Sacred Blog #2
Landscapes of the Sacred
In this blog, I will be
discussing the idea of axis mundi, which was mentioned in Landscapes of the Sacred in Part 1: Place in American Religious
Life. The term axis mundi is a spiritual symbol used to describe the center of
the earth where the earth and sky connect. In some cultures, the axis mundi
symbol is pictured as a natural object such as a tree, mountain, or vine. Mircea
Eliade described the axis of the world or the “navel of the earth” to be the
center of our personal world. This means that she believed through sacred pilgrimages
one could communicate entirely with the one they solely worship better than
they normally can. This idea of improved communication while on a pilgrimage is
a widely shared belief or concept. When most people go on pilgrimages, they comment
on how in tune they are with their feelings. Many people also notice that when traveling
to a high place, like climbing a mountain, it could ultimately make one think
they are closer to heaven or their religious leader. This symbolizes the
interconnection between heaven and earth and vice versa. Although you wish that
it will remain the same when you return home to your busy lifestyle, it is
harder to continue this so deep, intimate relationship or connection with the
one you worship. The ideal situation is to continue this intense focusing and
centering on your faith and religion while juggling your everyday life. Therefore,
the axis mundi or this centering of the mind on one’s spiritual leader, is to
be strived and desired for in hopes of accomplishing the next level in a spiritual
relationship.
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