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Sacred Space, Sacred Time
by Bonnie Moss (c) 2003
In Exodus3:15- Word of God:
When the Lord saw that Moses was coming closer,
he called him from the middle of the bush and
said:"Moses, Moses," he answered,
"Yes, here I am" God said, " Do not come any
closer.Take off your sandals because you are
standing on holy ground."
We all need space. We all need time to
ourselves.Indeed, one little corner, a
fraction of time that you allow yourself
can do wonders to your being,to get in
touch with your inner self and give
expression to your faith. A space that
allows you to reflect on your life, on
your day, on what tomorrow may bring.
A small place where you can shed a tear,
or breathe a sigh of relief, quieten
a troubled mind or savor a few victories.
SACRED SPACE
It is a place to reflect and to contemplate
on what is important to you; to allow you to
connect with your inner self without interference
and in solitude. It could be as simple as a
table top, a corner of the bedroom, a place
just for you to enjoy few precious moments
alone.It does not require a whole room, or
many hours. Is there a small table top, a
spot on the dresser, an isolated corner,
an idle spot that collects clutter and dust?
If you are on the road a lot, would you not
want to carry something to evoke that feeling
of connectedness?
Joseph Campbell has this to say about sacred
time,sacred space:You must have room or a
certain hour of the day or so where you do
not know what is in the morning paper. A place
where you can simply experience and bring forth
what you are or might be.
At first you might think nothing is happening.
But,if you have a sacred space and take advantage
of it and use it everyday, something will happen.
Where to begin? The word "sacred," evokes a
feeling of something holy, serene, worthy of
reverence.Any space can be a sacred space, prepare
yourself as you stand on Holy ground!
THE ELEMENTS
Consider incorporating the elements when creating
a sacred space. What thoughts, what feelings,
what sensations do the four elements evoke in
your being?
EARTH represents foundation, stability, feel the
power and beauty of nature, of Mother Earth, the
physical world. Clear the debris and clutter of
the chosen area , thus removing negative energies
that come with clutter and dirt. A small potted
plant would be a nice touch.
WATER influences our conscious and sub-conscious
forces that act on our lives. Water seeks to heal
and nurture those around it. Consider a goblet or
a crystal bowl filled with water. Remember to keep
this fresh. This also gives a mild humidifying
effect on the room. Or, a water fountain would be
an asset for this element.
FIRE is the element that projects self-expression,
creativity and enthusiasm. Without fire, there can
be no radiance, no conviction, no passion nor
expression.A glowing candle fulfills this element,
a white candle represents all the colors, the
color of the candle reflects the energy created
in the sacred space.Green candle for luck and
finance, red for passion and courage, and so forth.
AIR -this element establishes itself in the realm
of the intellect. It is through the process of
thinking that ideas develop, it is a means of
communication. Knowledge is gained and shared
through this element.It enables one to reach
out to the mental self. Enjoy the gentle breeze,
winter, spring, summer or fall.
Open a window to let some air in, if this is
not possible, a mechanical fan would do.
The elements is just one aspect of enhancing
your sacred space. No matter how limited the
space is, you can make room for an altar,
incorporating the four elements with it.
The surface need not be elaborate, it is the
intention that counts. Others will require
enough room to draw a sacred " circle," but
this is not the intent of this article.
GATHERING MATERIALS
Thorough planning to incorporate all the materials
needed is important and worth the effort. A small
table top covered with an elegant lace, add votive
candles, a goblet filled with water and the bottom
lined with stones or crystals, fresh flowers, a
potted plant, a gentle breeze from a window or
electric fan, a statue of your God/dess, or
whatever deity you believe in. Picture frames
depicting what is precious to you, the smell of
burning incense,a water fountain( if there is
enough room) This is your sacred space, you can
add or remove objects as you see fit.
Celebrate the seasons.
Try to consider the seasons and celebrations
that come your way. Pussy willows mark the coming
of Spring.Fresh flowers of the season are inviting,
a bowl of fresh fruits represents nourishment.
These gestures mean paying homage to the beauty
and bounty of Mother Earth.
Christmas would a colorful theme for the altar,
enhance your altar with objects that define what
Christmas means to you.
Do you follow the cycles of the Moon? Offerings
vary as the moon waxes and wanes, an added touch
as you try to connect with the Universe.
Do you travel often? If there is room for cosmetics,
there is certainly room for items to set up a
sacred space.A votive candle, your favorite crystal,
picture of loved ones, prayer beads , your favorite
incense or a bottle of aromatic oil. How much room
would this take?
Dedicate your sacred space.
After setting up the altar, make the dedication of
this sacred space. Start using this space at a set
time,to start the day and make daily affirmations.
Spending time in this space raises the vibration of
the area, and strengthens the energy around it and
helps clear any negative blocks in the air.
What thoughts come to your family and friends when
they look at your altar?
Excerpt: from Twylah Nitach
Make your space very special, a place where you
are reminded of your Divinity, your connection
to Spirit.Whenever you see it, you will know it
is your temple,your sanctuary,where you can relax
and take care of yourself. Each of us carries
our sacred space within us and our challenge is
to live from it throughout our life's journey,
throughout our earth walk.
SACRED TIME
TIME, it is the most precious commodity available
to man, yet, many of us forget that time lost is
gone forever. "I don’t have time "is a very common
excuse. Allow yourself sacred time- a moment of
no pressure, no rules,no obligations. A time to
yourself, to discover something rare and beautiful.
Listen to your Inner self,this takes time, but
eventually, you will feel connected to your
higher self and be more aware.
Take a moment to reflect on your life,on what
makes you happy. What inspires you? Give yoursel
a pat on the back for all your achievements. Do
not forget to give thanks to your God/ess for
all the blessings in your life. Make time,allow
yourself this luxury of a time to yourself.
You hear these words a lot: Take a deep breathe.
Why not add to this, take the time to enjoy the
process of deep breathing, a few seconds, a minute
or longer.Fill your lungs with fresh air, enjoy
a burst of energy and as you exhale, let go of
the negative feeling that is draining you.
Sacred time is flexible .A walk down the street,
in the woods, down the country road, a brief
moment in a quiet corner of the garden, or as
you take your first sip of coffee in the morning.
These are simple activities that add up to precious
time with yourself. As you allow yourself this
sacred time, you will gradually feel calmness,
peace and happiness.These are very welcome quests,
I assure you.
Hopefully, this will help you from feeling
edgy sometimes over trifles. Yes, trivial things,
events get magnified in a mind that has not
experienced a sacred time. Do not feel that
you are being selfish when you allow yourself
precious few minutes each day.
Think of it as a time to rejuvenate sagging
energy and a time to calm down, a time to relieve
stress and time to get centered and focused.
You will end up offering those around you a more
relaxed and calmer person, even insightful, ready
to look at things from a different perspective,
a more positive one.
Sacred space and sacred time is within us, it
is with us wherever we go. Sacred space and
sacred time is a chance to sanctify,to bring
out the core of the inner self.
ARTICLE ARCHIVE
Sacred Sex
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