For info on upcoming events, talks, surveys of sacred sites and workshops on Mother Earth go to: Mother Earth Talks

My book book The Way Home—Making Heaven on Earth is due out with O-books in the fall of 2009.

This site is dedicated to educating people about sacred sites in the Greater Upstate New York in hopes of encouraging people to come here and pray. I believe that mother earth’s soul resides in this area and is made up of what I call fields of consciousness. These fields have the ability to heal mother earth and you, as well as help advance our individual and global consciousness. Our experience is that prayer/meditation/ceremony done at these fields can have a powerfully transformative affect upon an individual. We have also found that spiritual practices and ceremony done at fields can similarly influence communities; See Peacemaker’s Sanctuary. Many of us believe that this transformative ability can similarly happen for the country and rest of the world. We hope that you will come and bring your love, devotion and desire for a better world and pray at some of the sites listed.

Recorded history shows that the area of the old Erie Canal route was the birthplace of many initiatives that helped shape our country and world--democratically, spiritually and in social justice. Before that the oral tradition of the Haudenosaunee tells of a great prophet that made peace between warring factions and gave the people the Great Law of Peace that would later become the basis for American democracy.

Upstate New York is the birthplace of democracy, America's second Great Awakening, the Evangelical movement, the New Age movement and the women’s movement. Religions were born here (Mormonism, Shakers…) and prophets walked the earth. It has been called the Burnt over District for the all the religions born and burnt over with something new; America’s psychic highway for its religious fervent, social justice and experimentations and North star country for all the freedom seekers that came here on the Underground Railroad. It is this fervent, this ability for spiritual awakening, radicalism and desire for a better world that we are trying to tap into. For more go to Birthplace of the spiritual, the prophetic and justice

Emphasis has been placed on listing sites that have historically been a well spring for enlightenment, epiphany and sacrifice for the greater good. All of the sites listed have fields of consciousness on them. I have tried to give you as accurate a description as possible about a particular site and where the fields are located.

If you wish to gain sentience of Mother Earth and consciousness I suggest that you focus on the sensations you experience in your body while meditating in a field of consciousness. You may get a tingling sensation in your hands and legs, or in your subtle body or in your forehead area. Focus on that sensation while you are meditating. If you do not get a sensation imagine divine light and love surrounding and entering your subtle body.

Visiting Places of Prayer

There are no prescribed procedures or practices for you to follow at a sacred site. When we say prayer we mean all forms of spiritual exercises—meditation, contemplation, mantra, petition, praise, thanks, visualization, healing work and traditional forms of prayer—as well as ceremony and ritual. So are free to do what you want.

Each site is unique and has its own identity. There are different types of consciousness and each sacred site is covered with Geographic samskaras from those that have been there before helping create its own identity. When we see something special, an opportunity to help, evolve or learn I will note this. Most of the places reviewed do contain comments about specific practices that you might consider doing.

You are bringing your own individual uniqueness and gifts to a sacred site. What you get from a site might be totally different to what we perceive. You might also have special needs that need to be fulfilled or special gifts that you can provide. Remember we are talking about a dynamic give and take.

Picking up on Consciousness

While we are constantly undergoing an exchange of consciousness with the environment and people we meet many of us have never experienced pure consciousness in such a strong dose. This is not meant to alarm you, but only to say that this is a very unique experience.

Many people do energy work, work with light, and do healing work with Reiki and other forms of energy. Consciousness is something different. It is more upstream in your being (according to Hindu theory energy devolved from consciousness) and is associated with higher planes (khoshas, lokas). The goal of energy work is the hope that you will raise your consciousness. Here we are beginning with raising consciousness. Previous energy work should give you a higher sensitivity and receptivity to sense consciousness. Whether you feel it or not, you will be affected when you are standing in close proximity to a field of consciousness.

It will take some time and several visits to feel the consciousness. Most people may not feel anything for a long time. You will be affected but not everyone will be like Clara Barton who visited Dansville NY for a few weeks, had an epiphany and went off to start the American Red Cross. You will benefit from your visit and will most likely enjoy the places listed. We do run into people, often not very spiritual, who come to a place over and over again and tell us that they come here because it makes them feel good.

You will a be picking up on some strong energy. Places of consciousness are powered by energy lines. If you go to a stacked field of consciousness or a particular site that had previously been a sacred site for previous civilizations, it will have attracted much energy; so you will get a big dose. Be careful. Since the two are mingled together it can be difficult to distinguish between the two(consciousness will register in your forehead area, while energy may affect other parts of your body or your overall auric sheath).

If you are looking to pick-up and sense consciousness I recommend you go to the following places:

Gobind Sadan-30 miles north of Syracuse NY.

Foundation of Light in Ithaca, NY.

Chapel at Upstate Medical in Syracuse NY.

Spirit House 30 miles southeast of Syracuse NY.

After time your chidakasha may develop a sensitivity to space and place. In other words you will be able to pick-up on a place’s vibe (Samskaras) or the consciousness transmitted via Spirit lines. Unfortunately much of the world is covered over with negative samskaras that will work to reduce your heightened consciousness and may even give you some occasional pains in your forehead area once you leave a sacred site. Do not let this distract you, it will take much time for this to happen and if it does your consciousness and spiritual gifts will be much heightened by then.

A Cornucopia of Spiritual Delights

Each sacred site has its own unique identity and sense. Some places offer specific opportunities:

Emotional Healing—The Chapel at Upstate Medical (Syracuse, NY) is a great place for those to go that are grieving, dealing with stress or depression or haunted by the scares of war.

Bringing Peace—Whether you are trying to mend a relationship or bring peace to the world Johnson Hall (40 miles west of Albany, NY) is the place to go.

Having Prayers Answered—If you are longing for a place where God will hear and possibly answer your prayers then go the Peacemaker’s Sanctuary on the shores of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse NY.

Prophetic Spirit—If you have a bent for social justice then spent some time at some of the places of worship that are connected by the Prophetic Spirit Line in Syracuse NY.

While each of these places provide great opportunities they require patience and perseverance; meaning you are not going to have healing over night and the changes you will experience will be subtle and may take time to appear.

There are also sites that afford a great opportunity to make a better world. We ask that you please try and visit these places and add your love and positive intentions. Here are a few:

Healing between Native and Non-Native Peoples— birthplace of Red Jacket in Canoga NY (10 miles south of Seneca Falls, NY) on the western shore of Cayuga Lake is a place where you can send healing love to mend the rift between Native and Non-Native people. It is not necessary to spend a lot of time there. Say a prayer or spread a little tobacco to honor this great peace maker.

If you go

Make sure to bring and drink plenty of water when you visit. Regularly assess how you feel to make sure you do not over do it. Generally speaking your body will regulate your ability to absorb consciousness. You may experience positive conditions such as a spiritual high, happiness or bliss. You may also have negative experiences as when you meditate too much—dizziness, headaches, nausea, etc...

The most important thing your can bring is a positive intention—for a better world and a better self and the willingness to look beyond oneself for solutions.

Since many of the places are outdoors a cushion would be a good thing to have. You can buy outdoor cushions at the sporting goods sections of large stores. Such cushions are waterproof and retain your body warmth to keep you warm. Outdoor locations may not have bathroom facilities.

Contact me if you have any problems at a site or have a place to recommend.

Peace,

madis senner,315-463-5369
In emailing me make sure to change (at) to @ in the address header: madis senner

Blessing to you. May you bring peace, healing and knowledge to yourself and the world. Peace

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