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Sacred Spaces By Shelley Roy

The idea of sacredness is all about creating connection. Connection to something deep within you and at the same time something greater than yourself. These types of connection bring with them a sense of peace, harmony and tranquility.

Closely related to sacredness is ceremony, ritual, and sanctuary. For many of you sacredness is synonymous with religion. You think of worship, praise, prayer, churches, temples, and synagogues. I invite you to expand your mind-set about sacredness to anything that evokes awe, touches your soul or provides you a path to peace, harmony and equanimity. SOULITUDE!

Human Made and Nature Made Sacred Places

Around the world there are places that many agree are sacred. Koyasan in Asia, Uluru in Australia, Africa’s Pyramids at Giza, Europe’s Stonehenge, the Black Hills of North America, South America’s Urubamba River and even Paradise Bay in Antarctica are all considered sacred.

Not all of us have the opportunity to travel to these sacred places to connect with the divine. We need to find ways to create soulitude - sacred spaces wherever we are.

I agree with Duo Dickinson who writes in ArchDaily, “What is Sacred Space? Whether human-made or springing from the natural world, Sacred Space connects us to a reality that transcends our fears. The ocean, the forest, the rising or setting sun may all define ‘Sacred’. But humans can make places that hold and extend the best in us beyond the world that inevitably threatens and saddens us.”

This first shift of thinking in terms of spaces rather than places allows you to begin to explore the world around you and within.

  • What are you surrounded by that brings about a greater sense of well-BE-ing?
  • What rituals/routines have you created that center you?
  • Are there sounds, music or rhythms that pull you in?
  • What scents ignite your brain and elicit joy?
  • Do you have a favorite piece of clothing or a blanket, or wrap that when you wear it you sigh and know all is well?

For me Soulitude involves nature.

My cabin in the North woods, where I live amongst the trees, sleep with the windows wide open and pause each night to observe the sunset over the lake.

The walks on the beach at sunrise, listening to the birds & the crash of the waves, collecting smooth stones and seashells.

The first deep breath I take when I get home from work, remove my shoes, sit in my recliner and look at the collection of objects I have gathered from my travels.

Closing my eyes and smelling the lilac’s in my backyard and breathing deeply.

The incense I burn before my group meditation on Sunday mornings.

The beating of my moose hide drum in our full moon drumming circle.

Making chipped beef on toast as my family gathers around the table waiting to eat breakfast on the 4th of July.

Lighting scented candles, as a sip of cup of honeyed camomile tea.

All of these as sacred. Why? Because as I practice each of these I take time to be intentional, give thanks for them in my life, and recognize that each of these touches my soul in a deep way. Now it's up to you - look around you and within you and find ways to create Soulitude.

For more information listen to Soulitude on Spotify.

Credits:

Created with images by kerdkanno - "Buddhist prayer flags the holy traditional flag in Bhutan" • sabino.parente - "Mount Koya in Japan" • charles - "north africa, egypt, giza, pyramids great pyramid" • Martin - "view of the a Canyons wall, Watarrka National Park, Northern Territory, Australia" • Patrick Aurednik - "Stonehenge" • shoenberg3 - "The Needles in Custer State Park" • nomadkate - "Aguas Calientes town in the Urubamba River Valley, in southeast Peru" • Jo - "Large iceberg broken off of glacier floats near Antarctica" • jozefklopacka - "shaman frame drum in woman hand in the nature."