Updated 2/3/2021
What if there was a place in nature that could provide you with healing energy? What if there was a place that could refresh your spirit? What if that place could give you power, not supernatural powers, but the power to heal your body and mind from within? Would you go? Well, that is the boast of Japan’s 'power spots'.
There are quite a few natural spaces in Japan that are considered to be power spots. So much so that people wonder if they’re real or just a gimmick. These spots include areas with shrines, temples, mountains, rivers, lakes and more. But can you really receive power from these places? Honestly, I’m not really sure. What I do know is that, I feel something special when I go to these places. I usually leave feeling quite refreshed.
The idea of receiving mystical energy from nature, however, is not a new concept, and has always been present in both Eastern and Western mysticism. But the term 'power spot' is fairly new and according to the Japan Times was coined by Kiyota Masuaki, a self-proclaimed psychic in Japan. It means a place where the earth’s energy is collected.
The Scientific and Spiritual connections
Even without the added mystical elements, spending time in nature has been known to brighten our moods and rejuvenate our spirits. There are also scientific studies that proof the healing properties of being in nature. A study by Science Advances speaks to the link between nature and cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, and other dimensions of mental health. Along with these scientifically proven, natural benefits from nature, the idea of power spots also takes into account the realm of spiritualism and a belief in the mystic properties of ley line positions.
Ley lines are straight lines, similar to longitude and latitude lines that connect important natural monuments and places across the world. These ley lines are said to have certain energies, psychic, spiritual, magical or otherwise, that we can feel when visit these places. Ley lines have been the subject of many supernatural and religious theories, blurring the lines between the two belief systems.
Whether you believe the myths of ley lines or the idea of spiritual energies being present in power spots, the fact remains that there is something about these places that affect us on another level. There are many famous natural spots and monuments across the world that have now been labeled as power spots. These include Stonehenge in England, Sacred Cenote in Mexico and Macchu Picchu in Peru, just to name a few. People frequent these places in droves hoping to experience something, even though we have no idea how to label it. The beauty and energy in these places continue to confound us.
Nature and Our Mental Health
Mysticism and religious undertones aside, the fact remains that being in some of these areas can have a positive effect on us mentally, which I think we all need at one point or another. Sometimes as professionals or just human beings we get caught up in our busy lives and jobs, and we don’t realize how physically and mentally drained we become over time. We become easily irritated, sad, stressed out or even depressed, and sometimes a little time spent unplugged and in nature is all we need to recharge our spent energy. Recently, with the COVID-19 pandemic a lot more people have been experiencing mental health issues. So, I decided to do some research on the topic, and I was surprised to see how many people are suffering from some form of mental illness, even before the pandemic. Whether it is depression, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder or even just mental exhaustion. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 450 million of us worldwide are suffering from a form of mental illness, and that is just those who are diagnosed, most cases go undiagnosed. I am not saying nature is all we need to cure us mentally, but it is a good first step. It is important for us to take time out for ourselves to relax and realign ourselves within nature.
My Favorite Power Spot - Goshikinuma (Five Colored Lakes)
Personally, I have always had a problem relaxing or unwinding, and not from a lack of trying. But I have been working on finding the right thing or activities to help me to relax. One of my favorite places to relax in my area, is Goshikinuma, also known as Five Colored Lakes in English. This also happens to be one of the places in Fukushima that is considered to be a power spot. So maybe there is some truth to the concept of power spots after all.
As the name suggests the five lakes there each have a different color. The colors of the lakes are green, blue, turquoise and a slight reddish color, and at certain times of the day, the colors are more pronounced. It is also believed that the colors of the pond changes depending on the season. There is also a hiking trail around the lake lined with trees that look incredibly beautiful in autumn. When I'm there it truly feels like a power spot.
The Power of Nature Sounds
We are now in a time period in which going outside is not as easy as it once was due to the pandemic and stay at home rules in certain places. But no worries, there is a fix for that. Introducing the power of audio. This is not exactly a new idea; studies have been around for years that speak of the effectiveness of listening to nature sounds. But in our current state, it is quite good that we can bring the power of nature inside with us. According to an article in Harvard Health Publishing, Researchers used an MRI scanner to measure brain activity in people as they listened to sounds recorded from either natural or artificial environments. It showed that listening to nature sounds had a beneficial effect on individuals. It also helped people during states of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. It had a calming effect on participants. The study also proved that looking at pictures of nature settings and your favorite spots in nature, or even just places that you want to visit can also help. Now that is some power.
So, if ever life gets a little overwhelming or you just need a break, a little relaxation time in nature might be what you need. Don’t be afraid to answer the call of nature with a visit to the closest, nature spot in your area. It doesn’t have to be a power spot, but just someplace where you can experience nature in its most beautiful and purest form. I’m sure you won’t regret it. Our mental health is a very precious commodity, let’s not take it for granted. Take that rest when you need it. Re-energize yourself in nature.
Resources:
Marc G. Berman, Bobby Cochran, Sjerp de Vries, Jon Flanders man, et al https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaax0903
Kershner, Kate, https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/ley-lines.htm
Hughes, Felicity, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/09/02/national/media-national/power-spots-japans-latest-spiritual-craze/#.XarXQ-gzZPY
Hey Julia! Thank you for reading. Yes, I have heard of the healing properties of trees as well. It’s great that we both love Goshikinuma. We should go there together sometime 😃
I agree with you, Kim. I also feel energized and relaxed when I am surrounded by trees. Research shows that trees really do have healing powers....Goshikinuma is one of my favorite power spots in Japan. :-)