Welcome to The Wisdom Path Podcast with me, your host, Rosie Peacock, alongside my guest, Christa McKinnon. Today, we’re coming to you from the sacred grounds of Glastonbury Abbey, a place steeped in history, myth and deep spiritual resonance.
But what is it that makes a place sacred?
Is it an innate energy that has always been present, drawing people in? Or is it the reverence and rituals of our ancestors that imbue it with sacredness over time?
This question, and so much more, is what Christa and I explore in this episode.
What Defines a Sacred Site?
Christa, who has led Sacred Earth Activism for years, has delved deeply into this topic. Through her work, she has spoken with Indigenous elders from South America and Africa, who often describe sacred sites as places that already had an energetic presence, an essence that was later amplified by human connection, rituals and ceremonies.
Generations of people returning to the same places for burial rites, solstice celebrations and pilgrimages create a feedback loop of energy, reinforcing the sacredness.
But when did these places first become sacred?
That remains an open mystery, woven into the ancestral memory of those who visit them. It is as if something in our DNA recognises these places before our minds do.
Even here, standing in the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, Christa and I can feel it, an inexplicable shift in energy that settles the nervous system, creating a deep sense of presence and connection.
Sacredness Beyond Buildings
One of the most fascinating aspects of this conversation is that sacred sites aren’t always marked by grand structures.
While cathedrals and temples were built to inspire awe, many Indigenous cultures honour land itself—mountains, forests and lakes—without the need for human-made markers.
Buildings, while visually powerful, are not what make a place sacred. Instead, they serve as a symbol of the holiness that was already there.
That raises an interesting question, if the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey were no longer here, would we still feel its energy? Would we still recognise it as sacred?
Christa believes we would, but only if we attune ourselves to it.
This sensitivity is something many of us in the modern Western world have lost. We rely on visual cues—arches, altars, icons—to recognise holiness. But true sacredness exists beyond the physical, in the energetic resonance of the land itself.
Creating Sacredness Through Intention
Beyond recognising ancient sites as sacred, we also have the power to create sacred space through intention.
In my own experience as a firekeeper for sweat lodges, I have witnessed this transformation first-hand.
Before a lodge is built, we mark the space with ceremony, calling in the elements, honouring the land and setting the intention for healing and connection. In that moment, an ordinary patch of earth becomes something more, a portal to deep spiritual experience.
But once the ceremony is over and the lodge is dismantled, does that space remain sacred?
Christa and I discuss how energy builds over time. A place that has held repeated ceremonies, whether it’s a lodge, a stone circle or a pilgrimage route, accumulates a spiritual charge that lingers.
However, sacredness can also fade if a site is neglected, disrupted or repurposed for commercial use.
What Happens When Sacred Sites Are No Longer Respected?
This brings us to an issue Christa has worked tirelessly on, the protection of sacred sites from modern destruction.
Take Stonehenge, for example.
Once a deeply revered site for spiritual practice, it is now primarily a tourist attraction. Visitors arrive by the busload, snap a few photos and leave.
Without active reverence, without people honouring it as a place of worship, does its spiritual power diminish?
Christa shares how similar issues arise worldwide, from mining in Aboriginal lands to the desecration of sacred burial grounds. In many cases, industrial interests overpower spiritual and ecological concerns, stripping the land of its energetic and cultural significance.
However, there is hope.
A global movement is emerging to protect sacred sites, led by Indigenous elders, environmental activists and spiritual leaders.
One powerful example Christa shares is from Hawaii, where local elders physically blocked bulldozers from destroying a sacred water source. Through direct action and ceremony, they successfully stopped the construction of a luxury hotel.
This movement is growing because people are beginning to realise that our spiritual heritage matters.
Why Protecting Sacred Sites Matters for Future Generations
Christa leaves us with a thought-provoking insight,
“If we don’t honour our ancestors, we will not consider our descendants. If we lose our connection to the past, we will not care for the future.”
In modern society, we have become increasingly self-focused. Where once we honoured our grandparents, now we barely think beyond ourselves and our children.
Sacred sites remind us that we are part of something much bigger, a lineage, a cosmic web, a deep connection that stretches across time.
By preserving these spaces, we ensure that future generations will also have places where they can experience the mystery, awe and spiritual depth that so many of us seek.
Final Thoughts
Coming to Glastonbury Abbey today with Christa has been a powerful reminder of just how rare and precious these experiences are.
Not everyone gets to feel the unmistakable energy of a sacred site. And if we don’t actively protect these spaces, future generations may never get the chance.
I hope this conversation sparks something in you, whether it’s a deeper appreciation for sacred places or a renewed commitment to honouring the land.
If you want to explore more of Christa’s work with Sacred Earth Activism, you’ll find her details in the show notes.
Thank you for tuning in and we’ll see you in the next episode of The Wisdom Path Podcast.
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