Sacred and Mysterious Places and Heritage Sites

SACRED, MYSTERIOUS PLACES AND WORLD HERITAGE SITES

My original idea for this page was to provide links and other direction for readers to learn about Sacred Sites and Mysterious Places in the world, according to various websites as they are identified as such. But after looking through a couple, I soon realized that many of the places that were listed, I had personally visited. At the time, of course, I just enjoyed the destination and the history of what I had seen I had no idea, until I embarked on the creation of this page that these places were actually considered Sacred, Mysterious, World Heritage or Pilgrimage sites.

Sacred Sites - Sacred sites exist all over the world. Just as our bodies have a life force running through it, so does the earth. They hold great energy and power of ancient wisdom with stories of the past. Sacred sites are believed to have been originally created during ancient civilizations for learning psychic and spiritual abilities, higher knowledge, wisdom, and healing of physical or emotional bodies. Some people may find themselves mentally, emotionally and spiritually awakened. They are places of wonder and beauty, and open the heart to inspiration. If you are going to a Sacred Site, allow yourself to be open to the experience, and you will take away from it, something special.

World Heritage Sites - This list grows every year as new sites of nature and culture which are considered exceptional, are added. Nations lobby hard to get their glorious buildings, wilderness, and historic ruins on the list, a stamp of approval that brings prestige, tourist income, public awareness, and, most important, a commitment to save the irreplaceable

Below are a few websites that I found to be the most comprehensive as far as content with hundreds of photos and descriptions of what are considered to be Sacred, Mysterious and World Heritage Sites.

Following these are my personal recollections of places that I have been to, not knowing they were considered "special".

Sacred Sites: Places of Peace and Power http://sacredsites.com/index.html
Anthropologist Martin Gray spent 20 years as a wandering pilgrim to study and artistically photograph 1000 sacred sites in 80 countries. This web site features Martin’s sacred art photographs and shows the location of sacred places and pilgrimage shrines around the world. Use the Navigation buttons on the left hand side of the page to explore the tremendous amount of information contained here. The toolbar at top is divided into countries for easy exploration.

Sacred Destinations http://www.sacred-destinations.com/
Over 1100 sacred destinations are listed here and over 15,000 photos! Use the Navigation bar at the top to find your way through this site.

Sacred Lands http://www.sacredland.org/sacred_lands.html
This site is about preserving our Sacred Lands and it has a good database of places that are endangered and embroiled in conflicts over preservation, land development and tourism.

World Heritage Sites - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
http://whc.unesco.org/en/about/
From their website: " Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world’s heritage."

Before I begin my personal journey of the Sites I have visited, I would like to share two brief descriptions of a personal experience and an ancestral relationship to a Sacred Site.

My personal experience was in the fall of 2007 that involved walking a Prayer Labyrinth. Dave and I were in North Carolina, at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. While he attended his meeting, I was able to enjoy my time alone walking around the lake captivated by the beautiful scenery and gardens. I ended at the Chapel where I found an unusual design cut in the grass.

Unlike a maze, Prayer Labyrinths have only one path - there are no dead ends or twists and turns that will confuse you. The labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back out again into the world. The path has three stages - the inward journey (releasing), the center (receiving) and the outward journey (returning). The theme of the inward journey is letting go of tensions and concerns which hinder us. The center of the Labyrinth is a space of meditative prayer and peace. The theme of the outward journey is relationship - a time to feel at one with God, yourself and the universe. Each time you walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul reaching for.

It was an inspiring walk and I felt like I had walked a long way in a very short space, giving me plenty of time for personal connection to God, my inner self and the Universe. If you ever find yourself near one of these, take the time to walk it and feel the energy and peace that comes over you. It is truly unique and will uplift your spirit.

Sainte-Anne de-Beaupre - Quebec Canada
This sacred site has strong connections my surname. Sainte-Anne de Beaupré is a tiny town on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, 20 miles above Quebec City in Canada. The village is home to (and named for) the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a major Catholic shrine and place of healing that attracts more than one million pilgrims a year. Miracles and healings continue to the present day.

