Earth Power Oracle

This printing 2018

Copyright©2014 Stacey Demarco
Artwork and design Copyright©2014 Blue Angel Gallery

All rights reserved. Other than for personal use, no part of

these cards or this book may be reproduced in any way, in
whole or part without the written consent of the copyright
holder or publisher. These cards are intended for spiritual
and emotional guidance only. They are not intended to
replace medical assistance or treatment.

Published by Blue Angel Publishing•

80 Glen Tower Drive, Glen Waverley,
Victoria, Australia 3150
E-mail: info@blueangelonline.com
Website: www.blueangelonline.com

Guidebook and card messages by Stacey Demarco

Card artwork by Jimmy Manton
Edited by Tanya Graham

Blue Angel is a registered trademark of

Blue Angel Gallery Pty. Ltd

ISBN: 978-1-922161-17-8
Dedicated to Adam,
who is my partner
in exploration.

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 CONTENTS

Introduction 7

THE PLACES

Ajanta Caves 24
Amazonia (The Amazon) 27
Angkor Wat 30
Avebury Standing Stones 32
Cathedral of Notre-Dame 35
Death Valley 37
Delphi 39
Emei and Leshan (Mount Emei) 42
Fairy Circles 44
Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine 47
Glastonbury Tor 50
Gobekli Tepe 52
Lake Baikal 54
Lake Wanaka 56
Machu Picchu 58
Magdalena Bay, Baja 60
Magnetic North Pole 62
Magnetic South Pole 64
Mecca 66
Mnajdra Temples 68
Mount Kailash 70
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 My Backyard 73
My Favourite Place 75
Obsidian Walls, Yellowstone 77
Palenque 80
Pu'uhonua 83
Statue of Liberty 85
Stepped Pyramid of Saqqara 88
Sumba Island 91
Svalbard 93
Tanah Lot 95
Taormma 98
Taos 100
Temple of Isis, Aswan 102
The Ganges 105
The Tarkan 108
Troy (Troia) 111
Uluru 114
Valley of the Kings 116
Volubilis 119
Wollumbin (Mount Warning) 122

About the Author 125

Also available from Blue Angel Publishing 126
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 INTRODUCTION
The ancients believed that first there was chaos - a swirling
universe of everything and nothing; pure explosive creation.
Then, there was desire.
Desire formed Earth and nature.
Earth formed man.
Man was a part of nature.
All things formed a synergistic part of the whole. Food,
medicine, water and shelter all came from the Earth and so, the
Earth was honoured for this generosity. Intimate knowledge of
the places we inhabited was important for our very survival - the
best places for game, specific areas where particular fruits grew
at certain times of the year, the medicine bush that only.flowered
once a year and where to find the best natural shelter in a fierce
storm.
As we learnt about our territory and acquired this deep
knowledge, we discovered places where the Gods seemed closer
and the veils between the worlds thinner. We found places where
vapours from the Earth curled upwards and helped us connect
with the future. We walked along energy ley lines and saw where
they led. We listened to the language of the Earth - through
the elements of water, fire and air - and tuned into knowledge
about where best to build to capture these essential essences. We
began to mark places of beauty with architecture that honoured
that beauty. We even built villages, societies and our whole lives
around the pulse of a place that felt more positive or transforming
than another. The search for food became secondary in some
cultures, to the search for sacredness.
But at some point, man began to separate himself from
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nature. His former honouring of the living elements of the earth,
the sea, the sky, the fire fell away. The deep connection to the
synergy of both the masculine and the feminine began to be lost
too. We turned our backs and closed our senses to the power of
the Earth and its myriad of shimmering energ比s, its deep and
eternal cycles, its lines of power, its magnetism, its electricity, its
very aliveness.
By wishing to be separate and'higher'than the rest of nature,
we began to purposefully disconnect from this spiritual intimacy
with the Earth. We traded this for a perceived'power over'the
Earth rather than a harmonious synergy with止
But the Earth is powerful. She is eternal and the lines and
waves of power - whether they be electrical, etheric or magnetic
- are too. Our bodies are essentially the same design as they have
always been and we have an ab山ty to feel and clearly perceive
energies built into our DNA. Our bodies don't forget even if we
have trained our minds to.
We still remember, even if we are not conscious of why.

EVERYONE HAS FELT A PLACE OF POWER

I say'felt'because we feel differently when we experience a place

that is special to us. What we feel, differs from person to person
and from place to place, but simply put, we can perceive energies
and what I like to refer to as the'genius loci'or spirit of the place.
丘ther through a physical sensation or a flow of emotion we feel
a change in ourselves that is unmistakable.
Perhaps your place of power is that high rock you like to
sit on by your local beach. You feel the salt on your skin and
your heart swell with wonder as the sea pounds against the cliff.
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You feel inspired when you are there loo如ng out and filled with
clarity as you leave. Perhaps, it's that special place in the park you
like under the big oak tree where you instantly feel at peace and
happy. Or that mountain nearby that almost hypnotises you into
looking at it and fills you with awe, even when you have other
things you wish to do.
Alternatively maybe the places of the atlas of your heart are
places that are more widely acknowledged and ancient. Could
it be the intense wildness of the Amazon that whispers to you?
Perhaps you seek to take an ancient pilgrimage to the holy
mountain of Kailash for your clarity and purification or bathe
in the flow of Goddess energy at Malta's Mdjanta Caves. Do you
imagine yourself surrounded by a blanket of white and a sky of
shifting green in the North Pole? Or is it the legendary Macchu
Pichu that calls you in your dreams?
The inspiration for this oracle deck was the simple fact that
many of us may never get to all of these incredible places of
power, yet we could benefit tremendously from the energies and
wisdom they contain.
I remember one day I was sitting at my desk writing a ritual
to be performed at the Hawaiian sacred site of Kona. Kona is
an ancient place of refuge - a place where numerous Hawaiians
sought total sanctuary for lethal trespasses against tribal law. If
a person could reach the sanctuary of Kona - and the only way
of reaching it was battling through crowds of angry accusers
and a dangerous swim through shark-infested water - they were
forgiven and could re-enter society, whole and new.
I had been to Kona for the first time a year earlier and had
been very moved by the energies of forgiveness and sanctuary
there. I wanted so very much for some clients of mine to benefit
from these energies of resolution and sanctuary as they were

9
holding on so tightly to some very old grudges. They needed
what Kona had to offer them - yet they weren't going there. So,
I wrote a short story about what Kona was, explaining some of
the mythos and composed a ritual that humbly called forth the
energies of the essence of Kona.
My clients were fascinated by this place they had never heard
of. They truly'felt'it. They understood it. They looked at the
pictures and connected. They did the ritual. They received what
they needed to receive to change and that is what places of earth
power and passion always do - they change us in some way if we
allow it and we resonate with them.
It's important also to realise that not all places will resonate
with us. This may well be because we are not ready for that
energy or message yet, because we have already have enough of
this energy within us, because we might have a DNA aversion to
the place or it could be that the place is an'unfriendly' place to us
right now. This can sometimes come as a shock to us especially if
we have travelledfar to experience a place's magic.
The essential thing .is to note what you did AND didn't feel
and perhaps return to the place if you can a second or even third
time if that is feasible. Give the energies time to awaken within
you and for you to really feel them and benefitfrom them.

CONNECTING WITH THE GENIUS LOCI

When I go to any new place and want to connect with the genius
loci (the spirit(s) of the place), I am always very humble and
respectful. I come with the mindset of a'beginner' and I try to
quiet my energy.
Sometimes that is a hard frame of mind to get into because

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you may be quite excited to be there (if you have travelled a long
way in particular), or it may be a busy place with lots of people
or other distractions.
Think of it like this: you are meeting a new friend for the first
time or a respected elder or teacher. Do you run over, jumping
all over them like some crazy puppy? Do you speak over them
and start a monologue describing what you want and why you
are here? No! Most likely you would be open and friendly and
introduce yourself politely.
Firstly, try and simply'be there'and open all your senses.
Forget what you did earlier today, yesterday, last week. Forget
your worries and stresses. Let it go and'be there'. What are you
seeing? Smelling? Hearing? What can you touch? (Take your
shoes off if you can.) What can you taste? (The air usually tastes
like something - you just need to be sensitive enough to pick this
up. For example: sites by the sea may taste like salt)
Then, introduce yourself. I do this by raising peaceful, pos­
山ve emotion and then saying my name. (You can do this out
loud or take it within.)
Then, I call the energy by its name, ifI know it , and state why
I am here.
For example: When I'm at a site dedicated to the Greek god
Apollo, I might say:''Apollo, God of Oracles and Music, he who
sees far, golden archer, I am here to honour you and ask for
greater focus and intuition in my life''.
Then, I offer a'gift'or energy exchange for being there. I
trek quite often into remote places so as I have to travel lightly, I
often don't have a lot with me to offer, but I always have'me'and
usually some water. This is plenty!
One of the most effective and traditional ways of connecting
is offering or leaving a piece of'yourself'. Common ways to do

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如s are pluc如ng a hair from your head or ma如ng a nail clipping
and as如ng that the'site'and the genius loci accept the gift as an
energy exchange.
The other thing to offer is the elixir of life: a splash of fresh
water (from your flask). Water is generally always welcome, just
make sure that it's poured with the intent of being a gift.
If you know you are coming to particular place and you have
done some research about the site earlier, you may be able to
bring with you something eminently suitable as a gift for that
place. For example: a particular temple housing a particular deity
may have had a certain 如nd of traditional way that offerings
have been made. Che�k this out.
Please be aware that if you do feel anything negative in the
place; an unfriendliness, a'no', a strong feeling of nausea or pain,
you might wish to leave. Not all places welcome everyone. For
example the Australian Aborigines have'female-only places'
where'women's business'is undertaken. These places are sacred
to women and are the vestibules of feminine magic. If you are
male, you are not welcome at all at these sacred places and the
genius loci may communicate that to you.
Remember respect and sensitivity is paramount to your
positive and powerful experience.

HOW EACH SITE IS DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK

In the description for each oracle card in this guidebook, you will
see the following headings:
Name of Card: I have listed the most common name of the place
and I usually favour the indigenous name, if applicable.

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Key Messages: An expression of the message and wisdom of
the place and genius loci. This is for your deep guidance and
assistance in readings.
Key Energies: This gives the 'essence' of the place in a few
keywords and concepts. This helps you match the energy of a
particular site to your needs.
GPS: This is the exact (where possible) location of the site on the
worldwide Global Positioning System. This makes the location
VERY real. When meditating on the particular energies of a site,
I like to write down the GPS co-ordinates and hold them or even
write them on my hand. It draws the energies to me just as if I
were loo如ng at a photo or holding an object found at the site.

Location: This is the geographic country or location that the site

is in today.

Primary Element(s): The ancients believed that every place on

Planet Earth is made up of four elements: Water, Earth, Fire and
扣r. Yet some places are very dominant in certain elements and
this makes them even more powerful for particular reasons. It
is often very easy to determine the dominant element on some
sites. For example, if you are looking at a temple in water, then
water would be the element that is the strongest. Kilauea volcano,
the living embodiment of the Goddess Pele, is certainly a place
that is unmistakably fire-orientated. Places in mountainous areas
such as Delphi in Greece are certainly air, but because of the
vapours that seep from the earth here that have made the place
immortal, you would have to list both elements.
Traditionally, there are some key attributes to each element
and this helps us further understand and decode the energies of
particular earthly sacred sites.

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 Here is a summary I have created that may assist you. I have
added in some of the actions you can take when you wish to
connect more deeply to a particular site when it is dominated by
that particular element as well as other factors such as colours
that you might wish to wear when you visit or wish to work with
that energy.
Earth
• Actions: Standing barefoot on earth, sprinkling of flowers,
earth anointing with spring water or essential oil, anointing
yourself with clay or essential oils.
• Attributes: Res山ence, order, law, politics, education, creation,
grounding, security, money.
• You can wear greens, ochres and brown colours.
• Generally feminine energy.

Fire
• Actions: Lighting flame, open fires, anointing with oils such as
pepper, ginger, fran如ncense.
• Attributes: Passion, purpose, strength, achievement, destruction
of what is not needed, reduction, love.
• You can wear red or flame colours.
• Generally masculine (sun) energy but with some key exceptions
such as Kilauea in Hawaii.
Air
• Actions: Burn incense or leave fragrance, smoke, kite, balloons,
oils such as bergamot, lime, eucalyp tus, smudging, bubbles,
bells, singing bowls.
• Attributes: Communication, creativity, psychic ab山ty, logic,
travel, new beginnings, ideas, flow.
• Wear yellow or lightest blue or silver.

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• Generally masculine energy.

Water
• Actions: Sprinkle salt or spring water, leave moon water, shells,
rain or oils such as rose, ylang ylang, go at dusk.
• Attributes: Relationships, love, psychic connection, flow, emo­
tions, power, birth/death/rebirth.
• Water is seen as feminine and linked with the moon but there
are exceptions eg: Angkor Wat has a masculine energy.
• Wear blues and purples.

Description: An explanation of the history and energy of the site

and why it's so powerful.
When you Visit: This section is for those seekers who want to
go and feel the energies of the place first hand. I know when I
have visited some of these places that it took me a while to find
a key power spot or a piece of sacred art that had to be seen or
a special quiet place out of the way of the rest of the visitors.
There were even places that due to the sheer number of people
climbing all over everything, I completely missed spots I wanted
to experience. I wish I had of had a kind of'energy'guide that
could have sa过： "Pssst! Over here!" So, now you do!
For each site I suggest rituals, offerings, meditations or
particular spots (vortex, magnetic, ley lines) that I found
authentically powerful in some way. This will give you a good
insider's start in knowing what to look and'feel'for.

Enjoy, fellow seeker. ..

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 HOW TO USE THESE CARDS

First of all, I suggest you dedicate or bless your cards. There 1s

a short ritual below in case you do not already have your own
in mind. Blessing or dedicating the deck enlivens the cards and
connects you with the elemental energies.

Dedication for your Oracle Cards

Since this is a deck created to plug you into sacred geography, I

think the ideal place to dedicate these cards is a place you find
peaceful and powerful, preferably outside.
Light a candle and burn some herbs like sage or wormwood.
Say:
"I ask that the power of the planet and the elements
Fire, water, air and earth,
Add their energy and protection to my workings
I ask that the Ji门endly genius loci witness my rite
Bless me and these cards from the north, to the south, to the east
and the west.
I ask for guidance and truth,
Awakening and clarity,
And the strength and courage
To make changes should I need to."
Now pass the pack through the smoke of the herbs, saying
"I dedicate these cards to the greater good. May only good enter
here. May I only connect with good. And so it is."
Now if you like, you can make your first divination knowing
the earth energies have heard your dedication and will respond
in kind.

