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Creating Sacred Space
Suddenly it's almost summer and I find myself gravitating to the corner of the porch. In this house, it is my sanctuary - my sacred space. A place within the world, away from the world. I arm it with all the elements I need to feel at ease. For some, sacred space is a place to seek tranquility, a place to escape the chaos of the world. For others, it's a place to search one's soul. A safe haven where you can descend into pain and embrace what lurks in the shadows on safe, hallowed ground. It is a place where integration occurs between mind and body - a place where energies flow. This month's review looks at different approaches to creating sacred space within your living space.
Setting Aside an Area First you need to decide on an area then set about making it your own. In this set of articles, author Phylameana lila Desy takes you thru all the basics. She discusses choosing a space, cleaning and dedicating it, and filling it with all the right elements. While it is one of those annoying About.com sites the information is well presented and interesting. This is a good first stop for anyone looking to create a space they can call their own.
Simplistic Elements Basic and matter of fact, pop relaxation guru and yoga teacher Kellye Davis suggests sticking to the very basics. Incorporating small natural elements into the interior softens what could otherwise be a harsh space. Here she discusses in basic terms candle-scaping, flower, and water elements. All of these are simple and basic and would complement any living space by adding an air of tranquility and elegance.
Living Family Altars In this article from the National Catholic Reporter, Teresa Malcolm discusses the long Hispanic tradition of creating a personal family altar within the home. Much can be learned here. The tradition of connecting the past with present, the living with the dead gives one a sense of history and family on a personal level. It grounds and anchors you within the world. Here again simple elements do the work. Photographs, candles, and small mementos all are appropriate for use on a family altar space. This is a tradition that could be adapted by anyone looking to gain a better sense of themselves and of family.
Feng Shui Feng Shui is one of the oldest and longest practiced methods of creating sacred space. It is all about aligning yourself and the elements within your home to flow with nature. Unfortunately, it has also become one of the western pop culture's trendiest design movements and there is a lot of bad Feng Shui advice out there. The Feng Shui Ultimate Resource site helps you cut through all that. Billing itself as the site that helps "Feng Shui shed its snake-oil and incense image" there is a wealth of good information here. Tucked into the "Archives" section is a not to be missed article on energy. Here energy is discussed in real physical terms and shows once again, science is playing catch-up to what has been a long held respected tradition.
Good Design or Good Consumerism? So what is all this talk about sacred spaces that involves good design? Is it really worth it or just a fad? This article by Myra Stark explores just that and more. Is all this good design just a way of getting you to spend money? What is the current opposite movement in interior spaces and design? The discussion here will definitely set you to thinking and give a whole new criteria by which to approach design. Until next month. Veritatem dies aperit. LA. Judge / nodecaf |