The first miracle attributed to the intercession of St. Anne at Beaupré was the cure of a crippled workman in 1658. During the construction of the church, the healing of Louis Guimond was to be the first of many favors received. Louis limped with difficulty onto the construction site to place three small stones in the foundation. Miraculously, he was cured. My sons are the 9th great grandsons of Louis Guimond.

I hope to one day soon visit in person and bring back a personal experience and photos of visiting this sacred site that has through the centuries been connected to our family.

This is the wax figure replication of Louis (right) as he helped to build the Basilica in 1658. This was, at one time, in the museum at Sainte Anne de-Beaupre.

MY PERSONAL VISITS TO SACRED SITES

Cahokia Mounds Collinsville, Illinois
We took our boys here when they were young. There is an impressive and informative interpretive center with life-like reproductions of the people and their everyday chores and living conditions. We climbed Monks Mound which is larger at its base (about 16 acres) than the Great Pyramid of Egypt and believed to be the home of the tribe rulers. At the top was a reconstructed stockade wall two miles long and to the west of the Mound was “Woodhenge,” a circle of posts around a large central post from which the sunrise can be aligned to determine the season and time of year. The St. Louis Arch is visible from the top of Monk's Mound.

MONKS MOUND

This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1982

The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site preserves the central section of the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. Occupied from 700 to 1400, the city grew to cover 4,000 acres, with a population of between ten and twenty thousand at its peak around 1100. The site is dominated by the hundred-foot-tall Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthen mound in the Americas. In 1966 Cahokia Mounds was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mounds are made entirely of earth. The soil was transported on people's backs in baskets to the mound construction site. Native Americans and metaphysical groups believe Cahokia is a source of powerful psychic energy

Black Hills and Badlands, South Dakota
I visited here with my parents and siblings when I was young. I remember the Badlands looking like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon. One of the fondest memories I have is doing a "drive-by" of Mt. Rushmore as my dad said, "look there it is" and refused to stop so we could get out to have a better look. It must have been a long day for him with us four kids in the car and he was ready to call it a day, I suppose.

The Black Hills are comprised of the Badlands National Park and Mt. Rushmore.

The Black Hills are the sacred lands of Native Americans who have inhabited the area since at least 7000 B.C. Within the Black Hills are many sacred places including Bear Butte, where people visit for peace and solitude to induce spiritual reflections through vision quests and Devils Tower National Monument, which is a significant sacred site to Indian tribes throughout the United States.

Sedona, AZ - Vortexes and Chapel of the Holy Cross
An area of unmatched beauty, profound power and majestic red stone castles. The main energy vortexes here are Bell Rock, Castle Rock , Chapel of the Holy Cross, Boynton Canyon and Airport Mesa. The vortexes in Sedona are swirling centers of subtle energy coming out from the surface of the earth. They are named because they are believed to be spiritual locations where the energy is right to facilitate prayer, meditation and healing.

There are more vortexes concentrated in Sedona than any other area on earth. Sedona was named after a woman called Sedona Schnebly, It is strangely noted that Sedona spelled backwards is "anodes," a term meaning the conducting surfaces through which electrical currents flow.

It is not easy to explain what one might feel, experience or see here. Everyone has a different story to tell. It's a personal journey based on your beliefs and willingness to be open to whatever may transpire, and must be experienced in person

I had my own personal experience at the Airport Mesa vortex. As soon as I got out of the car in the parking lot, my knees wobbled and I felt dizzy. I asked Dave if he felt anything (just to make sure I wasn't going to faint for some other reason) and he said that he also felt weak in the knees. It was something that we could not explain, but will always remember.

CATHEDRAL ROCK BELL ROCK CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS

Mont St. Michel Off the coast of Normandy in Northwest France
A medieval abbey in France that sits dramatically atop a large rock that rises conspicuously out of the bay. When the tide is out, the Mont is surrounded by only sand that extends for miles. But when the tide shifts, the incoming water rushes across the flat floor of the bay. Mont Saint Michel is always accessible, the causeway is never covered by the water.

When I visited here in 2005 I was awed by the massive structure which could be seen from miles away and as I got closer it became even more magical. The feeling as you walk up the narrow cobblestone streets towards the monastery allows you to imagine that you have truly traveled centuries back in time. The stairway to the King's Tower in the Grande Rue, is a steep lane up to the spire, a symbol of the elevation of the soul towards spirituality.