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 CARD SPREADS

The Hemisphere Spread

When you don't have much time, this is a great way to get to the
crux of the matter quickly. This spread empowers you to take
action immediately.
Close your eyes and see the planet floating in space. Now focus
on the earth itself and imagine the two hemispheres of the earth.
Now focus on the northern hemisphere and think about what
your issue or goal is. Imagine it clearly in your mind. Imagine
the southern hemisphere and allow the idea of a solution to enter
your mind. Open your eyes and shuffle the deck. Pick two cards,
placing the second one on top of the first.

Card 1: This is the main obstacle in your way to your goal

Card 2: This is the best action to take.

The Tourney Spread

This is a very powerful spread that offers a wealth of insight for

the reader.
You will be choosing nine cards in total, and they will be
organised in three rows of three, wor如ng upwards.
This reading should be viewed like a journey - this is how it
is now, what is my ma丿or obstacle or barrier, this is what I need
to do to see improvement and this is where I will end up on my
journey.
Start by thinking about your question or situation and ask for
wise guidance as you are shuffling the deck

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 Row3

E] E]
Row2

E] 勹丿
Row! ITh,,,, 』丿丿
Place the first three cards down in a row. The first row
contains the key card and the two most important indications of
the real depth of the issue at hand.
The first card in Row 1 is the key card or'Ruling Card'for the
entire reading. This card is like the theme than runs through the
rest of the reading and the energy of the place that will be most
useful to you as you move through the issue/solution to your
problem.
Row 2 gives us the view of the obstacles you are likely to face.
By being forewarned you can be forearmed! I always find that ifI
know what the issues or obstacles are in the way to the fulfilment
of any intention, I have a truly great chance of overcoming
them. I always see this row as the action row! We see and we
act! Sometimes by simply seeing the obstacles clearly, we get an
instant understanding that we can move through them or that
they were not powerful or frightening at all. We can move on.

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Either way, this row gives us indications of what to do next.
Row 3 shows us what will happen should we proceed as
per the messages in the reading. It indicates in which areas the
improvement will lie and how things will end up. The final card,
in particular, is important as it gives us a view of how this issue
will be completed and the final lessons learnt.

The Compass Spread

This 4-card spread honours the four directions North, South,

East and West.

The idea of'finding one's true north'is an old one but it still has
relevance today.

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Card 1: North - The solution/purpose
Card 2: South - The issue/situation as it is
Card 3: East - The reason this has occurred
Card 4: West - The lesson that should be learnt/wisdom gained.

The Temple Spread (6 card spread)

伽s spread reflects the traditional layout of many temples in that

it has a core card and all other'energies'come from that central
place.
This is a perfect spread to ask for advice about your next
steps in an issue or problem you are working through. It is a very
如ect way to get actionable insight on how best to attract what
you need.
Imagine a magnificent temple in your mind. Breathe deeply
and slowly. Picture yourself in the centre of that temple, in the
inner chambers or the physical centre. See its form, its colours,
listen to the sounds, smell its fragrance, perceive its shape and
size. Feel the immense energy of the core of this place.
Shu血the deck and keep the temple in your mind. W hen
you are ready place the first card.
Card 1 should be placed in the centre and this represents
the situation as it is and the power place most likely to be of
assistance immediately.
The remaining 5 cards should be placed radiating out from
the card in the centre, like the petals of a flower. Each energetic
place gives its'advice' on how best to attract what you need for
greatest success. Write all of this advice down. Then turn the
insights into actions, like a'to do list'. This way, you turn the
oracle into action!

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Card 1: The situation as it is
二
Card 2: W hat caused the situation
Card 3: The obstacles in the way to resolution
Card 4: Action to resolve
Card 5: Action to resolve
Card 6: Action to resolve

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 Jhe Atlas (7 card spread)

Find yourself a map of the world or open an atlas on the page

where you can see a full spread of the entire world.
Shuffle the deck and think about the question you have.
Ensure both your feet are on the ground.
Choose the first card. Wherever this sacred place is in the
world, place the card over the corresponding place on the map/
atlas. For example: If the card is Ankor Wat situated in Cambodia,
place the card over Cambodia on the map.
When you have placed all seven cards, firstly look for a
pattern. Are all the cards on one continent or bunched? Are they
in a line? Are they making a flower or a cloud pattern?
Make a tracing of that shape if it is interesting. This may
give you a symbol or a shape of sacred geometry that means
something to you.
Now read the messages of the cards like a story. You are
writing a moving narrative of your present and future or to
answer the question you have asked. This is particularly beautiful
and powerful spread to do with a close friend or family member.

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and accommodation for students and holy teachers. Ajanta was
a place of learning, somewhat like a monastery and it is thought
that the different cave areas created actually housed different
,colleges'or schools of Buddhist thought all under the one
umbrella. Later in the 5th century AD, more caves were added,
some sponsored by wealthy or influential patrons
Ajanta is incredibly beautiful. It has some of the most stunning
ancient Buddhist paintings, sculpture and architectural carvings
ever found. Some of the most beautiful works are of supernatural
beings and some simply of graphic geometric designs, the latter
of which seem only to add to the profound calmness generated
by the images of Buddha.
The subjects depicted are varied but the main themes are
'Jataka'stories (mythos about Buddha's former lives on the path
to enlightenment) and the life of Buddha himself. The Jataka
stories help us understand the steps to enlightenment and give
us hints as to how it can be progressively achieved.
One mural shows Buddha as Gautama (before becoming
enlightened) meditating under the Bodhi tree. Mara, an Evil
Spirit, is seen making many attempts to distract Gautama from
his path of enlightenment. Mara is depicted sending his three
most beautiful daughters to move Gautama from the tree,
but this ultimately fails. Feeling frustrated, Mara summoned
his demons to dislodge Gautama. But Gautama was calm and
unmoved amongst the fury.
We see this profound centredness demonstrated throughout
Ajanta.

When you visit: There are over 30 cave spaces here so there is
plenty to explore and discover. I especially liked the view from
the small river and the river entrance with the elephants and naga

25
(proactive snake). There is beauty at every turn once you enter
伽s horseshoe-shaped complex but I found it very peaceful to
connect to the energy of the site at one of the outer shrines first
and then allow the energy to lead me to a cave that'welcomed'
me.

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 A叩ONIA
(THE AMAZON)
I am interconnected with the world in
an intimate way. I am vital. I can find a
way to co-create rather than confront.

Key energies: Aliveness, balance, co-operation, vitality,

interconnectedness.

GPS: It's too big to pin-point but as a guide - 3°9'36"5,

60° 1'48"W

Location: On the continent of South America, the Amazon

touches Brazil, Peri, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia,
Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

Primary Elements: Earth, air, water

Description: When creating this oracle deck, I thought it most

important to also include places that are not man-made. No
matter how wonderful a temple is, no matter how incredible any
piece of ancient or modern architecture, it is important to hark
back to natural places that all of their own, without the influence
of our species, still emanate wonder and power.
One of the first natural places I considered for inclusion was
the Amazon.

27
 Described by many as the'lungs of the Earth: this is a place
of extreme vitality and unmatched biodiversity, simply teeming
with life. It is the largest of Earth's dwindling rainforests. A
mind-boggling number of plant and animal species live here
including almost 3 million individual species of insects (and
they are the ones we know of!). One in ten known species exists
in the Amazon. One in five bird species is Amazonian. Imagine
one square kilometre containing almost 100 tonnes of plant life
which would include a thousand tree species, and thousands
more species of plants and flowers. Add to that block of wall-to­
wall plants thousands of species of insects and possibly hundreds
of species of birds, reptiles and animals and you begin to get an
idea of how interconnected this place actually is.
However, the largest rainforest on Earth (7 million square
kilometres) is in trouble. For thousands of years, relatively small
populations of people lived around and within the Amazon
Basin and coast. Their food, water, shelter and even their
spiritual beliefs reflected their quite balanced relationship with
this incredible environment. Power animals such as jaguar,
caimans, anacondas and poison dart frogs existed in both the
physical world for the tribes and the dream and spiritual worlds.
With the coming of'civilisation'and the subsequent population
explosion in South America, the rainforest became a'resource'
in a far more damaging way. Deforestation became the norm
by the 1960s, particularly the highly destructive'slash and burn'
style in order to make way for agriculture and farms. The forest
was essentially being cleared for monoculture (one species), the
harvest of hardwoods and for huge cattle farms for meat. In the
decade between 1991 and 2001, a forest area the size of Spain
was cleared.
The issue here goes back to biodiversity. No species in the

28
Amazon works alone ... that is, every species is necessary and
interconnected. For example, certain plants need a particular
insect for pollination and if successful, that plant feeds another
small animal. That small animal is eaten by another larger one
and the scat of the larger animal is the incubation material for
that first pollinating insect. Break any of those connections and
all are threatened.
We too are part of nature and it is important for us on a
personal and more local scale to be reminded of that fragile
balance and interconnectedness.

When you visit: This ecosystem is 55 million years old and when
you step far from the river or the trails, it feels quite impenetrable.
There is the mighty Amazon river that one can travel down to get
a feel for the sheer size and diversity of this region. It is very easy
to feel in a very real and physical way the vitality of this place
simply by moving through the landscape. Open all your senses
and invite the aliveness in! It's intoxicating! If you can, stay at an
eco-lodge and use indigenous guides as you will be contributing
back to the forest in a positive way.

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 ANGKORWAT
I have the courage to live my heaven on
Earth. As above, so below. I am aware
that sometimes things mustfall apart to
be reborn as I would wish.

Key Energies: Birth/death/reb订th, creation/balance/

destruction, devotion, pleasure.

GPS: 13°24'45"N, 103°52'0"E

Primary Element: Earth and air, fire and water

Location: Cambodia

Description: Angkor Wat is the largest religious complex on

Earth and is an ancient Khmer city that has been a centre of
truly sacred geometry and geography for thousands of years. It is
one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites and is considered one of
the Great Wonders of the World. It is a place of sublime beauty,
energy and importance.
Originally dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu, it 1s now
a Buddhist centre that does not reject its historical animist
leanings. This is truly a place where Hinduism, animism and
now Buddhism meet with power and grace.
The sky-scraping temple complex was built as the earthly

30
representation of Mount Meru, the home of the Gods and sacred
beings called Devas. As it is a representation of heaven on Earth, it
is a place of symmetry, mathematical perfection and storytelling.
Its mythos begins with a metaphorical look at creation with the
Vishnu gateway. The central tower temple is a representation of
Mount Meru, surrounded by smaller'mountains'. bounded in
turn by oceans (the pond-like moats) and the earthly continents
(the lower courtyards). All of this rich metaphorical architecture
in the one area!
To walk on this ground is to walk in the footsteps of royals
and shaman priests, monks and generations of devotees and to
dance amongst the beautiful winged Apsaras.
Anyone interested in experiencing places of power should
try immersing themselves in the如nd of elemental energy
contained in Angkor Wat. It is also an incredible place to
meet the Cambodians themselves, who are renowned for their
friendliness and resilience and who are fiercely proud of the site.

When you visit: I cannot emphasise the importance of having

enough time to experience the variety of energies at Angkor Wat.
This is a big site and each corner, each individual space, calls
upon different spirits, Gods and energies. Choose whatever spot
,feels'elementally right for you and'plug in'. Always leave a small
gift that will not hurt the site - do not litter!
Avoid the crowds and go to Angkor just before dawn or late in
the day. If you are particularly interested in receiving a Buddhist
blessing, you can arrange that. I would also suggest getting off
the touristy track by visiting remote and quiet temples deep in
the forests and reconnecting with the old energies of creation,
balance and destruction.

31
 AVEBURY
STANDING STONES
I seek knowledge and receive greater
knowledge when I am ready. Greater
power means greater responsibility.
It is a natural part of life to exclude and
include - discernment is necessary.

Key Energies: Authority, exclusion/inclusion, knowledge, ritual.

GPS: 51 °25'43"N, l 051'15"W

Primary Element: Earth

Location: Wilshire, England

Description: I remember my first view of the Avebury Standing

Stones like it was yesterday. I had already journeyed to its more
famous cousin, Stonehenge, and I didn't know as much about
this other prehistoric site. Frankly, I didn't expect much in
comparison, after all I thought it would be smaller and without
the grand setting that stages the henge.
But I was very wrong.
I arrived very early and the fields were still covered in a soft
mist that glowed under a butter yellow sun. Revealing themselves,
one by one, were the stones from one of the outer circles. As
beautiful as any statue, they appeared to shimmer in and out
of focus, and they seemed very alive. I was almost hesitant in

32
stepping forward to enter the circle. When I did, I felt a hum of
deep resonance. I began to slowly walk, very deliberately, feeling
one foot after the other on the soft grass, extending one hand
inwards to the circle and touching each stone with the other as
I passed. I said nothing to anyone the whole time, such was the
intense feeling of power. I ended up tracing the three circles of
Avebury the same way, listening to the tonal changes of each
stone. Whilst this might sound strange to some, many other
people have had similar experiences. To me, and I know many
archaeologists who agree, Avebury exceeds the impressiveness
of Stonehenge.
Avebury is the biggest stone circle in the world and was
built and extended between 2850 BC and around 2200 BC. This
means it is of the Neolithic and Bronze ages. From the air, the
site's henge (ditch) appears very circular and you can see the
inner circles of standing stones which form two other circles. So
in total, there are three circles and each of those circles has a
feature at the centre to focus upon. You can also appreciate the
huge amount of resources and human energy that were needed
to construct this place and why it is thus of great importance to
the people.
Whilst many archaeologists have put forth theories about the
religious usage of Avebury, the latest evidence suggests that it may
have been used to bestow various forms of status and learning
through considered ritual. The circles within circles were quite
possibly used to included or exclude certain individuals along
the processional path, depending on their'status'in life. The path
and direction and what could be seen and what was hidden from
view were all highly orchestrated. Funerary, seasonal and b订th
rituals may have also been enacted here.
There is also evidence of the veneration of a masculine and

33
feminine energy - theories around the shapes of the stones and
the shapes of the hedges themselves are the main reasons for this
belief.

When you visit: The most wonderful thing about Avebury is

that unlike Stonehenge, you can actually get amongst the stones
and even touch them. This allows us to better feel the energetic
relationship between the stones, the land and you. Personally, I
like to walk the circles and the processional route first and then
come back to find a stone or two that particularly attracted me
and take my time there.
I suggest that you do a small ritual asking for knowledge and
wisdom or as如ng for greater ab山ty to take authority over your
own life. A simple honouring of the genius loci of the place -
extremely old ancestrally - such as pouring some spring water
on the ground or the offering of some hair or flowers would be in
order. Many modern pagan groups still use Avebury as a temple
site today and you may be lucky enough to witness (or even join)
a rite on the site.

