Sacred Spaces

In the book Breath Sweeps Mind - a book I have ordered from half.com so that I will have a copy of my own - I have read so many things that make so much sense to me. And things I have never really thought of before.

One day I read - By creating a sacred space you invite sacred into your life. How many of us can say we do have a sacred space all of our own. I know I don't now. I did at one time. I lived on 14 acres in Bellevue, MI and there was a pond that was surrounded by small trees and brush. I so love the forest and the quiet and calm that I always felt, but it wasn't always reasonable to run up to northern Michigan anytime I wanted a quiet place all my own. So on my walks around the property I found this space. It was perfect. I had to go through brambles to get to it, but once there the peace that descended on me was incredible. I even took bells to hang in the branches, like wind chimes. On days I needed peace I would crawl through the brambles and just sit in the cool dampness, feeling the flickers of the sunlight coming through the branches as the breeze moved them. I would take my Walkman - yes my Walkman - and put on mesmerizing new age music. I had crystals and other items that were beautiful and peaceful to me surrounding my space.

Well, if anyone knows Vegas, finding a spot like that would be right next to impossible. Finding a quiet, cool, relaxing place close to home isn't easy. So I need to create one. A scared spot all my own. Some homes have altars. My home is too small for a dedicated space like that. But I need to think and acquire items for a portable altar. A nice box to put in incense, crystals, my tarot cards, my notebooks, and other things that I come across that have a peaceful meaning to me. In Michigan I found an old army locker. I painted it purple on the outside and a bright blue on the inside. I had to take all the rust off of it and sand it down before painting it. But when it was done, it was so awesome. I found it in an antique store. (Antique stores here I come!)

So when I have quiet time to myself I can bring out this box, go through my items and set up my altar and meditate. Or just relax and gather peace to myself again.

Peace to so many is a rare commodity. But like air, it is necessary. I know mothers of kids are like yeah right - Peace. But please trust me on this. Even 15 minutes of true alone time will have great benefits. And use that time just for you, not on figuring out what is for dinner, or when is the baby's next doctor appointment, or such and such needs to be done for work. I can guarantee you, at first it won't be easy. And never be hard on yourself, accept that it is not easy, but just keep trying. You will benefit from it. You will find yourself more able to cope with the kid's bickering, with the co-worker who just rubs you the wrong way, all those little bits of life that when all added up will drive you insane.

So take the time and make a sacred space, invite the sacred into your life. Be open for it, it comes in many, many ways. No it won't be a big crash of thunder, it will probably be a bird on a branch singing a song just for you, a butterfly flitting about showing off his beautiful wings, a quiet in your mind that you've never known before and joy in your heart.