Burned-over District

One of the movements, or phenomena, to come out of Central New York was the birth of numerous religions, new sects of major religions and religious movements. The famous revivalist Charles Grandson Finney who is credited for being the driving force in America's Second Great Awakening described it best, "what was born one day, was burned-over by something new the next day." In reference to the many spiritual wildfires that blazed in Central/Wesern NY. Hence, the "Burned-over District' came to describe this phenomena.

Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Keuka College has put together an informative video on the Burned-over District. It diverges a bit off topic by speaking about the Bluff Point Ruins, and emphasizes the Keuka Lake Region, but it is well done:

The Burned Over District - Religions of Central NY by Dr. Mike McKenzie

Wednesday's 10 AM Meditations at Peacemaker's Sanctuary (Onondaga Lake)--World Peace Day Sept 21 Gathering

Wednesday 10 AM Meditations at Peacemaker's Sanctuary (Onondaga Lake, see directions below) will continue into September. Make sure to bring a chair.

Celebrate World Peace with us September 21st at 10AM and join us for a group meditation.

The UN World Peace day is celebrated on September 21st which falls on a Wednesday. Several groups (World Peace Meditation, World Global Meditation, Peace One Day, HeartMath, Be The Peace, local events....) are celebrating the event. We will be as well.

We welcome tax deductible donations so we can buy more benches for people to sit on in the Peacemaker's Sanctuary.

Please bring a chair or cushion to sit on.

You can read an older post about the Peacemaker's Sanctuary in my listing of Sacred Sites at: Peacemaker's Sanctuary.

Here is an older map of the lake with DIRECTIONS.

Directions: To get to the Peacemaker’s Sanctuary take Rt. 690 to State Fair Blvd, head towards Syracuse on State Fair Blvd. Take a left onto Beach Street, Empower Credit is on the corner. Follow to end park on grass. 

Cross RR tracks and bear right and cross the bridge over Rt. 690. Take a left onto the gravel path. Within a 100 feet the dirt path will merge with an asphalt path from the right. Continue straight. Look for the first set of benches on your right 200-300 feet-this is the place.

The closest bench will say ‘Peacemaker’s Sanctuary’.


The closest bench will have the following inscription:

Watertown's Thompson Park--Portals, Ghosts and Aliens--An Area 51 Site

Thompson Park in Watertown, NY will be included as a sacred site in my upcoming book, Sacred Sites in North Star country, Place in Greater NYS (PA, CA, OH, NJ, MA, Vt) That Changed the World. There are several Fields of Consciousness located within the park.

My interest in Thompson Park was piqued about ten years ago when i gave a talk at Naturtyme, in Syracuse, NY, on sacred sites. Several people told me that Thompson Park was haunted, particularly near the zoo. I find that often people are experiencing visions, see ghosts/spirits/beings, because they are in an area with high electromagnetic energy. These are places with special aspects of Mother Earth, and occasionally contain Fields of Consciousness.

Since then Thompson Park's status as a Ghoulish, Fiendish, Paranormal, UFO site and more has grown significantly. There have been several postings on YouTube by mainstream TV News Organizations:

Thompson Park Vortex, Time Portal , in it Dayah, a Druid Priestess talks about the  vortex/portal--an inter-dimensional place of passage where time changes. It is was a feature on North Country's News 50.

CNY Central (Channel 3 Syracuse) reported 2 years ago that Watertown has designated Thompson Park an AREA 51 site (aliens) and even posted a sign in the park stating it is an Area 51 site. The Parks Commissioner notes how when the CIA took over AREA 51 in Nevada it was code named 'Watertown.'

A few thoughts:

Portals: Portals do exist and you often find them at the intersection of several Spirit Lines (Ley Lines.) They are also often found close to Fields of Consciousness; particularly since so many Spirit Lines originate from Fields, so the chances that several Spirit Lines (Ley Lines) will intersect are good.

Should you slip into a portal(rare) itwill place you in another dimension, how you experience this mystical experience will vary with individuals. You may blank out, see things differently, hallucinate, feel a sensed presence,etc...

So a variety of experiences, or phenomena are attributable to portals.

It could also be that the mystical experiences people had are attributable to  powerful thought forms from past generations. I see this as being a remote possibility because the vibe is not positively strong.

