What is “Sacred Spaces Sunday”? What are “Sacred Spaces”? How might you benefit from creating a Sacred Space?
As the tree trunk has rotted from an ancient oak stump, the wisdom of St. Francis prevails as a statue in the center as he looks out at the labyrinth at Mercy Center in Burlingame.
For me, Sacred Spaces are places of beauty designed by the Creator. They are a place or object that evokes a sense of spirit, spirituality or sacredness. They can be an environment designed as a retreat or an area where spirit can communicate with me, guiding me along my journey.
It might be an altar. It could be a special place in or around a home – or even a commercial building, school or hospital – creating a sense of peace in a too-busy world, especially when life “isn’t right” in your world.
It could be a religious building, but it doesn’t have to be. It might be a space of symbolism, like the pyramids, Stonehenge or labyrinths. Or it might be a garden with a statue in it, an item in the garden from a spiritual experience you have had in the past or a plaque with inspirational words.
Plaque located by the statue of Buddha at Mercy Center – a Catholic Retreat in Burlingame stating a “may the Whole World Come Together in Peace and Harmony.”
On “Sacred Spaces Sunday” I’m going to share pictures with a little note of places that nurture this sense of sacredness – some for me, some for others. I hope it stimulates the same response within you or gives you ideas about places that nurture your soul. Sometimes we are able to create them within our own environments. Other times we need to seek them out.
In our society we often get so busy we forget our connectedness to the Source of our creation. The day-to-day activities engulf us, draining our energy. We sometimes feel “out of kilter,” “spaced out” or “off balance.” Taking a few moments in meditation can help us realign.
If we can physically take ourselves “out of the box” in which we have been placed – our homes or the office – and put ourselves in a different, natural, higher vibration, it changes our energetic vibration. When we are able to enhance the space through our conscious intention to make it more spiritual or sacred, the environment will actually shift our lack of focus toward that which is more sacred and in alignment with our Higher Purpose.
Labyrinth at Mercy Center
A few days ago I was fortunate to walk a labyrinth. It reminded me of the intricate design of our lives. Our lives often twist and turn. Sometimes we don’t know if we are coming or going. The four quadrants of our brain also are represented in the labyrinth. We get to view our lives from all directions in a way that is complex and elaborate.
Finally in walking the labyrinth, we come to the center where we can rest and gather our thoughts. We can look around at the path – the journey we have taken so far – and observe the challenges we have worked through and the dreams we have yet to see as part of our future.
Leaving the labyrinth, we know the journey again will take twists and turns as it has done all along. Yet the view is different since we have “centered” ourselves in the center of this “Sacred Space.”
This same quality can be created with an intention as you design Sacred Spaces around your home and work environments; as you travel in your daily round and observe the qualities you need to feel nurtured; as you sense the beauty in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and even touch you, whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually; as you find sacredness all around you.
May “Sacred Spaces Sunday” be a tool to engage your body, mind and spirit in expansion to what is Real in this world and what REALLY matters.
Blessings,
Linda Lenore
