Monday, July 30, 2018

Sacred Sites Update--Zoar Valley, Hiker Dies in fall from Gorge

Zoar Valley listed on pages 382-391 in Sacred Sites in North Star Country: Places in Greater New York State (PA,OH,NJ,CT,MA,VT,ONT) That Changed the World is a beautiful place with  awesome views and has some wonderful places to meditate and experience Mother Earth's Fields of Consciousness as I note. However it is also dangerous and mysterious and prone to water surges, bridge washouts and more. Walking to close to the edge at places such as Point Peter can be dangerous because the ground underneath may no longer be there and you may be walking on a thin overhang.

It was just reported that a hiker fell 70 feet to their death on a gorge. Hiker dies in 70-foot fall into upstate NY gorge.

As the Buffalo news wrote last month, At beautiful and dangerous Zoar Valley, a cautionary tale for hikers

By all means visit this wonderful and majestic place. But please heed the warnings in my book and make sure to check the water levels before you go. The Cattaragus Creek can be 2feet high and a few hours later be 4 or 5 feet high and flowing fast.


Source Buffalo News.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Gossamer Wood Open House Fund Raiser--Sat Aug 4, 10AM to 4 PM

Gossamer Wood Open House—Walk the Grounds

Sat. Aug 4 10AM to 4PM—Rain Date (8/5) Tours on the Hour

Gossamer Wood


Donation, $10 to $50 sliding scale

There will be an Open House fund raiser at Gossamer Wood2225 County Road 28, Canandaigua, NY Saturday, August 4, 2018 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Rain date Sunday, August 5th. Tours on the hour. People can walk the trails that meander through its 9 sacred acres and stop to see and experience ceremonial sites, stone structures, meditation areas and healing places. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to purchase Gossamer wood and turn it into a sacred preserve for all to enjoy.

Parking next to the pipeline, or off the side of the road. There are currently no rest rooms on the grounds. Until the grounds are purchased they are closed to the public with the exception of public events.

Gossamer Wood offers a unique opportunity for people to experience Nature and Mother Earth. We know of no such similar place with dedicated ceremonial, healing and meditative areas—hundreds of meditative stones, stone circles and other sacred monuments, several that are thousands of years old—anywhere else in the world. There are 200-year old oak trees, abundant wildlife and a seasonal brook. 

Bring a meditation cushion or chair to sit on, or just sit on a stone, there are numerous powerful places to enjoy and take in. 

Click to see Trail Map
Click to see Legend for Trail Map

Click to See Pictures

Rain Date Changes Check our Website, www.gossamerwood.org


Upcoming Events
Forest Bathing—8/11,
Reiki Share—Tentatively 8/18
Talk on Gossamer Wood at the Wood Library in Canandaigua Sept 20, 6:30 to 8 PM.
More….

Again there are no bathroooms on the grounds.


Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Sacred Sites Update---Gossamer Wood

Yesterday I worked on the Spirit Keepers Circle at Gossamer Wood, www.gossamerwood.org

The grounds are looking marvelous. Well Done to everyone involved with trail work.


 Looking towards the Entryway. The Welcome Circle is to the right.


 The Welcome Circle


The Nook

A Vortex Ring, a precursor to the formation of an Energy Vortex, has formed in the area of the Women's Circle.  It is directly above the spiral of the water dome in the ground--interesting. I created a temporary stone circle  to help nudge it along so that it will blossom into an Energy Vortex.

Sacred Sites Update--Wisdom's Golden Rod Gets a new Torii Arch

I had a chance to stop by Wisdom's Golden Rod in Hector, (NY Pages  266-269 Sacred Sites in North Star Country: Places in Greater New York State (PA,OH,NJ,CT,MA,VT,ONT) That Changed the World) yesterday, Monday the 23th. Always a joy to visit this delightful place and and take in its wonderful vibe that resonates the love and warmth of its members. 

First, the humongous energy vortex in the meditation center is fine and continues to grow. It is the largest of any of the places listed in sacred sites.

