SACRED PLACES, AND THE PATHWAY TO RWYC (RECONNECTING WITH YOUR CULTURE): PERSPECTIVES AND APPRAISAL

Pilgrimage as a rite of passage operates liminality, i.e., transitional space between the material world and the metaphysical reality. Sacred space is an extraordinary place where the sacred is linked to physical reality. The interrelatedness of sacred landscape combines the absoluteness of space, relativeness of places, and comprehensiveness of landscape, and all these altogether result in a ‘wholeness’ carrying the inherent and imposed spirit of ‘holiness’, called ‘sacredscapes’. Ultimately, the wholeness of the landscape creates a theosphere of ‘faithscape’ that encompasses sacred place, sacred time, sacred meanings, sacred functionaries, and sacred rituals and embodies both symbolic and tangible psyche elements in an attempt to reveal humankind’s identity in the cosmos. Within the system of complex interconnectedness and interactions among cultures, heritage, and landscapes and their resultant attributes—all that are rooted in the past, together, we seek to search ways, paths, and means that are implied for framing and making a base for the UN Sustainable Development Goals Target 11.4, focussing on ‘Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. Together with community development, nature-based education, and pilgrimages to reveal the spirit of places are part of the cultural process of transformations. R W Y C - Reconnecting With Your Culture – is a visionary mission and movement, re-appraising interconnectedness between Locality and Universality – Holiness (humanity) to Wholeness (sublimity): Humanism to Spiritualism. The role of culture is vital to developing perspectives of shared and participatory policies and fostering the development of humanity through co-sharing ethics, spirituality, and the spirit of place. This introductory paper presents a synoptic review and appraisal of the trends in this direction and contextuality.