February 4

A Room of One’s Own

Having a space that is just your own is important. If you live with others it may be a little difficult to have a whole room to yourself but maybe a corner of a room. In most cases a corner of your bedroom will be ideal. If you have a whole bedroom to yourself wonderful.

Sacred space is a place where you can dream, relax, rest, renew, indulge in simple pleasures, have solitude, gather peace of mind, find calm from a busy day.

I have always needed a space for solitude that I was comfortable in that was just mine. Having a space no matter how big or small is important to your sense of well-being. It is someplace that can hold treasured items or memories, or dreams and wishes, a place where you can be creative or just provides comfort and peace.

In each house I have lived in over the years, my sacred space has been different. Sometimes I have been lucky enough to have a whole bedroom, but I have also used a corner in my living room and my dining room. My family knew to respect my time when I was there. Each space contained things that were special to me, that comforted and nurtured me.

Your space doesn’t have to be big it just has to be a space you can keep your dreams and hopes safe and protected. Where you can dream, meditate, journal and do some of the creative vision planning and self-discovery work. A place when you can just go to when you need to find some peace and calm in your busy life.  It must make you feel comfortable, safe, protected and nurtured.

No matter what you home situation or life circumstances is there is always a way to find a small space for ourselves. Even if it is just a shelf with things that have special meaning to us that we can look at and restore us to a place of peace or joy for a moment or two.

Create a place where you can go and be in solitude. You need to be comfortable in this space. Walk around your house, where do you feel most comfortable? Find a place where you can carve out a piece that will be strictly yours. If you are lucky you may have a bedroom to yourself or one you share with a partner where you can have a corner of the room that is yours. If not find a corner in the living room, family room or dining room that you can designate for yourself. Screen it off if possible. Or as I often did section it off using furniture.

Move a comfortable chair and a table into your space. It could also be a bench or a pillow for a seat and a basket to keep things like books to read, or a creative project to do or just a treat. You don’t need to go out and buy anything new – unless you want to – just use pieces of furniture that already make you feel comfortable and cozy. Simply gather all your favorite pieces and arrange them for you to sit, write, dream, imagine.

If need be your bed can be made into your sacred space. Just have a table or shelf nearby to place special objects and/or a notebook.

If you could create a sanctuary for yourself what would it look like? And what activities would it be reserved for? What furnishings would it have? What color would it be? What steps can you take to make it a reality?

Create a Space of Your Own