Tray Norman Sacred Place

A sacred place is said to be a site recognized as manifesting its own inherent, chthonic power and numinosity. This statement uses difficult language which causes confusion unless each word is defined individually. Manifesting means readily perceived by the eye or the understanding; evident; obvious; apparent; plain. Inherent means existing in someone or something as a permanent and inseperable element, quality, or attribute. A chthonic power is of or pertaining to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under earth. Numinosity means a relationship between people, places, and things and the individual. To me, this statement is translated to mean that a sacred place is obvious to be a permanent and natural attribute existing in someone or something, that pertains to dieties/spirits dwelling under the earth. Numinosity refers to the sacred place being a spiritual force or influence that is supernatural and mysterious. An example of this is the Temple of Poseidon. It is readily perceived by the eye, its evident and obvious that it is a sacred place. It is inherent because it exists in the Greeks as a permanent and inseperable element. It is on the very edge of Greece completely surrounded by the sea. It has chthonic power because it pertains to Poseidon, the God of the sea. It was a place of worship for the Greeks. Numinosity connects to the place because the spiritual influence of Poseidon created a supernatural feeling.