Creating Sacred Space

Sacred space is a topic that is seldom discussed and I believe cultivating a sacred space can be beneficial to your mental health and your sense of wellbeing.

Earlier generations, especially in the United States, relied heavily on churches and institutions to provide these safe spaces, but for many those places no longer feel safe. I’ve found it helpful in difficult times like these to focus on creating a safe space for myself.

Having a personal shrine in my home has been a haven from the stress I experience on a daily basis. It is the place where I meditate daily, but it also serves as a reference point for sanity and clarity when it seems hard to find.

It also feeds the part of me that hungers for the sacred. The feeling of being in a place of worship struck me when I attended a funeral. I haven’t been in a religious meeting place since Covid restrictions began. I had forgotten that natural sense of awe and reverence. Despite the sadness of the occasion, it felt good to be in “the presence of God,” even if it meant something different to me than it did to other people.

In turbulent times, you may want to set up a space for yourself. It can be a quiet spot for reading, contemplation, prayer, or meditation. It can be a formal space for spiritual practice. Like many eastern cultures, it can be a place that remembers and honors those who came before you.

In our personal safe space it is helpful to recreate this sense of beauty, awe, and reverence.

Here’s a few tips on creating a sacred space in your home.

Location

The best place is someplace where you feel sheltered from noise and activity. Ideally, not next to your television or computer. If you live in a small space that may unavoidable. Try to find someplace that feels safe, where you can relax and that doesn’t feel cluttered. Sometimes all you need is to move a little furniture to make a clear space. Sitting near a window can provide both light and air to help the space feel uplifted.

Size

It doesn’t have to be a large space. It can be just large enough for you to sit comfortably. One friend I know had a meditation space between his bed and the wall, it was just the width of a cushion with a small shelf on the wall for treasured objects. My husband and I carved out a corner in our bedroom with a chair and a table for reading and drinking coffee. My own meditation shrine is set up on top of a buffet with drawers. If I need to, I can put everything away in the drawers and use it as a buffet. I’ve also enhanced it with calligraphies by my archery master in that corner.

Comfort

Wherever you choose make sure you can sit comfortably. If you plan to meditate this will require a firmer cushion. If you plan to read or contemplate choose a chair or a lounge that can relax into. If you’d like to buy a meditation cushion this company provides a number of choices. I’m also happy to offer you guidance if you have particular physical issues, just email me at stephanie@thelovemandala.com.

Objects

Whether you are constructing a shrine, an altar, or a private space you should choose images and objects you love. You can also select objects that remind you of your aspirations, your faith, your teachers, or those who have come before you. You can include pictures of loved ones, books that have inspired you, or artwork that is meaningful to you. Many people also include the tools they need for their practice, like a bowl for incense, a gong, a vase for flowers, or crystals.

As an example, I’m a meditator so I have an image of the Buddha that reminds me of the possibility of normal human beings awakening. I have an image of Tara who represents compassion. I have a candle that reminds me of my own potential for awakening. At different times in my life, I have added different things to the shrine including a photo of my mom and a bowstring from my Zen archery practice.

The main thing is to be creative and to find a place to allow yourself to feel into the sacred parts of your life. I find that this yields benefits in almost every aspect of my life. Knowing I have a place I can go helps me to cope when life feels unmanageable. Cultivating a sense of the sacred restores that part of us that is so often drained by the rush of modern life.

Next month Laura and I plan to host an evening in Burbank, CA to help create the experience of sacred space. I am a long-time meditation instructor and I’ve trained in the development and protection of sacred space (known as container principle) extensively. Laura trained as a shaman, in multiple healing modalities and has a Masters in Spiritual Psychology.