Creating a Sacred Space

Creating a sacred space whether inside your home, outside your home, or in another venue altogether, offers a unique refuge for deeper fellowship with God. A way for us to create a threshold between earthly distractions and heavenly rest.

In our journeys with thresholds this month, we explored the serenity of threshold moments, reflecting at life’s thresholds, and how to make good choices at the threshold of a new day. But all of those threshold encounters involved limnal space we, for the most part, have no control over.

Creating a sacred space of our own inserts a threshold of our own making, where we cultivate a peaceful, healing transition to, or from pressing responsibilities, challenging circumstances or life’s busyness.

Welcome to Mindfulness Monday! Where we learn some easy ways to be more present “in the moment” at our jobs, in our homes, with our families and friends.

Learning to recognize God and what He has for us in each divine moment He offers. We acknowledge the belief that God is with us always.

We confess His presence is available to us, lifting our spirit and helping us with power and grace. Learning the art of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.

what is a sacred space?

Think of a sacred space as a place where you feel safe, protected, and accepted just as you are. A refuge free from worry, distractions, and demands; but ultimately a place where you feel closest to God.

Similar to the Celtic tradition of “thin places”: moments in time at specific places where the space between heaven and earth seems “thin”, sacred spaces are where we feel especially close to God.

Thin places happen naturally, or rather “supernaturally” and often unexpectedly. Perhaps you recall a time or place where you felt God’s Presence in a profound way. It may have been a moment in time, or a specific place, but the experience left an distinct impression in your mind.

A sacred space offers us a place of deep connection and abiding with God in complete peace and contentment.

While we have no control over encountering thin places, we can create a sacred threshold of retreat or rest.

There’s a holy hush around us, As God’s glory fills this place. I’ve touched the hem of God’s garment, I can almost see God’s face. And my heart is over flowing With the fullness of God’s joy. And I know, without a doubt, That I’ve been with the Lord.

Lanny Wolfe

a few of my favorite spaces

Both the thin places encountered and the sacred spaces created, minister peace to my soul, through a deep sense of God’s Presence. Using the love language of Peace, God reveals more of His nature to me in these inbetween places where the divine meets the every day.

Here are a few of my favorite places:

Thin Places

One thin place for me was an actual location: The Bay of Fundy. Located between New Brunswick on mainland Canada and Nova Scotia; it boasts the highest tides (56 feet) in the world. One of the seven wonders of North America, it has some of the oldest rock formations containing dinosaur fossils, as well as the rarest whales in the world.

Standing in the tidal basin of a sixty foot rock formation, at low tide, I was overcome with a feeling of God’s majesty, power, and glory, just as the sun crested the peak of the rocks above.

Another thin place was simply a moment in time on an ordinary day. After handing a styrofoam cup of crushed ice to a very ill cancer patient in palliative clinic, our eyes locked as he simply said “thank you”.

In that moment, the words of Matthew 25:40 filled my heart, “And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Gentle serenity and love reflected in his eyes and the power of his presence held my gaze for several long minutes as if time stopped.

sacred Spaces

Almost always outdoors, the sacred spaces I create often include peaceful areas like my garden, wooded areas, or places including water.

Our lovely property offers me two outside sacred spaces where my husband lovingly provided benches for me to rest and reflect. One in a secluded alcove next to our back deck near our small waterfall and pond; and one in the front of our property in the midst of our gardens.

Both spaces provide peaceful times of listening and reflecting. Through the beauty of bird songs, crickets and a gentle breeze through the windchimes, I rest in a space where my present world abides in the Presence of God.

creating a sacred space

Profoundly powerful, my thin place encounters leave me with the same sense of awe Jacob expressed in Genesis 28:16, “Surely God was in this place”. While not always as profound or powerful, my sacred spaces breathe moments of God’s Presence into my hectic days through intentional rest.

Yet both encounters visit me with the common experience of deep Joy, Love, contentment, and acceptance, filling me with a genuine reluctance to leave the space.

Reflect on your own thin place experiences; when you felt especially close to God, and draw ideas to incorporate in your sacred space from them. A few things to consider are:

• Space. Choose a place indoors or outdoors free of distraction, where you feel comfortable and at ease. Keep the lighting soft.
• Senses. Consider engaging all five sences.
  • Incorporate beauty, whether nature views or personal items you place in your space. My indoor space has meaningful photos, momentos and nature decor.
  • Incorporate fragrance via essential oils, scented candles, or other fragrances you enjoy.
  • Incorporate relaxing sounds. Water is healing for me, so I love listening to my waterfall outside, or a recording of the ocean or a brook. Soft music, or even windchimes, another favorite of mine.
  • Incorporate touch by having a cozy throw, pillow or other item whch feels good in your hand. When outside, I often hold leaves, flowers or stones. Inside or outside I love my olivewood cross, as it fits perfectly in the palm of my hand!
  • Incorporate taste by having a delightful beverage and snack nearby.

• Spiritual. incorporate meaningful spiritual items; scripture cards, plaques or other scripture decor, bible, prayer shawl, or inspirational quotes.

a personal treshold

Ultimately, creating a sacred space results in creating your own personal threshold for a quiet space of encountering God. A space between earthly demands and encounters and our deepest desire to linger with God in a more meaningful communion.

Like thin places, sacred spaces can be a static spot reserved for intentional retreat moments or at times we can create a sacred space almost anywhere we feel open to encountering God in the moment.

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