Sacred Space

Copper armillary dome garden feature. The lens in the centre is astronomically aligned on the Pole Star and so the dome mirrors the celestial sphere, which appears to revolve around it. The outer ring marks the path of the equinox sun, the inner the summer solstice.  (Grahame Gardner)

In the geomantic placement of a sacred space, be it a new building or some other type of space, it is important to energetically anchor the structure in Time and Space. This creates energy flows between the structure and its surroundings and helps to maintain a balanced atmosphere. Geomancy is the bridge between worlds: the Upper World, skies and heavens, the Lower World, the living Earth and the energies flowing through it, and the Middle World between them, the human world.

Garden labyrinth with aligned standing stones. The major alignment is to sunset on the client's birthday. (Grahame Gardner)

For Upper world energy the geomancer will often incorporate standing stones or other elements that have some sort of astronomical link; perhaps an alignment to a significant solar or lunar event, or a marker to the Pole Star for instance.

In the case of buildings, the whole structure might be oriented to a significant astronomical event; for example the Neolithic mound of Maes Howe on Orkney has its entrance passage aligned to the winter solstice sunset, and many churches and cathedrals are aligned to the equinox sunrise, or to the sunrise on the patron saint's feast day.

The date chosen to be marked in this way plays a significant part in the annual cycles of that sacred space, and often rituals and ceremonies are performed to honour this and to energise the space with the particular quality that attends the energy invoked.

Lower World energy is incorporated by mapping out the underground earth energies through dowsing, and connecting to these energies by the placement of standing stones, crystals or other devices. Unbalanced or detrimental energies can be treated and harmonised at this stage and indeed the energies can be further tuned to suit the purpose of the space concerned.

The space or structure may also be oriented to the cardinal directions, and these points marked in some way within the space, to connect with the local landscape of the Middle world. It is also important that the actual construction and dedication of sacred space is done at the most propitious and harmonious times; and so astrology and the geomancer's understanding of lunar, solar and planetary cycles may be utilised to determine the timing of the different stages in the project.

In creating sacred space, often the dimensions of the structure are designed using sacred geometry, which is one of the cornerstones of Western geomancy. This ancient art utilises natural proportions and ratios to create a subtle resonance in the structure that enhances our connection to the spiritual. The shapes chosen also have significance in terms of potential usage and a geomancer will be able to advise on this.

Sacred geometry lies at the heart of many of the most famous sacred spaces around the world, from stone circles to the pyramids, from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem to the great Gothic cathedrals, which are supreme examples of the art.

Sacred Geometry is often ignored in our scientific age. To the ancients, however, it was their principal view of how the Universe was constructed, and how the Divine manifests itself into Matter. Its principles are to be found all around us, from the design of our sacred buildings to the pattern of growth in plants and even in the proportions of the human body, and these principles are the same today as they were thousands of years ago. It is nothing less than Universal Truth. It has very little to do with algebra and mathematical calculation - those came later - but everything to do with form and proportion.

Still, if the mere mention of geometry brings you out in a cold sweat in memory of school maths lessons, but you are nonetheless intrigued to know more and see how simple it really can be, have a look at 'Introductory Sacred Geometry'.

Sacred healing space created for holistic healing centre based on Golden Mean rectangle. (Jamie Mortimer)

Of course your sacred space does not have to be a Gothic cathedral; it may be as simple as a home altar in a corner of your living room. But if you have the space, many people like to have a permanent area on their property that they can regard as sacred.

Others may wish to have the use of such a space for meditation, ceremony, etc., but do not feel that they have sufficient space in the home or garden to dedicate to this on a permanent basis. In this instance, a portable or semi-permanent arrangement such as a canvas or finger labyrinth can work well.

The Geomancy Group has experience in creating many forms of sacred space, such as healing rooms in health centres, garden labyrinths and other features, through medicine wheels and right up to full-scale modern stone circles. If you would like us to advise on your sacred space, please Contact Us to find a Geomancy Group member in your area..

New stone circle built by members Ivan Mcbeth and Richard Creightmore.

Download a Stellarium landscape of this circle here