34
 CATHEDRAL OF
NOTRE-DAN让
The feminine divine is alive in all
spiritual practices. Places of power
remain places of power. I am full of love
and tolerance.

Key energies: Feminine divine, earth meets a江， devotion, magic,

mothering.

GPS: 48°51'10.S"N, 2°20'59.28"E

Location: Paris, France

Primary Element: Earth and a订

Description: With its leering gargoyles loo如ng down across

the rooftops of Paris, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame is a terrific
example of French Gothic architecture. It is also famous for its
huge glass windows depicting decorative designs in a contrasting
naturalistic style. Notre-Dame de Paris is the cathedral church
of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris and is dedicated to Mary,
Our Lady.
History has it that Notre-Dame's first stone was laid in 1163
in the presence of Pope Alexander III and completed in 1345
Built on the foundations of the old St. Stephens cathedral and
previously, it is said, on the site of an earlier pagan temple,

35
Notre-Dame was dedicated to Our Lady. Numerous phases of
construction and restoration have occurred over the years. Notre­
Dame is one of the world's best-known churches and is visited
by hundreds of thousands of people a year, many of them not
Catholic.
The cathedral treasury is notable for its reliquary which
houses some of the Catholic religion's most important relics
including the purported Christ's Crown of Thorns, a holy nail
from the crucifixion and a fragment of the True Cross ofJesus.
The most famous young woman in French history, Jeanne
d'Arc, now St Jeanne and the patron saint of France, has a statue
here and it is always interesting to see the number of pagan
visitors that gravitate to her. In fact, many visitors come to this
cathedral searching for various pagan symbols that are woven
through the building. Pagan symbology such as sun-wheels,
green men, labyrinths, gargoyles and sacred animal imagery all
feature.
The energy here is ancient and corresponds with ley lines
The elements are definitely earth yet also air, given the shape of
the building and of course the sound of those famous bells. TI记
bells of Notre Dame even have names - the biggest and most
famous is called Emmanuel.

When you visit: Before you go, read The Hunchback of Notre
Dame. When you are there, climb the bell towers. Listen to the
bells ring across Paris. Leave an offering for Jeanne D'Arc ( both
a Christian saint and a pagan icon) and walk the ley lines within
the church itself. I find this a wonderful church to sit in early in
the morning and watch as the stained glass lights up the whole
space, bathing it in a myriad of colours.

36
 DEATH VALLEY
I am resilient. There is hope. There can
be success through hardship.

Key energies: Heat, completion, resi1ience, extremes, silence

°
GPS: 36°14' 49"N, l16 49'0l"W

Location: USA

Primary Element: Fire

Description: At the time of writing, Death Valley was recordin° g

one of its highest temperatures ever - a scorching 130 F
(54.4°C). This is consistently the hottest place on Earth with
even a day's low temperature often being hot enough to fry egg°s
On July 12, 2012, the day's minimum temperature was 107 F
(42°C), equalling the record for t e world's hottest mm1mu°m
temperature. That same day's average temperature was 117.5 F
(47.5°C), which is the world's hottest temperature averaged over
24 hours ever recorded.
Toe depth and long narrow shape of Death Valley are the
influential factors in its extreme summer temperatures. Its basin
" surrounded by high mountains, its position at almost 300
shape
feet below sea level combined with sparse vegetation allows a

37
kind of super heating to occur on the surface of the desert. The
clear air creates winds that then move across the basin creating
even higher temperatures. The hottest air temperature ever
recorded in Death Valley was 134° F (57° C) on July 10, 1913, at
Furnace Creek, which is arguably the hottest temperature ever
recorded in history.
Yet, life exists here. The indigenous inhabitants of the valley
for 1000 years or more have been the Timbisha tribe (Panamint
Shoshone) of Native Americans. Timbisha means'ochre paint'­
the colours of which are varied here.
Animal life here is also surprisingly lively and varied, even
near the cracked salt pan. The animals have adapted to the
extreme conditions and are very resilient. Most of the animals
are nocturnal (it's cooler at night) but also bobcats, lizards, hawks
and big horn sheep are active in the area.
One of the very mysterious things here is the phenomenon
of the moving stones of Racetrack Playa. These are stones that
move on their own, leaving clearly defined tracks on the pan
surface. Whilst explanations have ranged from spirits moving
the stones to the movement being caused by micro-winds, the
current theory suggests that small crystals of ice form under
the rocks, and with the reduced friction, they are moved by the
wind. Either way it's mysterious and beautiful.

When you visit: There is no escaping the dryness and heat here
so ensure you take safety precautions with vehicles and water.
Whilst the most comfortable times of the day to visit are morning
and evening, there is something to be said for experiencing, just
for a moment, this如nd of extreme temperature at its peak. Go
to the wide barren salt pan or Racetrack Playa and connect with
a different如nd of beauty.

38
 DELPHI
I receive divine messages constantly
and clearly. I look for the truth in any
situation. I know myself. Power comes
from the inside, out.

Key energies: Oracles, faith, truth, possib山ty, receiving,

intuition.

GPS: 38 °29'0"N, 22 ° 30'0"£

Location: Greece

Primary Element: Air and earth

Description: Delphi was one of the most famous places of power

in the ancient world and held incredible religious and political
influence for over a thousand years. It was considered by the
Greeks to be the'omphalos'- the navel of the Earth - the point
that everything else revolved around. A veritable who's who of
powerful ancient figures such as Alexander the Great, Solon,
Pythagoras, Emperor Hadrian and Caesar all consulted the
Pyth 团- the priestess that presided over the Apollonic oracle at
Delphi.
On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the Temple of Apollo
nestled. Within this picturesque temple, the Delphic Oracle

39
could be found. The priestess sat upon a tri-legged stool perched
on a rock and breathed in the vapours that rose mysteriously
from a fissure near a sacred spring. As this area is highly prone to
earthquakes, the latest theories maintain that a deep earth fissure,
emitting a gas like ethane or methane, enabled the Delphic oracle
to enter a trance state more easily and thus she was able to receive
and transmit the Gods'words more easily.
This beautiful, yet somewhat harsh place, was considered the
closest place to the God Apollo on Earth. The Delphic Oracle
would answer questions posed to her and normally the answers
would be in riddles, verses or in an unknown language. These
would then normally be interpreted by the priest or priestess
serving the Oracle. However, the final decision on the true
meaning was always left to the person as如ng the question. This
encouraged their own inner intuition and wisdom to come into
play.
Delphi, whilst being the home to the Gods, was also a place
of philosophy and learning. The Delphic maxims - guidelines
for good living - were carved into the architecture here. The
most famous maxim'Gnothi Seauton'(fvw0心wuTov) meaning
'Know thyself 'is as good advice now as it was then.

When you visit: Spend a few days in this beautiful mountainous

region and take your time to go through the amazing ruins and
the wonderful museum. Go to the Sanctuary of Apollo considered
the'omphalos: the navel of the Earth. The ancients knew that the
God Apollo spoke to people directly here. Bring a bay leaf and
crush it in your hand. You might wish to close your eyes and
simply breathe in the clear air and the fragrance of the bay leaf
Allow this clarity to flood through your body and mind. Allow
any messages from Apollo, any ideas, any emotions or pictures

40
in your mind to form and write these down. Say: "Thank you,
wise Apollo, I know the answer will be clear:'You might also like
to visit and meditate at the Sanctuary of Athena about a mile or
so to the east of the Temple of Apollo. It contains the mysterious
Tholos, a rotunda which dates back to the 4th century BC.

41
 EMEIAND LESHAN
(MOUNT EMEi)
I seek enlightenment. I am calmly above
it all. The tangible and intangible meet
within me.

Key energies: Enlightenment, clarity, peace, beauty, calm.

GPS: 29° 3l'll"N, 103 ° 19'57"£

Location: Chma

Primary Elements: Air and water

Description: Mount Emei is considered one of the four sacred

mountains of China and a place of enlightenment in the
Buddhist faith. The first Buddhist temple in China was built here
in Sichuan Province in the 1st century A.D. within the almost
surreal pine forests around the slopes and the summit of Mount
Emei.
It is easy to see why this place of supreme natural beauty, of
mists, of delicate mosses and whispering pines was the inspiration
for more temples to be built. Today over 30 stand within the area
with ten of these being quite substantial and some of the oldest
are precious examples of ingenious and beautiful architectural
design.

42
 One of the most famous of these is the Giant Buddha of
Leshan. Literally carved out of the hillside of Xijuo Peak, which
faces Mount Emei, this statue of Buddha is the largest in the
world at 71 metres high. The natural mosses and plants that
grow upon it change with the seasons, seemingly bringing life
to the Buddha. It is in a special spot within sacred geography
- facing the holy mountain and having been created in front of
the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. Legend
has it that construction began in 713 A.D. by a monk named
Haitong who dreamt that the Buddha would calm the waters of
the rivers which had taken many lives amongst the traders and
merchant seamen. When it was completed, the large amounts of
rock removed from the hillside during the construction and left
in the bottom of the river did alter the dangerous currents, thus
making ship faring safer.
This is a sacred site with over 2000 years of formal use and
history and the sense of calm here is profound. Whilst pollution
has damaged some of the site, the combined areas are now a
UNESCO World Heritage listed site which should afford it
greater protection.

When you visit: Take your time. You need at least a few days to
really allow the calm energy of this cool mountainous area sink
within you. Get up at dawn and watch the sunrise and the clouds
burn away from the top of Mount Eshai. Walk through the green
areas and allow some of those 1,000-year-old trees to whisper
their magic to you. Visist the Giant Buddha of Leshan at dusk.
Ensure you see the view of the Buddha from the river level as
there is a power connected to the genius loci of the rivers that
should be experienced.

43
 FAIRY CIRCLES
I see magic everywhere. I look deeper for
a solution. I am open to transforming
myself. Curiosity is valuable to me.

Key energies: Mystery, magic, building, transformation,

synergy, support.

GPS: 18 °S, 13°£

1
Location: Namib团， Africa (but they are found elsewhere on the
contment)

Primary Element: Earth

Description: Imagine wal皿g across a wide plain of red soil in

Africa. Antelope and oryx are bounding along the horizon. The
heat is causing the horizon to shimmer. Then, as you climb over a
small hillock, you see the first of many. A perfect circle. And then
another. And another.
Welcome to the land of the Fairy Circles!
The'almost perfect' circles range from about 20cm across to
almost two meters. They are barren in the centre and the edge is
usually quite lush grass or plant life. And there are thousands of
them! The landscape is transformed.

44
 Native peoples have many stories to explain the circles.
Some say that gods and goddesses have appeared and walked
through the landscape and this is the evidence. Some say that a
dragon who lives under the plain has breath so hot that it burns
the underside of the soil in bubbles. Rather less romantically,
scientists have speculated everything from latent reactivity to
plant toxms to ant movement.
The first time I saw Fairy Circles I was delighted and mystified.
I was living in Africa at the time and it was at the end of a long
hot day and a friend of mine suggested we go for a sunset drive
because he wanted to show me something. I walked into a
landscape that I didn't forget in a hurry. Circles everywhere
It seemed so mysterious and it was obvious'something'was
going on here, but what? The second time, I saw them from above,
from a light plane. You really get a sense for how noticeable they
are in a rather featureless environment and again, it spikes your
curiosity up to another level.
Now while the latest science seems to have �olved the
mystery - termites re-engineering the earth to capture moisture
and nutrients - to me this takes nothing away from the inherent
magic of the place. Nature is deeply magical. These termites are
transforming barren grasslands into individual lush gardens (the
outside of the circles) which attract larger animals and a whole
supercharged ecosystem is created. These mini water traps are
truly magical in their effect on everything around them because
without them, there would only be dry desert.

When you visit: There are a number of places to get your'Fairy

Circle hit'within Namibia: Kaokoveld and the Hartmann Valley
are just two. If you can be elevated to see the pattern from a
higher point it's well worth it. One of my favourite things to do

45
in a Fairy Circle environment is not to sit in the middle of a circle
(and we now know that may well damage it), but in the space
between a few. It certainly feels like the energy is alive and lithe
out there!

46
resulted in many healthy litters, a sign of rampant fertility for the
farming people as their own crops raised with gusto. The foxes
were seen as benevolent messengers of the deities and the foxes
became a symbol of plentiful harvest.
The shrine is dedicated to the God of rice and the five key
cereals, Uka-no-mitama-no-kami, who ensures the protection
of the cycle of rice growing. From the planning to the harvest,
Uka-no-mitama-no-kami is looked to for vital protection and
guidance and has been honoured in this way for thousands of
years. Still in modern Japan, every year at Inari on June 10th, a
beautiful rice planting ceremony is held, speaking of possibility
and fertility. Then again, another spectacular celebration is held
at the end of the harvest season on November 8th, and this one
asks for a continuing bountiful cycle for all throughout Japan.
These beautiful rituals of fertility and happiness now
extend the God' s traditional reach to modern people outside
the farming industry. Business people of all kinds make Inari a
primary destination for their prayers of success and the shrine
buzzes particularly at the beginning of each financial year.
The many torii (red gates) are each donated by a business or
individual businessperson hoping for the blessing of the God
Blessed talismans can also be bought there assisting people to
attract happiness, nourishment and prosperity.

When you visit: Catch a train to the area very early in the
morning and walk in through the stalls and shops selling food.
You can smell all manner of delicious foods being prepared,
including灼tsune soba (fox noodles) and the area has a very
non-touristy feel. Along this approach to the shrine are a number
of confectionary shops selling tsujiura senbei, a sweet style of
"fortune cookie" dating back at least to the 19th century. It is

48
believed that this is where the popular form of modern fortune
cookie harked from, so buy some as a snack for the winding and
gentle climb up the mountain. As you travel through the red torii
gates, don't just have your picture taken (as in the scenes in the
famous movie Memoirs of a Geisha) but say a small prayer for
your own fertility and prosperity. I returned over a number of
mornings to sit quietly on one of the small mossy mounds within
the extensive gardens and simply meditated on the fecund earth
with nothing to break the silence but a few welcome songbirds.
Do climb the mountain - it is so very worth it - arid leave a small
bottle of sake there as your gift to Uka-no-mitama-no-kami.

49
 GIASTONBURYTOR
Magic flows though my life. I will heal.
I have power and it is real. Spiritual
power takes time to develop and I find
the right teachers when I am ready.

