Pagan Snapshots: Sacred Sites
originally published in 1994
by Jeffrey Pierce
We can work magic anywhere; in the middle of a street, in the security of our homes, or in the depths of the forest. We don't need ritual tools, incense, or prewritten spellwork. But incense adds magical properties to the rite, charged and blessed tools make focusing energy easier. And there is a certain magical energy to working with a sacred site that cannot be overlooked.
Finding and "creating" sacred sites is a simple matter, requiring little more than an open mind, a bit of confidence, and a respectful attitude. The process isn't stereotypical spellwork, but the sacred approach and the components are the same.
Listen
You will hear me say this time and time again. Learn to "listen" to the weave of magic. Magic is all around us. How many times have we felt an urge to duck into a store we've never visited, to pick up the phone and call a friend out of the blue, or felt sure that we'd find what we were looking for in a place that just popped into our mind? Listen to these "instincts." Just as they'll lead you to wonderful experiences, they will also aid you in finding a sacred site of your own.
To find a sacred site, simply keep your mind open as you would in any of those situations. The magical energy of such a place will call to you, whether its the corner of your yard, an abandoned field, or deep in the wilderness.
Ask
When you've found such a site, its inappropriate to simply begin working with it. Although your intent may be pure, there are a numbero f reasons why it may be inappropriate to use the site. Someone could already be working with it. It could be the home to spirits that aren't ready to be disturbed. Or the area could be so ecologically sensitive that it can't handle your constant presence.
Enter the site in a sacred manner, much the same as you would any house of worship. In much the same way that you "listened" for the site, "listen" and see if the area has a focal point, a place where you will be working your magic. Go to it and speak your intent for using the site. Tell the energy what you are planning to do, the types of rituals that you will be performing, or even that you simply wish to learn from the place. Treat the site as if it were another practitioner you were working with. In many ways, it is.
Give Before You Take
Leave an offering of birdseed, a piece of bread (all-natural or homebaked) before you go and give thanks once again. Then leave. Wait at least twenty-four hours. Then come back. If your offering is untouched, your presence has not been accepted at the site and it would be best to find somewhere else to do your magical work. If the offering is gone or partially eaten, you can begin to work with the site. The creatures of a site are as often your teachers as they are your companions. They will let you know if it's appropriate for you to use such a site by either accepting your offering or leaving it be.