I’m pretty sure we can all agree that the world is a crazy chaotic place right now, more so than it has been previously, and many of us are feeling the stress of all this chaos and uncertainty effecting us. In previous post I have suggested different techniques to help manage our energetic overload and keep some sure footing during our changing times. Most of these were geared toward our person and our spiritual being. Today I would like to talk about having a nurturing sanctuary to return to, this can help with the normal stress and is even more necessary during this time.
It has been my experience that most people do not think of their home as sacred, instead it is where we sleep, where we store our stuff and in some cases the source of some stress as it creates bills that must be paid. It is my belief that this attitude is a product of societal influence which has taught us that the sacred is something external and separate from everyday life. For many of us we were taught that we had to go to a separate building and listen to others talk about God or the Divine in order to be considered devout in our spirituality. All of this helped to build a subconscious idea that in order to be spiritual it cannot be part of our everyday life. Unfortunately, this mentality can be seen in the Pagan community as well, though in a different direction: we are told that we need to go out away from human development and commune with Nature (and while I will willingly agree that this is an important part of Pagan Spirituality, it is not the totality of it) Just as ceremonial traditions teach that we should have tools separate and consecrated from everyday life in order to work magic, again telling us that our everyday living isn’t special enough to be truly spiritual. In my life I have challenged this idea, through the religion of my upbringing as well as through my journey on the Pagan path. This is what has brought me to the idea of my home as sanctuary and temple.
Ultimately, as I have said repeatedly, each witch must figure out for themself what works for their life and their spiritual path and magical practice. I simply offer my perspective to the world so that if it does resonate with someone, they know they are not alone in their different way of looking at things. With that said, let’s get into the meat of this idea!
First, what do we mean when we say sanctuary? According to Merriam-Webster.com :” Sanctuary is a noun meaning 1. A consecrated place, such as the ancient Hebrew temple at Jerusalem or its holy of holies; the most sacred part of a religious building (such as the part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed); The room in which general worship services are held; a place (such as a church or temple) for worship Or A place of refuge and protection.” So how does the word Home measure up? Again according to Merriam-Webster.com: ” Home is a noun meaning: One’s place of residence, House, the social unit formed by a family living together, a familiar or usual setting; congenial environment, habitat, a place of origin.” None of the words used to describe “home” seem married to the idea of the Divine. Now I know in my writing I focus a lot of words , their meanings and their energy, for me this is a form of sacred study, it is through the use of language and definitions that you can understand the values and philosophies of a society or culture. For me, when I conpare the definitions of words in relation to each other I see Universal and Spritual truths emerge. For instance, comparing “Sanctuary” to “Home” highlighted for me the societal philosphy that the sacred seems to reside outside of daily life. Which led me to asking why this was and why couldn’t it be the other way.
Part of my spiritual path is venerating my Ancestors and Beloved Dead, which has led me to studying what life was like in years past, and I came to the conclusion that life was not as compartmentalized as we have become since the Industrial Revolution. That is what spurred me toward understanding that all life and all expereince is sacred. The conception of this idea has created radical change in the way I view my life, my surroundings and my home, it even colors my work. I seek to weave a holistic existence where all the “different parts” work together to create the whole, part of that is creating sanctuary within my home and acknowledging my life and all its parts as sacred.
To create sanctuary in your home, you begin by changing the way you look at the space in which you live, If you are able decorate it with items and colors that bring y our peace, joy and that nurture your soul. I am fortunate in that my husband and I own our home and we share a spiritual outlook. I am also married to one of the most easy going people I have ever met! So I was able to paint my house in greens and purples and express my creativity in places that felt right to me. Over the years I have collected bedding and furniture and other items that comfort me. For my personal tactile enjoyment I prefer soft fluffy items like micro mink and cottons and I have been able to create an environment that nurtures my inner self as well as expresses. This is some of the mundane stuff that you can do, the other thing that truly makes my home feel sacred and nurturing is a clean environment (I have talked about cleaning as a form of sympathetic magic and spiritual practice previously) Here I would like to talk about the philosphy behind this; If something is sacred we must preserve and care for it, cleaning regularly and not allowing it to fall into disrepair are ways to affirm the sanctity of my home. Not only does this make me feel better, than being surrounded by clutter, but it also allows energy to flow more freely through the space and is a hospitable environment into which I feel comfortable inviting my Gods, my Ancestors and my Spirit Guides and Allies.
The other way I build and maintain Sanctuary within my home is through energy work, meditation, as well as the set up and use of altars. Keeping the energy clean and clear within my home is as important as keeping it physically clean. To do this I smudge and bless my home regularly as well as using its space for my daily rituals and regular worship. Within my house I have several altars for different purposes. The first is an altar to smudge that is just within my front door so that negative energy doesn’t get drug throughout the house.
Then within my dinning room I have my altar to my Beloved Dead, and they are always a part of family get togethers and dinners,
in this room I also have my gratitude altar where I give thanks and leave offerings in gratitude for the many blessings we have.
Within my office I have my working altar and my meditation altar.
Ritual is an integral part of my daily life. Many people have the idea ( and I will admit that I was one of them for a while) that Ritual has to be elaborate and consist of my steps; that is not true. Ritual can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths, whispering a few words of gratitude and lighting a candle; these are the actions that I make part of my day. When I sit down to write I say a prayer and light a sage leaf to smudge then center myself with a few deep breaths, making my writing a sacred and spiritual act. I try to keep myself mindful and be present in the moment no matter what I am doing and acknowledge the sacred in that moment. Through these actions, intentions and constant work towards connection with the Divine, I create a pleasant and spiritual energy within my home that further supports these efforts in a wonderfully cyclical mutually beneficial relationship.
By acknowledging the Sacred in all things, and especially that the Divine is present within your home you begin to take the first steps towards creating sanctuary within your home. Creating Sanctuary in your home will have benefits you never knew were possible! I encourage my readers to explore the ideas of “Sanctuary”, “Home” and “Sacred” within their own lives- What do these terms mean within the context of your life? How can you create an ambiance of sanctuary within your home, so that you may feel a sense of refuge and sacredness within your living space and daily life? How does Spirit move and communicate you? what could help you to work towards constant connection with the Divine?
The Frith Wytch 