A sacred site is a place that is considered holy or sacred by a particular group or religion. These sites may be places of religious significance such as temples, churches, or shrines or natural features that have spiritual significance, such as mountains, lakes, or groves of trees. Sacred sites are often places of pilgrimage, where people go to pay homage, make offerings, or seek blessings. One thing that is common across all cultures, is the belief that these sites hold powerful energy or spiritual vibrations, and that they are the places where people can connect with the spiritual realm and their ancestors

While sacred sites are often considered to be places of religious or spiritual importance, many people who visit them do not have any particular religious or spiritual beliefs. Some people visit sacred sites because they are interested in the history and culture of the place, or because they are drawn to the natural beauty of the site. Even if one is not religious, the energy, history, and sometimes unique natural features of these places might still have an impact on visitors. Visiting a sacred site can be a way of connecting with a culture or tradition that is different from one’s own, or of gaining a deeper understanding of the beliefs and practices of a particular religion. Some people also visit sacred sites as a form of pilgrimage, or as a way of seeking personal growth or insight. 

It’s also worth noting that not all sacred sites are religious, as some sacred sites are considered to be places of spiritual or cultural significance to an indigenous culture. Therefore, people who are not religious may still visit these sites to gain an understanding of indigenous culture or to connect with the history and heritage of the place.

There are countless sacred sites around the world, many of which are considered to be some of the most important religious and spiritual places on Earth. Master reiki teacher, Jennifer Brinn, shares why the following are her top three favorite sacred sites.

Jennifer: The Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, UK –  It’s a site where the St. Michael and Mary ley lines intersect, representing Divine masculine & feminine and considered part of the crystal grid that contributes to embedding the earth with higher consciousness. The geomagnetism is quite strong and filled with angelic and fairy energies. It’s connected to Avalon lore and is said to have been a burial place for King Arthur and Queen Guinevere who was also revered by the fairies.

The House of Virgin Mary in Selcuk, Turkey – It’s a site where John took Mary to escape after the crucifixion. They lived on the sacred Nightingale Mountain just outside the ancient city of Ephesus. A nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich, who lived much later in the 1700s had visions of Mother Mary living here and it was substantiated later by a team of archaeologists. It’s a simple site that has a two-room house and an eternal spring. The site has a gentle palpable energy that feels like a loving embrace the moment you walk in.

Bell Rock, Sedona – Known for its many vortices of energy, the most potent in Sedona is Bell Rock. Partially because it stands adjacent to Courthouse Butte which is literally awe-inspiring from its size. As you hike up toward the top of Bell Rock you pass many gnarled juniper trees. Anytime you see a gnarled, twisted tree, it typically means it’s responding to the swirl of geomagnetic energy. I love it because its energy flows upward, igniting the masculine energy (which helped provide clarity on certain problems I was having at the time of my visit).

Rosalyn: When at sacred sites, how do you “tap into” or connect with the sacred energy?

Jennifer: I approach these sites with very little information. I actually research them after visiting them. I tend to be very clairsentient, so I like going and experiencing the energy of a site and seeing how it feels in my body, what it’s showing me. I do this by simply walking, hiking around, finding a quiet place, and meditating for as long as I need. Often when I meditate in that spot, I receive intuitive information and feel the presence of spiritual beings with me.

Rosalyn: How do you find out if a lesser-known site is a powerful, energetic vortex (so to speak)?  Do you ever stumble across a sacred site while on a hike or are guided to a spot that you may not have considered before?

This happens all the time! In fact, when we moved to our current home here in San Anselmo, I found a hiking trail behind our house. I was guided to a certain oak tree and leaned up against it. I immediately felt a strong flow of unconditional love surrounding me. I now call her Grandmother Tree and have created a meditation spot directly in front of her which faces the sacred Mt. Tamalpais. As the years go on, erosion at the site has revealed countless quartz rock which undoubtedly contributes to the potency of the place.

Rosalyn: Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your insight and experiences with sacred sites. Ultimately, visiting a sacred site can be a way of broadening one’s understanding of the world and one’s place in it, regardless of one’s religious or spiritual beliefs. I hope everyone considers including a sacred site visit in their travel plans or just enjoying a daily dose of deep connection with nature.