Secondly,  the installation of a new Torii arch was just completed a few weeks ago. Here are some pictures.






Saturday, July 21, 2018

Vortex Prayer Stones

For those interested I just listing Vortex Prayer Stones for sale on Etsy. Each stone has a minimum 2 to 3 foot in diameter energy vortex attached to it. The Vortex Prayer Stone comes with a pouch and a 8 page User Manual.

Vortex Prayer Stone--With an Energy Vortex (2-3') in diameter Attached to It






Thursday, July 19, 2018

CNY Inspirations: The Church in the Woods


This feature is coordinated by The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and InterFaith Works of CNY. Follow this theme and author posted Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

I was downstate last month with friends visiting the King's Stone Chamber in Putnam County. While exploring, we found an enclosure with large stonewalls 4 to 6 feet thick. My friend, Bill Pollard, said, "It feels like church."
Indeed.
Somehow, this little enclave remained hidden for ages. I say this because the intricate stonework marking Earth Energies is knowledge that has been lost for millennia. It survived because there was nothing ostentatious or ornate about it to attract the curious; just a place of reverence for Mother Earth and a lot of spiritual sweat from prayers and ceremonies.
It may be hard to believe such places still exist because we are so disconnected from Mother Earth. We basked in the space and said some prayers. I wanted to meditate but had to leave for a prior engagement.
Go outside and explore our Mother. The most mysterious and divine places await you.
Madis Senner is a former global money manager who left Wall Street more than 20 years ago to follow a spiritual path. His fourth book, "Sacred Sites in North Star Country," recalls the rich history of reform and spirituality in upstate New York.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

CNY Inspirations: Following the Voice of God

CNY Inspirations: Following the Voice of God

Sunday, July 15, 2018

CNY Inspirations: The Transformative Power of Sacred Space

CNY Inspirations: The Transformative Power of Sacred Space



This feature is coordinated by The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and InterFaith Works of CNY. Follow this theme and author posted Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday

Madis Senner
The idea that a sacred space can be transformative, healing, possess the ability to answer our prayers and can send us on a mystical journey seems almost nonsensical in our modern technological age. Yet, I have experienced many such places. A particularly precious one is nearby, the Peacemaker's Sanctuary along the West Shore Trail at Onondaga Lake Park.

In 2002, God answered my prayers about violence in Syracuse and encouraged me to organize a prayer vigil there. At the time, I had limited knowledge of sacred space and was questioning why this place? After Thanksgiving that year, 25 of us gathered for a prayer vigil and ceremony. I would continue to pray there daily until Jan. 19, 2003 when the next murder in Syracuse occurred, marking one of the longest periods of peace in the city. The year 2002 would mark a peak in murders, that is, until 2016.

I am not alone. Others experienced visions or found resolution and healing from trauma at the Peacemaker's Sanctuary. At a summer solstice gathering in June, one person broke into tears and started to have a catharsis.

We are told to meditate in the same place because a sacred space is like a muscle that, if exercised, gets stronger through prayer and ceremony. Fortunately, the Peacemaker's Sanctuary has been exercised for millennia. One of the reasons we hold prayer vigils there after national tragedies, such as the Las Vegas shootings, is to build an increasingly stronger place of healing.

The important thing to realize is that a sacred space can be powerfully transformative and healing. I encourage you to make your own sacred space. While you're there, keep your thoughts positive and focused on love or the divine. Exercise it with prayer, ritual or meditation. Such a space can help with your spiritual practice and be a wonderful gift for those that follow.


Madis Senner is a former global money manager who left Wall Street more than 20 years ago to follow a spiritual path. His fourth book, "Sacred Sites in North Star Country," recalls the rich history of reform and spirituality in upstate New York.

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Upcoming Events and Activities

Gossamer Wood There will be an open house at Gossamer Wood Saturday August 4, 2018, 2225 Cty Rd 28 Canandaigua, 10 AM to 2 PM. Tours on the hour, or just walk around. Donation $10-$50 sliding scale to benefit our effort to buy Gossamer Wood and turn it into a sacred preserve.

