This plush, coffee table type book is from one of the world’s foremost writers on sacred space and author of some 20 books on the subject. Its 183 large pages are lush with gorgeous colour photos of sacred sites around the world.

The book covers some rarely seen sites, including the megalithic structures of Scandinavia, Britain, the mediterranean, and the ancient Americas, with fascinating insights into these sacred places.

Devereux used to be the editor of The Ley Hunter magazine for many years, during which time he developed a great deal of scepticism about dowsing based research, which he totally dismisses. So don’t expect any mention of powerful energies, such as ley lines, that so many people encounter in many ways at sites. This shortcoming does not detract from the book, which abounds in interesting descriptions and historical references.

Devereux has developed an approach to the subject that is based on speculations about shamanic type use of sacred sites. For instance, lineal pathways on the ground (such as at Nazca in South America) were pathways for astral travellers in shamanic landscapes, he feels.

Ancient art patterns, he believes, could be based on psychedelic imagery derived from the ingestion of psycho-active substances at shamanic shin-digs. Because of his approach he has gained much acceptance from the academic fraternity.

Devereux traces the development of the concept of sacred space and shows that the nature of sacred space arose from the land itself and inserted itself into the ancient mind.

The ruling myths that both accompanied and facilitated this emergence are revealed as Devereux explains how the ancients saw their gods and goddesses in the natural shapes of the land. The reality, I feel, lies deeper than the visual appearances.

Devereux suggests that because the songlines are mapped in the minds of native inhabitants, knowledge of them can readily disappear when tribal traditions are fragmented. Many songlines have now sunk back into the land as a consequence of such disruption (of the Aboriginal relationship to the land).

I would beg to differ with his theory. This knowledge is of a more visceral than academic form. Anyone can potentially perceive the living reality of the other-dimensional Dreamtime, to my knowing, if they choose to tune into it. It does not die from neglect.

This is a beautiful book!

– Reviewed by Alanna Moore in New Dawn No. 88