According to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches, in 708 A.D. and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. Aubert repeatedly ignored the angel's instruction, until Michael burned a hole in the bishop's skull with his finger. The statue of Archangel Michael towers 560 feet above the English Channel. The Abbey is an important place of worship, but also a fortified site that shares history with Normandy and its past wars with England

MONT ST. MICHEL, FRANCE

This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979

MAYAN RUINS - XUNANTUNICH, BELIZE
Xunantunich was a major ceremonial center during the Classic Period 300- 900 A.D. The site is composed of six major plazas and surrounded by more than twenty-five temples and palaces. The Tour Guide explained details of the Mayan Ball Court as we stood on the same sacred space where it was held. The ball court was a place where a game was played with rival villages, presided over by the King of each village.. Legends say that the winning captain would present his head to the losing captain, who then decapitates him. While this may seem a strange reward, the Mayans believed this to be the ultimate honor. The winning captain getting a direct ticket to heaven instead of going through the 13 steps that the Mayan's believed they had to go through in order to reach heaven.

The most prominent structure, located at the south end of the site, is the pyramid "El Castillo" (The Castle) which rises 130 feet high above the plaza .After climbing to the top, we enjoyed a breathtaking panoramic view of Guatemala.

	EL CASTILLO - The stairs were steep, but even more so on the climb down. I remember walking down sideways!
	The Ball Court

MY VISITS TO TEMPLES, CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS CONSIDERED SACRED RELIGIOUS SITES

ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, NEW YORK CITY

A cavernous, awe-inspiring, Gothic-style church on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st streets, near Rockefeller Center tucked in between sprawling skyscrapers. It almost seemed out of place when I came upon it during my exploration of Manhattan. The bronze doors bear carved images of New Yorkers who have been canonized.

I stepped inside to have a look around a spend a quiet moment in reflection. Most interesting is that deceased archbishops of New York are buried in tombs beneath the high altar. Their hats hang from the ceiling above.

ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL IN TALLINN, ESTONIA

A Russian Orthodox Church dedicated to Alexander Nevsky (1220-63) who was a great military commander and became a national hero and Saint for halting the relentless eastward advances of the Germans and the Swedes. In 1724, his remains were transferred to the monastery founded in his honor.

The monastery of Alexander Nevsky was raised to the rank of lavra, a status enjoyed by only four Russian Orthodox monasteries.

It's a striking architectural design dominating the Upper Old Town section of Tallinn known as Toompea. It's Tallinn's largest and grandest cathedral.

ST. PETER AND PAUL CATHEDRAL, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Located inside the Peter and Paul Fortress on the Neva River built by Peter the Great in 1703. The spire reaches a height of 404 feet. The angel holding a cross at the top of the spire is one of the most important symbols of St. Petersburg.

Peter and Paul Cathedral is the oldest church in St. Petersburg. It is also the tallest building in the Northern Capital. Most of Russia's pre-revolutionary rulers from Peter the Great onwards, are buried here. Peter's grave is at the front right, and people still leave fresh flowers on it.

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR ON SPILLED BLOOD - ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

A colorful Russian-style cathedral and the most photographed in St. Petersburg. This is the most amazing, ornate church I have ever seen. It is a striking burst of color with candy-colored mosaics and towers topped by domes that look like frozen spiral custard cones. It's even more breathtaking in person.

Tsar Alexander II was assassinated here in 1881 (and it is his blood that was spilled). It was prophesied that he would survive seven attempts on his life. He was killed on the 8^th attempt.

ST. ISAACS, ST. PETERSBURG RUSSIA

St. Isaac's Cathedral dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg. Its gilded dome, covered with 220 pounds of pure gold, soars into the air, making it visible far out onto the Gulf of Finland. It's the third largest domed cathedral in the world.

The church is designed to accommodate 14,000 standing worshipers. This is common in Russian Orthodox churches. There are no pews. This caught my attention immediately.

The interior is spectacular because of the mosaics and many precious stones and minerals used. The iconostasis (wall of icons) is framed by malachite and lapis lazuli columns

LUTHERAN CHURCH HELSINKI, FINLAND

A distinct landmark in the scenery of central Helsinki, with a tall green dome surrounded by four smaller domes, the church was built in 1830-1852. It is a cathedral of the Evangelical Lutheran denomination.

