Olivia Strittmatter - Sacred Space

April 18, 2020

In class readings 5

“The four directions are sacred, as are the “Four Sacred Mountains.” In ritual, space is organized according to fours, and bodies engage the space in highly patterned ceremonial movement. To make a place sacred means to take a space or area and symbolically arrange it according to the four directions and to use objects and one’s body within it according to the metapattern of the four directions (Ball 467).

This quote is from People Speaking Silently To Themselves by Martin Ball. I picked this quote in particular because it reminded me of my essay topic for our 10-page research paper. I really liked this quote because I feel that it shows how primal (or oral) cultures use their environment as a basis for their religious practices. It shows that the four mountains are the foundation of the sacredness of place. As well as making areas that are not in the original sacred place into sacred space for ceremonial events and rituals. While reading this I was wondering if the sacred space with the symbolic four directions could be made anywhere in the world, or if they would still have to be in a similar/certain area to be done correct? I imagine it could be done anywhere, if the proper tools were available and it was set up correctly.

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