Key energies: Healing, magic, personal power, archetypes,

Earth honouring.

GPS: 51°8'40"N, 2 °41'55"W

Location: Somerset Levels, England

Primary Element: A ir and earth

Description: Glastonbury Tor would most probably be the most

famous sacred site in Britain after Stonehenge. The Tor (meaning
皿l') rises unmissable from a Somerset landscape of a million
shades of green.
The Tor was called Ynys yr Afalon (meaning'The Isle of
Avalon') and rises upon seven grassy levels clearly visible from
the bottom level against the countryside. It is topped by the
iconic ruins of St. Michael's Church. The landscape is often misty,
and the mist sits below the Tor and above the ground giving it an
otherworldly island-in-the-sky appearance. The fact that the Tor
used to be marshland and surrounded by water also lends itself

50
as evidence that it could be seen as an isle.
Avalon, (meaning apple), was a place of magic and learning
and where Arthur was taken by Morgan le Fay to heal from his
grievous wounds after his battle with his son Mordred. It was
said to have been a place so magical and fertile that things grew
wildly without any tending. It was a place where one could
experience the power of magic and the magic within themselves,
a place where no matter what had happened, one could grow
well and whole again.
咖s is a place of old pagan power. Neolithic tools and the
remains of an iron age settlement have been found here. It is
a place where the indigenous pagan practices of Briton - the
mythos, the stories, the spells and rituals - meet the newer faith
of Christianity. The Arthurian mythos also has this theme woven
through止the meeting and weaving of the old ways and the new.

When you visit: It's a good idea to climb the Tor at different parts
of the day. I also recommend staying at one of the guesthouses
situated on the sides of the hill itself. This way you are sleeping
and dreaming under the same energ比s. When I visit, I always
know I can plug into this incredible power source whilst I'm at
rest and most receptive! Ensure you visit the nearby Chalice Well
and drink the iron-rich waters there from the blood red spring
that has been flowing for millions of years. There is a huge pagan
and new age community here as well as a Goddess Temple in
the Glastonbury town. Whilst there are plenty of commercial
experiences, it's easy to connect with authentic druid and
priestess practitioners there.

51
 GOBEKLI TEPE
Connecting with my higher power is a
timeless act. It is within my DNA. It is a
natural and useful part of my life.

Key energies: Veneration, devotion, deep connection with

higher self, wonder.

GPS: 37° 13'23.SS"N, 38 °55'20.64"E

Location: Turkey

Primary Element: Earth

Description: This is the mother of all temples. Older by far than

the Great Pyramids and Stonehenge, this newly unearthed site is
the oldest monumental architecture ever found. At present, it is
believed that Gobekli Tepe was constructed around 9000BC, and
we知ow it was built with great sophistication.
Gobekli is beautiful. There are huge pillars carved with animal
figures including birds, snakes and lizards and also distinctively
stylised human figures. Some of the huge rocks that make up
the complex have been purposefully buried, anchoring this site
into the earth more deeply. There is a round amphitheatre-like
structure being exhumed at the time of writing which promises

52
to show that a community, larger than first thought, prayed and
made their devotions there.
The specialness of the site goes beyond the architecture, to
the intention behind the construction. It was thought by scholars
that we, as humans, settled in places due to the availability of
good farming land. We traded off being nomads for fertile places
in which to stay and live. We built villages and settlements around
our agricultural activities and that included building places of
worship. Goble如Tepe completely turns this theory on its head.
The oldest temple found on the planet was built on a place
of power that was not first a farming territory with a settlement
that grew up around 八. In this case, veneration came first, not
agriculture. We venerated and honoured the deities first, and
built villages and agriculture around this, not the other way
around. It seems that our most ancient ancestors were devoted
to the gods and then built the rest of their lives around this.

When you visit: At the time of writing there are no crowds yet,
as it's a new discovery pored over mainly by archaeologists. So
track down a friendly one and ask loads of questions. Then walk
around the whole site and just soak in the fact that people came
to this place to worship and a whole society grew around让， such
was its power. I suggest you plug yourself in at sunset, when the
place begins to come alive and the shadows become long.

53
 IAKEBAIKAL
I can be independent and successful.
I can be alone and not lonely. Being
different can be a source of power.
There is magic in the world and I can
perceive it.

Key energies: Uniqueness, depth, simplicity, purity, magic.

GPS: N53° 10'25", £107°39'45"

Location: Siberia, Russia

Primary Element: Water

Description: Lake Baikal is sometimes referred to as the'sacred

sea'. This lake is the largest source of freshwater in the world,
containing over 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water. Lake
Ba止al is a rift lake that formed between the Siberian Craton and
several smaller plates. Over 630km long, Baikal is very deep and
its waters are very clear. It bottoms out at 1,637 metres below the
lake's surface, with an average depth of about 750 meters.
Often called the Galapagos of Russia due to its importance in
evolutionary biology, the lake is around 25-30 million years old
(the oldest lake on Earth) and very isolated. Over 3000 species
of trees, animal, bird and fish grace this area and more than 2000
of them are endemic (found nowhere else). The traditional tribes

54
of the area, known as the Mongol Buryat, believe that various
clans have directly descended from these sacred animals and
plants and so have protected these creatures and areas. One of
the most sacred and famous creatures of the lake is one of the
only freshwater seals in the world, the Baikal Seal. These cute
big-eyed balls of blubber gather on rocks to soak up the sun and
comically jostle for the best positions.
According to local legend, the Mongolian warlord Genghis
Khan was born on Olkhon Island, and is still a magnificent rocky
sanctuary floating in Baikal's waters to this very day. This place
is still a mecca for local shamans to perform rituals and it is said
that the spirits of the winds in particular are strong here because
of a mythos concerning two beautiful princesses fighting over
a lover. Neither wind wins - so the rock remains independent.
There are certain parts of Olkhon Island that women and
children are advised not to climb on.
One common shamanic practice is the offering of a small
amount of vodka in certain sacred spots. It is also believed that
if you light a fire, something should be thrown into the fire as an
offering to the spirits of the place.

When you visit: No matter which time of year you come here,
this is a magic place. The water is a chilly 15 degrees celcius on
average so should you decide to take to the waters, be prepared
for a shock. On the plus side, it is believed that bathing in the
lake will add 20 years to one's life! At the very least, these waters
are pure enough to drink, so if you cannot brave the freezing
pure water, have a sip instead. As you do, ask for every cell to
receive the ancient blessings and energies of this, one of the most
precious places on Earth.

55
 IAKEWANAKA
Peace begins with me. I choose to be
peaceful. I am peaceful.

Key energies: Stillness, peace, pause, mirroring

GPS: 44° 30'5, 169°08'£

Location: New Zealand

Primary Element: Water

Description: Lake Wanaka sits almost central to the Otago

lakes district, beside a mountain range on the south island of
New Zealand. Wanaka town itself has become quite a hip place,
particularly in the ski season and whilst it would be difficult to
miss the lake's sapphire blue colour, particularly viewed from
Mount Wanaka, it is amazing how many adrenalin-filled skiers
actually do not set foot near its shore.
I think this is so because of the place's inherent calmness.
Lake Wanaka has been described as a living entity by the
Maori peoples. According to Maori legend the Maori chief Te
Rakaihautu dug out the beds of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea
with a huge'ko'(digging stick) and he piled the debris high to

56
form the surrounding ranges. The word'Wanaka 'can be literally
translated as'legend'.
A former generation of Maori believed that a curious
animal something like a beaver lived at Lake Wanaka and Lake
Hawea, and the Maoris called it a 'kaurahe'. Mou Waho Island
in the middle of Lake Wanaka, reachable by kayak or boat offers
another level of peace. Here, anyone can enjoy a gentle climb up
to the beautiful Arethusa Pool - the small alpine lake within the
lake - a remnant of the last ice age. It's a wonderful spot to just
sit and be and enjoy the sociable resident Weka birds that like to
gather in the long afternoons.
Lake Wanaka is a place where'tipua'are said to inhabit. Tipua
are like fairies or demons - depending on their 'personalities'.
Places where tipua are living are considered magical and at times
dangerous but always sites of transformational power.
This is also a sacred gathering place for Pounamu. Pounamu
is the Maori collective term for green semi-precious stones
scientifically referred to as nephrite (kawakawa, kahurangi,
inanga), semi-nephrite, or less formally termed New Zealand
jade or greenstone.

When you visit: Walk around the circumference of the lake as

far as you can go and sit quietly in a spot that speaks to you
Contemplate the gentle movements of the water and connect with
your breathing and the calm unique rhythm of your heartbeat.
Alternatively visit the'floating island' in the lake, watch the birds
go by and bless a piece of endemic greenstone in the waters to
take home.

57
 MACHU PICCHU
I am nourished in both body and mind.
I can see my part in the wider universe. I
reap what I sow.

Key energies: Solar, cycles, harvest, universal power, rest,

observation.

GPS: 13°09'47"S, 72°32'44"W

Location: Peru

Primary Element: Earth and air

Description: There is little that hasn't been said about the

grandeur of the 5th century site of Machu Picchu. A hidden city,
untouched by invading conquistadors, it was rediscovered as a
relatively intact site.
At almost 2500 metres, Machu Picchu has been built on a
high ridge surrounded on three sides by a winding river and
there is now general consensus that it was built as an estate with
areas for rest, worship and astronomic observation for the Inca
emperor Pachacuti (1438-1472). Within the sacred district of the
site (there is also a residential district) its three main structures
the Intihuatana (Hitching post of the Sun), the Temple of the

58
Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows are all built in the
trad让ional Incan way with well-finished dry stone walls which are
forgiving in earthquakes. All of these structures were dedicated
to Inti, the Sun God and the Inca's most powerful deity.
Inti was all-powerful and the people relied on him for his
solar power, good weather and hopefully bountiful harvests. The
sun mask of Inti was worn by the head shaman/priest or by the
king as Inti's descendant on Earth.
The mountainous landscape, high in the misty Andes, is
integral to understanding the site. The place was chosen for
the way that it related to Incan cosmology and astronomical
landmarks and the way that the light fell particularly at key times
of the year (1如e solstices). Even within the site, raw stones like
the Intihuatana stone is set so that it points directly at the sun
during the winter solstice. The stone is situated at 13 ° 9'48" S
and acts almost like a solar based clock. It is said that if you place
your forehead against the stone, your third eye will open and you
will be more able to receive the messages of the cosmos.
It is one of the most visited sacred sites in the world.

When you visit: Hike your way up if you can. That way the site
opens up to you gradually and so does the inherent energy. Also
plan to arrive early and not just for the site of the mists appearing
across the landscape. The presence of too many tourists does
dampen the view somewhat. If you can, climb above the site so
you can see Machu Picchu against the mountain vista. This way
you can see how the temples are part of the landscape - rather
than just sitting on top of it

59
 MAGDALENA BAY,
BAJA
I birth new concepts and ideas easily.
I am full offlowfulness in every part of
my life. Grace permeates my being.

Key energies: Playfulness, perspective, flowfulness, grace.

GPS: 24°35'0"N, l 12°0'0"W

Location: California Sur, Mexico.

Primary Element: Water

Description: Magdalena Bay and its surrounds are a whale

wonderland. One third of all whale species call the waters of the
Sea of Cortez, home.
The world's largest living creature, the endangered blue
whale, can be encountered here between February and April,
side by side with humpbacks. The excitement though is normally
around the breeding behaviour of the Grey Whales who migrate
here from Alaska to mate. Grey Whales were once hunted here,
almost to extinction, but are now fully protected and celebrated
as big eco-tourism attractions. Only two distinct populations
exist now, one here and one in Korea as the Grey Whale became
extinct in the North Atlantic in the 18th century due to whaling.

60
厮s bay is an incredible place to experience these amazing
mammals and their energy of flowfulness and grace.
A full range of tail slapping, head bobbing and breaching
(leaping out of the water) can be experienced here from the safety
of all manner of boats and you can even take a kayak out to really
feel the scale of the experience. You could find yourself side-by­
side with a 100-foot Blue Whale --to put that into perspective
that is like standing next to a space shuttle!
The Spanish exped山on headed up by Francisco de Ulloa
formally 'founded' the bay in June 1539. Other expeditions
followed, including one headed by the famous Cortez, but the
original people of the area fought for their land and independence
The people were reportedly very tall and strong, ate very well
and wanted nothing of the new comers. Their mythos spoke of
a sacred whale that represented all other whales and who'spoke'
on behalf of the creatures of the sea. This whale could control
the weather and could whip up a storm against enemies. The
shamans of the tribe were able to decipher the voice of the whale
and gain wisdom, news and ideas.

When you visit: It is all about the ocean and the whales here!
Often the whales are so very close that you can easily spot Greys
from shore at Puerto Lopez Mateo. The idea here is to get out
onto the bay and experience the magic of the world's biggest
mammals. I have never ever met anyone who gets close to a
whale and isn't affected positively. Dolphins are common as are
seals and a huge range of sea birds. Allow yourself to engage with
the energy of so many incredible sea beings and fill yourself with
wonder and grace.

61
 MAGNETIC NORTH
POLE
I am flexible but consistent. I am
magnetic. I know my purpose, my own
true north.

Key energies: Attraction/repulsion, flux, personal attraction,

purpose.

GPS: 85.9°N, 147.0°W and moving.

Location: Arctic

Primary Element: Earth

Description: The Magnetic North Pole is the point on the surface

of Earth's Northern Hemisphere at which the planet's magnetic
field points vertically downwards. It is different to the geographic
North Pole. The magnetic lines of force, or flux, leave the North
Pole and enter the South Pole and are constantly changing their
force levels.
Both the North and the South Magnetic poles'wander'. They
do this due to magnetic changes in the Earth's molten core. The
North Magnetic Pole is moving continually north-westward and
it is currently shifting at a faster rate than at any time in human
history - up to 40 kilometres and sometimes even more - and

62
some experts believe that it may be the beginning of a complete
pole reversal. (Don't panic - it's happened before!)
James Clark Ross led the first successful expedition to reach
the North Magnetic Pole. The magnetic pole was situated at Cape
Adelaide on the Boothia Peninsula in 1831. In 1903, the famous
polar explorer, Roald Amundsen (who was the first to reach
the geographic south pole later) found the wandering North
Magnetic Pole at another location not too far from that recorded
by Ross.
Since then, many people have experienced the Magnetic
North Pole, in fact there is now an extreme polar race that
takes place each year with the finish line usually located at the
Magnetic North Pole.
This is a magical and fragile place, one with active magnetic
vortexes present.

