Elizabeth Dean: Lane's 1st and 2nd Axioms

Lane's first and second axioms are the first introductions to the idea of sacred place and hwo to categroize it. The first axiom is described to us as sacred place is nto chosen, it chooses. Although seemingly confusing, this means that one cannot simply declare a place sacred, the lpace chooses that it is sacred, adn further, chooses when to make its sacred qualities apparent. This idea is additionalyl the contruciton of a mental state a person must be in to discover the site. This shows us that sacred place is a construction of the imagination that affirms the independance of the holy. This also touches on the idea that God chooses to reveal himself only where he wills. The second axiom asserts that sacred place is ordrinary place, ritually made extraordinary. This axiom helped me to understand becasue before learnign about sacred place, and what makes up sacred place I would have constructed a picture in my head of a beautiful landscape with breathtaking scenery. This axiom makes it clear to us that sacred place does nto necessarily possess any of the previously described qualities, it is sacred due to the rituals that occur there. The location is made sacred by the declaration of religious significance through ritual acts performed at there. Lane talks about his discovery of sacred place- in particular a certain clearing in the wood, and says it was made sacred to him by the ritual act of silence he assumed there. This reminds me of a religious retreat I went on in middle school, and a certain location I took joy out or traveling to. There was a certain spot on the property where the leaders would bring the kids out to play various games and do activites at. Later that day I went back to that location by myself, and thought about things, and experienced an unexpected and overwhelming feelign of peace and serenity. My act of silence, and being alone and unbothered by other circumstances were ritual actions that made that location sacred to me, even though I had visited the location before.