Jackie Bond- Lane's 4 Axioms

In his book, Lane describes the four axioms of sacred places and how they are perceived. The first axiom states that “a sacred place is not chosen, it chooses.” This means that people cannot simply walk up decide that a place is going to be a sacred landscape. Instead, the place chooses for itself and makes it known to the people. The second axiom explains that a sacred place is and ordinary place that is ritually made extraordinary. This means that a sacred place can be completely normal and non-special, however through rituals and ceremonies it is made sacred by the people who experience it. Lane’s third axiom states that a sacred place can be tred upon without being entered. This means that many people can pass through or walk by the sacred place and feel or experience nothing because they did not “enter” the place or connect with the sacredness of the place. Finally, Lanes explains that the impulse of a sacred place is centripetal and centrifugal, local and universal. This is a complex explanation meaning that the sacred place can be not only around you, but also with you in your thoughts when you are not present in the place. One can relive the experience of the sacred place even without revisiting the spot. Overall, Lane does a wonderful job of defining sacred landscapes and their entity as a whole.