Monthly Archives: September 2021

Transcendent Sacred Ground

 

The Breadknife, Warrumbungle National Park-----Alan Wigginton

‘The Breadknife’, Warrumbungle National Park, Australia

 

 

Our extraordinary planet is truly blessed with many fascinating locations of natural power and visual intrigue filled with earthly empowerment and uplifting terrains.

Sacred sites are typically parts of the natural landscape such as rocky outcrops, hills, springs, caves, trees, ridges, gorges and mountains. They are frequently in remote and secluded locations with distinctive features and appearance, sometimes highlighted by monoliths, pinnacles, geometry, light, water and other unique aspects. They serve as a focal point for ceremonies, celebration, worship, pilgrimage, contemplation and seeking blessings. Sacred landscapes tend to have an otherworldly visage and create a sense of timelessness and detachment which can assist in raising a visitors consciousness.

 

Granite monolith at Mt Kinabalu

Ecstatic granite monolith at Mt Kinabalu, Borneo

 

 

‘Antara’(Infinity) – a pair of prominent rock holes aligned in parallel that mark the passage of creator beings.  With a  rock formation that depicts outstretched fingers on the edge.

APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) Ranges

South Australia

 

 

Blue Canyon---Arizona

Blue Canyon—Arizona

USA

 

Granite Dome

 Granite Dome – Erika Sharpe

Girraween National Park, Queensland

 

Natural rock formation at Hanging Rock

Natural rock formation at Hanging Rock, Victoria

Mildly Extreme

 

 

Rock pool Karijini-National-Park,

Rock pool,  Karijini National Park

Australia

 

 

Mt. Alkhanai, a sacred mountain to the Buryats people, Siberia

Natural stone archway on Mt. Alkhanai, a sacred mountain to the Buryats people

Siberia

 

Cinque Torri — Luca Campigotto

These inspiring modernist peaks are what I would expect to be towering over the north of Italy in the Dolomites

 

 

 

Tofane-Mountains-_2137-m-Lodge-Rifugio

Lodge Rifugio (bottom left)

Tofane Mountains  2137-metres

 

 

Sleeping Lady, Mount Sustina, Anchorage

 

Atlas-Mountains,-Morocco.-Curvilinear-geometric-designs-pecked-and-then-ground-into-the-summit-of-large-stepped-sandstone-blocks-resting-on-sandstone-bedrock

Geometric Rock Art, Atlas Mountains

Morocco

 

The ‘Mushroom’ rock in Wadi Rum desert, Jordan

 

 

Dalwallinu--Buntine-Rock

Dalwallinu–Buntine Rocks. Profile of a woman with cascading hair.

WA

 

 

 Atlas Mountains Petroglyph – Eliptical spirals carved into the rock face.

Morocco

 

 

Caesarea Pilgrimage stone arches

Caesarea Pilgrimage stone arches

 

 

Pulka Karrinya Sacred shard, Mount Wedge, Australia

Site where the Tjapaltjarri and Napaltjarri Rainbow Serpent spirits dwell.

 

Red fox in front of the Vilyuchik Volcano,

Resting red fox in front of the Vilyuchik Volcano, Russia

 

 

NASA's-Curiosity rover on the summit-of Mount Sharp

NASA’s Curiosity rover on the summit of Mount Sharp, Mars

 

 

Pilbara Petroglyph -- Photo by Doug Fost

Pilbara Petroglyph — Photo by Doug Fost

 

 

Nyungar Owl Stone at Red Hill

Photo Ken Macintyre

 

pointed desert dock

Howling wolf pointed desert dock

New Mexico

 

 

prehistoric-temple-Tormore-site-on-the-Isle-of-Arran

Prehistoric Temple site

Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland

 

 

Sacred Mount Alkhanai,, Siberia

Sacred Mount Alkhanai, Siberia

The Mongols, Shamans, Buddhists and indiginous Buryats circumambulate this mountain

 

 

Cape LeGrande-National Park

Cape Le Grande National Park

WA

 

 

Large carved stone, nestling on the slopes of Wangsan, 0n one of the peaks in the Jirisan region (Korea)

 A giant turtle-shaped rock weighing 127 tonnes and is carved with ornate designs. It rests flat against the mountainside, and is said to be a strong Chi source.

 

 

Pilliga Forest sculpture

NSW

 

 

Carved Magdala stone

Sea of Galilee, Israel, 70AD

 

 

De Na Zin-Wilderness Area

De Na Zin Wilderness Area

New Mexico

 

Natural Moai profile

Hanging Rock, Victoria

 

Dragon Rock, Lake Baikal

Russia

 

Hiro Nishikawa–Weirs Creek

The Crag

 

 

Group of carved mantra stones and objects left by pilgrims.

The custom of placing a pilgrim stone or memorial at a holy place or along its  path is an ancient practice in both the East and West.

 

 

stone monument Japan

Ancient stone monument, Japan

 

 

submerged Kadadora Viharaya lies under the waters of the Kotmale reservoir

Kadadora Viharaya lies under the waters of the Kotmale reservoir

Sri Lanka

 

 

Kangaroo Island ancient rock

Black mica, bluish quartz, and pinkish feldspar comprise most of the granite of the ‘Remarkable Rocks’

Kangaroo Island

 

 

Kelly Thorpe climbing K9 Stroll-Cambuslang

Kelly Thorpe climbing K9 Stroll, Cambuslang

 

 

King Neptune, Pinnacles Desert

WA

 

Landscapes Electric by Joshua Cripps (US) Stirling Falls, New Zealand

‘Landscapes Electric’ by Joshua Cripps (US)

Stirling Falls, New Zealand

 

 

large hoodoo at Little Egypt

Large hoodoo (used to refer to an eroded pinnacle of rock) at Little Egypt

Utah

 

