I want to share the idea of creating a sacred space in your home or outside in your yard. In the secular world of work, an opportunity exists to create a sacred space. I will discuss this opportunity a little later in the blog. Why are scared spaces so important, you might be wondering? Historically, when you think of sacred spaces, you immediately go to a Church setting, and yes, that is one complete with stained glass windows, statues, and a tabernacle. Our hope in visiting a sacred space is to spend some quality alone time with the Lord. The elements of the space lend themselves to shutting down the noise of life and helps us to refocus our thoughts so that our hearts can be open to grace, mercy, and forgiveness. But how can we create a sacred space in our home or our yard?
Only you can answer that question, but I would ask you to rethink the space you have in your home. Is there an area, perhaps a corner, that you can claim and your family will respect as a place you can visit in the morning, evening, and during the day? Perhaps you can add a comfortable chair or pillows for kneeling—a spot for your prayer book or Bible. Perhaps your rosary beads can be placed there for effortless reach with a prayer card of Our Lady or a crucifix. A lite candle or battery-powered one will help to remind you that you are in the presence of “The Light of the World” in this scared space.
Here are some examples of sacred spaces within my home. I have found that nature provides a beautiful backdrop to create sacred spaces. I took this sunrise photo in Key West, Florida. It hangs in my bedroom and has become an inspirational photo for me.
In this photo of Mary’s Garden, the flowers offer a continual transformation of the space throughout the seasons. Take note that none of these ideas need to be grand or costly, and you are free to use your creativity as a personal sign of your love and devotion.
Look for inspiration around you or when you travel. I took inspiration for My Mary's garden from my Church's healing garden.
My visits to Amalfi, Rome, Sorrento, Capri and the Compostela de Santiago inspired the font's creation to the Blessed Mother. In Italy and Spain, you will find our Blessed Mother adorning streets, fountains, and the tops of obelisks.
I will be honest with you I am a movement kind of person. So to help me say the Rosary with focus, I place crosses intermingled between the two Marian locations in my yard. As I finish one decade, I walk, praying the Hail Marys to the next visual reminder. I have found this walking rosary to be prayerful and practical for me. This photo of Jesus on the cross is one of my visual reminders. Again, nothing elaborate in fact, my husband found this piece at a tag sale. I made one cross from twigs and fixed it to the berry bushes. God reads the heart, and if you create something with good intentions, it's blessed. I can also visit these locations in the yard as I do my outside chores as a way of "praying unceasingly," as St. Paul tells us.
My last area to discuss is creating a sacred space for yourself at the workplace. You might think this is impossible as we live in a secular world, and our workspace belongs to our employer; however, you do get some time for lunch or breaks during the day, which is personal time. Some people are lucky enough to have a chapel to visit, a sacred space for all, or a Catholic Church nearby to visit. However, if you don't have these options try creating a sacred space in your office or make it mobile. You may find a lovely scenic picture that speaks to you and allows you to enter into a prayerful reflection of God, or you may have some unique rocks or shells in a basket with a lovely fabric under them that you can hold as you center yourself in prayer. You can listen to Gregorian Chants or a YouTube recitation of the Rosary without actually having a Rosary in your hands. A battery-operated window candle might help you open and close your prayer session. It could also help you at work if the lights go out! 😊 Again, think outside the box.
Here is a sacred space I created on an oncology floor during my residence. You would be surprised at how many medical students visited this space in addition to patients, staff, and family.
I hope you take inspiration from this blog post. Peace