Customer Reviews

Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power

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Of all the coffee table books I have seen on the subject of sacred places, this one is by far the best. Martin Gray takes us around the world to the finest locations that enlighten the soul. His description accompanying the photos adds the insight into what makes these locations so special.

Martin Gray wrote the foreword to my book "Sacred Places Europe" and I will forever be grateful. I asked Martin to write this foreword because he is an amazing photographer and researcher on sacred sites around the world. When I received the advance review copy today from the publisher the final product far exceeded my expectations! This is an amazing book, one I will keep forever. Fantastic work, Martin. Congratulations on a truly beautiful book!

Sacred Places Europe: 108 Destinations (Sacred Places: 108 Destinations series)

Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power

Martin, for years I have been following your work with admiration and gratitude and know what tremendous hurdles you had to overcome to stay true to your divine calling, spiritual cause, and life's passion: to explore the sacred sites of this magnificent earth and to present them to us as gracious gifts by way of your moving, awe-inspiring photography accompanied by your insightful, perceptive, and multifaceted narrations. Graham Hancock's foreword is as stimulating and thought-provoking as are his books and TV documentaries. Your new book has particular value for those of us who believe in, have knowledge of, or who experience the realms of finer vibrational energies - call them mystical, sublime, transcendental, or divine.... Your book captures these dimensions in a unique and fulfilling way conveying a profound sense of wellbeing to the reader. If we had more enlightened sages like you, humans would be able to enjoy paradise on Earth. But since spirit is working through you in such a powerful and beautiful way, you are giving us a taste of it now and are paving the way for that future experience. You fulfill the soul's longing to touch the inner source of being which inspires, invigorates, and delights us. And you do it ever so gracefully. You make us immensely happy and I continue to deeply appreciate your work.

This is a wonderful book, from the beautiful and often breathtaking photographs to the very interesting and insightful commentary. Martin takes you to places you might otherwise never see- a guide to the best of the world's sacred places. A must have for anyone interested in sacred places, or for anyone looking for a great view of the world we all call home!

Incredible insight and knowledge has gone into the lengthy research for this book. The writings exhibit a profound first-hand knowledge of the many diverse places on Earth the author has visited. It is reminiscent of the many beatiful books by the late Galen Rowell. The difference being the extensive coverage of almost any culture on Earth today. It is a fascinating journey around the world in words and pictures.

Clearly this is not another coffee table book. Even so, it could grace any coffee table, or bookshelf anywhere in the world. National Geographic photographer, Martin Gray, displays his lifework in this treatise, as he portrays his ongoing love affair with the earth in exquisite and stunningly expressive photography.

The motivating factor behind these photographs has been threefold. The first was to "gather evidence showing that many pre-industrial cultures, recognized the earth as a sacred being, worthy of deep respect". The second was, to document, on film "the world's sacred architecture, the most sublime example of human artistic expression, before it is lost to the ravages of modernization". The third reason was "to study the miraculous phenomena reported at sacred sites around the world".

To this effect, this volume contains pictures of many of the well-known sacred and religious shrines of the world. The first section deals with pictures of sites in Europe, taken by the author during a year's bicycle tour. Starting with Stonehenge and other megalithic monuments and other similarly mystical sites in the British Isles and Western Europe, he goes on to present photographs of holy shrines associated with the early era of Christianity. Some of these are major pilgrimage centers such as the Cathedral of Compostela, the Church of La Magdalena, and Avila in Spain, Mont St. Michel, Notre Dame, Our Lady of Lourdes in France and our lady of Fatima in Portugal. Thereafter, lesser known monuments in Continental Europe appear. The emphasis goes on to Grecian influences, there is a fine picture of Mount Olympus and the Parthenon among others.

The second section takes up the Middle East and North Africa. Here the author proceeds eastwards, starting from remnants of Grecian and Christian ruins from Turkey to a beautiful cityscape of Jerusalem and other Jewish shrines. This is followed by rare pictures of the Kaaba in Mecca and Medina. The towering peaks of Mount Olympus as seen from Armenia are followed by remnants of Sufi shrines in Iran, after which appear the Pyramids, the Sphinx and other structures of Ancient Egypt. Other sacred Christian and Islamic sites from Ethiopia, Tunisia, Mali and Morocco are depicted. The pictures are accompanied by fascinating glimpses into the history and mythology of the people living in that region. One example of these nuggets of text, is about the Dogon tribes of Mali, who are believed to be of ancient Egyptian descent, and who surprised anthropologists by telling them secret Dogon myths about the star Sirius, having a companion star. This star, now called Sirius was photographed by modern astronomers only after 1970!

The next section begins with the well known Hindu sacred sites of the Indian subcontinent, starting with Pushkar in the West, the stone carved caves of Ajanta and Ellora, and Dwarka in Gujarat, to the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Jain temple at Shatrunjaya, the banks of the river Ganga at Hardwar, Allahabad, and Varanasi, among others. A number of temple sites in Southern India also find mention, Tirupati, Rameshwaram and Arunachala are those that are most visited. The Buddhist shrines come next with Bodh Gaya in Gaya, Adam's Peak and Mihintala from Sri Lanka.These are followed by pictures of the Bagan Temple Complex, the Yangon and the Mahamani Temples in Myanmar. The landscape moves on to Buddhist shrines in Thailand, followed with a picture of Angkor Wat at sunrise after which there appear other imposing temple complexes in the jungles of Cambodia. Sacred monuments and sites of Bali come next, before proceeding to the mountain temple shrines of Wu Tai Shan and Putro Shan in Mainland China. Next in line are the mountain and temple sites of Nantai San and Fuji San in Japan. There is a last coverage in the section on continental Asia, of Tibet and Nepal; there are pictures of Mount Kailash, Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple from Lhasa and the Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu.