Meditations at the Peacemaker's Sanctuary, Onondaga Lake. Janice Carr is organizing meditations to take place at the Peacemaker's Sanctuary at Onondaga Lake. The first one is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday July 24, 2018 at 10AM. Bring something to sit on, for more information email, peacemakersanctuary@gmail.com
Email if you plan on coming, or if you would like to be included for future meditations.

Earth Healer's Gathering Downstate NY, or New England. If you are interested in having a Earth Healer's Gathering at a stone chamber in Putnam County, NY, or in Massachusetts, or Vermont or some other sacred space email be at motherearthprayers@gmail.com. Indicate which general area you would be willing to travel to and indicate where you live. Instruction will provided on how to connect with our Mother to heal space including basic dowsing, Earth Healing, etc.  Fee to benefit Gossamer Wood If enough people sign up we will do it. Many of the places I have posted about don't have a good vibe and we will work to improve it, Whangtown Stone ChambersPart I Stonewall/Ohiopyle Survey--Stonewall Jackson State Park West VirginiaVermont New Hampshire Trip, Part 1--Overview

Visiting Sacred Sites, be Courteous and follow Instructions--Friends if you decide to visit one of the sacred sites listed in my book Sacred Sites in North Star Country: Places in Greater New York State (PA,OH,NJ,CT,MA,VT,ONT) That Changed the World please follow the instructions. If it says call first, please make sure to call first! People are appearing unannounced when it is clearly stated--call first. This can ruin it for others and jeopardizes someone deciding they don't welcome visitors anymore. READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. HONOR THE SPACE AND YOUR HOSTS.  




Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Swami Vivekananda's cottage in Thousand Islands is open

Swami Vivekananda's cottage in the Thousand Islands IS OPEN. It is a must visit for anyone interested in Hinduism and its vedanta, yoga and meditation. It is only opened briefly in the summer. It provides for a lovely day visit. The Thousands Islands is spectacularly beautiful.

Swami Vivekananda's Cottage in the Thousand Islands Park on Wellesley Island in the Thousand Islands will  be open until August 24th this year. The cottage itself will be open those days from 10AM to 12 Noon and from 4PM to 6PM. You can certainly walk the grounds when the cottage is not open. 

The room upstairs where the Swami stayed while he was there for 8 weeks in 1895 (he lectured and taught on Vedanta) has a powerful vortex; one that put me instantly in the balcony a few years ago. Very, very strong. You definitely need to meditate in the room--the vortex is located in the center of the room.

The house and the immediate area rests on Fields of Consciousness. There is another vortex in the rocks behind the house. Meditating on the rocks in front of, or behind the house would be a good thing to do.


Make sure to visit the rock/tree in the back (it is a short 5 minute walk) where Swami Vivekananda achieved the highest state of Samadhi. It said that on his last day August 7, 1895 at the Thousand Islands the Swami went into the back woods to meditate and froze solid in meditation and remained oblivious to torrential rain and is said to have achieved nirvikalpa Samadhi. (Page 104)
“He had a unique experience of inner freedom at the Thousand Islands Park which he expressed eloquently in his poem “The Song of Sannyasin”. He wrote from there to a friend:
“I am free, my bonds are cut, what do I care whether this body goes or does not go? I have a truth to teach—I am a child of God. And He that gave me truth will send me fellow workers from the earth’s bravest and best.” Page 105-106
Source Vivekananda a Biography (1953)
The tree has since died, but a new one has been planted and a memorial erected. It is a short walk to the back.

The Swami from the NYC Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center will teaching a program in spirituality beginning Wednesday July 25 in the evening and ending Saturday at noon.

Make sure to call before visiting to check to verify it is open, (315) 482-2189

Per Ramarkrishna Vivekananda web page
VIVEKANANDA COTTAGE
P.O. BOX 1084
THOUSAND ISLAND PARK, N.Y. 13692
Telephone: (315) 482-3031

My book Sacred Sites in North Star Country: Places in Greater New York State (PA,OH,NJ,CT,MA,VT,ONT) That Changed the World has wonderful writeup with other suggested places to visit on Pages 241-257, the cottage is on pages 242-249.


