“All space is sacred space
when you remember that
God is within you.”
~ Christiane Northrup

Life can be complicated. We all experience this challenge from time to time, some more frequently than others. Occasionally, the words of the Southwest Airlines television commercial seem to call out to us: Wanna get away? Yes, that would be nice. Unfortunately, escaping to an island paradise for a week or two isn’t always an option. It is critical for our physical and mental health to find ways to get away right where we live.

Kathy recently met a woman with whom she has developed a warm friendship. They met at a conference in Ojai, California in February. The woman, Jules Blaine Davis, is the author of The Kitchen Healer, a book Kathy had purchased and started reading just a few weeks before the conference. When she bought the book, Kathy was unaware that she would have the opportunity to meet and befriend the author.

I have not read the book myself, so I cannot tell you what it’s about. I can tell you, however, that it has made a positive difference in Kathy’s life, and in mine. Since reading the book and conversing with Jules, Kathy has created a few sacred spaces in our home. These are areas set aside for personal reflection, meditation, and prayer, or to help us create a sense of the sacred in a particular room. One sacred space now occupies a corner of the kitchen counter. (See photo above.) Setting it up required a bit of rearranging of kitchen appliances, but the payoff has been significant.

Kathy included some flowers, a collection of rocks, a candle, and a framed painting for the sacred space in the kitchen. When preparing meals, Kathy lights the candle and is reminded of the presence of the sacred in the ordinary.

Each morning, and sometimes later in the evening, Kathy sets up a sacred space in the living room. This one has to be taken down prior to the arrival of the grandkids each day. In this space, Kathy uses one or more candles, an arrangement of flowers, and relaxing music. Sometimes she reads material that nourishes her soul, or engages in journal writing. And there are times when she simply sits in her comfortable chair, savoring her morning coffee, and reflecting on life. What a great way to start each day.

The benefits of creating and making use of sacred spaces are plentiful. Doing so relieves stress, brings new energy to one’s life, and increases self-awareness. Spending time in our sacred space provides the “me time” so often lacking in our lives, time which allows us to process our thoughts and feelings. This practice also opens the doors of possibility to experiencing sacramental moments, periods when we are consciously aware of and attentive to the presence of God in our life.

Creating a sacred space is not difficult, nor is it expensive. The return on the investment, however, is priceless.