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Sacred Space, Sacred Place

Many are realizing the benefits of a sacred space as a place for spiritual development and peace. Setting aside a special place in our homes to meditate, relax and connect with our higher selves helps us to include spiritual development into our daily lives while balancing the demands of everyday living.

What is a sacred space?

A sacred space is a place to which we can retreat for peace, awareness and spiritual development. A sacred space provides us with a place where the energy and atmosphere are conducive to achieving a very peaceful and relaxed state as required for meditation. A sacred space can be as small as a home altar or as large as an entire room, a garden or even a purpose built temple.

A sacred space is not about religion. It is a spiritual place that reflects who you are spiritually, whether you are a devout follower of a particular religion, an atheist or agnostic. How you use your sacred space will also reflect your spiritual self. For many it will be a place of meditation and contemplation. For others it may be a place of worship, or to practice their beliefs in ritual. It may a combination of both.

Locating Your Sacred Space

The energy of a place builds up over time. An area takes on the energy of the events, feelings and thoughts that have occurred there. Over time, this energy can become strong if the same activities and feelings are repeated. A room, place or space where only meditation, spiritual practice and peaceful activities take place will become a place of peace. The calming energy will influence the way you feel when you enter that place and relaxation will come more easily to you. This, I believe, is an important aim of a sacred place.

Although, in some spiritual practices, the home altar is traditionally located in the main living area of the house, I believe, that in our modern world, a sacred space will serve you better if it is located away from the main living and utility areas of the house. This will give you an opportunity to create the desired energy for your sacred space without the influence from the buziness of your daily affairs.

Decorating Your Sacred Space

The decorations chosen for a sacred space will be a unique mixture of pictures, furniture, ornaments, cloth, cushions, color and whatever else appeals to you and others who use this special place. The important thing is that the decoration of a sacred space resonates with you and your belief system.

Symbols and Deities

To increase a sense of inner peace and harmony, a sacred place is often decorated with emblems and symbols of beauty, peace, happiness and spirituality. The symbols that you choose to display will depend upon your own personal preference and belief system. Deities are a common way of representing religious beliefs or associations. Many people demonstrate their religious tolerance by displaying deities from a number religions and belief systems. The deity on your altar and displayed in your sacred space represents the values that you hold dearest and those you wish to embody. For instance the Hindu God Ganesh is said to have overcome great obstacles and therefore embodies this trait. Whether you are Hindu or not, you may identify with the values that Ganesh represents.

Symbols are a powerful representation of spirituality and values. Spiritual symbols such as Om, Mandalas, Crucifix, the Pentacle, Greenman and Triple Moon are popular for altar decoration whether it be as an ornament, a picture on the wall, a decorative cloth that drapes the altar, or on an altar tile.

However, it is not necessary for you to identify with a specific religion to have an altar. For many who just want to celebrate life and the earth, statues of their favorite animals or pictures of amazing places on earth such as a remote beach with bright white sand and cobalt blue sky or a rainforest with huge old growth trees with buttress roots may be their symbol of beauty and harmony.

Crystals

Crystals and gemstones enhance your special place with their beauty and energy. Placed in your sacred place, crystals influence the energy around them with the special values that they embody. They are also beneficial when used in meditation and in healing. There are hundreds of crystals and gemstones to choose from. Some popular stones include:

Rose quartz - love, self acceptance, empathy, compassion, peaceful relationships

Clear quartz - spiritual and psychic development, powerful healing and meditation stone

Amethyst - dispelling anger and fear, creating peace

Moonstone - nurturing, soothing emotions, intuition, balance and introspection

Color

Color may be an important consideration for your sacred space. Each color of the spectrum brings with it particular values and feelings that will influence the energy of your special place. For instance yellow is a good color for concentration, perception and joy. Blue is the color for quiet contemplation, wisdom and honesty. Pink represents love, compassion and receptivity. White represents faith, tranquility, harmony and peace. Purple represents selflessness, dignity, vision and universal conscience. Red is a warm and vibrant color that is cheerful and dynamic. However, if you are sensitive to red, it may be difficult to relax in a room full of this color.

Any one color on its own can be overbearing. Even white can be clinical and harsh if there is too much of it. Light colors tend to provide a more uplifting atmosphere than dark colors. Too much dark color can be dampening and depressive. A theme of two or three main colors that harmonize will be the most tranquil.