Here are some helpful links.

Directions to the Cottage

My Video, Swami Vivekananda's Cottage Thousand Islands, NY

Vivekananda's speech to the Worlds Religion that catapulted him to fame. I never noticed it before that he begins Sisters and Brothers and not Brothers and Sisters. BRAVO!

Vivekananda's teachings  

Swami Vivekananda's Life Story 



Holes in Stones--Ancient Technology?

I just saw this video on star shaped holes and thought about the holes in stones/stone blocks and the like that I have posted about. I totally agree that the large stone structures we see around the world were created by an advanced ancient culture. And as I noted at my talk at the Dowsers Convention in July that these structures are located over aspects of Mother Earth in the unsee world.

Friday, July 6, 2018

Sacred Site Update--Gossamer Wood

Several of us gathered at Gossamer Wood in Canandaigua, NY for Earth Healing and cleaning up and opening up the space this July 4th Wednesday. We are looking to raise money to buy it and turn it into a sacred preserve for all to enjoy. 

Since Bill Dewey sold his house in January we have had to put in new trails,  refashion older ones and heal the ones damaged by the weather. We have also made a big effort to clean, expand and make the property more friendly and accessible for pilgrims. Much of this year will be spent to make the grounds more accessible--AND OF COURSE JACK UP THE ALREADY INCREDIBLE VIBE.

You can learn more and donate at, Gossamer Wood

Kareen and Bill inspecting a trail.

Wednesday was incredibly hot in the mid 90⚬'s I found some amazing things, from more energy vortices, sacred stones, more powerful features of Mother Earth...... I guess I should not be surprised...but more and more is being revealed.


Spirit Keeper's stone. Here I am standing next to a sacred stone, in front of me to the right--covered with moss. Looking at it seems like no big deal, however it marks the high point in a Field of Consciousness--an unbelievable Stacked 12 (S12.) An S12 is when 12 FOC's are placed upon each other; the highest formation and rare. 

Because of its placement strategically over the high point in the FOC one has to assume that it was intentionally placed there and whoever created it knew what they were doing.  I believe it was created by a mystical group very intimate with Mother Earth's subtle body that I call Spirit Keepers. Amazing. This was an incredible find and adds to the other S12 at Gossamer and has it moving closer to being in the rarified company of Onondaga Lake and its sacred space.


 I found a vortex ring close to the sacred stone on the S12 and decided to create a stone circle around it to act as a splint and nurse it back to health. (I discuss vortex rings on pages 52-56 of Vortices and Spirals.) A water vein also begins in this area. Another indication that prayer, meditation, ritual, healing and good and loving thoughts/acts occurred here. Thanks to the great souls that did this, we hope that we can honor your spirit by adding to it.


I constructed a short entryway to the S12 and Vortex Ring.


 Another Spirit Keepers stone. This one marks a S8. Another find--the stone and the FOC. There were also several Manitou Stones and other sacred stones in the area. That whole area  close to the creek is loaded with all sorts of wonders.


Janice meditating on the highpoint of a FOC. It is the prayers, meditations, rituals, healings that raise the vibe of a space. Basically it jacks it up and enhances it. Very Nice. 

In the spirit and knowledge of the Spirit Keepers I marked the high point of all the FOC with large flat stones. It is my experience that they would at a minimum mark the high points with a stone, or stone mound; they would also place other stones in the area. I plan on adding more stones to this sacred area, hopefully several hundred more over the next few years.

We could use more meditators. If all you want to do is meditate for hours on end in such sacred space, please comment below and leave your contact information which I will take down after I contact you.

There is a lot more I did not photograph such as a cistern with a water dome underneath it, several other FOC, Manitou Stones...

You can learn more and donate at, Gossamer Wood

PS. People have been meditating in the energy vortex, what I call a natural vortex,  in the Spirit Keeper's Stone Circle and it has gotten even stronger. Kareen, Bill and I could feel it 10-15 feet away as we approached it. WOW!


