Jessica Buhler ~The Chosen of the Sacred Place (Lane)

A “sacred place is not chosen, it chooses” (Lane). Does the phrase imply that the place chooses who will view it as sacred? How does a place choose to be sacred? In my mind this phrase does not make much sense without a bit of philosophical thinking. I feel as though the writer is personifying the place by giving it the human ability to choose. In terms of traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous people do not claim the land. Instead, they say the land claims them. They follow the land and the land provides for them. Therefore the land is deemed sacred by the people, but only because the land proved its allegiances with the people. If you abuse the land the land will not provide, but if you serve the land, the land will always work with you. By following these ideals for several generations, the land or area in which the indigenous inhabit becomes a sacred place to them. This sacred place creates a sense of home and security for them and will always be respected no matter what the outlying conditions are.

In other instances, a place chooses who will view it as sacred because of various religious and cultural practices. For example, a certain church may have had a miracle performed within its walls and the parishioners or followers of that particular religion may have a new found respect for that place, deeming it sacred. That place will now hold a special meaning for many for several generations and possibly several centuries to come. Another way a place can become sacred is if it was the scene of a heroic event or memorable moment and only a few very important people get to experience the gratification of being there. Many people, mostly politicians, would view the Oval Office of the White House to be a sacred place. It, to them, is the private place of the most powerful man in the world and only the worthiest people get to enter through its chamber door. This essential creates the sense of being sacred and once a person enters into that office, they too are viewed as sacred. Essentially, sacred places are simply places that are respected and once given a certain level of respect; they have an overpowering effect over people and are only considered sacred to that select group.