By: Keitha (FireWind)
Posted: July 24th/01
Creating Sacred Space isn't as daunting a task as it first may seem. In fact,
I'd be willing to bet that the beginner can do this fairly well even on the
first try. Considering the amount of mail I get on this topic, however, I think
this might be a somewhat misunderstood concept. So I hope this handy little
guide will be of some assistance.
First the most important burning question… What is it? What
exactly is it about a chosen place that makes it 'Sacred'? Well first of all,
you're Sacred Space doesn't have to be a space at all. It can be a place in your
mind. It can also be an ancient stone circle, or your bathtub. It can be
nowhere, and it can be everywhere. Confused? Keep reading…
This might begin to make a little more sense when we deal with the next
question: What is it for? Sacred Space is a place, whether
physical or not, that you have made 'safe'. It is a clean place, free from every
day worries and stress. A place where you can be you. A place where you can be
free. And it is in a place such as this that you are free to encounter
spirituality on a deeper level. The reason you create sacred space before a
ritual is because you can't be fully aware, you can't be really free, if you are
bound to the mundane. So creating Sacred Space gives you that place to be safe
and secure.
So, that all being said, Where is Sacred Space, then? You can
choose a physical place - such as the space around your altar, for example. This
place is excellent for sacred space. During Rituals, it is important to be in
your Sacred Space. When taking a ritual bath, you might want to make the
bathtub/bathroom Sacred Space. You might have a grove, or clearing in a forest,
for your Sacred Space. Any and all of these are a good idea.
But there is also another way to create your Sacred Space. You can create a
place in your mind that is your perfect Sacred Space. Create anything you like.
Set it up any way you please. If you could create a perfect place, a truly
magickal place, what would it look like? A stone circle, a grove, a farm, a
cave? Feel free here, that's important. Experiment and change things as you go.
This is your safe place. Know that in your heart. No-one can or will judge you
here. This is a real place, known as your Astral Temple. When you have designed
this perfect place, visit it often, especially when you are in a ritual frame of
mind. It is there for you always, whenever you need that bit of sanity and
relief. When you meditate or attempt to encounter the gods, you can do it in
this place if you like.
So how about Creating Sacred Space? We've already covered your
perfect place, how about that corner of your home where your altar is? To be
honest, these steps may seem quite familiar.
First, clean the place physically - dust, vacuum, etc. Then clean it of
everything else - sweep with a broom, make lots of noise, dance around, meditate
on the space becoming 'clean', etc. The goal here is to remove all of the stale
'ickies' that generally hang around a place. All of the emotions we leave lying
around behind us like so much dust. Then if you like, you can go around your
space with the elements, and bless the space. Visualize the space becoming
Sacred. Then Cast your Circle and make the space Sacred for as long as you need
it. That's it. You have created a clean, safe, and Sacred Space. While you are
in ritual, you may also want to visit your Astral Temple (your perfect Sacred
Space) to 'water the flowers', so to speak.
That pretty much covers the basics of Sacred Space. If you have any further
questions or concerns, please feel free to let me know.