When you visit: Depending on where the pole is (sometimes

it is over ice or water), this is a place of supreme groundedness
yet it is also flexible. Some people feel slightly light-headed at
magnetised sites like this one so be aware of how your body and
mind feels. If you are ever going to feel the impact of a powerful
site physically, it will be in a place with magnetic flux like this

63
 MAGNETIC SOUTH
POLE
It is acceptable not to know. Mystery
is part of life. Acceptance allows me to
begin to grow.

Key energies: Repulsion/attraction.

GPS: 64° 31'48"S, 137° 51'36"E and movmg.

Location: Continent of Antarctica.

Primary Element: Earth

.
Descnphon: The Earth has many layers including an iron
core. The Earth spins on its axis. The inner core spins as well,
and it spins at a different rate than the outer core. This creates a
dynamo effect - a kind of current within the core and it is this
process that creates the Earth's magnetic field. Imagine a planet­
sized electromagnet and that's what we have here.
Since the Earth's magnetic field is not exactly symmetrical,
the North and South Magnetic Poles are not antipodal - a line
drawn from one to the other does not pass through the geometric
centre of the Earth. What's more, the magnetic poles'wander'.
The Magnetic South Pole moves due to constant fluctuations
and changes in the Earth's magnetic field. Additionally, due

64
to polar drift, the pole is shifting northwest by close to 15
如lometres per year. In 2005 it was calculated to lie at 64° 31'48"5,
137° 51' 36"£, just off the coast of Adelie Land, French Antarctica.
The race to'discover' the South Pole included attempts
to reach the Magnetic South Pole. A number of unsuccessful
expeditions failed to find the pole but on the 16th of January
1909 three men including Australia's Douglas Mawson from Sir
Earnest Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition, claimed to have found
the Magnetic South Pole which was at that time located on land.
However, there is now some doubt as to whether their location
was correct.

When you visit: Depending where the pole is, for an extremely
high proportion of us visiting may well be rather impossible. The
rule for magnetic poles is that'like poles' repel each other and
'unlike poles' attract each other. Magnetic lines of flux can affect
people and winds and so they can be difficult to reach. Should
you ever get there, it will no doubt be because you were drawn
there with great focus.

65
 MECCA
I radiate my peace outwards. I have
faith. I am devoted. I understand that
forgiveness frees me.

Key energies: Centredness, devotion, peace, sanctuary,

sacrifice, forgiveness.

GPS: 21 °25'0"N, 39°49'0"E

Location: Saudi Arabia

Primary Element: Air

Description: The holy city of Mecca is one of the most famous

places of pilgrimage on the planet. It is the b江thplace of the
prophet Mohammed and a place Muslims seek to visit at least
once in their lives. Mecca is the holiest place in Islam and this
pilgrimage is known as the Hajj. Several million pilgrims visit
the site on the last few days of the twelfth lunar month known as
Dhu al Hijjah.
The centre of the pilgrimage is the Kaaba, the sacred house.
According to the Qur'an it was the first house built especially to
worship Allah. The four corners of the Kaaba point to the four
directions on the compass and the points of the summer and

66
winter solstice.
According to Islamic tradition the Kaaba was re-constructed
by Ibrahim and it contains the black stone (Ruknu 1-Aswad).
A mandatory part of the hajj involves如ssing the black stone
(baetyl) and this custom originates from pre-Islamic Arabian
polytheism. When performed correctly, Muslims believe that
their sins will be forgiven. Of course with o如n huge crowds
performing the circumambulation (at peak times there may be
up to 6 million pilgrims revolving around the Kaaba at the one
time), it may be impossible to耟ss the stone and so if the pilgrim
points to it as he goes around this is also acceptable.
The Kaaba is the most holy structure in Islam and all prayers
must be said facing its direction. No matter where the Muslim is,
the direction of the kaaba (or qibla) must be faced.

When you visit: Officially, only Muslims are permitted to

enter Mecca, enter the Grand Mosque and partake in the Hajj,
although some leading imams do not hold this to be true.
Restricting access to Mecca to Muslims only is meant to honour
the pilgrims and practicing Muslims and to provide a certain
level of sanctuary and focus.

67
 MNAJDRA TEMPLES
I am fertile andjlowful. I release all
stagnation and depression. I move
and choose gracefully. I am spiralling
outwards, full of growth and love.

Key energies: Feminine energy, fert山ty, flow, healing

GPS: 35°49'36"N, 14 °26'11"£

Location: Malta

Primary Elements: Water, fire and earth

Description: Tucked in a hollow on dramatic cliffs on Malta's

southern coastline are the three Mnajdra Temples. Facing the
ocean and the wild island of Fifla, these mysterious temples, with
their p甘ted texture, have a construction date as early as 3600 BC.
Made from hard coralline stone, some of the oldest
carved pieces of architecture in the world are here and their
sophistication for the Mesolithic time is marked. Covering many
of the post and lintel constructions are spiral designs, repeated in
some of the'interior'areas'chambers too.
The lower temple of the triple cloverleaf design is aligned
with the energies of light and dark. The specific light of the vernal
and autumnal equinoxes passes through a strategically placed

68
window and illuminates the central axis of the temple. During
solstices, light penetrates two'guard'posts welcoming all to the
place. Whilst on first observation this temple complex feels very
earth and water based, there is a fire element here in the way that
the light is used that cannot be ignored.
Archaeologists have found flint knives and stone altars here
and have concluded that this was a place of healing and religious
worship of the feminine divine. Fertility imagery and the spiral
flowing forth indicate a place where fert山ty was promoted and
where the cyclic nature of life - the seasons, the tides, the amount
of light and dark - were noted, worked with and honoured.
This is a place where the Goddess still breathes and
demonstrates how eternal her energy is. It is both grounding
and uplifting here. It is a wonderful place to get very inspired
about your plans for the future and your own growth. I would
recommend anyone considering conception to pay Mnajdra a
visit.

When you visit: For modern pagans, this is a place where many
come on a pilgrimage to honour the feminine divine or'Goddess'
energy. The energy here is distinctively strong and feminine.
Just 500 metres away is Hagar Qim, a complex temple
where a beautiful statuette nicknamed the'Fat Lady'was found
confirming the existence of a female fertility cult. Bring flowers
and honour the feminine energy within you - whether you are
male or female. Look out at the sea and connect too with that
energy of unlimited flow and ask for the same to come into your
own life.

69
 MOUNTKAIIASH
I am sacred. I am divine. I have
humility. I can start anew.

Key energies: Humility, forgiveness, sacredness, simplicity,

pilgrimage.

GPS: 31°4'0"N, 81°18'45"£

Location: Tibet

Primary Element: Air

Description: I first saw Mount Kailash from a spot close to the

Mount Everest base camp. I saw this incredible shining black
pyramid-shaped rock topped with an impossibly white snowy
tip. It was soaring in front of me, almost 22,000 feet (6638m),
and even though I was already standing on perhaps the world's
most famous mountain, I was struck by the unusual nature of
this other, lesser-known peak that I was viewing. When I asked
one of my guides which mountain it was, he bowed subtly and
said simply, "Kailash. Sacred. No one climbs:'
Mount Kailash, whilst not known by many outside the
Himalaya, and despite its remoteness, is arguably the most

70
venerated mountain in the area, being holy to billions of
Buddhists, Hindu and Bon. Situated at high altitude in far western
Tibet, it is extremely hard to reach. This difficulty in itself begins
the first of many challenges within the stages of the pilgrimage
route here. People come to Kailash to circumambulate the route
around the mountain - Buddhists and Hindus walk clockwise,
Bon anticlockwise.
Should you decide to walk the route, depending on the
weather and your fitness, it normally takes around three days
- with one extremely high pass at around 19,500 feet (5944m),
which is higher than Everest Base Camp. Some pilgrims do not
walk though; some run or repeat the whole route in full body
prostration, the latter ta如ng over a week to complete one cyclic
route or just over 30 miles. Pilgrims must also carry all they
need with them which means a certain simplicity weaves its way
through one's mind and body.
The Hindu epic, Ramayana, tells of Kailash and its stunning
blue lake, Manasarovar: "In a hundred ages of the godsI could not
tell thee of the glories of [ the Himalaya] ...there is no mountain
like [the Himalaya] for in it are Kailash and Manasarovar:'It is
said that should you drink from Lake Manasarovar, your karma
will be affected in a positive way and the negative actions of one
hundred lifetimes will wash away. The Hindus also see Kailash as
the earthly manifestation of Mount Meru, the spiritual centre of
the universe from which everything else expands (similar to how
Ankor Wat is viewed in Cambodia).
The Bon, followers of the animistic and shamanistic pagan
religion of Tibet, believe that the Sky Goddess Sipaimen makes
it her home and a place of deep and abiding magic and sorcery.
Buddhist mythos tells that Queen Maya, the Buddha's
mother, was carried here by the gods and washed prior to giving

71
birth ,to the Buddha. The purity of this place enables people to
erase negative energies from this lifetime and those one hundred
past. In some way, the clean air, the simplicity, the beauty and the
ancient energies of this'centre of all things; combine to cleanse
the mind, body and spirit and give a sense of starting anew.

When you visit: Go between May and October to gain the best
views of Mount Kailash. This is truly a spectacular part of the
world and I would sincerely recommend the experience of doing
at least one circumnavigation pilgrimage and if you have time,
try three. It should take you three days to do each one: Darchen­
Driapuk, Gompa-Zutrapuk, Gompa-Darchen. Whilst you
naturally may not wish to perform the full-body prostrations,
the walk itself is inspiring 祖1d sacred. To meet and walk with
those who are doing their pilgrimage in these very difficult ways
is very humbling (and inspiring) even in itself. Do bring all you
need with you and be mindful of every step.

72
 MYBACKYARD
Home is where I make it.
I can find sanctuary every day.

Key energies: Groundedness, sanctuary, ownership.

GPS: Fill in the GPS co-ordinates for your backyard! (You can
do this by using the GPS in your phone or consulting Google
Earth.)

Location:

Primary Element:

Description: The'My Backyard'and'My Favourite Place'cards

are two of the most personal cards in the deck because they
involve you and your personal preferences. I suggest that you
write down your impressions here in the space in pencil so you
can track and map your own sacred backyard.

73
 MY FAVOURITE
PIACE
I know there are places upon this Earth
that resonate deeply within me. I open
myself to the healing power of these
places. They are unique just as I am
unique.

Key energies: Sanctuary, personal connection, acceptance,

beauty.

GPS: Fill in the GPS co-ordinates for your favourite place! (You
can do this by using the GPS in your phone or consulting Google
Earth.)

Location:

Primary Element:

Description: The'My Backyard'and'My Favourite Place'cards

are two of the most personal cards in the deck because they
involve you and your personal preferences. I suggest that you
write down your impressions here in the space in pencil so you
can track and map your own sacred backyard.

75
When you visit: Only you know how you feel when you visit this
most aligned of places for you. Write your impressions here and
describe what it's like to visit.

76
 OBSIDIAN WALLS,
YELLOWSTONE
I am protected. I am able to protect.
I am reliably able to rid myself可
negative energy.

Key energies: Protection, reliability, masculine, death,

mirroring, underworld.

GPS: 44.8189°N, 110.7278 °W

Location: Yellowstone National Park, USA

Primary Element: Earth

Description: North from the Yellowstone caldera rises a black,

almost vertical wall. Over 183,000 years ago a flow of super hot
volcanic glass slipped along the side of Beaver Lake and began to
cool. This half-mile long dense black glass became a luminous
cliff face of 100 feet thick.
This beautiful natural glass - a kind of banded rhyolite - is
actually Obsidian, one of the most sacred stones to the original
peoples of the area and prized by many other cultures too. The
ancient historian Pliny writes about polished obsidians being
used as mirrors and in precious jewellery. Named after its
discoverer'Obsidius'in Ethiopia, Obsidian is also exceedingly

77
hard, so it has a practical use for weapons too.
Standing in front of these shining black columns is both
confronting and inspiring. When you walk to the southern end,
the rock is very dark yet it has a transparency to it, ma如ng it look
like deep dark water. It's hypnotic.
The sacredness of this site doesn't not come exclusively from
its beauty, but from the way it was used by the original people
of the area. Obsidian was both a material used in tool-making
(axes, chipped arrowheads, knives) and for ritual ceremonies.
These cliffs have been used as a prehistoric quarry for at least
11,000 years.
Arrowheads and razors made from the unique obsidian found
in these walls have been found (some still every sharp) in areas
as far away as the Middle Rockies into western Canada, across
the Great Plains into the Midwest, as well as in the Columbia
Plateau, the Mississippi Valley and possibly the Great Basin.
Obsidian from Obsidian Wall Cliff was imported and utilised for
ceremonial purposes by peoples of the Hopewell culture along
the Ohio River valley from around 1,600 to 2,200 years ago - a
long way away. To get these obsidian articles this far took some
resources and effort and thus, they must have been extremely
valuable and not just on a practical level.

When you visit: Run your hands over the cliffs and feel the
cold cool energy. Look deep into the glassy depths and imagine
how long humans have done this very same thing. Obsi小an is
a highly protective stone, legendary in its ability to take away
negative energy and repel evil. To stand next to a wall of it, 100
feet thick, certainly allows for that purifying energy to extend
outwards to you. Receive and enjoy.
Should there be a piece of loose obsidian on the ground, pick

78
it up and hold it to the light and see the shadows move through
its transparency. Careful though- something so protective may
also be sharp!

79
 PALENQ!JE
I have a personal relationship with my
patron guides. I am the result of love
throughout the ages. I am awakened to
my own value and purpose.

Key energies: Purpose, self-worth, generational love, divinity,

time.

GPS: Nl 7°28'59.988", W92°2'60"

Location: Chiapas, Mexico

Primary Element: Earth and water

Description: Located in the green heart of a wet tropical jungle,

Palenque is perhaps one of the most studied of all Mayan sites.
A prime example of a Mayan sanctuary of the classical period,
Palenque was at its height of influence between SOOAD and
700AD, when its power extended throughout the basin of the
Usumacinta River.
Whilst each building is an artwork on its own and a place of
power, the totality of the site and not just the individual buildings
should be taken into account when accessing the energy he.re.
The way that the energy flows - that of the sun, animals, water
and the genius loci - is not just around one building but around

80
the whole site. Imagine how the people themselves felt about
wal如ng through or living with such buildings and artwork. The
images offered by the 如ng to his subjects was an important way
of communicating.
The concepts of the Mayan calendar, ancestor veneration,
the notion of patron gods, and the experience and description of
rites of passage are just a few of the communications here. The
first ajaw, or king, of B'aakal that we know of was K'uk Balam
(Quetzal Jaguar), who governed for four years starting in the
year 431AD and many came after him. We know now that the
temple complex was used for a variety of purposes including
funerary ones. The Temple oflnscriptions (which begun as early
as 675AD) for example, was thought to be a temple used for rites
but was also the funerary monument of Hanab-Pakal. It is also
theorised that the sun'wakens' his body at certain solstice times.
In the last 15 or 20 years, a great deal more of the site has been
excavated, but currently, archaeologists estimate that only 5% of
the total city has been uncovered. We know that the buildings
that have so far been uncovered such as the Temples of the Cross,
Sun and Foliated Cross and the Palace, are incredibly impressive
and graceful as architecture was an important symbol of Mayan
power and religious ritual.
The art within the temples, the many bas reliefs and
paintings give a rich indication of how the Mayans saw death,
power, birth and human sacrifice. It is clear from a number of
the paintings that children and adults were sacrificed to enliven
talismanic objects and invoke deities long enough for petitions
to be answered. Blood sacrifice is a key part of Mayan ritual and
cosmology.

