Finding Places Where the Veil is Thin
As a kid, I enjoyed sneaking off to quiet places. I would drag a blanket and flashlight under the basement staircase to create a hideout and had a knack for finding the perfect clearing in the woods or tree to climb up. Certain hidden places held magic for me then and still do.
Turning to our childhood instincts for the truth of who we are can be powerful.
Before we’ve had the chance to question ourselves or feel self-conscious, what brought us joy and connection?
My work as a medium has demanded that I continually turn towards myself and uncover forgotten wonders.
When I think of mystical places in my childhood, I think of My Irish-Scottish Grandmother. The spirit activity in her home was well known to the family, and as a kid, I imagined her ancestors amid dark green wet landscapes with a magical mist surrounding them. I would beg to sleep over at my grandmother's house, where in the attic bedroom, I’d tie two large piggy banks together with a string and place them across the doorway with the thought that they’d alert me if any spirits tried to enter.
The pull I felt to her home, both comforting and mysterious, is something I’ve noticed as I explore my mediumship and uncover where I feel most spiritually connected.
The term thin place comes from Celtic mysticism and refers to the veil between this world and the Spirit World being thin. This now widely used term extends beyond Ireland and recognizes certain places where we feel more connected to the Spirit World. I think of “thin places” in two categories: geographical and personal.
Geographical places can be spiritual sites, places in nature, or historical sites with a concentration of energy. The history, natural wonder, and beauty of these places evoke emotion and connection. Lots of people feel connected to The Spirit World in these places, and so it has a compounding effect. Some examples of famous thin places would be Stonehenge, UK, or the Sistine Chapel, Italy. Millions of people feel their souls calling to visit these places and linger in the otherworldliness.
You might also have your own personal thin place. This could be someplace where there is a concentration of your energy or connection. It could also be someplace you feel ancestrally connected to or a past life connection.
Some examples of my personal places would be my office, where I practice mediumship, or, as I recently discovered: The Scottish Highlands. When I am in my office, I feel most connected. Some days I feel drawn there for no reason other than I feel an ease in connecting with my guides and passed loved ones.
When Rachel and I visited the Highlands last summer for our honeymoon, my soul wanted to linger in the energy I felt there. I stood gazing at the trickling water coming down the mountainsides crying in disbelief. The sensations surrounding me evoked a feeling of possibility and an ancient connection that I had not felt before. I long to go back and visit again, and the memory is enough to bring me back to the feeling of connection each time I bring it to mind.
Finding your places of connection can benefit your spiritual development and allow you to tap into the energy of a place long after you’ve visited simply by bringing it to mind. Remembering the sense of wonder and connection you feel can help strengthen a sense of stillness and connection to your soul.
Cultivating a connection with personal thin places, or as I’ve come to think of them, places where we feel a sense of safety and connection with the Spirit World, can bring us peace.
You’ll want to find places where there is both a concentration of positive energy and you also feel safe enough to open up to that energy.
I’ve made two lists here to get you started. The first list is general ideas to begin exploring your own places. The second list is more specific. These are places that I visited with some feedback on my experiences. I only included places on this list that are open to the public and limited this list to places I visited in 2022.
Public Libraries
Cemeteries near old church yards
Garden Cemeteries
Greenhouses
Anywhere near moving water (waterfalls are a bonus)
Museums
Old neighborhoods with cobblestone walkways and iron gates
Public Gardens
Historical Houses
Independent Book Stores
Artists studios
Metaphysical Shops
When we entered the home, I felt a warm and buzzing energy and was treated to a brief apparition of a young woman seated in the parlor. As we moved throughout the home, I had a sense of children running about the mansion, and on the second floor, I clairvoyantly saw a bathtub overflowing where there was no bathtub in sight. When I told Rachel I saw a bathtub in the stairwell where we now stood, she asked the tour guide what had previously been there, and they shared that we were standing in what used to be the children’s bathroom but was converted into a staff stairwell. I was excited to get this validation. My favorite place in the home was the greenhouse on the first floor; the energy was incredible.
Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum: The energy in this place can feel busy but very pleasant. I recommend going early in the morning during the week. I tried sitting with a notebook near the garden to journal but felt overwhelmed, so I moved to the small living room area near the entrance and was able to journal a bit away from the crowds. It was a lovely experience, and I’m going to spend my birthday here this year.
Forrest Hills Cemetary: This is one of my favorite local cemeteries. If you go in the spring, it’s breathtaking. I had a remarkable experience with the spirit of a general from the revolutionary war that deserves its own post. But, if you decide to visit, grab a map from the main office and stop by the monument to Dr. Joseph Warren and tell him I’ve sent you to say hello.
This place is truly remarkable, my absolute local favorite. There is a greenhouse in the back that attracts butterflies, goldfinches, and hummingbirds in the spring and summer.
Flume Gorge Lincoln, NH:
The running water surrounding you, in combination with the natural moss-covered rock surroundings, creates a type of white noise and relaxation, and a great concentration of energy. It takes a bit of work to get through the entire path, so if someone in your party has mobility limitations, I recommend researching beforehand to ensure it’s a good fit.
Chapel Milton Viaduct, Derbyshire, UK: This was a stop on our honeymoon last year, and those walking paths surrounding the viaduct were like portals to another world. here is a video from our visit, one of the most magical experiences of my life, and again I was moved to tears when we came upon it.
High Gate Cemetary, London, UK: Highgate is like the Disney World of Cemeteries, Highgate deserves a full day of exploration. I was so moved by the experience, and I recommend booking a guided tour of the old section.
Ropes Mansion Garden Salem, MA: If you love Hocus Pocus, you might recognize this as Alison’s house from the movie. The garden in the back is free to visit and breathtaking in the spring and summer. There is a variety of rare flowers, a coy pond, and a little free library where you can pick up my book for free if you are lucky. I try to drop one off each time I visit. I spent many mornings drinking my coffee in solitude on the bench in the back corner when I worked in Salem, and that same bench is also a great place to spot cardinals.
Women of Wisdom, Easton, MA: There are many metaphysical shops in Massachusetts, but none like this one. WOW, as I call it, has been in Easton for over 25 years with the same loving owner and is truly a good vibes space. You might have driven by this purple house and never thought to go in, but if you feel pulled, I highly recommend stopping in and asking their knowledgeable and magical staff for recommendations.
What were your favorite places to visit as a child?
What simple pleasures did you enjoy? Is there a way to enjoy them still?
If your inner child could plan an activity for you now, what would it be?
I’d love to know: Do you have a place you feel drawn to that you haven’t visited yet? Or a sacred space of your own where you feel most connected?
Happy seeking!
Sheryl
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