The Desecrating a Sacred Site. With its great views, Fields of Consciousness and other attributes of Mother Earth Thompson Park was once a very sacred site. But it is in decay; someone planted a seed that the mystical experience available there where not spiritual, or soul enriching in nature, but ghoulish and freaky. Posting YouTube videos about the paranormal and spooky, designating Thompson Park as an Area 51 site  only serve to accelerate its continued decline.

Ghost Hunters and other fiendishly motivated are a pox upon our society and culture. Again think about it: What if powerful earth energy/phenomona cause you to have a mystical experience. 
Do you,
a) see it as communication with the divine and a chance to spiritually grow, and feel blessed by the divine.
or do you,
b) see it as a thrill, a chance to see something freaky and unusual--as if you popped a pill, or went to a movie with good visual effects.

It seems the latter is the order of the day at Thompson Park in Watertown NY.

If you want to go to Thompson Park in Watertown and experience the Fields of Consciousness there and in the process raise your consciousness and make a better world you can access one of the Fields shown in the pictures below. The dogs and my backpack mark the highpoints in the Field.

Enter from Franklin St. and take a right and then a left and look for area of brush on the side of the hill on your left. You can also explore yourself; make sure to check out the Zoo.

Beautiful Pink Halo Over an Energy Vortex

The picture below was sent to me by Alice Harwood of the Living Waters Chapter of the American Society of Dowsers in Claremont, New Hampshire.

A map, or picture, dowsing shows that the pink halo in the picture is above an energy vortex that is part of larger apparatus of Mother Earth's Subtle Body, most likely in the Energy Plane.  The pink halo maps out the size of the vortex. It is an incredible picture and Alice was very fortunate to have been able to capture it.

I call the area below the pink halo an energy vortex because energy is spinning around  in a vortex form. It is part of a larger apparatus of Mother Earth's Subtle Body--it is a permanent structure that performs a specific function for Mother Earth in the Energy Plane; like what a chakra does. Compared to what I call a 'Natural Vortex,' an energy vortex that forms in response to human intention and is a co-creation with Mother Earth.

A' Natural Vortex' is not a permanent structure; it can dissipate, or get stronger and larger. I call them specifically 'Natural Vortices' because they form naturally in cooperation with Mother Earth, and to emphasize that they are not permanent structures.  This is an important distinction because there are gazillions of energy vortices in the unseen world and it is critical to know whether one is part of Mother Earth's Subtle Body, or a "Natural Vortex' that forms in response to human intention.

  

OSTENTATIOUS THEORY OF SACRED SITES

OCTOBER 23, 2020 REVISION PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM REMOVING THE NICKNAME OF DONALD TRUMP FOR THE OSTENTATIOUS THEORY OF SACRED SITES. DONALD TRUMP HAS BECOME A CONTENTIOUS FIGURE FOR BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT AND NO LONGER HAS THE SAME PANCHE THAT DID 15 YEARS AGO WHEN I DEVELOPED THE OSTENTATIOUS THEORY OF SACRED SITES. AT THE TIME TRUMP WAS THOUGHT OF AS BEING OSTENTATIOUS  LIKING THE LAVISH, THE OUTLANDISH, THE OPULENT. BECAUSE HIS IMAGE HAS CHANGED I AM REMOVING HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THE CONCEPT. MADIS

With the possibly that Donald Trump could become the next President of the United States of America I thought it important to write on a theory I have had for years about sacred sites that I call “The Donald Trump Theory of Sacred Sites,” a barometer of sorts. It is not so much based on the Donald we have come to see during the presidential primaries—a loose cannon, foot in mouth, bigoted and lacking policy knowledge, a deal- maker for the average Joe/Jane.  Instead, it relates to the real estate developer who built large, ostentatious, opulent, over-the-top, and arguably gaudy buildings.  I am at the other end of the spectrum, seeing simple and plain as the order of the day when it comes to sacred sites.

When I look at a supposed sacred site with a large stone structure or ornate design I ask myself, “Is this a place that Donald Trump would build, or was it built by someone more modest, in the vein of a nature worshiper, a Native American, or an ascetic? Would Jesus or Buddha build such a place?   A physical structure in many ways is a reflection of the person or people who created it. A physical structure is also a barometer of the times, as well as a magnet for attracting like-minded people. (Law of Attraction: like attracts like.) 