 

ceramic books Lotte Glob

Ceramic books created by artist Lotte Glob

 

Markawasi (Marcahuasi) Plateau is located high in the Andes Mountains

Markawasi Stone Forest Plateau is located high in the Andes Mountains

Peru

 

‘Fist Of God’ – Mark Goff

Paria Rimrocks – Utah

 

 

Three Goanna’s Pool

WA

 

 

zenandtheartofclimbin

Zen And The Art Of Climbing

 

Garden-of-the-Gods

‘Garden Of The Gods’

Colorado Springs. USA

 

Uluru-central-Australia

Uluru, Australia

 

Rock puppy at pool

Desert Queen Baths Gorge

 

rock face wadjina cave at the Grampians

Wadjina cave at The Grampians

Victoria

 

 

Ochre Pits in the West MacDonnell Ranges

Ochre Pits at the Inarlanga Pass

West MacDonnell Ranges, South Australia

 

 

Hierve el Agua petrified waterfall

Oxaca, Mexico

 

 

Wilsons Promontory skull rock

‘Skull Rock’

Wilsons Promontory, Victoria

 

 

Christian Fletcher Gallery - The Remarkables--Kangaroo Island

‘The Remarkables’ –Kangaroo Island, SA

Christian Fletcher Gallery

 

 

The Sarma Gorge Buryatia-Lake Baikal Olkhon Island

Lake Baikal Olkhon Island

The Sarma Gorge, Buryatia, Siberia

 

 

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park

 NT

 

Uran-Dushe-Mountain.-It-says-that-the-mountain’s-masters-are-heavenly-blacksmiths-–-'darkhans'-–-lead-by-the-deity-called-Damdin-Dorlig-Sakhyusan

Sacred Anvil – Uran Dushe Mountain

 

 

Visiting the highest caves at Chimphu---said to bestow blessings

Padmasambhava Samye Chinpu caves

 

 

Warrumbungle National Park---Grand High Tops

Warrumbungle National Park—Grand High Tops

NSW

 

Ricketts Sanctuary

Dandenong Ranges

 

 

Yakushima Japan-view-from-mountain

Yakushina Megalith at summit

Japan

 

 

Stargate-of-Aramu-Muru--Peru

Portal Doorway Stargate-of Daramu Muru

The spiritual doorway of the Incas on Lake Titicaca

Peru

 

 

Stefani Peak on Mount Olympus by Dretakis Manolis

Stefani Peak on Mount Olympus

Photo by Dretakis Manolis

 

The-ancient-city-of-Hattusha,was-the-center-and-capital-of-the-Hittites

The ancient city of Hattusha

Turkey

 

Turret arch-in-Arches National Park-in-spring-with-snow,-Moab, Utah,-USA

Arches National Park

Moab, Utah,

 

 

Mt Barney National Park

‘Secrets of the Scenic Rim’ – Robert Rankin

S.E Queensland, AUS

 

 

Dragon stones near the monastery lake (in the Geghama mountains, Armenia), the largest of which is about 3.5 m. They are placed near the sources of natural-artificial pools and springs, symbolizing the unbridled power of the element, the awakening of nature, fertility, abundance.

 

 

Murphy's Haystacks - Megaliths on Eyre Peninsula South Australia

Murphy’s Haystacks – Windswept megaliths on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

 

 

Giant rock boulder at Daga Kataba Ethiopia

Giant rock boulder at Daga Kataba

Ethiopia

 

Tutu Fela, Ethiopia

TARA Trust

 

 

The Summit of Precipitous Bluff,-Tasmania

The summit vayu mudra at Precipitous Bluff, Tasmania

I Am Footloose And Free

 

Rocky Precipitous Bluff,Tasmania

Precipitous Bluff,Tasmania

 

 

Brahmagiri-Village children

Brahmagiri village children

I did this capture with an Olympus Om1

 

While on a month long Yatra (pilgrimage) through Maharashtra, we decided to visit the Trimbakeshwar temple, which was in proximity to the Lord Rama caves of Nashik. As we drew closer to our destination, the terrain began to reveal a more distinctive and unusual appearance and I was feeling a growing feeling of anticipation. Upon arrival it was immediately obvious when I saw the commanding crescent ridge of Brahmagiri Mountain which was a spectacular backdrop to the temple.

My travelling companion and myself were instantly transfixed by its vibrational power and beauty and we were instantly drawn towards it and immediately embarked on our unplanned journey to its summit.

 

Cascading water down the Brahmagiri steps in the rain

For the remainder of the day we climbed the 750 steps carved into the stone ridge that ascended to the peak without any feeling of fatigue while imbibing the enlivened spirit of the mountain. The chance discovery of the meditation cave of Saint Gahaninath and seeing the source of the Holy Godavari River was the highlight. The most rewarding discoveries are usually the unexpected ones.

 

 

 

A natural trident aligned with the meditation cave of Gahaninath at Brahmagiri, India

 

 

Stone carved path at Brahmagiri

 

 

Waiting for a train in Maharashtra. Urmila, my Yatra companion, on the far left.

 

 

 

Balancing rock in Chillagoe

Balancing rock in Chillagoe

QLD

 

mushroom-rock at Ennendi Plateau Chad aeolian

Aeolian geomorphology on the Ennendi Plateau, Chad

 

Ennedi-Desert-in-Chad -- Laurent Lepecheur

Chad Jumbo – photo by Laurent Lepecheur

Ennedi Desert in Chad

 

Coral gilia---Lower Mule Mountain Utah

Coral gilia—Lower Mule Mountain,

Utah

 

 

burrunju sacred location

Newly opened site, photo Antony Lynch

Burrunju, south east Arnhem Land

 

 

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