When visiting sacred springs and wells please take care to leave them as the next visitor would like to find them. Respect the land and all its inhabitants – plants, animals and people.
In times past, some traditions involved the tying of rags to trees and the leaving of offerings like coins, pins, buttons and pebbles in or around the water basin, however, we encourage you to leave no physical offerings as this can impact on the environment and wildlife, particularly when non-biodegradable items are left. Please consider making your offering in a different form like a song, a poem, leave a strand of hair or weave your prayer into the long grass with your wish/intention. Please do not hang anything from branches or poison trees with copper coins. Never leave artificial materials.
If, however, you feel a physical offering is called for, please choose your offering carefully so that it cannot be mistaken for litter. Please do not dig or bury things. Biodegradable offerings decay so bear this in mind if you leave something. If there are already offerings at the site, consider the effects of adding more.
Please do not take anything except litter from a site. Much of the vegetation around sacred sites may be unusual or rare, so do not pick flowers or take stones – they may be an important part of the site in ways that are not obvious.
A tradition that developed in times of persecution was to leave no trace of any ritual. This tradition is worth reviving because it shows reverence to nature and the spirit of the place.
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Please don’t change the site;
let the site change you.
~ adapted from ASLaN Sacred Site Charter