A medicine wheel Kareen and Donna put together near the woods by the entrance.




Sunday, July 1, 2018

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART I--OVERVIEW

I used my trip to speak at the American Society of Dowsers Convention in New Paltz, NY as a chance to survey some sacred sites. I found some wonderful places and some intricate stone work. I took lots of pictures.

You can read about my adventure and see pictures by clicking on the links below, or just scroll down.

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART II--The Solstice Chamber

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART III--The Stone Block Wall

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART IV--The Kings Chamber, The King's Stone Chamber

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART V--The Church in the Woods

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART VI-- The Blue Orb (Observer) at The Church in the Woods

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART VII--Estelle Weed's Woods and its Many Stone Structures

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART VIII--Shaupeneak Stone Mounds


Next

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART II--The Solstice Chamber


Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART II--The Solstice Chamber

One of the largest chambers in the world is the King's Stone Chamber in Putnam County, NY. But before you get to the King's Stone Chamber you come upon what is called the Solstice Chamber. I imagine this is because it aligns with the solstice.

While a stone chamber  is always impressive, personally I found nothing of interest to me with the Solstice Chamber. I found no alignment with Earth Energies, no positive vibe, nor any left over  co-creations with Mother Earth such as Energy Vortices, or Water Domes... It is the prayers, aspirations, solace, love and the like left behind by pilgrims as spiritual embers that draws me to sacred sites.

Below are some pictures









Polly Midgley (NY coordinator) and Bill Pollard of NEARA sitting in front of the Solstice Chamber.



NEXT

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART III--The Stone Block Wall


Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART III--The Stone Block Wall

Not far from the Solstice Chamber was a wall made of stone blocks. Bill Pollard discovered  it and pointed it out to us. He found it particularly interesting because of the holes in the stone blocks, that were reminiscent of the holes found in stone blocks near the Meads Corner Chamber also in Putnam County.






 Close up of the holes. Photo by Bill Pollard

 Above picture shows the line of stones.

The stone blocks were aligned over an Energy Line. In other words, they were intentionally placed over the Energy Line. The staffs are a rough approximation of the Energy Line. I could not place the staffs on top of the stone blocks because they were uneven.

NEXT

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART IV--The Kings Chamber, The King's Stone Chamber


Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART IV--The Kings Chamber, The King's Stone Chamber

The King's Stone Chamber is the largest stone chamber in Putnam County and ranks up there with others around the world. The vibe was slightly positive close by and there is a water dome underneath. Both are indications that the King's Chamber was used for spiritual, healing or other sacred purposes. A water dome often forms in response to positive intentions.



I imagine that the vibe at the chamber was extremely positive at one time and there were Energy Vortices there once as well. But over time a space is diminished by negative human activity and lack of reverence for the space. Unfortunately curiosity seekers  and people with negative intentions have descrecated this sacred stone chamber and surrounding stone work. Ghost hunters, UFO seekers, archaeologists and that sort of ilk are very damaging to a sacred site. Technology is particularly pernicious, as is hunting.

A sacred space needs love and spiritual nourishment. Native Americans' speak of acting in a "sacred manner" when in a sacred space. Treating everything with reverence, respect and keeping your thoughts positive. Unfortunately our modern day world does not treat our Mother with respect and honor Her. Going into the woods to cry for a vision, or to experience great Spirit has been replaced by the FREAK SHOW OF LOOKING FOR ALIENS OR GHOSTS---OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPEDITIONS. This is so damaging to a space and dishonors the great souls that built this stone chamber and other sacred stone structures. 

A sacred space like a muscle needs to be exercised. And you do that with prayer, ceremony and meditation; Through sacred acts such as spreading tobacco, or smudging, or leaving an offering. It is not so much what you do, but your intention and focus needs to be on love, reverence and respect.

 My staffs are 5 feet tall in 1 foot increments. Resting against the entrance they give you a good perspective of the opening and overall size of the King's Chamber.