From Australia, there are only pictures of the Ayres Rock from different angles.

The section on South America starts with pictures of Moai shrines in Easter Island, Chile, moves on to Lake Titicaca, sundry temple complexes in Bolivia, Machu Pichu, Peru, the Basilica of El Cisne, Ecuador and San Augustin, Colombia.

The last section in this book deals with North America. After the mountain complexes of Mount Popocatepetl and Mount Iztacchuatl in Mexico, the reader is led on to a beautiful picture of the Sun Pyramid, followed by Mount Alban, the Mitla Sanctuary and several other temple complexes associated with the Aztec and Mayan cultures. The Basilica of Nuestra, Mexico City and other churches follow before the entry to New Mexico in the United States, where the first picture is an aerial view of the Pueblo Bonito ruins, which are the ruins of the Anasazi community. This is followed by Shiprock Mountain and the White Sands in the same state. Thereafter, Devil's Town in Wyoming, the Red Rocks of Sedona make their appearance. Finally, the scene shifts to Mauna Kia in Hawaii and the Haleakula crater in Maui.

Most of the above sites are very well known, but a few are not.Some of the pictures contain mysterious stone heads representing enigmatic mythological figures. There are also megalithic monument clusters and statues of various gods and goddesses. All major religions of the world are represented in this volume. Some sites have no overt religious connections, apart from being ostensible power points, where Nature is at her wildest best. The book is clearly a feast for the eye, and generates a deep respect and regard for our heritage as custodians of the earth. However, there is more to this book than just a travelogue of pictures taken over a lifetime.

One of the major reasons why people travel is pilgrimage. Sacred sites, especially those containing relics of bygone saints are especially often visited by believers in search of miracles and healing. According to Martin Gray, and contrary to accepted beliefs, it is the topography of these sacred sites that carries an energy field, a 'field of influence extending in space and continuing in time', which characterizes their timeless vitality, rendering them as power points. The field could be produced by the earth's influences, the influence of celestial bodies, human intent, miracle working icons, ancient monasteries, places of Marian apparitions, whatever. It is the effect of this field that Martin Gray has attempted to capture on film through his photography. Therefore the medley of photographs have been taken from all possible angles at all possible hours of the day.When I see his pictures, it is as if history comes alive, as the monuments, stone structures and walls recount their tales of love, of lust, of power and passion to those who would stand by and listen.

Complementing each picture is an accompanying text that provides fascinating glimpses of the history of the site and the myths associated with its' rise to prominence'. Interspersed with these nuggets of wisdom, the author recounts his own personal moments of epiphany while absorbed in this work. It is clear that the author has gone 'out on a limb' to procure the outstanding photographs in this exquisite collection.

This compilation is truly a labour of love. It bears witness to Martin Gray's passion for Mother Earth and serves as a repository of Her memory of the collective history of the human race.

I can't recommend it strongly enough.

This book "Sacred Earth" by Martin Gray is exceptional, inspiring, informative & ever so beautiful. I admire Martin for his dedication to travel the planet and share his lovely photographs, research and writing. My Senior friend, who no longer gets out much, enjoys the travels to the sacred sites sitting in her chair, in the comfort of her home. What a wonderful service he is providing. May this book travel to many homes on the planet. I enjoy my travels as well. This awesome book is a joy! :)

I have a whole shelf of books on Sacred Places, but pride of place goes to Martin Gray's magnificent contribution to the appreciation of sacred sites. Martin's evocative photography inspires you and seems to evoke the subtle essence of the sites he has visited.
Sacred Earth is a book to be savoured slowly. It teaches us how to love and cherish this planet. It really is an outstanding contribution to the study of sacred sites and the mysteries they hold for us all.

Martin Gray's wonderful book on his 20 years of pilgrimages to the world's sacred sites, Sacred Earth, underlines two great unifying truths revealed in the age of Dwapara Yuga: the great astronomical knowledege built into the designs of the sites and their syncrenistic nature: each new wave of religion taking over the sites and holy dates of the previous one, literally building on the old foundations of pre-existing holy/high energy locations.

Wow. Spellbinding, magnificent, beautiful. Let this pilgrim take you on a journey you'll never forget. There are places in this book I didn't even know existed. Now I feel like I've been there. Martin Gray is not only an impeccable photographer, he is a brilliant and gifted writer. I highly recommend it. I've also given it as a gift and several friends have commented on how they treasure it.

the pictures were gorgeous but he should have left it there. frustrated by the shallow approach to the significance and history of areas he visited. why did he need to stay at 15 different monasteries on one island? to write a book of this scope obviously requires a less flighty approach to earthworks that have been there for millenia