Paige Dwyer-Landscapes Reflection (1)

Lane describes four different rules, or axioms, that help us better understand the character of sacred space. They describe how places are perceived in the process of mythogenesis. The first axiom is that sacred place is not chosen, but rather it chooses. This basically means that God chooses to reveal his presence and glory whenever and where ever he desires. The second axiom is that sacred place is an ordinary place, ritually made extraordinary. This means that any place can become sacred through rituals, and it is not limited to just visually striking places. The third axiom is that sacred place can be tred upon without being entered. This means that the place may not be easiy recognized and therefore could be crossed without knowlege of its sacred significance. The last of the four axioms is that the impulse of sacred place is both local and universal. This means that it can be sacred for a particular community or an entire country. These axioms help us understand how to define a sacred place. It can be somewhere like the Temple of Jerusalem or simply your backyard. Actual location is less important that the significace behind the location.