Creating a Sacred Container

Welcome- we came together last time to define mindfulness meditation as the beginning of our meditation journey.  We used the definiton from Jon Kabat-Zinn as being present, being aware without judging what is. I am working on creating a meditaion 101 course which will be a 6 or 8 week challenge online or in person for those who live close by and will keep you posted on that.

I stated last blog that we would discuss creating a sacred container.  What does that mean?  Simply put it means that when we come together or you come to practice by yourself that you take the time to perform a ritual of connectedness and acceptance. Whether I am leading group or guided meditaion or teaching midfulness I am going to start implementing something that I do for myself when I practice and that I am now ready to share with you all.  

I mentioned earlier that finding a place to be, to sit, to lay down- any place that is yours is an amazing introduction to a practice.  I get that we don't always have a room to ourself or a beautiful gazebo by the lake but we can find a place that we can make our own.  This can be a corner of a room, I love cozy corners, it could be a small area of your bedroom, perhaps a guest room or some space in the living or dining room.  Sometimes an area outside is good, a deck, a tree, a porch or any place that you feel safe.  We will discuss in another post how to find unusual ways and places to meditate which is what we have to do at times to get it in.  

If you are struggling to locate a sacred space I invite you to think back to a time when you felt loved and safe, content and happy.  Where were you?  What was around you?   Try to recall some of what the space looked like, colors or patterns, was it inside or outside.  Can you recall a specific odor or scent?  We often had a sacred space as a child that we used when we needed to be alone or were frightened or sometimes just needed an escape from a sibling.  Think about that, it may be very simple, I remember sitting on my steps in a home I grew up in.  I remember everything about the steps, the hall, the linen closet in the hall, the view of the front door etc.  For whatever reason I found safety and contentness sitting on the floor on those steps or in the hall.  

Once you have found your space try creating a ritual that you use everytime you come into sit or meditate or just be mindful.  In this space find some self awareness, use only self compassion.   I want this to be a ritual of connectedness and acceptance.  Create whatever works for you.  Light a candle, diffuse some oils, place a vase of fresh flowers on the table or ground.  Create positive affirmations for the space to hang up so that you read them when you step in. Start of a habit of removing your shoes to respect the space that you are creating.  When you find your ritual perform it everytime you step into your space, make a statement of gratitude for yourself and your ablity to be here and now and be present.

Take away tip- find and create your sacred space and ritual and share with me in the comments

love and light,

jamie