When you visit: This is a multi-day site ... take your time. As well

81
as visiting the'big sights'make sure you look out for the smaller
Temple of the Skull and the Temple of the Jaguar. Walk the site
consciously. Climb the stairs consciously. Feel the ancient power
of this place still breathing along with you.

82
 PUUHONUA
(THE PIACE OF REFUGE)
I am forgiven, Iforgive.

Key energies: Peace, forgiveness, relief, complete sanctuary.

GPS: l9°25'19"N, 155° 54'37"W

Location: Kona, Hawaii, USA.

Primary Element: Water

Description: In the ancient world, the concept of a place of total

shelter and forgiveness was rare, yet universally recognised.
One of the most famous of these places of refuge was that of the
Pu'uhonua at Kona on the island of Hawaii.
Ancient Hawaiian society was complex and had many layers
and laws. A 'Kapu'was a law. Some Kapu were so taboo that
should they be broken, the penalty was death.
There was however a way that the sentence could be changed
- that is, if the law-breaker managed to reach Pu'uhonua by
whatever means possible, there would be complete forgiveness.
Reaching this place of refuge was far from easy however. Law­
breakers were often chased by whole families or villages and the

83
only way to reach the sanctuary was by swimming across the sea
Large seas and a jagged black lava rock shoreline hindered them
and that was if the sharks didn't get them first.
Once there, a ceremony of absolution (called a'Ho 'opo­
nopono') would be enacted by the Kahunas (priests) and the law­
breaker would be able to freely return to society.
Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge
here during times of battle right up until the early 19th century.
The historical park that preserves the site is a stunning place
to visit. Fierce'灿: wooden images of gods, guard the Hale o
Keawe Heiau, a sacred temple that housed the bones of 23 alii
(chiefs).
The grounds just outside the Great Wall that encloses the
Pu'uhonua were home to several generations of powerful chiefs
and it is believed that additional protection for the Pu'uhonua
was received from the mana (personal power and magic) in the
bones of the chiefs that lie there.
咖s place of sanctuary has survived through even recent
tsunamis while many other nearby temples were destroyed.

When you visit: This is still a very sacred place for the Hawaiian
people, a temple that is very'alive'today, so swimming and eating
at the sanctuary is proh加ted. Ensure you catch the indigenous
rangers' talk on the significance of the area.
Stand quietly near the Hale o Keawe Heiau facing the ocean
and connect with the supreme feeling of sanctuary there. Really
take your time here- the energy needs its time to flow through
you. You might like to leave a small flower offering by the kii
as如ng for forgiveness in your own life. Leave your grudges here
and walk away lighter.

84
 STATUE OF LIBER1Y
I am free to be who I really am. I
have a right to my own happiness and
sanctuary. I am free to be authentic.

Key energies: Liberty, freedom, enlightenment, welcome,

authenticity, democracy, sanduary, personal happiness

GPS: 40°41'2l"N, 74°2'40"W

Location: New York, USA

Primary Element: Air

.Description: Eduoard de Laboulaye was a French abolitionist

and political thinker who supported the abolition of slavery.
When US President Lincoln was assassinated because of similar
beliefs when the abolition of slavery was so dose, Laboulaye
was very moved. He wondered what he could do to continue to
inspire the American people towards this great ideal of freedom.
He proposed that a monument to liberty be created as a gift
from the people of France to the people of America to mark
their dedication to freedom and enlightenment. When'Liberty
Enlightening the World' was completed, it not only represented
democracy but also symbolised American independence and the

85
end of all types of servitude and oppression.
Laboulaye also hoped that his own country, France, would
be inspired by the bold moves of the United States and rid
themselves of the monarchy and instead create their own
democracy. The idea of'liberty' during these times was quite a
revolutionary one and considered dangerous by many. In 1895
many French (and people in others part of the world) had not
really decided whether they wanted to stay with the ideals of the
monarchy or to support the new enlightenment concepts that
called for the equal rights to happiness, freedom and liberty for
everyone.
Liberty was created and became an icon almost instantly.
There are many layers of symbology surrounding Lady Liberty
and this is probably part of the reason the image is so arresting.
Firstly, she holds a torch for all to see and be illuminated by.
A broken shackle and chain lie at the Statue's right foot - and
this was an encouragement as African Americans were not in
reality free yet. The seven rays of her crown represent the sun, the
seven seas and the seven continents. The tablet she holds has the
date July 4, 1776 - the date of American independence. She faces
away from the US soil, illuminating and inspiring all and she of
course poignantly faces France.
There was a huge inflow of immigrants between 1886 and
1924 - almost 14 million immigrants entered the United States
through New York and the Statue of Liberty was there to welcome
them as they arrived by sea. Frightened, poor and often hungry,
the sight of Liberty became a message of'welcome and hope'
rather than the loftier ideal of enlightenment. During the wars
too, Liberty became a symbol uniting the people of America to
fight for their ideals.
Seeing the statue for the first time is a moving experience

86
for many. As I approached by ferry a surprising number of
passengers had tears in their eyes or hugged each other. This
wasn't because most had wanted to see it for a long time but just
the inherent power of Liberty herself. I'll let President Grover
Cleveland speak the words I wish to say here: "We will not forget
that Liberty has here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar
be neglected:'(1886)

When you visit: You must approach by sea. The only way to get
to Liberty Island is by using the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island
Ferry system. Private vessels are not allowed to dock at Liberty
and Ellis Islands. As you get closer think about how it must
have felt to see Liberty welcoming you if you were an exile or
immigrant. When you arrive on the island, walk the entire site
to get an energetic feel for the place and then observe the sacred
geometry visible. I suggest you might like to leave a white feather
near Lady Liberty herself to honour one of the oldest Goddesses
ofJustice, the Egyptian Goddess Maat, and a model for Liberty.

87
 STEPPED PYRAMID
OFSAQQ应
The soul is eternal. I accept cyclic
rejuvenation.

Key energies: Eternity, transition, transcendence of the soul

after death.

GPS: 29°52'16.56"N, 31 °12'59.02"E

Location: Egypt (northwest of Memphis)

Primary Element: Earth

Description: When I travelled to Egypt for the first time I had

a list like most people do of what I wanted to see. Of course, the
Great Pyramid, the Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings were at
the top of my list. Imagine my surprise though when the place
that I felt the most power resonating for me personally was
actually none of these.
It was instead the Pyramid of Djoser (or Zoser), more
commonly known as the Saqarra Step Pyramid. The Step
Pyramid, built during the 27th Century BC for the burial of
Pharaoh Djoser, stands majestically amongst the huge mortuary
complex that is the Saqarra.

88
 The step pyramid (or proto-pyramid) is considered to be
the earliest large-scale cut stone construction, as prior to this,
construction of this kind of monument was usually done in mud
brick. This was a very new way of artfully making the funerary
monuments and tomb that would house the god-on-earth,
Pharaoh after his passing.
This tomb extensively features the God Horus, the son of the
Goddess Isis and the God Osiris who features in one of the most
enduring mythos of the�gyptian pantheon. It was said that the
storm god, Set, became Jealous of Osiris and killed him.In his
rage, Set also dismembered the body hiding the pieces so that
Osiris would not be able to be resurrected. Isis discovered that
her husband had been murdered. Her grief was so immense it
was thought by many to have triggered the flooding of the Nile.
Not satisfied that her great love would never attain eternal life,
Isis travelled the Earth looking for the pieces of Osiris.She found
him piece by piece. Advised by the God of Knowledge, Thoth,
she then cast a powerful spell which bought her husband back to
life long enough to conceive a son, Horus. During the Hed-Sed
festival the king was magically rejuvenated every year during a
ceremony which mimicked Thoth and Isis'spell and included
the king re-enacting his coronation.
Saqarra is old, deep and eternal.You feel your mortality and
your eternal nature here in the dust and sand. You understand
how the body is temporary, yet our essence goes on.

When you visit: This is a very barren and hot environment so

if you are going in the summer go early or at sunset. You might
like first to make a small offering at the mortuary temple then
proceed to the pyramid itself - this is what the ancient Egyptians
may have done. You might like to stand in front of the altar in

89
front of the pyramid and then extend your energy downwards,
keeping your eyes on the massive scale and shape of the pyramid,
feeling the eternal nature of the pink sands and the extremely
ancient energies gathered there.

90
 SUMBAISIAND
Fertility of all kinds is my birthright. I
am connected to all the cycles of the land
and sky. Healthyfierceness is something
to be valued. Be patient, the time will
come.

Key energies: Attention to cycles, fierceness, fert山ty, isolation,

surrender.

GPS: 9°35'27"5, 119°34'27.96"£

Location: Indonesia

Primary Elements: Earth and water

Description: Many people fly to Sumba from the holiday isle of

Bali and as such, expect the same soft, flowful almost bohemian
Balinese energy to extend to this sister place, but nothing could
be further from the truth. Sumba is hard-core - there is a very
fierce energy about the place and the clans on the island still
practice blood sacrifice in the course of their traditional rituals
which are incredible to witness.
The holy men on Sumba are called Ratu. The Ratu are
facilitators of a very special festival that gives an indication of the
耟nd of energies that this island contains. The Pasola involves two
opposing regional teams of men on horseback. The two teams

91
of around thirty men per side face off against each other on a
field slightly larger than a football field. Then they start throwing
spears at each other. Yes, spears! If a spear hits you and draws
blood you are to get off the horse and place the bleeding part of
the body upon the soil. This ensures the fertility of the land and
correct optimum cycles for another year.
The Ratu hold this sacred event when the sea worms rise
from the depths around a full moon at a certain time of year. The
Ratu wait on the shoreline and the in-between places of the reefs
looking for them. As soon as they are seen, the Pasola can begin
There are few places on earth where blood is tied so very
closely to the land and the cycles. Come to Sumba and you will
feel the connection very strongly. This truly is a simple and
profoundly magical place

When you visit: Sumba is still a very isolated and wild place
with it's key festivals still very much untouched by the outside
world. Its people still lead a stone-age lifestyle and even still store
their dead ancestors mummified in their homes. Coincide your
visit with the festival of the Pasola if you can. Ride the ponies
and the famous surf breaks whilst you wait. Whilst you won't be
permitted to take part in the Pasola, you can certainly get hit! I
did and certainly gave the few drops of blood that were drawn to
this fierce island.

92
 SVALBARD
Both darkness and light are necessary.
There is light even in the darkest of
nights. I accept that I am part of the
cycle of nature. I open myselfto new
wonders every day.

Key energies: Silence, darkness/light, balance, wildness,

preservation, fragility, cyclic nature of life, remoteness.

GPS: 78°0'0"N, l6°0'0"E

Location: Between Norway and the Arctic.

Primary Element: Air and water

Description: Even just the name Svalbard conjures up a

somewhat romantic place of remote timeless nature and high
adventure. It sounds a long way away from anything and in some
ways it is ... Svalbard is an island between Norway and the Arctic
circle. Longyearbyen, the capital, is situated approximately 1200
kilometres from the geographic North Pole. Whilst we are not
sure how long that this place has been inhabited, the name,
'Svalbaroi fundinn' was noted in Icelandic texts written around
the 1100s, in which Svalbard was referred to also as the'land of
cold coasts:
。

This is a wild yet fragile place where still, thankfully, there are
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93
too lightly taken or disrespected, one could die from exposure
It is a place where half the land is taken up by huge glaciers that
creak and groan as they make their way forward. Often, those
sounds are the only sounds you can hear - silence really has
deeply settled here.
Svalbard is a magical land to lay down under the'night'sky -
the night is perpetual at some times of the year - and watch the
incredible shifting green glow of the northern lights, the aurora
borealis. It is a site to experience the interplay between light
and darkness and be reminded of our own personal shadows
and light. At the time of the year when the midnight sun shines
(there is almost no darkness between April 15th to August 26th)
we see that the darkness is a time necessary for our restoration.
At the opposite - the polar night - where night is constant
(between October 26th and February 14th) we can appreciate
how important the light is for our balance.
Svalbard is a place where nature dominates and we can
humbly see our place, as humans, within it.

When you visit: This is a pristine arctic environment so it is vital

that you respect all the special environmental measures in place
there to keep it that way. For example, even picking flowers is not
permitted!
Engage your energy under that amazing changeable sky or
immerse yourself in nature at its grandest scale - at one of the
glaciers. Standing amongst the ancient ice and opening up all our
senses to the smells, sounds, tastes, textures and sights of a land
like this is an extreme experience in itself. Feel your humanness;
allow nature to dominate you as well as exist beside you here.
Allow the balance of the light and the dark to be conscious for
you. Ask yourself: What can you leave behind and what can you
work toward?
94
 TANAHLOT
The places'in between'are important
for my growth. I can release myselffrom
worry and suffering if I choose. I now let
go of all that no longer serves me.

Key energies: Transition, protection, flow, release, peace,

liberation from burden.