Co-creating with Mother Earth

Some may say that the physical structure of a sacred site is irrelevant because if it is on a power place of Mother Earth, what is on top does not matter. I disagree.  Ultimately, what makes a site sacred are the human intentions, or imprints that are attached to the location. It is the imprints that either greatly enhance a space, or significantly diminish it. The vibe of a place affects how we feel there and what it does for our energy body, or soul.

We are meant to co-create new births with Mother Earth. Water dowsers will tell you that a water dome may form over time under a labyrinth, a stone structure, or some other holy place. Similarly, an energy vortex – what I call a natural vortex –  may form above ground, giving an extra dose of nurturing energy to visiting pilgrims. The veil between the Earth Plane and other higher realities can thin at sacred sites, allowing communication with other beings or changes to our consciousness. Powerful thought forms/ imprints created over the years by visiting pilgrims lingering at sacred sites can bring us answers, guide us, improve our meditation, and more. 

In my book, Vortices and Spiral, Unlocking the Mystery of Our Dynamic Relationship with Mother Earth, I began by telling of an incredible experience I had meditating in an energy vortex on a mountaintop in Vermont.  An excerpt ran in the summer 2014 ASD Digest, entitled, “Transcending Time.”  It tells what is possible. There was nothing there but an energy vortex and now, a mostly blocked view of the mountain vista. It was the energy vortex that made it a wonderful sacred site, one I found at a time when I needed to be spiritually replenished.

No doubt there are places that are uniquely sacred to each of us, or our faith tradition.   Ultimately, what makes a sacred site special and enhances it is the co-creation of a new birth with Mother Earth that opens up the possibility of powerful mystical experiences. 

Idolatry

It is our intention that brings about a new birth with Mother Earth. When we love, give, heal, do unto others, practice ahimsa, pray and meditate, we open up the possibility of co-creating a new birth with Mother Earth. Conversely, when we act violently or selfishly, focus on the material, and use electronic devices that damage Mother Earth, we diminish a space and start the process of decay that leads to geopathic stress and ultimately the creation of debilitating negative energy vortices.

When Donald Trump builds an opulent building, he plants a seed, a seed that is fortified by the building’s physical structure, a seed that is a reflection of who he is, his consciousness. This seed attracts like-minded people. This strengthens the imprint at the location, increasing the possibility that it can sweep up others into it and get them to focus on the material and the path towards superficiality.  An opulent sacred site risks having a similar future.

The problem with this trajectory is that it can lead to idolatry as decried by the Hebrew prophets: an object, in that case  a large/opulent temple structure, became the focus of attention rather than Mother Earth’s power to transform us in sacred space. 

The Marriage of Function with Structure

A structure should be a reflection of its function. Large and stunning structure may serve a purpose. For example, a large earthen mound, rather than being a Trumpism, may have been made large because it had to hold a lot of people. So the Trump Theory of Sacred Sites is not a “black and white” rule.  

Large, or ornate sacred sites present challenges. Consider Serpent Mound (Peebles, Ohio), the world’s largest effigy mound creatively structured in the shape of a serpent to tap into and connect the earth energies located there, a very impressive feat that showed creativity and knowledge of Mother Earth.  Serpent Mound was saved Professor Putnam of Harvard University because of its large size and serpent shape. I imagine several other places around the world are still standing because they are large, awe-inspiring, or beautiful to behold: being large can bring benefits to a sacred site.

Today tens of thousands visit Serpent Mound annually. Unfortunately, few come there to pray/do ceremony and experience the powerful earth energies created by the serpent, but rather only to view the Serpent, and snap pictures of it. To insure the Serpent is not damaged, visitors are not allowed to walk on it. While this care for preservation of the site is admirable, it focuses attention on the Serpent, rather than on the experience of Mother Earth’s energy that can be found there.  As the Hebrew prophet taught, the focus has shifted from Mother Earth to the material, the effigy mound in the shape of a serpent.  While visitors can still feel the earth energies at Serpent Mound, all the focus on the material (effigy mound) and the lack of spiritual pilgrims (few prayed/mediated while I was there) results in a vibe that could be much greater.

