CREATING
A SACRED SPACE
HOW TO CREATE
YOUR SACRED SPACE©
The
key to making a personal space a true sanctuary is to define
it in such a way that when you are in it you are automatically
reminded that this time is for you, that you have created
an intimate place in which to focus your awareness on self
care.
~ 1992 Jennifer Louden, The Woman's Comfort Book, HarperCollins
Publishers
Sacred Space
is an area of your home or office that is dedicated to that
part of you that honors your spirit. It can be as large as
an extra room or as small as the corner of a table or bookshelf.
There are as many types of Sacred Space as there are individuals.
Oprah Winfrey created a Sacred Space honoring slaves with
several photos and an original bill of sale from the era of
slavery. In my home, I have a small Sacred Space in almost
every room. My living room fireplace has three statues representing
the stages of a woman's life - maiden, mother and crone.
Your Sacred Space is of your own design. You may choose a
piece of cloth or linen of special meaning or beautiful color
on which to put a variety of objects. Photos of family, friends,
pets, teachers or mentors are a nice way to honor those who
have inspired you or helped you on your journey. If you observe
a particular faith, you may want to add a religious symbol
such as a cross, bible or Star of David.
Other articles that may accent your Sacred Space are stones,
crystals, shells, feathers and pieces of jewelry. Children's
toys, small stuffed animals, items collected from nature,
and incense are also appropriate additions for your Sacred
Space. Candles are very useful for adding soothing light to
your Sacred Space if located in an area protected from potential
harm to children or pets.
If you seek privacy, you may hang a curtain or erect a screen
to divide your Space from the rest of the room. You may also
hang blinds or beads from the ceiling or even create a wall
of plants. The flooring may include a special mat or rug to
define an area of the room for your Sacred Space.
Now that you have created your Sacred Space, what do you
do with it? There are many ways to utilize your new Space.
One of them is to use it as a place to go to say prayers or
meditate. You can write your affirmations and leave them on
your altar. It is your special place to just sit and be quiet,
to think or not to think. If you created your Space with a
certain intention in mind, you may want to place newly purchased
items in your Space to fill them with good intentions before
using them. You may be just using the Space to remind yourself
of all the wonderful people who have influenced your life,
and you may go to your Space just to say thanks, or ask for
guidance.
When you were a child and became frightened, do you remember
a place where you retreated to feel safe? Your Sacred Space
can be your comfort zone when you need shelter from the storms
of life.
CREATE A SACRED
BOX FOR TRAVEL . . . .
Travel a lot? Live in a small place? Create a Sacred Box!
Put your special items in a box for portable comfort and self
nurturing. A starter box makes a great gift for a friend who
travels, someone in the hospital, or a child leaving for college.
Include candles, essential oil, incense and potpourri along
with a touch of home such as a photo or drinking mug. Small
items such as beanie babies, religious statues or prayer beads
are also very suitable for your Sacred Box.
Whether considering a Sacred Space or a portable Sacred Box,
this special comfort zone is created just for you. It is an
evolving Space that reflects your changes and choices as you
grow. Honor yourself or someone you love with the gift of
a Sacred Space.
Written by: Dr. Betty deMaye-Caruth, PhD., RN, CHTP, RM/T
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