Kelly Cooke: Landscapes of the Sacred 12/3

Landscapes of the Sacred

Kelly Cooke

Nature is an immersive element of sacred place. Similar to how we evaluated the trail at the Lion's bridge as a class, place can be analyzed for minuscule details that define the place. Taking the time to look closely at the different aspects of a place can help you understand the place itself and the constituents of that place. The surrounding ambient array encircles and assists to distinguish the place and it's energy. The shape and texture of surfaces that immediately stand out upon first glance also play a role in defining and understanding the place. The physical entities occupying space within the place contribute to the sacred place. The ground is the surface that upholds and anchors the underside of the surfaces. The edges of a sacred place, where is begins and ends, is an important aspect of how nature contributes to the sacred place. The atmosphere itself also assists to capture the mood of the environment. These physical features are most appealing to an aesthetic tourist but can help a spiritual pilgrim evaluate the land around them and interact with the land. Nature does not have to be alive to have value, it is intrinsically priceless. It would be unethical to view nature as objects when we are just visiting. This list emphasizes the importance of perspective of nature and it's elements within sacred place.

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