Z inc statues of the Twelve Apostles at apexes and corners of the roofline, are the largest uniform collection of zinc sculptures in the world.

The blazing white of the church with its brilliant green copper domes can be seen from all over Helsinki.


ENTRANCE TO ROCK CHURCH	SIMPLE ALTAR	VIEW FROM THE BACK

TEMPPELIAUKIO - CHURCH OF THE ROCK, HELSINKI FINLAND

The Rock Church was designed by brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1969. The church is quarried out of granite bedrock, therefore, it is also known as the Church of the Rock. Natural light brightens the inside. The church is often used for concerts, because of the excellent acoustics. Temppeliaukio Church is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Helsinki. It's very unassuming from the outside, but once we stepped inside it was quite intriguing.

Another natural phenomena of this Church’s interior can be seen in the small fissures to be found in the bedrock behind the altar from which water trickles down the wall, only to disappear into drains and under the floor. The back wall of the altar is a majestic rock wall, originally created by a withdrawing glacier. The walls are jagged rock, quarried out and left as is during the construction. The interesting copper dome is made out of 13 miles of copper tubing.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, LONDON

A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604 A.D., a constant reminder to this great commercial center of the importance of the spiritual side of life. The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710. The Royal Family holds most of their important marriages, christenings and funerals at Westminster Abbey, but St Paul's was used for the marriage of Charles, and Lady Diana Spencer.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY, LONDON

It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English monarchs. With the oldest parts dating to the year 1050, the Abbey contains some of the most glorious medieval architecture in London

According to tradition, a shrine was first founded here in 616 on a site then known as Thorney Island. It was said to have been miraculously consecrated after a fisherman on the River Thames saw a vision of Saint Peter.

This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the adjacent St. Margaret's Church inscribed in 1987.

NOTRE DAME, PARIS

The site of Notre Dame is the cradle of Paris and has always been the religious center of the city. It was inspiring to stand in front of this famous church. There were so many intricate and amazing carvings to study.

Crusaders prayed here before leaving on their holy wars. It was also here that Napoleon, wishing to emphasize the primacy of the state over the church, crowned himself emperor, and then crowned Josephine as his empress.

There are three portals on the West Facade with intricate carvings that tell a remarkable story of the Virgin Mary's life.
http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/The-west-facade

The middle represents the Last Judgment and is taller and wider than the others.
To the right is the Portal of St. Anne. To the left is the Portal of the Virgin.

THE ABBAYE AUX HOMMES - CAEN, FRANCE

The Abbaye aux Hommes ("Men's Abbey") is a former abbey church in the French city of Caen. Dedicated to Sainte-Etienne, it is considered, along with the neighboring Abbaye-aux-Dames, to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy

To pacify the pope, who had opposed the marriage of William the Conqueror to his cousin, Mathilde, two Benedictine abbeys were built - the Abbaye aux Hommes in the west, and the Abbaye aux Dames in the east. The abbey church of St. Etienne is to the right in the photo - it was started in 1066, but the spires at the back date from the 13th Century.

Some sort of mysticism surrounds that fact that the Abbaye des Hommes survived the bombing of July 1944 which destroyed about 75% of the town (while sheltering large numbers of the town’s inhabitants).

This was an impressive sight in the city of Caen, especially with the colorful flora that decorated the grounds.

WORLD HERITAGE SITES I HAVE VISITED

TALLINN, ESTONIA OLD TOWN

The origins of Tallinn date back to the 13th century, when a castle was built there by the crusading knights of the Teutonic Order.

Tallinn was a fun town to explore with it's medieval structures and history waiting to be discovered. We had a great guidebook and learned many interesting facts as we walked on a self-guided tour.

Justification for Inscription of a World Heritage Site 1991 -- "The Committee decided to inscribe this property considering that Tallinn is an outstanding and exceptionally complete and well preserved example of a medieval northern European trading city that retains the salient features of this unique form of economic and social community to a remarkable degree."

PARIS AND BANKS OF THE SEINE RIVER

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991

From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, from the Place de la Concorde to the Grand and Petit Palais, the evolution of Paris and its history can be seen from the River Seine. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the Sainte Chapelle are architectural masterpieces.