Clutter

To achieve a calming atmosphere it is best to avoid too much 'visual buziness'. Your sacred space will function best if it is simply furnished and decorated and easy to maintain. A high maintenance sacred place will increase the opportunity for stress. Also, it will be easier to empty your mind of the chatter and noise if your surroundings are clear and simple.

Scent for Ambience and Magic

Scent will have a great impact on how you feel in your special place. Burning incense or warming essential oils of your favorite scent will increase the value of your experience, whether you a performing a ritual, meditating or just reading a book. Scents can be used for purification purposes at the beginning of your spiritual practice. They can also have a powerful impact on your mood and you can use this quality of scent to achieve special purposes such as calming, increasing vitality and energizing, focusing and increasing concentration.

However, scents are said to have powers that go beyond just mood enhancement and have been used in spiritual ceremonies for thousands of years for such purposes as creating luck, prosperity, protection, love and spiritual development.

Fresh flowers are also added to an altar or sacred space for their scent, color, beauty and freshness. The presence of plants, whether it be in the sacred garden or as a pot plant in an internal sacred space, will provide oxygen, freshening and improving the atmosphere.

Sound

Certain sound frequencies and vibration are of benefit for cleansing, calming, energizing, revitalizing, healing and raising the vibrational energy of your sacred space. As with scent, the sounds you select will depend upon the activity you are performing and your particular preference. A cleansing Om will purify the energy in a room and raise the vibration. Repetitive sounds such as mantras, chants and drumming increase the vibrational energy. Ringing a bell is traditional for at the beginning of many spiritual practices. In Wicca, the bell is rung at the start of a ritual to invoke the Goddess. A small decorative bell is often a standard item on an altar.

Instinctively, we know what sounds or music to play to best serve our needs at any particular time. A CD player and a selection of music and guided meditations will come in handy in your sacred space. At times you may just like to enjoy the silence, if you are lucky enough to have this choice. If you have a sacred garden or a room that opens out onto a natural setting, listening to the sounds of the birds, the breeze through the trees, crickets and other natural sounds provides the ultimate music for relaxation.

Light

A lamp or lantern that emits a soft glow will provide a relaxing atmosphere for meditation, relaxation and rituals. Salt lamps provide a soft warm light and have the added benefit of ionizing the atmosphere, increasing your ability to concentrate and your general feeling of wellbeing. If you or another member of the family suffers from asthma, salt lamps are a much better choice than candles as they improve the atmosphere by adding negative ions. The smoke produced from candles could affect someone with breathing difficulties. Salt lamps are also much safer than lighting candles.

However, candlelight is the ultimate mood stimulator. It is difficult to replace the candle for its ability to create instant mysticism. The flickering flame is mesmerizing and can be a good focus for meditation. Candle lamps and lanterns also provide a sensual and peaceful atmosphere and have the added benefit of being hangable.

Candles and Ceremony

Candles are also a very important aspect of most spiritual practice. White candles have been of particular importance in religious and other ceremonies as they represent peace and purity. Colored candles have particular meanings also. The standard colors of red, yellow, blue, green and white represent the elements of fire, air, water, earth and spirit. Each candle color is also representative of the values associated with that color. For instance red is for vitality and motivation, yellow is for intellectual ability and acquiring knowledge, green is for wealth and abundance of material things.

The number of candle ceremonies is almost endless. Here is a simple ceremony that can assist you to reach your dreams and goals.

Choose the colored candle that best fits your purpose and your affirmation. You may have an affirmation for each area of your life and therefore you will have a range of colored candles. Say, for instance, you have exams coming up and it is important for you to achieve a good result.

- Write an affirmation. Example: 'I have excellent recall of all that I have learnt in the subject and I am able to express this information accurately and comprehensively.'

- Ensure that you are totally relaxed. Meditating prior to a ceremony will clear your mind and increase your connection to the higher realms.

- Create ambience in your sacred space - low light and soft music or Om in the background.

- Light a white a candle first and ask that the spirit be present as well any other entity that has meaning for you.

- Light the yellow candle and introduce your affirmation by stating your intention.

- Read your affirmation and visualize yourself in your exam confidently completing each question of the exam. The more detail you can imagine the better.

