Sacred Sites, Ley Lines and the Magic of Sintra

There are places in the world that call to us at pivotal moments in life, stirring an inner awakening, a return to our deeper essence. These landscapes become portals for healing, initiating our deepest truth and remembrance of our soul’s path and purpose. Each land that we visit holds a distinct energy, carrying codes that activate in diverse ways our unique energetic blueprint.

Astrocartology (the astrology of location) is one modality that illuminates how different locations in the world influence our lives. Our personal planets (such as the Sun, Moon, Venus and Mars) run through the grid of the earth, creating a soul compass that reveals where we are destined to grow, heal and transform. These planetary lines guide us to places that can awaken hidden gifts, ignite powerful change and open pathways to deeper self-expression, vitality and joy.

In my own life, Portugal has been a potent catalyst for evolution and growth. My Pluto line in astrocartology runs through Portugal, activating the regenerative force of death and rebirth. Pluto invites us to dive deep into our shadow, holding space for our darkest fears and transforming them into light.

One particular area in Portugal has called to me time and time again, whispering gently to my soul with an energy that is feminine, mystical and deeply profound: Sintra.

I visited Sintra for the first time in 2019, unaware that this trip would activate a significant turning point in my life (hello Pluto energy). Sintra opened the portal to an intense period of transition, ignited shortly thereafter by the pandemic. Over the two years that followed, I experienced the end of a 14 year chapter in teaching, the sudden passing of my brother, an unexpected move back to the US and the beginning of a new path as a healer.

Sintra spoke to me on a soul level. I was captivated by the raw beauty of its forests, the gentle mist rolling through majestic trees and a fairy like energy permeating the castle grounds. It felt as though I had entered a doorway into a land that was ancient, soulful and somehow familiar.

I later discovered the reason why I was so drawn to Sintra: it is a sacred site.

Historically, Sintra was a center for religious and spiritual ceremonies. Ancient Greek and Roman classical writers referred to Sintra as “Mons Lunge”, the sacred Mount of the Moon where age-old practices of moon worship were performed. Even the name “Sintra” has spiritual meaning: it is said to be derived from Cynthos, a mountain on the sacred island of Delos, the birthplace of the gods.

There is another important reason why the energy of Sintra feels so mysterious and mystical; this area is imbued with ley lines-energetic pathways in the earth that connect sacred sites. Ley lines amplify our connection to Source, the essence of creation, igniting powerful initiations of awakening and transformation on a deep soul level. Ancient cultures built temples, cathedrals, stone circles and sacred monuments at the intersection of these lines. Some examples include Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Macchu Pichu and the pyramids of Giza.

Yet beyond these historical markings, these places simply feel different. They serve as a sacred mirror, connecting us more deeply to our intuition and revealing the fragmented parts of our soul asking to be seen, honored and integrated back to wholeness.

I returned to Sintra this past May, six years after my first visit. Again the land summoned me, this time to mark a portal of rebirth after an intense three years of shedding, grief and deep healing. During this visit, I devoted time to connecting with the land, offering gratitude, reverence, love and healing. I did not arrive asking “How can the land serve me?” but rather “How can I give? What does the land wish to show me? How can I offer my presence in return?” And in this way, travel became a ceremony. I received many insights, blessings and healing from the land-a true healing exchange.

This relationship of reciprocity is the heart of my upcoming retreat, Return to Wholeness.

This September, I’ll be guiding a small group of heart led women on a five-day journey to connect with the magic of Sintra. Together, we’ll experience the mystical energy of the majestic forests, offer prayers to the land and gather in sacred ceremony. We’ll journey inwards, holding compassionate space for the shadow parts ready be integrated back into light, all while being supported by the gentle yet powerful vibration and wisdom of the land. You’ll return home deeply transformed: rooted in your power, your wisdom, your light.

If this article stirs within you a pull to explore sacred sites, to travel in a way that transforms you from the inside out, I’d love for you to join me in Portugal.

The earth is calling us home: to heal, to remember, to rise.

Click here to explore Return to Wholeness.