Creating a sacred space | bac massage therapy

creating a sacred space

For most of my meditation history I did not have a set place to practice. Which meant that I was very sporadic in my meditation, practicing whenever I could find the time or clear a space.

This often meant that I was only surface meditating because I was never really able to train my brain and body to fully sink into my practice.

Maybe the floor was too hard, or there was too much extra noise, or too much chaos in the house, or the place I had decided on for that particular day actually caused my anxiety to ramp up rather than calming and soothing my nervous system.

But I did not really realize any of this until the beginning of the pandemic.

At the beginning when my clinic was shut down, I had the heartbreaking reality of having an empty clinic and not knowing when I would be able to begin practice again. I could not look at the clinic, set up as a clinic, and not have sadness wash over me. So I packed it up ... and took the opportunity to bring calm to myself amid the chaos and turned my treatment room into a meditation/yoga/dance studio.

​All of a sudden I had space for just me!

I could close the door, turn on music that made me feel (as loud as I wanted), and sit in quiet meditation. Often just sitting and focusing on breathing.

But after 3 months of glorious meditation practice, I was displaced again when the clinic reopened. A bit of a double edged sword as I was back to doing the work that I love, but my meditation practice floundered with the loss of a sacred place to practice.

Fast forward a year and a bit, and I was once again feeling the draw back to regular meditation practice ... I needed to get back to regular practice! 

So I went on the hunt, not for a full room (because I don't have the luxury of that just yet), but for a sweet little corner to call my own.

See ... just a little space in the middle of our living room.
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Then I had to start to set my meditation stage, so to speak, and create my very own sacred space.

What goes into a sacred space you ask?

The simple answer is whatever you want ... whatever makes you happy to look at ... what ever brings ease to your nervous system.

For me it's all about the feel ... or something important to me ... or something that inspires me ... it's my meditation tools ... a colour theme ... artwork ... and crystals or stones.

It is a process that cannot be rushed ... and your sacred space will evolve overtime as you yourself evolve and grow in your practice. 

So before I go further ...

I suggest you start with just one piece ... and build from there.

My sacred space started with just one of my mandala paintings and took 2 years to fully pull together before I decided to change it up this Jan for a fresh start with the lunar new year.

the anatomy of a sacred space

• A photo or painting you love ... something that brings you joy to gaze upon ... it could be your favourite place on earth, somewhere you dream of visiting one day, one of your own photos or one you find, a painting that you yourself have painted, a print of a famous painting ...  something beautiful to you. Need inspiration? Check out some of my favourite pieces here.
• Words that inspire you ... this could be on a letter board like mine, or printed out and framed, or hand written on little pieces of paper ... any words that remind your heart why you are practicing meditation ... a favourite quote, a love note, a phrase, a word.
• A meditation cushion ... I don't know about you, but if my body is screaming to me about how hard the floor it, I certainly cannot relax into my meditation ... so find something to sit on and something to cushion your ankles as well. (I found an amazing meditation cushion that is filled with buckwheat, so when you sit down you kind of wiggle into it and make your dent where you are comfortable).
• Aromatherapy ... this could be an essential oil blend you roll on or diffuse, intense. or even a candle ... with practice, the smell will trigger your brain to know that it is time to relax and meditate. Better still would be a custom aromatherapy blend that is crafted just for you. I alternate between intense and my essential oil blend depending on the day lol, sometimes it depends if I have already been burning incense earlier in the day or how much of my oil blend I have already used that day. 
• A palm stone ... this could be a smooth crystal palm stone that has the properties you desire (like rose quartz for love) or a nice smooth rock, maybe one you found on an adventure ... the stone doesn't have to be smooth, but smooth is nice for a stone meditation.
• A mala ... in mala meditaron you use the beads to mark off your breath or your mantra ... it can be something to wear or hold ground your practice ... but a mala can be so much more ... repeating an affirmation while holding your mala close to your heart can infuse the beads with your desired energy and wearing the mala everyday (or when you need an extra little boost) can help you carry you intention and the benefits of your meditation throughout the day, wherever you go.
• Other little things ... this is your sacred space, so make it exactly that ... Yours. Pick up a little trinket on your adventures? add it ... a stone from your favourite beach? add it ... this is your place to collect and honour what feels lovely to you. And don't be afraid to change things out over time as you find new things you love.

whant to see my sacred space for 2023?

I hope you are inspired to create your own sacred space for meditation ... even if all you start with is something lovely to gaze at.

If you need inspiration please let me know, I am happy to help guide you. 

Be Well!

Namasté

PS ... don't forget to check out all of my guided meditation recordings
as well as my Malas, Meditation bracelets & Essential Art collection.