Place: Part I– Making the Connection

Ancient Place - Angkor Wat

Place retains memory. In our minds and hearts, our childhood memories of place seem almost tangible at times. Yet even beyond that, there is a connection between memory and Place that seems innate, as though Place in and of itself retains memory. Belden Lane in his book, Landscapes of the Sacred: Geography and Narrative in American Spirituality, says that some places function “as a cultural palimpsest, on which many cultural patterns have been written and erased through the years.” I wonder if the collective consciousness of those who have inhabited those physical spaces has never really been fully “erased” and linger on to bleed through into a narrative we sense, however vaguely.

Glastonbury Tor, the conical hill in the county of Somerset, England is the site of history, myth and legend dating back into prehistory. Neolithic flint tools have been excavated from the area, evidence of possible Stone Age occupation some 12,000 years ago. Some believe that the terraced hillside is evidence of a labyrinth from the pre-Christian era. Roman Era artifacts have been unearthed, as well as Saxon and Early Medieval period findings. The legend of King Arthur has come to be associated with the Tor through the claim of the discovery of his and Queen Guinevere’s burial site. These stories overwritten on the same piece of land have inspired reverence and given meaning to the concept of place as sacred.

The ability to see place as more than a backdrop for our own personal story is a good starting place for recognizing the sacred. Place is more aptly perceived as the main character in the larger story. Within that framework we are free to ask, “Whose home am I coming into?” “What are the customs here?” and “What hospitality is offered to me here?” We may even learn to live in harmony with Place in a creative and respectful way. Alienation from Place, so integral to our own identity is never a good thing. Rather seeking out any reconciliation needed and a deepening of relationship will always bring about a good result. We don’t have to know the history of a place backward and forward, that would be great. But even to just be genuinely cognizant of Place with some real intention is a great starter. Just ask, “Who are you?” and see what transpires.

What is the Soul of the place where you live?

Writing Prompt for the Week: The Narrative of Place