Exterland landscape temple & zodiac

Externsteine

Externsteine: eastern face

The Exterland is a name given to the landscape temple and zodiac centred on the Externsteine in the Teutoburger Wald region of northwestern Germany, not far from the city of Detmold and small town of Horn. It forms the throat chakra of the Heart Line of Europe and is one of the most important landscape temples in northern Europe.

The landscape zodiac is 80 km in diameter and its circumference is outlined in part by the River Weser. The ancient Reichstrasse 1 trade route follows its main axis across the circle from north-east to south-west. The town of Hameln, with its bridge across the Weser, is the initiatory entrance into this magical landscape, its role being described allegorically in the story of the Pied Piper.

The chakra system of the landscape temple winds its way through the zodiac, along its axis, like a serpent on Mercury’s caduceus. The main chakras, from root to crown, are identified as associated with Hameln, Bad Pyrmont, Schieder, Externsteine, Bad Lippspringge, Paderborn and Geseke.

The Externsteine (‘Dragon Stones’), which marks the centre and heart chakra of the Exterland Zodiac, is an ancient centre of Celtic-Christian spirituality and reputed focus of the Germanic folk soul. It is an extraordinary formation of rocks, looking rather like a dragon emerging from its lair in the ground in order to drink at the water’s edge.

It is possible perceive the whole sequence of chakras in this dramatic rock formation. This perception was clearly known to older cultures, who have left appropriate symbols, carvings and architectural features in key places, demonstrating that the Externsteine was used as a natural temple in a sacred landscape.

More information can be found in the Zoence book.

Regular teachings, workshops and summer schools exploring this landscape and all that it means are given at Bad Pymont. See the Diary of Events.

© Peter Dawkins