an ancient
Middle-Mississippian village that thrived about a thousand years ago. Like many mound works, this site is believed
to contain some interesting spiritual energy. Although the village now called Aztalan has
been empty for centuries, scientists did unearth one burial mound there. It contained the remains of a young woman
dressed in elaborate seashell jewelry and beads, and some refer to her as
"The Princess." Today, some
people still leave offerings for the Princess on a special stone.
Ringing Rocks State Park, Upper Black Eddy, PA
Ringing
Rocks State Park is exactly what it sounds like - a park full of rocks that you
can bang with a hammer. When struck, the
rocks emit a ringing sound. The
seven-acre field of rocks is open to the public. Although all the rocks at the park are
composed of the same material, only about a third of them vibrate and ring when
struck. Some visitors claim to have
experienced metaphysical events while listening to the vibrations of the rocks.
Mt. Kilauea, Maui, HI
Our
Go Hawaii Guide shares with us tips on visiting Kilauea, on the island of Maui,
Hawaii. Mt. Kilauea is known as a sacred
place because it is home to Pele', the volcano Goddess. Even today, the mountain is a destination for
many people who follow ancient Hawaiian religious beliefs.
Mt. Denali, AK
Denali,
also known as Mt. McKinley, is the highest peak in North America. The word Denali means
"high one" in the language of the local tribes, and the mountain is
believed to be the home of many Spirits. According to legend, a sun shaman named Sa
lives on the mountain, and he is the master of life. Many visitors report seeing strange and
unusual things at Denali.
Our
New England travel Guide has some great information on the site known as
"America's Stonehenge." Located
in rural New Hampshire, this site has puzzled people for a while. Is it the remainder of some prehistoric
society, or simply the work of bored eighteenth-century farmers? Regardless, many people find it a place of
great peace and empowerment.
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