Sacred Sites, Sacred Journeys

All of life is a sacred journey and every place on Earth a sacred site.

This is indeed true if we can bring our full awareness and an attitude of awe and reverence to each experience, no matter how mundane or seemingly insignificant.

Most of us benefit from the periodic shift in consciousness brought about by a total change in environment, returning to our lives with greater enthusiasm and appreciation.  Even those of us fortunate to live in a beautiful place like Cape Cod sometimes forget the healing quality of our location until we are away from home for a while.

The growing interest in travel to so called ‘sacred sites’ speaks to a need greater than that of a change of routine or a relaxing holiday.  The pilgrimage, or sacred journey, has played a central role in every religion and spiritual tradition, as if in answer to an ancient longing to experience something greater and more profound than can be found in ordinary life.  Whether that something we seek is to know the self, to touch the heart or essence of Life, or to reach a transcendent mystical rapture with God, this longing has existed for as long as humanity has walked upon the earth.

A true sacred journey requires a total involvement with the process, even its discomforts and challenges, as well as the resistance you may meet in yourself and others.  The process truly begins with the moment of decision to go.  The wonderful synchronicity of the universe will provide all you need to prepare you for the experience, sometimes in the form of obstacles to your proceeding, as if to test your resolve.

Why would anyone, especially Americans who generally enjoy a comfortable standard of living, choose to travel in developing or remote areas of the world?  Or rise at dawn to enter a temple and meditate, especially a temple which is on top of an inaccessible mountain?  Or wander through cold, dark cathedrals in search of the ‘holy of holies,’ the most powerful place to pray?  What is happening to these people? What do they find when they get there?

From my 20 years of leading tours and conferences to sacred sites, I can attest to it being a very powerful and transformative experience, even for those who claim they just came along to see the historic and architectural sites.  I have found that whatever the outward reasons for joining a particular group, it is always exactly right for that individual’s growth and healing.

Both prior to and during the journey, some experience dreams of incredible detail, often of distant times and events of which they had no prior knowledge.  Often upon entering a site, a great emotional release occurs ranging from anger or tears to ecstatic joy.  In the course of the trip, dramatic personality changes sometimes take place, as if purging some past trauma and allowing for the lighter, happier being to gradually emerge.

Sometimes the characters from group members dreams and visions are recognized to be other members of the group, and a mutual recognition and happy “reunion” takes place.  The bonds of love forged on such an intense spiritual journey often result in continuing close friendships, and sometimes marriages.  As an interfaith minister, I have performed ceremonies for spiritual seekers on The Red Sea, Sinai, and many other remote locations.

As with so many of life’s adventures, it is often in retrospect that we realize how changed we are and how far we have come in our spiritual journey because of times of altered reality, testing, and challenge.  I have met tour participants’ years later who say they only recently became aware that their journey with me so dramatically changed their lives.

Traditionally, the power sites of the earth have been the physical centers of the great religions.  The sites for churches and temples would be carefully chosen based upon the precise location of energy vortices. Ensuing generations over centuries would build their places of worship upon these same sites, resulting in layers of strata containing remnants of churches, mosques, and temples.  These vortices are convergences of what are referred to as ‘ley lines,’ or energy meridians, which encircle the earth.

There are major and lesser vortices, but all are an essential part of the intricate gridline of energy surrounding the living entity that is our planet.  It is believed that this gridline of electromagnetic force is being stepped up now in order to assist our planet through this time of great transition and healing.  The hordes of spiritual seekers convening in these locations are assisting in this activation of energies, grounding a vibration of light and love.

One of the most moving experiences in my travel memories is of a conference in Egypt in 1990, ‘Personal, and Planetary Healing,’ in which I facilitated.  There were 250 participants representing 15 nations, and the intensity of the week was brought to a close with a sunset meditation ceremony at the Great Pyramids.  We had gathered in a large circle surrounding the Pyramid of Cheops, closed our eyes, and began to pray for world peace.

Suddenly we heard throngs of laughing children climbing the Giza Plateau to join us, their little hands waving and their voices calling out “We love you!”  They rushed to join us, delighted to be a part of this huge gathering.  Their parents watched from a distance, smiling shyly and then gradually joined in as we took their hands and welcomed them.

Moments like these confirm the power of love in transcending all barriers, giving us a glimpse of what is possible.  If we are to find peace on Earth, we need to see ourselves as part of one great world family, celebrating our oneness as well as our diversity.  There are no ‘others’ or foreigners; just us. the family of humanity.  As more groups and individuals throughout the world are inspired to gather in meditation and prayer, both on the physical plane and by linking spiritually, the powerful collective focus cannot help but have a positive effect.

Regardless of where each of us is called in our own personal journey, or what particular place on this beautiful planet we find most powerful and sacred, the pilgrimage is ultimately to our own center.

Katrina Valenzuela is an inspirational teacher, counselor, healer, and leader of sacred site tours.  She facilitates consciousness transformation for individuals and groups.  Drawing upon a lifetime of personal growth, spiritual training, and metaphysical study, Katrina is dedicated to assisting others toward their unique path and soul mission, as well as assisting in the awakening of global awareness.  For full bio, see

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