GPS: 8.62107° S, 115.08716°E

Location: Bali, Indonesia

Primary Elements: Sea and earth

Description: The very first time I visited the Tanah Lot Temple
and the complex around it, including Pura Batur Balong, I was
only just out of my teens and I found it unspeakably exotic and
beautiful. In fact, Bali itself seemed to almost hypnotise me - its
art, its music, its smells and tastes - all so very unique in the
region and so different from where I was from.
I know now that this feeling is the strong energy force of
Bali and this is why so many people are attracted here, should
they choose to plug into it. I have returned to Bali over and over
again and always feel both peaceful and creative. I always advise
visitors to skip the bar-hopping trail of sunburnt tourists and get

95
away from the crowds into the deep nature and active magic that
is so evident here. Now sometimes, that is easier said than done!
Tanah Lot is a busy place, yet if you take your time and avoid
the commercial rush, you will feel the incredible natural power
inherent here.
Tanah Lot perches on a rock by the sea. Its very name means
'land within the sea'and it is one of those amazing'in between'
places - neither land nor sea - but both. It is said that the 15th
century Hindu priest Nirartha constructed the temple (along
with the help of some local fishermen) as he thought it an ideal
place to pay homage to the Balinese sea deities. Tanah is one of
seven sacred sea temples all built along the coast - all examples
of both sacred geometry and geography. It is part of a pilgrimage
to strengthen your devotion to the Gods here to visit each one.
Nirartha's Hindu teachings centred upon the idea of moksha
(moksa 'liberation'), the belief that we should strive to release
ourselves from suffering and burden. The temples he built were
considered embodiments of the God Shiva. One of the symbols
of Shiva is a snake and sea snakes are believed to gather around
Tanah Lot to guard it and protect all who visit there from evil.
Ask one of the priests there to show you the giant snake that is
said to have manifested from Nirartha's scarf.

When you visit: Plan your visit about 90 minutes prior to sunset.
Walk straight on by the markets and all the vendors trying to sell
you kites and postcards and make a beeline for the rock platform.
On the left you will see Pura (Temple) Tanah Lot and around the
path to your right, you'll find Pura Batur Balong. Take in the
feeling of both power and calm here. Just stay and breathe. The
sea is so much part of the view here; its power is so real and its

96
sound echoes along the coastline and up into the gardens. Toss
a flower into the sea to ask for flow and ease in your life. Toss
a second one in as you ask for "moksha:'Then visit the temple
priest for a blessing and check out the holy snake. Then walk
on to your right and watch the sun go down from the vantage
point that looks down onto Pura Batur Balong. The hole in the
rock seems to change shape as the sun sets and is worth watching
right until darkness claims it.

97
 TAORMINA
I do not resist change. Change can be
a creativeforce. I can build upon my
strengths.

Key energies: Change/resistance, expression, creativity, flow, art.

GPS: 37° Sl'N, l5° 18'E

Location: Sicily, Italy

Primary Element: Water and earth

Description: Taormina is truly an ancient city of change on the

coast of Sicily. The area around Taormina was inhabited by the
Siculi even before the Greeks arrived on the Sicilian coast in 734
BC to found a town called Naxos. The theory that Tauromenion,
(the ancient name for Taormina), was founded by colonists from
Naxos is confirmed by Strabo and other ancient writers.
Throughout its history, Taormina has been a place where
culture, art and religion have flourished with many different
styles and amidst constant change. Once it was under the
如ngdom of Syracuse, then it became a Roman province,
then granted civitas foederata and made a proud Roman city.
Timoleon, Emperor Octavian and the famous Cicero walked the

98
streets of Tauromenion.
After the Roman Empire fell, Taormina fell into Arab control
and became Islamic until it was taken by the Norman King,
Roger I of Sicily. After the fall of the Normans, Taormina fell
under the Crown of Aragorn and became Spanish. It then fell to
the French in 1675 and then eventually reverted back to Sicilian
control. Despite so much change, it remained a place of strategic
strength and artistic creativity throughout the ages.
The beautiful town as it stands today is perched on the side of
a mountain ridge about 250 metres above the sea. The old town
site is higher and is where the Saracen castle is situated - when
you read the ancient references in texts about the area, this is
no doubt what they describe. Ruins of the old walls and other
buildings dot the hill and are well worth exploring, however the
most impressive monument at Taormina is the Ancient Theatre.
Not only is the location stunning but the theatre is in wor灿ng
condition. There is still some investigation going on about
whether it is of ancient Roman or Greek origin (brick suggests
Roman but the design is decidedly Greek) but it is known that
this theatre was rebuilt upon the foundations of an older Greek
theatre. It has a diameter of 109 meters and it is still well used for
concerts and operas - it is an amazing experience to sit under the
stars on a warm night as a millennium or two's worth of theatre­
goers would have.

When you visit: Whisper something to a friend from the opposite

side of the ancient theatre - the acoustics are still so wonderful
you will hear it! The volcano Mount Etna - still hissing and very
much alive is only a 45-minute drive away. It is well worth the
contrast and will plug you in to some incredible change energy.

99
 TAOS
We are one. I exercise self-care and
carefor my community. There is no one
spiritual path but many.

Key energies: Inclusion, creativeness, self-love, greater good,

unity, vortex

GPS: 36°26'21.0l"N, 105 °32'44.12" W

Location: New Mexico, USA

Primary Element: Earth and water

Description: Taos is a small but very old community in the north

central region of New Mexico in the San Cristobel Mountains.
The town may only have 5000 permanent residents but people
have been living here a long time. The 1000-year-old Taos Pueblo
is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is believed to be
the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United
States. There are 150 people that live in the pueblo year round
and they are mainly indigenous Indians. Their spiritual trad山ons
have been practiced continually by the Taos Pueblo Indians for a
millennium or more.
The original peoples have a rich mythos which is woven
如ectly with the land, the sky and all living things. For example

100
Taos natives believe that they originated from the Blue Lake in
the area. When the US government'returned'this area to the
people, this acquisition was considered an incredibly significant
event. The Pueblo itself is often referred to as a'nest' that holds
'everyone and all', a reference to the values of unity, inclusion and
wor如ng together for the greater good held by Taos natives.
Taos is also a place of creativity. The people here culturally
have maintained their expertise with stunning traditional
pottery and painting. The Taos art colony spawned a thriving
arts scene that dates back to the turn of the 19th century. Today
art and spirituality (retreat centres) abound here.
It is also a place of profound energy and mystery. Firstly,
it is said that Taos is in the middle of an energy vortex which
encompasses both kinds - magnetic flow-down vortex, electrical
charge-up vortex.
Secondly, there is the phenomenon called the Taos hum. It's
a continual low-pitched sound (sometimes likened to the sound
of a diesel engine idling far away). In 1997, the US Congress
paid for researchers to do a study and identify the source but it
remains a mystery.

When you visit: Taos is a beautiful place and does have a

strong energy that can be a little discomforting at times. Expect
the unexpected and enjoy the ride! Get out of the town a little
and see the Rio Grande and the areas where the vortexes seem
strongest. (Lots of people are happy to direct you!) One of the
most memorable experiences in Taos is a visit to Taos Pueblo
during a sacred dance such as the San Antonio Feast Corn
Dance on June 13 or the San Juan Day Corn Dance on June 24.
Because these are sacred events and part of a living tradition,
photography is not allowed.

101
 TEMPLE OF ISIS,
础'AN
I am open to be mothered. I can mother.
I can heal my relationships and my life.
My body is a miracle and can be healed
of imbalance.

Key energies: Feminine power, mothering, magic, unity,

knowledge, healing.

GPS: 24°1'3l"N, 32° 53'3"E

Location: Egypt

Primary Element: Earth, air, water

Description: I firmly believe that it is sometimes the energy of

the materials or the building itself rather than just the place that
can account for the power of a site and the Temple oflsis is a case
in point.
The original Temple of Isis was built during the reign of
Ptolemy II on the Island of Philae, near Aswan, on the Nile. It
is a place of huge scale and majesty with huge stone columns,
tomb and buildings. However, in the 1960s the Aswan dam was
built to harness some of the waters of the Nile and the temple
began not only to be damaged, but horrifyingly some of八
began to be lost permanently underwater. In an emergency joint

102
mission between UNESCO and the Egyptian government, the
Temple of Isis was dismantled stone by stone and reassembled
on nearby Agilka Island. This gargantuan task took over a decade
to complete and what we see today is an accurate reconstruction
of the original using the original materials. It really is a kind of
magic jigsaw puzzle ...and one that reflects the mythos of the
Goddess Isis herself.
Isis is one of the most enduring symbols of loving motherhood,
dedicated wifehood and feminine protective energy. The wife of
Osiris, the story of her love and devotion to him when he was
如lied and dismembered by his brother Set is a central story in
the mythology of the Egyptians. Not satisfied that her great love
would never attain eternal life, Isis travelled the Earth looking for
the pieces of Os订is. She found him piece by piece. Advised by the
God of Knowledge, Thoth, she then cast a powerful spell which
brought her husband back to life long enough to conceive a son,
Horus. Osiris retreated back into the Underworld. As a deity of
resurrection, Osiris gave hope to all that there was an afterlife
and that death could be transcended.
As a result of her role assisting Osiris (since known as the
Lord of the Dead), Isis became a protectress of the dead and
many sarcophagi featured her image with mighty outstretched
wings extending her energy and protecting the body. As mother
of Horus, she is often depicted feeding him at the breast or
cradling him lovingly, again symbols of feminine protection and
influence. You can see many carved reliefs and statues here at
this temple that show this mythos.
The cult oflsis spread all over Egypt and extended into Greece,
Italy and surrounding areas. Major temples were constructed
in her honour not just in Philae but as far as Delos in Greece.
Priestesses of Isis thus, were known for their healing s如!ls and

103
for their excellence in assisting birthing mothers.

When you visit: Go by dhow (sail boat) and approach the island
as an ancient supplicant would. The entrance is a majestic one
and invites awe. Bring a rose (her flower) and leave it for her at
the entrance or near one of the images as you petition her for
your own healing. Isis will hear you.
Notice the artwork featuring her enlivening of Osiris
(symbolically with the ankh of eternal life) and the images of her
with her son Horus. The latter are said to have inspired Christian
artists when depicting the Madonna and child.

104
lives (or they aspire to do so). It's water is splashed on children
soon after birth, ancestors and deities are worshipped by cupping
the water in one's hands, lifting it and letting it fall back into the
river. Bright flowers of yellow and red and fragrant rose petals
float upon its surface as symbols of gratitude. At the festival
of Diwali, oil-filled dishes with lit wicks light it up like stars in
the night. People take flasks of Ganges water to use back home
in ritual (no matter where'back home'may be) and the water
is used during funerary rites. And when one's life has ended,
the Ganges is where most Hindus would like their ashes to be
dispelled.
Since Ganga is believed to have descended from heaven to
Earth, she is also the vehicle of ascent, from Earth to heaven, so
bathing in the Ganges is thought to wash away sins and negative
energy. In the upper levels of the Ganges, near its source, the
waters move very fast, and so are believed to be extra purifying
and rejuvenating.

When you visit: Most visitors meet the Ganges at one of the
sacred tirthas (fords) like Varanasi. If one dies in Varanasi, it is
believed to be extremely fortunate to be cremated on the banks
and have your body disintegrate by and within the river herself.
This is an incredible and very humbling thing to witness. It is
common knowledge that the Ganges is polluted but this stops
no Hindu from seeking a blessing. I suggest you sit for a while
along the bank or on a step and watch the people go about the订
rituals. Watch the focus and grace as a woman flicks the waters
to her face with a cherry red flower to punctuate a mouthed
prayer. Watch as a man wades in to his waist and spreads the
ashes of a loved one, singing as he goes. Watch too as an elderly
sidhu gently submerses himself completely and then breaks the

106
surface again with a radiant smile. All these people and more are
happy devotees to the waters that are said to bring beauty, life
and heaven to the world.

107
 THETARKINE
Growth is good but I acknowledge it can
sometimes be painful. I accept my own
wild soul. I can be alone and connected.

Key energies: Growth, wildness, secrets, isolation.

GPS: 41°12'0"S, 145°16'48"E

Location: Tasmania, Australia

Primary Element: Earth and water

.
D escnpt10n: I am s1ttmg in my tent, cupped by a crescent-
shaped beach, facing one of the wildest oceans I have ever seen
although there is only a breath of wind. I am surrounded by a
jagged coastline the colour of wet rust and iron with bush behind
me. The ground is covered in mosses that are exquisite in their
shapes and colours. The sound of the ocean and the taste of the
salt is every where. It is dusk and the sky has turned a smokey
pink. I look down and my s如n is the same colour as the sky. I
feel like I am the only soul here - I've walked all day through
scrub, sand, wet marsh and bush to get here and have seen no
one. But then ...
Climbing down the rocks, paying absolutely no attention

108
to me, is the biggest wombat I have ever seen. His short legs
take him halfway down this almost vertical point and then he
sees me. He stops. He meets my eyes and then it's almost like a
decision has been made and there is a little shrug and he keeps
on barrelling down the hill. His solid round body mosies on
along, quite lithely, belaying that low-slung shape and he just
goes about his business of digging up his entree right in front of
my tent. I find myself smiling and I no longer feel like I am alone.
He is the first of many wombat visitors that night and judging by
the variety of animal footprints near my tent in the morning, my
little place in the Tar如ne was quite the super highway
The Tar如ne is one of the last remaining true areas of
wilderness in Australia. It is a stretch of coast buffeted by the
roaring SO's winds which turn the inland into a stunning and
rare temperate rainforest. Some tracts of forest are completely
undisturbed due to their isolation and importantly, it holds
perhaps the last few Tasmanian Devils not affected by the viral
cancer that threatens this iconic species.
It is alive with life. Over 50 species of its plants and animals are
marked as endangered or rare and its biodiversity is incredible,
in particular within mosses, trees and birds. Sna如ng its way
through it are the mighty Tarkine and Arthur Rivers, which are
the heart of this ancient place where Aboriginal peoples made
their home for thousands of years. In fact, the archeological and
spiritual significance of areas of the Tar如ne give it yet another
reason to be protected from mining.
Whilst 80% of the Tarkine is protected from logging, at the
time of writing only 5% of it is protected against the voracious
appetite of the mining industry. The area is close to being placed
on the World Heritage list but it may well be a race against time
against mining interests.

109
 To walk or swim here is to be immersed in old earth energy,
full of fertility and power. You certainly feel that hermit-like
isolation of a pristine environment yet totally connected at the
same time. The energy here isn't'warm and fuzzy'- it's alive,
independent and will reward you if you take the time to look
more closely. This is the road less travelled- (there is no road)
and it will reward your attention.

When you visit: Be adventurous and do a multi-day walk if you

can. There are guides available if you are not confident on your
own. The Tarkine is best discovered on foot with some time on
your hands. You need to take everything in with you, although
fresh water is available normally in rivers and streams. You can
walk the coastline or go deep into the forest - it's a big place. This
is a fragile ecosystem, so leave nothing behind.

110
 TROY
(TROW
To exchange my gifts with the world is
a positive act. Teamwork is necessary.
Whilst I can learn from the stories of
others, I can create my own mythos.
Beauty is eternal. Revenge has
consequences.

Key energies: Exchange, revenge, heroism, teamwork, mythos,

dreams vs reality.

