Likewise places have echoes of people, of events, of ideas which have become imprinted upon them, for better or for worse; these are indeed ‘Spirits’ (plural) of place, but they are NOT ‘Spirit (singular) of Place’.
So what is ‘Spirit of Place’?
Spirit of Place; echoing through the ages is linked to an ancient and widespread belief that particular places have Deity or Spirit that occupies them – the term ‘Genius Loci‘ is Latin for the Spirit or Guardian Deity of a place and was a key element in Roman beliefs. Anima Loci is a better term to use than Genius Loci – Anima Loci is the soul of a place, its essential personality, it equates far better to ‘Spirit of Place’. It is the Spirit of Place, it is Anima Loci that makes a place a sacred site, a place that has a numinous quality that is virtually tangible; this special quality needs to be recognised and acknowledged by people in some way to bring it into its full power, “sanctity is a physical manifestation of the essential nature of a sacred place – which comes into being when the anima loci is recognised” Nigel Pennick, Anima Loci 1993.

Aspects denoting Spirit of Place
- Unique character or essence – a quiddity
- Intense energy fields
- A presence of special beings – Deity, Spirits, Fae
- Animism – possesses its own consciousness
- Distinctiveness – it is a place ‘apart’
- Manifests its own power
- The empowerment of people
These sites, whether they be ancient structures placed by our ancestors or natural places such as wells, springs, or trees need to be treated with respect; as we have seen on the Ancestors page, human consciousness and activity has a far greater affect than most would credit. If a sacred site is treated with the due respect that it commands then the Anima Loci is likely to be strengthened, if not it will be diminished and potentially even totally destroyed.
It is important that these places are utilised but not ‘used’ – do not ‘use’ the energy at these sites, instead work with it, strengthen it, build it. The Anima Loci is not our slave, nor is it an object, it is an ally that we can commune with and develop a deep personal relationship – it isn’t about what WE can get, it is about what we can achieve together.

An article that you may find of interest – ‘Working at Ancient Sacred Sites: Use or Abuse’ by Andy Norfolk
www.druidry.org/library/working-ancient-sacred-sites-use-or-abuse