 The staffs mark the water veins that begin at the water dome underneath the chamber. The ends of the staffs closest to the chamber approximate the outside edge of the water dome.


A manitou stone close to the chamber is a strong indication of the spiritual nature and focus on Earth Energies of the King's Stone Chamber

We said some prayers and honored the space.
  As always we could have done much more.


NEXT

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART V--The Church in the Woods


Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART V--The Church in the Woods

Later we went exploring and walked quite some distance. I should say that Bill Pollard was the lead on this. It was Bill's intrepid  nature that led me to the Whangtown Stone Chamber to see a large stone mound/wall with hollowed a out center. Bill certainly has a good sense for things.

As soon as we got to the space Bill said,

"IT FEELS LIKE CHURCH"

WOW. It certainly did.

It had an incredible vibe.

It was a simple set of very thick (4-6 feet) stone walls.




Somehow this little enclave had remained hidden for ages. I say this because the intricate stone work marking Earth Energies is knowledge   that has been lost for millennia.

It survived because there was nothing ostentatious, or ornate about it to attract the curious; Just a place of reverence for Mother Earth and  a lot of spiritual sweat from prayers and  ceremonies. Ghost Hunters, UFO buffs, archaeologists, curiosity seekers are often drawn to spectacular displays, or where weird things have happened--not to places like this. There is no eye candy, nothing spooky no massive stones or anything similar. Just an overwhelming sense of the sacred and wonder that envelopes you when you are there.

Over the years I have developed a Theory for this, and have posted about it. I call it the Ostentatious, Extravagant, Gaudy or Donald Trump Theory of Sacred Sites. Not because of Donald Trump's political views but for his taste for ornate and gaudy things such as gold toilet seats, jewels, etc.... I developed this theory long ago, well before his politics and Apprentice TV show having  lived in NYC for more than 2 decades.

It may be hard to believe such places still exist. That is because we are so disconnected from Mother Earth.

Clearly whoever built this wonderful enclave was knowledge of our Mother and Earth Energies. Above is a Manitou Stone with my staffs marking the intersection of Energy Lines.

Not only was the vibe very positive to extremely positive but an Energy Vortex was there. Energy Vortices, or what I call Natural Vortices form where good things happen, or where people pray, meditate or do ritual. A water vein had also formed in response to the sacred activities that took place in the Church in the Woods, which is marked by my staffs.

WOW. An Energy Vortex thousands of years old was able to survive. As you know I am a big believer that you can Transcend Time  and connect with the spirit of those that constructed the Energy Vortex by meditating in it; as I noted in the beginning of my book Vortices and Spirals and in YouTube videos. Unfortunately, I had to leave to go give an overview of my talk for the next day at the Dowsers Convention in New Paltz. Bummer. But I did show Bill where it was and marked it for him so that he could come back and meditate in it.

 Bill Pollard and Polly Midgley.

Polly basking in the power of the space and soaking up the energy and  love.

We basked in the space and said some prayers. I wanted to meditate but had to leave for a prior engagement.


Was I Right To Tell People About This Place?
I did much soul searching and discussion with folks about whether to publicly post about the Church in the Woods fearing that it would be desecrated by curiosity seekers, ghost hunters, UFO hunters, archaeologists and that ilk who through their activities and intentions desecrate sacred space and harm our Mother. However, I also realize that if I am preaching about the wonders of Mother Earth and the co-creative power of humankind to work with Her to uplift and create new births such as Energy Vortices, or to uplift/heal space, then I need to provide examples. And boy is this a wonderful example! A shining demonstration of how humankind working with Mother Earth can enhance a space and raise its vibe.

Praise and thanks to all the great souls that created this wonderful space. I am honored and thankful for your gift. Blessings to you. May I and others add to the love and spirit you have nourished there. Thanks.

If you visit  this,  or some other sacred site, spend some time meditating there, bring an offering, say a prayer. Give it some LOVE!

But there was much more to the Church in Woods.

NEXT

Survey of Sacred Sites in Downstate NY, PART VI-- The Blue Orb (Observer) at The Church in the Woods