- On completion, thank the spirit for all that you already have in regards to your studies such as opportunity for an education, a healthy mind and healthy body, intelligence, the wealth that has enabled you to undertake study and anything else that is relevant.

- Extinguish the yellow candle and then the white candle.

A sacred space is a special place for awareness and connection of the mind, the body and the spirit. Your sacred space includes elements that influence each of your senses to encourage peace, harmony and spiritual awareness. It is a place to reflect you, your tastes and your beliefs. In our modern, busy lives, our sacred space provides a retreat where you can quieten your mind and connect with the higher realms - your own sacred temple.

About the Author

Carolyn has
Placid Moon
, an online shop that sells a range of new age gifts for your home and sacred space. Browse
Placid Moon
for crystals and gemstones, candles, candle holders, candle snuffers, essential oils, incense, incense burners, smudge sticks, salt lamps, statues and other altar items and a great range of meditation CDs and new age books.

A Little Tired These Days? Try Supporting Those Adrenal Glands!

Healthy adrenal glands...something we rarely think about, but our fast-paced lifestyles push these little organs to the limit. Overtaxed by stress, stimulants, sugar and a variety of habits, our body's energy control centers are easily maxed-out, resulting in fatigue, depression and even weight gain. In a holistic health, wellness and fitness program, awareness one's lifestyle and its effect on these important hormone regulators is worthy of attention.

The adrenal glands are each no bigger than a walnut and weigh less than a grape. They sit like a tiny pyramid on top of each kidney, their name 'ad' + 'renal' means 'over' or 'above' the 'kidney'. The glands are important control centers for regulation of many of the body's hormones, either secreting directly or controlling the release of cortisol and adrenaline, DHEA, estrogen, and testosterone, which are essential to ones health, vitality, and overall well-being. The adrenal hormones support and affect every tissue, organ, and gland in your body. Their primary purpose is to enable the body and mind to deal with various forms of stress including injury, disease, and other pressures. The adrenals largely determine the energy response of your body to every change in one's internal and external environment, in fact, every cell in your body responds to signals from the adrenals.

An estimated 75-80% of Westerners suffer from 'Adrenal fatigue' at some point in their lives. Adrenal fatigue is a described as a collection of signs and symptoms classically known as a "syndrome" that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level. Signs and symptoms may include severe fatigue, lightheadedness upon standing, depression and irritability, lack of sex drive, exhaustion and general malaise, loss of appetite, food cravings, and dark circles around the eyes. Most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress, various other situations contribute to adrenal fatigue including life crisis, trauma, lifestyle, and chronic illness. Other factors that contribute to the depletion of adrenal health include certain lifestyle choices such as improper diet, substance abuse, too little or irregular sleep or rest and increased or other on-going life-style pressures.

One of the essential functions of your adrenal glands is to draw all your body's resources into "fight or flight" mode by increasing the production of adrenaline and various other hormones. When the adrenals are healthy one's ability to respond to situations appropriately is enhanced. This renewed freedom allows for a whole host of possibilities given a stressful situation. When healthy, your adrenals can instantly increase your heart rate and blood pressure, release energy stores for immediate use, sharpen your senses, slow digestion and various other secondary functions. This function is extremely important in emergency situations - poorly functioning, overtaxed adrenal glands can lessen your ability to deal effectively with crisis situations. Another aspect of healthy adrenals is the ability to endure long periods of physical exertion such as seen in marathon running, swimming, long distance cycling, and similarly, the day to day responsibilities of parenting. When supported by healthy adrenals, one's natural energy supply is balanced. It is your adrenal glands job to react to stress in a balanced manner so that one's response is appropriate to the situation and not injurious.

The hormones produced by the adrenal glands closely affect the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, as well as the distribution of stored adipose (fatty tissue) on the body (especially around the waist), blood sugar regulation, and healthy cardiovascular and gastrointestinal (digestive and absorptive) function. Interestingly, at mid-life (menopause in women), the adrenal glands become the primary source for sex hormones circulating throughout the body in both genders. So in essence, overworked adrenal glands pretty much put a damper on your sex life - quashing your interest and putting a spare tire around your belly. Maybe their health is worth looking into!

