Why it's important to have a sacred space

Happy New Year! I hope the first few days of this new year have been nourishing for you. And if not, that you have support.

A supportive tool I use? My home. Creating a sacred space in your home can help you cultivate the energy of calm, ease, and peace (and whatever else you might want to nourish in yourself this year). No, you don't need a whole separate room and it doesn't need a waterfall feature like spas you see in the movies.

It can be a corner of your room.

It can be the plant next to the window.

It can be the space at the end of your bed, or that space between the bed and wall where you roll out your mat.

As my teacher and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh says, "Every home, no matter how small, can have a breathing room [sacred space]." 

A sacred space isn't particularly tied to yoga either, but rather, it is a designated space where you can sit and breathe. A space where you feel safe, supported and can return to your breath when you feel sad, angry, stressed or overwhelmed. A space where you calm the racing thoughts so you don't get carried away by the mind.

I've rearranged my sacred space this New Year (photo below). I make coming to this space part of my regular practice. I particularly love sitting at it in the evenings, after dinner. I light some candles, sit, breathe and write in my journal. It is very grounding and sets me up for a calm sleep ahead.

A sacred space is a gift you can offer to yourself and others in your home. When we focus on generating calm and peace, others will benefit too. Particularly now as we continue to spend more time at home and indoors, how can you make your space more supportive for you?

Creating a sacred space is a great way to consciously bring your awareness to how you want to live and what you want to create. It will also help with creating healthy, mindful habit behaviours.

Do you have a sacred space in your home? If so, where is it and how does it support you? Are you making a point to visit it and breathe often?

If you don't have a sacred space, my invite to you is to create your own sacred space. Think about how you want this space to support you - is it for calm after a stressful day? Is it to help you with your meditation ritual? Is it to energize you when you wake up? Then, go create it!

Remember, it doesn't need much. It doesn't need to be fancy or big. A mother once told me her sacred space was the bathroom, the only space where she could be alone. Another student shared that hers was in the car.

Enjoy creating your sacred space this week.

If it resonates, share your sacred space photo on social media to inspire others and tag me @victorianhan (Instagram) or Victoria Nhan Wellness on Facebook. I'd love to see it!

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