Ghosts, Leys, and Sacred Sites: The Supernaturalism of Landscape
August 29, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Classical world used to believe that there were two kinds of sacred places: human holy sites consecrated through architecture and devotion, and geophysical power-spots that the gods had already sanctified through their sublime natural works – fountains, falls, fault lines, and other fey places. The mightiest of all, of course, would be ones that are both. All preindustrial societies had them. Many of them are still famous: The Great Pyramid, Stonehenge, Chartres Cathedral, the Great Serpent Mound, and Lily Dale. Many preindustrial societies also had traditions concerning patterns of alignment and earthly forces linked to their customs of religion and magic. Contemporary dowsers and geologists confirm the power at many of these spots. Furthermore, wherever these sites and landscapes-lines are now, they gather paranormal rumor of all types – witches, wizards, giants, fairies, UFO’s, dragons, and yes, ghosts.
In his smooth, colorful, cross-disciplinary approach involving music, poetry, art, storytelling, and a power-point display of many images, Mason Winfield develops the lively talk Ghosts, leys and Sacred Sites. You will never look at landscape or architecture in the same way again!
Mason Winfield, East Aurora, NY, resident is western New York’s “supernatural historian.” The former English Department Chairman at the Gow School in South Wales, NY, studied English and Classics at Denison University, got his M. A. from Boston College, and studied fiction and poetry with MacArthur “genius grant” winner Irving Feldman at SUNY Buffalo. Mason is the author of ten books on supernatural folklore, the War of 1812, and Iroquois tradition.
Mason Winfield (BA, MA) is the author/editor of ten books on the mystical and paranormal including Spirits of the Great Hill; Village Ghosts of Western New York; Haunted Rochester; Ghosts of 1812; Supernatural Saratoga; Iroquois Supernatural (with co-author Michael Bastine, 2011); The Paranormal Almanac of Western New York; and “The Whistlers,” Book 1: A Paranormal Intrigue.
The Classical world used to believe that there were two kinds of sacred places: human holy sites consecrated through architecture and devotion, and geophysical power-spots that the gods had already sanctified through their sublime natural works – fountains, falls, fault lines, and other fey places. The mightiest of all, of course, would be ones that are both. All preindustrial societies had them. Many of them are still famous: The Great Pyramid, Stonehenge, Chartres Cathedral, the Great Serpent Mound, and Lily Dale. Many preindustrial societies also had traditions concerning patterns of alignment and earthly forces linked to their customs of religion and magic. Contemporary dowsers and geologists confirm the power at many of these spots. Furthermore, wherever these sites and landscapes-lines are now, they gather paranormal rumor of all types – witches, wizards, giants, fairies, UFO’s, dragons, and yes, ghosts.
In his smooth, colorful, cross-disciplinary approach involving music, poetry, art, storytelling, and a power-point display of many images, Mason Winfield develops the lively talk Ghosts, leys and Sacred Sites. You will never look at landscape or architecture in the same way again!
Mason Winfield, East Aurora, NY, resident is western New York’s “supernatural historian.” The former English Department Chairman at the Gow School in South Wales, NY, studied English and Classics at Denison University, got his M. A. from Boston College, and studied fiction and poetry with MacArthur “genius grant” winner Irving Feldman at SUNY Buffalo. Mason is the author of ten books on supernatural folklore, the War of 1812, and Iroquois tradition.
Mason Winfield (BA, MA) is the author/editor of ten books on the mystical and paranormal including Spirits of the Great Hill; Village Ghosts of Western New York; Haunted Rochester; Ghosts of 1812; Supernatural Saratoga; Iroquois Supernatural (with co-author Michael Bastine, 2011); The Paranormal Almanac of Western New York; and “The Whistlers,” Book 1: A Paranormal Intrigue.
http://www.lilydaleassembly.com/event/ghosts-leys-and-sacred-sites/http://www.lilydaleassembly.com/event/ghosts-leys-and-sacred-sites/
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