Target: The Fire of Notre-Dame Cathedral – April 15, 2019

Target Description:

On the evening of April 15, 2019, a devastating fire broke out beneath the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, one of the most iconic and sacred Gothic buildings in the world. The blaze rapidly consumed the wooden attic known as “the forest,” destroyed the spire, and caused the vaulted ceiling to collapse in sections. Firefighters fought for hours to save the main structure and many irreplaceable artifacts. The event was watched live by millions around the world and was felt as a deep cultural and spiritual loss.

Location – Notre-Dame Cathedral

Gestalts: Structure, sacred space, architecture, height, fire

Visual & Environmental Descriptors:

• Stone facade, flying buttresses, tall spire, stained glass

• Rose windows, vaulted ceilings, bells, statues

• Medieval design, candlelight inside, golden glow on altars

• Deep shadows, echoing sound inside, reverent atmosphere

Tactile/Air Sensations:

• Cool air inside the cathedral, stone underfoot

• Thick smoke, rising heat, sparks falling

• Smell of burning wood, old paper, incense

The Fire – Event Perceptions

Gestalts: Destruction, heat, collapse, emergency

Sensory Impressions:

• Bright orange flames, roof ablaze, sparks flying upward

• Loud cracking, collapse of wooden beams, echoing crashes

• Sirens, crowd gasping, helicopters above, bells silenced

• Emotional intensity—grief, helplessness, reverence for what is being lost

Emotional/Spiritual Energy:

• Mourning of a sacred symbol

• Global unity, heartbreak, and resilience

• Perception of something ancient and eternal being damaged—but not destroyed

People & Reactions

• Firefighters risking their lives inside the building

• Onlookers singing hymns, crying, filming

• Clergy silently praying, museum staff rushing to save relics

• Political and spiritual leaders watching in disbelief

Symbolic/Archetypal Themes

• “The fall of a great monument”

• “Light within the ruins”

• “Death and rebirth” – out of ashes, renewal begins

• “Wounded sacred heart” – architectural body injured, but soul survives

This target is ideal for accessing spatial structure, sacred architecture, disaster dynamics, and collective emotional resonance. It also introduces powerful spiritual and historical overlays that skilled remote viewers may tap into.