Sacred locations

My late husband had a great love of history and archaeology, which he passed to me. Don't get me wrong, as an avid map reader I'd always had an interest in not only geography but also the associated  history of places. So it was that he'd ask me to find places that we might visit together and so we discovered henges, stone circles, caves,  forts, old castles and old monasteries etc. Now the significance of   'sacred' places was particularly interesting. I'm not talking just of Christian places here, but of places that would have been regarded as important to early man.

A holiday to Orkney was duly planned, and I made up a good itinerary of places off the beaten track as well as some more 'touristy' areas. It's reckoned that on Orkney there is a site of historical or archaeological importance every mile and a half. So lots to see and do. We took boots, hard hats and torches on top of the general requirements for a campervan holiday. Well, unfortunately early May was not the best month to travel and we experienced all four seasons in the days we were there. Nevertheless we did see some amazing places.

I particularly recall visiting the Ring of Brodgar, and spending a few hours exploring (my husband went fishing after his viewing), I must say that I speculated on the significance of the circle in conjunction with its surroundings. Early man must have regarded the area with some reverence and awe, making into a 'sacred' site. Somehow I felt drawn to remain for some time just musing ....it was very thought provoking.

We might just consider sacred places to be part of our religion...or indeed the religion of others...and they are to those involved. I'm often moved by the vastness and creativity of churches and cathedrals. Not because I regard myself as a religious person , but that I admire the strength of belief shown by the planners, builders , architects and all folk involved in the building...it's totally admirable. Furthermore it doesn't have to involve a vast building, nor indeed a building at all. Just outside Buckie, where I used to live, persecuted Roman Catholics met in a sheepfold adjoining a cottar's dwelling, during the reformation. Returning to Orkney there's the Italian Chapel built by prisoners of war from a couple of Nissen huts ...if you've never been then do 'google' for information as it's absolutely beautiful and is still maintained as a sacred site to this day.

I only have a poem about Durham Cathedral written a few years ago after I visited and climbed up to the rooftop. I have a feeling I might have included this piece in an earlier blog...never mind it's worth repeating (I reckon).

Durham Cathedral. 9th August 2014

Heavenward reaching columns 

Searching for an unseen God.

Built on a foundation of faith 

By men with ardent beliefs.

Into perpetuity this edifice reaches,

With arches that seem to support

Heaven itself !

These faithful tradesmen in stone

Would never know the impact 

Of their labours.

Other meeker structures may tumble in time

But this glory in stone will withstand

Time itself !

Living on, seeking a higher being,

A further meaning to its longevity and strength.

Admired, awed - by men of all creeds and beliefs.

For there is no one religion in this building,

But an admiration by mankind

Of the labour, the skill and the artistry

Of men long departed.

Thanks for reading, Kath