The following are some natural suggestions for nourishing and rejuvenating adrenal health: We'll start with an easy one; an adequate intake of water. This is a must in all natural health, wellness and fitness programs as it helps keep the kidney flushed and cleanses the body so it has less toxins to deal with, hence less stress. I use the formula .6 x body weight = ounces of water per day for my clients. This is a number that should be moved towards over time. For example if weigh 150 pounds your daily water intake would be 90 ounces. .6 x 150 = 90 ounces. If you are currently drinking 40 ounces of water per day and your (ideal) daily ounce intake is 90 ounces, increase gently to your ideal ounces of water over the next month or two.

Next is peace and quite. Take 10 minutes of time to sit in silence at both the beginning and the end of each day. Find a quiet place in your home or outside near a tree or natural source of water. Sit in a comfortable position and gently follow the rhythm of your breath. Allow yourself this sacred quiet time each day as an opportunity to nourish and assimilate, ground and rejuvenate your energy. Adequate fresh air, deep breaths, and movement. Spend time in nature-walking along the ocean, at a park, on a well traveled trail. Take full deep breaths and inhale in the healing power of the natural world. Take time to look at the trees and flower as well as the sky and various birds and so on. Enjoy this time outside as healing and nourishing. All this will give your adrenal glands a break and let them build reserves for future needs.

As for dietary recommendations, decrease (or preferably eliminate) intake of processed sugars and increase intake of natural earth sugars from root vegetables such as yams, carrots, turnips, and beets. Processed sugars truly poison the body every time they are eaten and causing stress to the system. Sweets are a hard habit to break, but you'll notice a significant increase in balanced energy when you're able to reduce their intake. Next, ingest adequate amounts of essential fatty acids. Various sources include fish oils, evening primrose oil, borage oil, hemp oil, coconut oil, and flax oils. Research which sources are best for your needs. Essential fats are precursors to many hormones in the body and will support your overall well-being. Finally, do your best to cut out caffeine from all sources. Even green tea, which is wonderful for you in moderation, can upset sleep patterns and add pressure to an already stressful lifestyle. Coffee is high in other stimulant compounds which seem to truly aggravate those already in tense situations, and cola and so-called 'energy' drinks may be the worst contributors to adrenal fatigue of all with their combination of processed sugars and refined caffeine.

As for some soothing treatments, taking time for baths using Epsom salts or apple cider vinegar (a tablespoon of either is sufficient) will help to pull out fatigue and 'acidity' from the your mind and body. Light a candle and read a book or simply soak in the warm water imaging your worries and stress washing away as you renew, strengthen, and 'purify' your energy. Consider adding a few drops of pure Lavender essential oil to your bath and allow the relaxing aroma to help you relax and refresh. A favorite essential oil bath blend: 4 drops Lavender essential oil, 1 drop Rose essential oil. Rose oil is often used for the decreasing stress and depression, while Lavender has a calming and mood lifting effect.

The following essential oil blend used directly over the adrenals first thing in the morning and then again in the (early) evening can help to nourish, strengthen, and rejuvenate the adrenals. This is described in Advanced Aromatherapy, by Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, one of America's leading medical aromatherapists. In a 30 ml (one ounce blue cobalt or amber glass bottle) add Black Spruce 2 ml, Pine essential oil 1 ml, Cedarwood essential oil 1 ml, and fill the remainder of the bottle with Hazelnut carrier oil (unless allergic to nuts-then choose another appropriate carrier oil). Use about 1 ml (20-30 drops) at a time and rub into the adrenal area at the bottom of your ribs on your back.

Finally, get some real deep sleep. The two hours before midnight is consider essential time for sleep for rejuvenating sleep. Start consciously moving your bedtime towards the bewitching hour of 10 pm and notice the shift in health. A couple of drops of Lavender essential oil on your pillow can help with sleep, as been show in many studies. If you need, try an herbal formula to help you rest, or a small dose of melatonin. Try finishing your last meal as early as possible, too, as going to bed on a full stomach lessens the quality of rest.

Your adrenal glands are a crucial part of your health and a positive outlook and approach to your life. By considering these few lifestyle factors and natural remedies, you can significantly improve your adrenal gland health, and perhaps remove yourself from the majority of the Adrenal Fatigue statistic!

About the Author

Misty Rae Cech has been involved in natural wellness for most of her life, recently receiving degrees in Naturopathy, Herbology and Iridology. She is the owner of
http://www.anandaapothecary.com
and
http://www.ananda-aromatherapy.com