The Meaning of Sacred

June 17th, 2008

What does sacred space mean? I think it means something different for each person, but there are places in the world that seem to hold a universal sense of the sacred. The Grand Canyon comes to mind or the memorial for the Vietnam vets in Washington, DC. For me a place becomes sacred when I experience a profound connection with the Holy Creator and my deepest or true self. I most often experience this in nature; hiking the mountain trails near my home, riding my horse in the tall grass of an open field, or snuggled in a blanket on my back porch in the early morning hours watching clouds change from gray to pink as the sun rises. At these moments I feel timeless and magically connected to the best part of myself – the part of me untainted by my limitations, shortcomings, circumstances or history. I become deeply aware of the Divine presence being so close that there seems to be no separation. And this awareness allows me to move through life with more grace and more courage.

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It would be nice to have many places like this in my life, not only in nature but also at home. As a child, my room was that place, but as an adult it’s gotten a little tricky since I no longer have my own room. What has worked for me for the last several years is to wake up early while my family is asleep and enjoy the stillness of my home. Gazing out my window at the soft light on the mountains beyond, reading a devotional or simply sitting quietly is grounding, though lately I have become restless with this routine. As my nest is emptying, I find my daily rhythms are changing and I long for a space of my own, one that draws me back to a centered life throughout the day. So, perhaps I will do an inventory of the spaces in my home and try to reclaim a small portion of it and make it a sacred place. I wonder what sacred space means to you. Do you have a place that feels sacred and can you describe what it looks like and how you feel when you’re there?

2 Responses to “The Meaning of Sacred”

  1. 1 Jen
    June 18th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    Hi Anne,

    With 2 small children in my home, I find it really difficult to preserve an area that doesn’t get cluttered with kids toys, cups, drawing, loose socks, etc. Sacred to me, would be an area that is clean and clear and uncluttered. Where every item in site doesn’t remind me of something I have to DO – but instead, a place where I can just BE.

  2. 2 Valerie
    June 19th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    Thanks for your thoughts, Anne. In response – lately there is a chair in the corner of my office that feels sacred to me. I find myself landing there to pray, journal, and read sacred texts. On the wall on one side of the chair is a collage I made 13 years ago, intentionally envisioning my future. On the wall on the other side is a small piece of art that includes the words, “There is nothing more powerful than a woman with an open heart.” The room itself is my space, where I work and write, but the chair and the corner feel sacred to me.

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