I have found many other places in the wilderness that have used the same approach to tap into Mother Earth that the Adena mound builders did at Serpent Mound: the thoughts of spiritual pilgrims still linger in the air, and are much more palpable.  The chances of having a mystical experience or a revelation are much more likely than at a sacred site frequented more by gawkers than spiritual pilgrims.

Small and Simple is Beautiful

When we next view a sacred site, ask how it feels and what it does to us, rather than focusing merely on how it looks. Understand also the impact that we will have on a sacred site when we visit: let’s go there with the best of intentions, bring an offering, and while there act in a sacred manner, and pray and meditate while there. Let’s be part of the solution, not the problem.

We don’t need to buy into the hype about all those large structures around the world: small and simple is beautiful.  We can go into the woods and look for an energy vortex, or some dilapidated pile of stones nearby.  That pile of stones could have once been a very holy place which may still retain its spiritual embers.  These are the great finds, the great sites, the simple ones that did not attract treasure hunters or gawkers looking for eye candy. These are the places that can nourish our soul and raise our consciousness as we connect with the Spirit of those who created them.  When we feel with our heart, we will be drawn to and find all sorts of sacred sites. 

The picture above is an example of the many stone mounds that can be found in nature. It is a picture of a stone circle and  was taken in 2010 and was posted to my Clarks Gully Blog under Orbs, Megaliths and Covered Earth Chakras.

The preceding appears in the current summer issue of the American Society of Dowsers Digest.

Pictures of our group visit to Swami Vivekananda's Cottage in The Thousands Islands

Yesterday a group of us visited  Swami Vivvekananda's Cottage in the Thousand Islands. We meditated, chanted and visited. Below are some of the pictures I took:

 My backpack marks the location of a natural (energy) vortex.

 Chanting near the Vivekananda rock.

Vivekananda memorial rock next to the tree he attained Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

The Woods are Full of Sacred Sites and Stone Structures--A Return to the Onondaga Trail

Yesterday I returned to the Onondaga Trail to dowse and photograph the stone structures I mentioned a little over a week ago in my post The Woods are Full of Sacred Sites and Stone Structures.

The stone mound that I thought might be covering Earth Chakras did not. But we did find lots of interesting things.

We found many of what I call Manitou Stones, or standing stones, embedded in the earth, either vertically, or at an angle. There were several of them near the Onondaga Trail in and around the area of the Common Place Land Trust. None of them were on aspects of Mother Earth. We wondered if they marked something, such as a trail, ....?

Pictured below is one of the larger ones.

Pepper gives perspective to the size of Manitou Stones.



The earthen and stone mound that I suspected was on a Field of Consciousness(FOC), was indeed on a FOC. It covered a stacked Field of 8 (S8),  in that 8 Fields were stacked upon each other. Given the stones, and the placement (and the most potent part of the FOC) it may well be an old Spirit Keeper mound.

Pepper gives perspectives to show the size of the earthen and stone mound.

We had a lovely meditation on the stone mounds and in the process reinvigorated and charged them up. This process fortifies the Spirit Lines (Ley Lines) that originate from the Field of Consciousness. These Spirit Lines then carry a more potent dose of Christ Consciousness on their journey to distant parts of the world (Mother Earth.) Excellent.

As I have said many times before We need Mother Earth to achieve our (humanity)  highest potential and She needs us to achieve Hers. Praying/meditating/ceremony/selfless acts clean and fortify space, in this case Spirit Lines.

On the way out I found two Manitou Stones on either side of the two trees straddling the trail close to the Fields of Consciousness. Interesting. Further investigation revealed that they marked some sort of oblong shaped aspect of Mother Earth associated with Fields. They were perfectly located either end of the oblong shaped aspect.

When I found this structure my attention then focused on several  large flat stones placed on the trail. Stones that may have been removed from a sacred structure.

Please,
NEVER MOVE STONES IN THE WOODS, PLACE THEM ON WET SPOTS ETC., ON A TRAIL, UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT THEY WERE NOT STRATEGICALLY PLACED THERE FOR A PURPOSE.
In other words, let things be.

Mother Earth is wonderful and ancient cultures knew how to connect and work with Her.

peace,
madis

PS. Pepper is available for photo shoots.