Light and scared sites by Diana Cox Based on Barbara Weightman’s Sacred landscapes and the Phenomenon of Light

Light is a vital part of daily life. The sun rises and sets daily giving the earth a blast of sunlight, which is essential for light. Though light is a powerful element that is necessary for all life, it as also a part of sacred sites. Light is a fundamental part of religious experiences, it has the ability to evoke responses and representations among particular belief systems. According to Barbara Weightman, there are at least four ways in which light is integral to a sacred landscape. The first one is the sun or another celestial body, which gives heat and nutrition for the world below it. The next being fire, which is man’s creation. We use it for light, heat, and cooking purposes. Though when it relates to landscapes, it can destroy everything in its path. The next way is which light is integral part of a sacred landscape is light rays. Light rays especially from the sun pass heat. Though have you ever seen light rays from the sun in the sky, it looks almost angelic; as though God is sending a little aspect of his power and grace to the world. The last aspect is color. Color is an affirmation of light and reveals and defines relative purity. Each of these aspects has a different effect on how a local geography is perceived.