Sacred Space can be felt through words, sound, imagery, movement, stillness…
it is energy that you get to create and feel.
Sometimes I need to create it for my own Spirit only. This might come in the form of a daily meditation or yoga practice with a mala, crystals, some oracle cards, a sweet altar of things that are sacred to me nearby, or even in a song. When I say daily yoga, that might mean simply sitting in restorative bound angle with bolsters near my little sacred spots in the house. Other days it means sitting on a bench to breathe in the air somewhere out in the world. Or creating an herbal bath to soak in. And even still other days, it means lots of repetitive, active movement. Whatever I am able to give myself each day, the theme remains the same–respect.
Respect and reverence for myself. For my surroundings. What comes along with that are all you can imagine: love, gratitude, grounding, acceptance…
As a mama to very little ones, the sacred space I create seeps into my family’s energy. Sometimes they even join in for ritual. We now have special moments together at different points in the lunar cycle. But, carving out the time for myself to sit near my little altar and simply breathe once a day (or hopefully more) is key to my whole existence. It’s key to the ability to hold space for others. For my loved ones, for my friends, and for my yoga students.
Sometimes, I get to create Sacred Space for my circle of women sisters coming together to support and share with one another. Or as a teacher leading a special retreat. For these offerings, I gather things beautiful to me, including readings, music, foods, plants, images…things that are currently speaking to my Spirit and/or honor the current Season. This is felt by the group and therein becomes sacred without me having to do much of anything. It’s the attention and thought that makes it so.
As a yoga teacher, I try to create sacred space somewhere during the class, session, or offering that I’m providing. At times, the entire class length can be held in sacred space. My teacher, Elena, is a pro at this and it was her essence and guidance in creating sacred space that was one of the biggest takeaways I received from her Art of Attention teacher training program.
Sacred Space is found in the way we open up a class. In the stillness and listening we can provide so much for our students. In the smiles and vibrant movement, in the kriyas or meditations, or maybe even by bringing in flowers or something as a type of altar for the class. It is what you make it and ultimately the offerings of your unique, loving heart that can create sacred space for any moment.