New Age Sites
Followers of the New Age movement believe that cosmic energy is contained in the ancient sacred sites of the world, which can provide spiritual and sometimes even physical healing to those who visit the site. Most New Age sites were originally sacred to prehistoric or indigenous people. In some cases, such as at Mt. Shasta or Uluru, the sites remain sacred to practitioners of the ancient rituals, which has led to occasional conflict between the two faiths. In other cases, such as at Stonehenge, New Age practitioners have breathed new life into long-abandoned sites. Below is an illustrated index of the 16 New Age Sites profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
For the Egyptians, Abydos was one of the holiest sites in the world. It was the cult center of the god Osiris and the gateway to the underworld, and therefore a popular place of pilgrimage and burial.
One of four rock formations in Sedona believed by New Age adherents to contain a power vortex, Airport Mesa is said to have a masculine energy.
Constructed around 2500 BC, Avebury is the largest prehistoric stone circle in Britain. It boasts not only ancient mysteries but a pleasant setting amidst Avebury village and green fields.
One of four rock formations in Sedona believed by New Age adherents to contain a power vortex, Bell Rock is said to contain masculine energy.
Aligned with the stars in the Wyoming mountains around 700 years ago, Bighorn is the most important of several medicine wheels in the American West.
One of four rock formations in Sedona believed by New Age adherents to contain a power vortex, Boynton Canyon is said to have a balance of masculine and feminine energy.
One of four rock formations in Sedona believed by New Age adherents to contain a power vortex, Cathedral Rock is said to have a feminine, relaxing energy.
A mysterious and magical place, Externsteine was a pagan sacred site until Charlemagne outlawed paganism in 782, after which it was occupied by Christian hermits.
Constructed at least 4,500 years ago and shrouded in fascinating mystery, the pyramids of Giza are the only Ancient Wonder of the World to survive today.
This conical hill, topped by a 14th-century church tower, may have been a place of ancient ritual and it was a place of penance and pilgrimage for Catholics in medieval times.
Shrouded in mystery and having alleged connections to Atlantis, this great sculpture continues to fascinate visitors. It is thought to be an ancient guardian of Khafre's pyramid.
This tall peak in the Cascade Mountains has long been sacred to Native Americans of the area. Today it is also a major center of New Age spirituality.
This great tomb-temple dates from 3200 BC, a thousand years before Stonehenge was built. It is astronomically aligned and includes some fascinating ancient rock art.
New Age adherents believe there are four main "power vortexes" in the Sedona area, located at the spectacular rock formations of Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon.
Dating from between 3000 and 2000 BC, Stonehenge is a circle of massive megaliths weigh many tons, fit together perfectly, and are astronomically aligned.
This ancient city was the capital of a powerful pre-Inca civilization that dominated the Andean region between 500 and 900 AD. Its monumental remains include several temples, a pyramid, symbolic gates, monoliths and carvings.