I visited Paris with Dave at the end of a business trip. We tried to see as much of the city as possible in the short time we had. Sharing a kiss under the Eiffel Tower and gazing at a full moon from the observation deck are memories that I will always cherish. I know we will go back again. There is much more to explore in this great city by the Seine.

THE HERMITAGE MUSEUM , ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Put together throughout two centuries, The Hermitage collection of art is over 3,000,000 items. The Hermitage holds the Guinness World Record as having the world's largest collection of paintings. We were impressed with massive gold chandeliers and ceiling art that is as magnificent as the works of art on display.

The Hermitage UNESCO Project was formed in 1994

ALEXANDER COLUMN AT PALACE SQUARE, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Historic Center of Saint Petersburg
and Related Groups of Monuments

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991

Lovingly referred to by locals as the Venice of the North and Russia's cultural capital, St. Petersburg is among the youngest of European cities. But it has preserved its historic center, in structure and spirit. More than 100 years ago it was a leading cultural and scientific center, with some of the world's pre-eminent writers, poets, choreographers, painters and scholars

The historical section of Saint Petersburg is the first heritage site in Russian to receive UNESCO inscription as a World Heritage Site.

St. Petersburg was a wonderful and unexpected surprise as everything seemed to be covered in gold ornate finishing touches with attention to fine detail and exquisite design. It was a privilege to see this city of haunting magnificence.

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FLORIDA
(see the gator on shore in the picture at the right)

The Everglades, or “River of Grass” as the Seminoles called it, is formed by a river of fresh water 6 inches deep and 50 miles wide that flows slowly across the expanse of land of sawgrass marshes, pine forests, and mangrove islands.

The Everglades National Park is situated on the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula. Vast marshland covers nearly twice the area of the Bahamas. We visited when my boys were young and we took the air boat ride which was a thrill for all of us. The noise was deafening, but we were given earmuffs to help reduce the noise. Gliding over the grasslands and marshes was a real adventure ride.

The Everglades National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in danger list in 1993. The reserve contains some 200 known archaeological sites, with two archaeological districts nominated in the National Register of Historic Places

GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA

A cruise with my sisters and mother afforded me the opportunity to explore this magnificent area. I'll never forget the eerie quiet that engulfed us all as the ship anchored and sat in the still waters for hours.

Glacier Bay National Park was inscribed for both geological and ecological values and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 for the spectacular glacier and ice field landscapes as well as for the importance of grizzly bears, caribou and Dall sheep habitat.

THE GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

The Great Smokey Mountains are among the oldest mountains in the world, formed some 200 million to 300 million years ago.

In recognition of the park's unique natural resources, (UNESCO) has designated Great Smoky Mountains National Park as an International Biosphere Reserve - it was also named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Our road trip here in the fall was a color burst of nature's finest display. The Smokey's are located in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. “Place of Blue Smoke” was the name given by the Cherokee Indians to these Appalachian Highlands. The forest here exudes water vapor and oily residues which create a smoke-like haze that surrounds the peaks and fills the valleys

STATUE OF LIBERTY ON LIBERTY ISLAND NEW YORK

Standing at the entrance to New York harbor is a 151-foot statue of a woman holding a book and a torch on-high. "Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American independence.

The sculptor intended his work to be an immense and impressive symbol of human liberty. It was certainly that for millions of immigrants who came to America in the 19th century seeking freedom and fulfillment of their dreams

In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

The Grand Canyon is among the earth's greatest on-going geological spectacles. Its vastness is stunning, and the evidence it reveals about the earth's history is invaluable. The Colorado River has been slowly carving its way down through the many layers of rock. The colorful strata of the canyon walls reveal the rock formations of the earth's evolution from nearly 2 billion years ago.

Inscribed in 1979 as a UNESCO World Heritage Natural Site.

This is one spot that certainly makes you feel small, when looking out at the enormous canyons that surround you.

Take a look around the websites mentioned above and see if you have visited or encountered a Sacred Destination, World Heritage Site, or a place of mystery, power and intrigue that is meant to entice the senses ... visually, emotionally, or physically. They are memorable and extraordinary and are meant to be carried home in your heart.