Syllabus
INTRODUCTION
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Sacred Places
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An exploration of how and why places become invested with SACREDNESS and how the SACRED is embodied or made manifest through ART and ARCHITECTURE
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Mount Shasta, California
Allison Gerber
Since the beginning of time, mountains all over the world have been believed by mankind to be invested with a sense of sacredness (cf. Mountains and the Sacred). Often these mountains retain their sacredness from generation to generation and from civilization to civilization. In fact, this sense of the sacred seems to be an innate property of some mountains. California's Mount Shasta (located close to the State's northern border approximately half-way between the Pacific Ocean and the State of Nevada)is one example of a mountain which has been and continues to be regarded as innately sacred.
Perhaps Mount Shasta's sacredness is a direct result of her physical properties. Shasta is a compound volcano, whose's summit height has slowly built up over the past 100,000 years through periodic eruptions. In fact, the mountain has erupted approximately every 600 years, with its last eruption occurring in 1786. In this way, its volcanic past has invested it with an almost magical prowess. Secondly, the sheer size of Mount Shasta makes it an imposing sight. Currently, Shasta's summit reaches approximately 14,200 feet, making it one of the largest mountains in California's Cascade Range. The fact that her summit boasts snow for most of the year seems to be in direct opposition to her fiery capabilities. Finally, Shasta seems to be the originating source for much the water that brings and sustains life along the West Coast. The streams that begin on Mount Shasta enter the three major river systems: the Shasta River to the northwest, the Sacramento River to the west and southwest, and the McCloud River to the east, southeast, and south.
Prior to the arrival of European-Americans on the West Coast, Mount Shasta was viewed as a sacred force by several tribes of Native Americans. In fact, several different Indian tribes believed Mount Shasta to be the site of the earth's creation or, at the very least, the point at which the spirits of the Gods were at their most powerful. One legend boasts that the peek of Mount Shasta is the point at which the heavens meet the earth. As such, the mountain is considered to be the staircase which the Gods used to reach the earth. A second legend boasts that the fiery peak is the point at which all life exploded from the earth's core in a burst of creation. In addition, other smaller myths perpetuated the prowess of Shasta. For instance, one of her streams is thought to hold all the tears of the animals hunted by the Native Americans tribes. In this way, the slain animals never felt the kill because the mountain had absorbed their pain.
In the nineteenth century, with the continuing westward expansion of explorers, gold rushers, fur trappers, and other immigrants, the peak of Mount Shasta became a well known landmark along the trail West. In fact, notable figures of the time visited Mount Shasta and immortalized her through their work. John Muir, the famous natural historian, wrote prolifically about Mount Shasta. The poet Joaquin Miller celebrated the mountain in his work, and U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt marveled at her beauty.
Today Mount Shasta's innate sacredness continues to inspire. Currently, Shasta is the center of worship for several metaphysical religions. Natural phenomenon, such as an alignment of the planets in 1987 and the appearance of the comet Hale-Bop in 1997, bring large numbers of worshippers to Mount Shasta. In addition, each year Mount Shasta hosts a Buddhist festival which coincides with another festival held in the Himalayan Mountains.
Bibliography
- Time-Life Books, The Indians of California, Time Life, Inc: Alexandria, Virginia, 1994.
- R.F. Heizer and M.A. Whipple, The California Indians: A Source Book, University of California Press: Berkeley, California, 1973.
- Stith Thompson, Tales of the North American Indians, Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1929.
Additional Links
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Lascaux, France
Giza, Egypt
Stonehenge, England
Newgrange, Ireland
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Delphi, Greece
Athenian Acropolis, Greece
Holy Sepulchre, Israel
Dome of the Rock, Israel
Chartres, France
Lourdes, France
Shrine at Ise, Japan
Bodh Gaya, India
Teotihuacán, Mexico
St. Peter's Basilica, Italy
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mosque of Córdoba, Spain
Kata Tjuta, Australia
Sacred Symbols
and Shapes
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