John Tyler - Lane - From Topas to Chora

"What allows a site initially known to us as topos – a mere location, a measurable, quantifiable point, neutral and indifferent – to become a place available to us as chora – an energizing force, suggestive to the imagination, drawing intimate connections to everything else in our lives?” Lane (39).

Lane argues it is through deliberate ritual activity that we go from experiencing a place as topos to encountering the place as chora.  There are many places without any particular sense of presence or location and these are topos.  On the other hand, there are specific places that have an intimate connection to your life and these special places are chora.  The transition happens from topos to chora when you attribute a personal and profound encounter to a place. 

It is fascinating how we can walk on what may be holy ground for one person and be completely clueless.  I think this solidifies Lane’s point in that a place typically doesn’t reveal anything dramatically spectacular about itself.  The realization is within the one with a deep and personal connection.  We experience the transformation from topos to chora in multiple dimensions and in numerous ways.  I think the experience often times happens without the person even knowing and then later down the road, the connection is made.