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They experience home as sanctuary with everything in order, a place providing
calm and healing. One young woman shared her need for order as part of home as
sacred space. When her husband cleans up, he asks her where things belong,
because he values her need for sanctuary.
Nature is another place where many find their sacred spaces. One woman spoke of
oceans. Another shared how the sounds and smells of Lake Michigan’s waves, the
birds in flight, the wind on her skin, and the sand under her feet carry her to
a healing and sacred space. Another said that a garden called her to mindful
presence.
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The senses of touch and smell were also mentioned. One young mother said that
the tender skin of her infant daughter’s neck was sacred and healing space.
Another woman found the scent of burning sage to be elixir.
The elements of water, fire, and air were also mentioned. One woman found that
hot showers drive her into deep prayer. Another lights a candle
before prayer.
Creating a space
When we are in sacred space, we touch or are touched by God’s presence. This
space has no specific blueprint. However, small things can enhance our awareness
of God’s energy in our life. The use of candles, herbs, symbols, prayers, and
visualization can contribute to healing. A home altar consisting of two candles,
a folded prayer shawl, a Bible, a sage bundle, and a favorite chant or liturgy
assists one young woman with her meditation practice. She closes her meditation
with the Lord’s Prayer.
This same young woman, a woman of color, imagines a
winged-brown woman carrying the energy from her head to her limbs. This visualization, she said,
helps her to feel energy throughout her body.
Another young mother gets up half an hour before her family for
quiet and private spiritual practice on a rug. She said that on the days she
takes the extra time, things go more smoothly—not because things are different,
but because she has a more centered perspective.
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The mindful meditation using breath, walking, and sound can be enjoyed in sacred
spaces. This kind of meditation consists of the gentle holding and releasing of
the mind and its thoughts, and a mindful focus on one’s breath, steps, or on the
silence between the sounds of nature or music. You may fall asleep during breath
and sound meditation but most often, you will enter a healing stillness.
Prayer breathing
In Scripture-breath prayers, you speak the chosen Scripture softly and breathily
during both the inhalation and the exhalation of breath. To do this, read a
favorite Bible verse aloud to sense where your inhalation (starting at the
beginning of the text) ends, and where your exhalation (starting with the next
phrase or part of the text) comfortably begins and ends.
Practice speaking the first part as you inhale and the last part as you exhale.
Longer verses require more than one complete breath. Practice until you can
breathe and speak the verse smoothly and without strain. Once you are
comfortable with where your inhalation ends, mark that place in the text. You
have created a Scripture-breath prayer. When challenges come, breathing such
personal Scripture-prayers can be powerfully freeing and calming.
Things we see, touch, or hear as lovely or appealing can be used to create our
personal sacred spaces. You can read more about how to create your sacred space in the
upcoming Women of the ELCA resource,
Sacred Spaces.
Everything Zen
I have heard that one definition of Zen is of being so totally absorbed by something that every other thing falls away. That sounds like a pretty good
definition of deep love — love for God, love for people, love for creation. This
definition also sounds like the healing moments I have experienced in my
personal sacred spaces.
I hope you decide to create your own sacred space and use it during Lent. I pray
that you will find such a personal sacred space a helpful addition to your life.
I wish you healing, balance, and love.
Inez Torres Davis is the director for justice, Women of the ELCA. She
presents key note addresses, Bible studies, and workshops. She has also written
the upcoming Women of the ELCA resource,
Sacred Spaces.
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