What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Located at a nexus point in the global world grid of energy, Angkor Wat is one of the 'Wonders of the Ancient World.' It's thought to be a power center, where the placement of each stone links with the movement of the sky and seasons.
Magnetic rock on Easter Island attracts people searching for spiritual enlightenment and healing. Legend has it that the ancient tribes of Easter Island held mana or magical knowledge, transmitted through the Moai of ancestors—the distinctive stone carvings erected above the graves of deceased chiefs.
The sacred mountains of Bali, in Indonesia, are considered a hotspot of sacred energy. The island is bisected by this volcanic mountain range, that has a deity ascribed to each of its four peaks.
The site holds spiritual significance for Hawaiians, as island folklore claims the demigod Maui lassoed the Sun from the volcano's crater.
The energy of Sedona is said to be so strong it can interact with the subtle energy body of visitors. People travel from far and wide for the physical, emotional, and spiritual energy and healing that is claimed to be possible here.
Near Tulum, the Mayan's specifically chose the site in Palenque to build one of their biggest cities. It was originally named Nah Chan Kan, which means “The Place of the Stellar Serpent."
A freshwater crater lake on New Zealand's North Island, Lake Taupo is considered a water vortex of the Earth. You can walk a 90-minute trail around the lake in an anti-clockwise direction, as its energy is said to flow this way.
The tallest volcano in Japan, a visit to Mount Fuji is said to enhance life energy. The Taoists believe the volcano harbors secrets of immortality.
The third eye chakra is believed to shift locations according to the Earth's rotation. In this astrological age, it's believed to be in Western Europe, near Stonehenge. This aligns it with the heart chakra, close to Glastonbury. In the next astrological age it will move to a different location.
Overlooking Cape Town and Table Bay, Table Mountain dominates the city landscape. Some people consider the mountain a vortex of Earth elemental energy.
The crown chakra is located at the top of the head. It's associated with the colors violet and white, and spiritual awareness and our connection with the divine.
Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is considered the crown chakra of the Earth. As the "roof of the world," it corresponds to the top of the head. A sacred site for Tibetans and Buddhists, it stands at 22,000-feet (6,705-m) tall.
Located between the eyes, the third eye chakra is linked with the color indigo and our intuitive connection, as well as imagination.
Located in the throat and associated with the color blue, this chakra is connected to our ability to communicate.
The heart chakra is located in the center of the chest, and is considered the bridge between the three lower and three upper chakras. Associated with the color green, it symbolizes our ability to love, connect, and feel compassion.
Glastonbury is a sacred area, with a strong Wiccan population. In Arthurian legend, it was known as the Isle of Avalon. A central location for goddess rites and fertility rituals, it's also associated with the romance between Guinevere and Sir Lancelot, as well as Merlin's magic. Glastonbury and Stonehenge are adjacent locations where the Earth's heart chakra is found.
The Earth's throat chakra is believed to be spread across three sites, forming a triangle: the Pyramids of Giza and Mount Sinai (both in Egypt) and Jerusalem's Mount of Olives. As the throat chakra is shaped like a triangle and associated with seeking and speaking truth, the connection between the mysteries of these sites and the "truth" of existence is thought to be highly symbolic.
The solar plexus is located in the upper abdomen. It's associated with the color yellow and is related to feelings of self-esteem and confidence.
The sacral chakra is located just below the belly button. It's associated with the color orange, and our feelings of self-worth around pleasure, sexuality, and creativity.
Two major ley lines intersect at Lake Titicaca, believed to represent the male and female Great Dragon Lines. They are the feathered serpent (male) and the rainbow serpent (female). The biggest lake in South America, it is a place of mythological significance. Lake Titicaca is the sacral chakra of the Earth.
The chakras are seven energy centers or "wheels" in the body, which run along the spine from the base to the skull. Each one is responsible for a different type of energy. Chakras are part of a complex energy system that originated in India, first mentioned in sacred texts dating back to 1500 BCE.
Mount Shasta in the US is considered the root chakra of the Earth. It is regarded as a sacred place to many Native American tribes, who believe it to be the birthplace of creation.
The root chakra in the body is located at the base of the spine. It's associated with the color red, and feelings of grounding and stability.
Uluru, in Australia, and its surroundings are a sacred site to Aboriginal groups in Australia. They believe the site holds ancient secrets and powers. Uluru is considered the Earth's solar plexus.
Ancient cultures chose places where energy lines converged or were most powerful to build sacred structures. These hubs of energy or vortexes in the electromagnetic field were thought to be highly conductive of spiritual energy. Perhaps it was easier to access "higher dimensions" from these places.
However, the concept of energy lines or grids existed long before the modern incarnation. The Chinese have "dragon lines" and feng shui. The Incas used "spirit-lines" or ceques that radiate in straight lines from temples to shrines.
Ley line theories began to circulate widely in New Age movements in the 1960s and '70s. In his 1969 book 'The View Over Atlantis,' writer John Mitchell added a spiritual dimension to ley lines. Superstition, neo-paganism, and mysticism blended together with ley line lore.
For the Aboriginal people of Australia, songlines, also called "dreaming tracks," are paths across land and sky. By singing songs in sequences, indigenous people can navigate the deserts of Australia's interior.
While not as strong as the sites considered chakras, there are several powerful places dotted around the globe that are considered "gates" or vortexes of energy.
This Incan citadel was built to harness the Sun's rays and energy. The special energy at the site of Machu Picchu is said to resonate with all the body's chakras, balancing them and recharging energy.
Sources: (BBC) (L'Officiel) (Healthline) (Sacred Footprints) (Smithsonian) (TheTravel)
(The Druids Garden) (Shamans Market) (Freya Ingva)
See also: Fascinating ways different cultures ward off evil spirits
Imaginary, energetic lines that crisscross the Earth, ley lines intersect at different points where energy vortexes can be found (supposedly). These vortexes are reported to have positive effects on the mind and body.
Volcanic activity, fault lines, magnetic anomalies—the world's sacred sites tend to follow a locational pattern. And spending time in these places leads many people to claim heightened spiritual experience. Sound far-fetched?
Some believe the Earth itself has areas where energy is concentrated, offering visitors a way to connect to something mystical and profound. Just like the body is said to have centers where energy peaks, the same is said about our planet. Many religious and ancient sites are stationed along these alleged lines, or at their intersection.
Curious? Click on this gallery to see where you can go to experience this energy.
Portals to another dimension? The Earth's chakra points and vortexes
These sites have been revered since ancient times
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
Volcanic activity, fault lines, magnetic anomalies—the world's sacred sites tend to follow a locational pattern. And spending time in these places leads many people to claim heightened spiritual experience. Sound far-fetched?
Some believe the Earth itself has areas where energy is concentrated, offering visitors a way to connect to something mystical and profound. Just like the body is said to have centers where energy peaks, the same is said about our planet. Many religious and ancient sites are stationed along these alleged lines, or at their intersection.
Curious? Click on this gallery to see where you can go to experience this energy.