GPS: N39°57'23. l 84", E26° l 4'20.4"

Location: Turkey

Primary Element: Earth

Description: Almost everyone has heard the story of the Spartan

beauty Helen and her lovelyface that launched a thousand ships
to war. Homer's immortal tale of power, revenge, loyalty and
battle still inspires creative film, poetry and art.
Homer's classic, The Iliad, tells us how the whole of Greece
gathered a massiveforce to bring Helen homefrom the arms of
the Trojan Prince Paris to her'rightful' husband, Menelaus. The
dire bloodth江sty war, the fate of Achilles and hisfriend Patroclus,
the fight for Helen, the eventualfall of Troy through the wooden
horse full of Greek soldiers - all are part of the eternal story. Yet,
is it just a story or something real?

111
 Humai:i occupation on the site of Troy began in the early
Bronze Age (late 4th millennium BC). The first defensive wall
round the citadel on the site was built around 3000 BC. Due to
its ideal position for trade, Troy expanded, m如ng it one of the
largest towns in the Aegean region. It was a rich and busy place.
Goods imported from Mycenae and elsewhere in Pelloponese
give an indication of its powerful trading role and it was
geographically ideally situated as a strategic meeting place for
war and administration.
Troy has gone under the names of Wilusa (Hittite), Illion
(Greek), Illium (Latin) and so 3500 years of habitation on this
site have left behind layers roughly 15 metres in depth. There are
almost always archaeological digs here and the wealth of relics
gathered on this site has confirmed the siege of Troy by Spartan
and Achaean warriors from Greece in the 13th or 12th century
BC, amongst other historic happenings. So the Troy described
by Homer was real.
When you step on the land here, you feel the echoes of the
ancients. Whilst the age of the site is one thing, to me, it is the
unmistakable feeling of the pulling together of greatness that
has the most impact. This is a land where gods walked on Earth,
where the best of the best came and gave of themselves, a place
where the latest wonders, ideas and ideals were traded. To walk
here as modern people, place our feet in the footsteps of our
most illustrious ancestors and encourages us to create our own
life mythos. We all have our story to tell but first we must live it
and create it with courage and daring.

When you visit: Read The Illiad before you go. This is a big site
and the surrounding landscape too contains a spread of other
prehistoric and historical places including Hellenistic burial

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mounds, whole cemeteries, and both Greek and Roman ruins
of trading villages. It is here that you can see the Hellenic burial
places of heroes, such as Achilles, Hector, Patroclus and the
mighty Ajax and you may wish to make an offering to them if the
spirit takes you. I recommend a simple sprig of rosemary or a few
bay leaves with a small amount of olive oil left near the markers.

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 ULURU
I have power and it is real. I create
my destiny. I carry the greatness of my
ancestors in my body and soul.

Key energies: Creation, blood, magic, fert山ty.

°
GPS: 25°20'42"5, 131 2'10"E

Location: Australia

Primary Element: Earth and water

Description: Nothing quite prepares you for the sight of this

blood red rock, massive in scale seemingly materialising out
of the flat desert. One of the iconic sights of Australia, Uluru
attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year even though it is
in a remote environment.
The Anangu people are the traditional custodians of Uluru
and are the holders of the intricate and complex creation stories
that surround this very sacred piece of geography. The many
folds and fissures of the rock are not just geological features to
the Anangu but sacred places of mythos, individually holding
magic and energy and some are believed to even have creator
beings still living within them.

114
 Uluru is a magnet for fertility and life. The density of animal
life particularly mammals is greatest near the water run-off areas
of Uluru, allowing animals and birds to flourish where·water has
been caught in pools and rock clefts. In some ways, the great rock
is its own ecosystem providing life-giving water when the dry
season extends long after the rains.
The energies of Uluru ebb and flow like the seasons and as
you walk around the rock it is apparent that different sections
have their own genus loci. The air shimmers in places - not just
with heat.

When you visit: Watch the light play upon Uluru and see how
this mysterious rock changes colour continually. Take a walk with
the indigenous peoples and listen to the stories of the Dreamtime
associated with this ancient place. Do not climb Uluru as this
disrespects both the original peoples and the genius loci of the
place. Photography in certain areas of Uluru is prohibited due
to their secret and sacred nature. This request too should be
noted. Instead of climbing, walk around Uluru and treat it like a
moving pilgrimage should you wish, opening all your senses to
the experience.

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 VALLEY OF THE
KINGS
Death is transformation. It is a natural
part of life. There are consequences to all
actions, no matter how small.

Key energies: Transformation, death and rebirth, respons如lity,

justice.

GPS: 25° 44'27"N, 32°36'8"E

Location: Luxor, Egypt

Primary Element: Earth and fire

Description: The Valley of the Kings is a desert valley located on

the west bank of Thebes, the political and religious capital of the
New Kingdom ofEgypt (from around 1570BC to 1070BC). It was
first used as a royal necropolis by Thutmosis I, although it was
his predecessor, Amenhotep I, who was considered the patron­
deity of the valley by those that constructed the tombs. The last
known king to have built a tomb in the valley wasRamesses XI.
咖s sandy valley has two main branches: the East Valley,
where most of the royal tombs are situated and the West Valley,
that only contains the tombs of Amenhotep III and Ay, and some
pit chambers. Archaeological teams of all nationalities have been

116
 wor如ng in the valley for over 150 years with varying degrees of
success - some even doing irreparable damage. Perhaps the most
famous find was the fully intact tomb of boy king Tutankhamen
by Carter and the curse that is said to have resulted from the
opening of the tomb which killed every one present at the
unsealing.
Each tomb has a story to tell. Sometimes the paintings,
frescoes, sculptures or even the sarcophagi tell of the life of the
person who has died and also of what is hoped for him or her
in the afterlife. There are also representations of some of the
important books of magic. For example, in the tomb ofRamesses
IV, the Book of Caverns (a metaphorical description of the Sun
God Ra's visit to six caverns a central theme of which is the
rewards and punishments for the way those in the underworld
lived their lives on Earth), the Book of the Night (the story of
light and dark and light being reborn again each day) and the
Book of the Dead (the funerary and mummification text).
The Valley of the Kings has not given up all its secrets yet
Every year more tombs and chambers are discovered and more
")f the treasures in existing tombs are restored. It is a place of awe
and reverence. I never heard anyone raise their voice in a tomb
or saw even children running around. It is a place where one
is reminded of death and the importance of living a whole and
good life.

When you visit: Do not try and do the whole valley in one day.•
this is a huge complex. Feel the energies inherent in each tomb
and you will find one or two that you especially connect with
Before you go, to get the most out of the experience, read some
books on the Egyptian mythos so you can recognise the different
gods and goddesses and stories in the temples as you go. The

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artwork here is stunning as is the interplay of the light as it travels
around the site in the day.

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 VOLUBILIS
I am organised and efficient. I weave my
spirituality through all aspects of my life.
I can be both creative and prosperous.

Key energies: Civic duty, control, home, honour, efficiency,

influence.

GPS: 34 °4'16"N, 5°33'13"W

Location: Morocco

Primary Element: Earth

Description: Covering an area of 42 hectares, and situated

between two fertile wadis, Khoumane and Ferdassa, Volubilis
was the Mauritanian capital founded in the 3rd century BC
that became an important Roman empire outpost. The Roman
geographer Pomponius Mela, writing in the 1st century AD,
described Volub山s as "modestly sized" and Pliny the Elder
mentions it too in the 2nd century.
Situated near modern day Mekenes, the city was highly
agricultural (over 56 olive pressing areas have been found)
and wealthy judging by the quality of the infrastructure, size of
the homes and the quality of the art within them. Marble and

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bronze statuary, mosaics, pottery, frescoes - as well as the kind of
functional architecture (like aqueducts and public latrines) that
was the stamp of the Roman Empire even far from home.
Amongst the ruins, quite visible upon the approach by road,
is the Capitoline Temple. A lone altar stands in front of the steps
to the temple. Wal如ng those 13 steps and entering the columned
temple today is a powerful experience.
Whilst this is a barren place, it's quite easy to imagine that
a pretty wooded courtyard would have surrounded the basilica
and that this single space was where the whole town would have
met and prayed and petitioned to the gods
The temple was dedicated to the three main divinities of the
Roman civic state: Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. When there was
a victory, the deities would have been thanked and there would
possibly have been sacrifices made in their honour. If things were
difficult, perhaps war or disease, the whole community would
petition the gods for assistance.
The energy here feels very ancient and when you consider this
together with the timeless quality of the panoramic landscape, it
is not surprising to learn that this temple may have been built on
top of an even older set of shrines.
There were four more small shrines within the temple
precinct, one of which was dedicated to Venus and five other
temples in the city, of which the most notable is the so-called
'Temple of Saturn' that stood on the eastern side of Volubilis,
again on a site that excavations have shown an earlier, perhaps of
Punic origins, a temple to Baal.
The themes of the detailed mosaics, still in situ, are also mainly
religious. Within some of the more grand, richly decorated homes
are mosaics with the themes of Orpheus, Amphitite, Jupiter, the
labours of Hercules and some of dolphins which were animals

120
of good fortune to the Romans. Perhaps one of the most lovely
is the mosaic illustrating the goddess Diana and a nymph being
surprised by Actaeon while bathing. Stag horns are beginning to
rise from poor Actaeon's head as he is being transformed into a
deer by the outraged goddess so that he can be灼lied by his own
hunting dogs.
As you walk the site, it is easy to feel the thriving metropolis
under your feet and the echoes of the gods that once were grandly
worshipped a long way from home.

When you visit: First, make an offering of olive oil and flowers at
the Temple. Leave the offering by the altar and invoke the three
deities - Jupiter, Juno and Minerva with confidence. If you feel
positive, climb the steps and enter the temple
Allow any messages or ideas to come. Take your time. Thank
the Gods and Goddesses for the visit. Then walk the site and take
in the Romans' creativity and ingenuity!

121
 WOLLUMBIN
(MOUNT WARNING)
I create my own destiny and
opportunities. I am humbly eternal.

Key Energies: Creation, fertility, boundaries, transformation,

resilience.

GPS: 28°23'50"S, 153 °16'15"E

Location: Australia

Primary Element: Air/Earth

Description: I think one of the key attributes of a place of power

is that when you see it, you find it hard to take your eyes off 仆
even if there is beauty or other dominant features around it. This
is exactly how I felt when I laid my eyes on the jagged outline
of Mount Warning (or as it is known by the indigenous people,
Wollumbin), one late summer afternoon.
I simply couldn't keep my eyes off 扎. It was totally magnetic in
every way. I almost felt like I needed to bow down in reverence.
It was suggested I climb it, but I got a wholehearted'that's a
negative'from my intuition even though part of me would have
liked to. (I laterfound out that the original peoples here, the

122
Bundajalung, have laws proh伽ting the climbing of Wollumbin
and ask that people do not climb 止as ， it is a sacred site. Agreed.)
Instead, I simply sat amongst all the fertile green and watched it
Wollumbin makes its own weather, and in fact the name
Wollumbin, means'cloud catcher'. One of the largest erosion
calderas in the world, Wollumbin is what is left after a huge
volcano erupted over 20 million years ago over a 4200 square
kilometre range. Incredibly, remnants can be found in the reefs
in the Pacific coast. Erosion gives the shape of the peak.
Wollumbin is the first place to greet the dawn sun on the
ancient continent of Australia. The peak itself changes colour
as the day progresses; firstly a blue-grey, then gold, then what
seems a million shades of green, then misty as a Chinese brush
painting, progressive yet eternal. It will be here for a long time
to come.

When you visit: Respect the local indigenous beliefs and do not
climb Wollumbin. Instead camp where you can see the first rays
of the sun h止the peak. As the light hits the top, listen to the
incredible life awaken around you - whip birds, frogs, owls and
the unique swirling black cockatoos who screech like fantastic
griffins are all your companions in a chorus of almost psychedelic
praise. Meditate on your own resilience and eternal nature.

123
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stacey Demarco is a pagan and
eco-activist who is passionate about
bringing the practical magic of nature
to everyone, especially those who sit in
offices all day.

She is the author of three bestselling books on earth-based

spirituality and the beautiful Gods & Titans and Goddess & Sirens
oracle decks honouring the masculine and feminine divine
throughout the ages. She authors annual Lunar & Seasonal
Diaries for both Southern and Northern Hemispheres released
internationally in a number of languages. She also writes and
publishes the Ocean Guardians Diary in association with the Sea
Shepherd Conservation Foundation.

She has appeared on countless television and radio programs

and in many mainstream magazines. She has a number of very
popular social media pages including her page on Facebook and
her "Natureluster" website. Her grassroots activist group'The
5000'organises fundraisers and beach cleanups amongst other
activities. She lectures, consults and takes people on nature­
based spiritual retreats within Australia and around the world.

Learn more at www.themodernwitch.com

125
Also available from Blue Angel Publishin g•

忐
Gods & Titans Oracle
by Stacey De marco
Ill心 lrated by Jimmy Manton

,;,, ,l

、
A/;l,

,I'll /\IT:
""'" ""气化｀飞＞
'""""心""
夕

、 1here was a lime when Gods and

Goddesses, the masculine and feminine
Divine, co-existed equally and were
honoured side by side. Yet with l阮
passing of time this sacred union was
losL It令now lime to restore the balan忒Featuring tried and tested
invocations and spells as well as a full explanation ofeach Gocfs
attributes and influence, this deck invites you to come back to a
lime when Gods really were Gods!

1 he masculine divine in all its forms and glory has return础

• Reconnect with the authentic powers of the masculine.

• Uti缸e th心 e ancient e 印 rgies to solve modern problems.
• Allow the Gods'strength, action, compassion and protective love
to flow through your life.

1 he time has come to experience again what the real !vlasc.ul!ne

Divine is about!

Features 36 cards a11d detailed g,,id如ok, packaged i11 a hard-cover

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126
Also available from Blue Angel Publishing ®

Goddesses & Sirens Oracle

by Stacey Demarco
Illustrated by Jimmy Manton

There was a time when Goddesses

and Gods, the Feminine and
Masculine Divine, were the two
halves of a creative whole and were
honoured deeply in that way. Yet,
with the coming of new religions, the
Feminine Divine became feared, disrespected and almost lost to
the world. Again, She rises!

Featuring beautiful yet practical spells and original invocations as

well as a full explanation of each Goddess'history and influence,
伽s deck invites you to rediscover the oldest energy, that of the
Feminine.

• Connect with the powerful energies of the Feminine

• Utilise these ancient energies to solve modern problems
• Allow the Goddesses'great creativity, love, strength and joy to
inspire you forward every day of your life

The Feminine Divine lives in fullness again! Join Her!

Features 38 cards and 152-page guidebook, packaged in a hard-cover

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127