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Creating A Home Sanctuary
Finding sanctuary amid life’s chaos is a prerequisite to achieving greater life balance. The American Heritage Dictionary describes sanctuary as: 1) A sacred place, such as a church, temple, or mosque; or 2) A place of refuge, asylum, or protection.
What I mean by sanctuary is an area that feels nourishing, comforting, and inspiring. I don’t decorate my home like a church, but I view it as a sacred place and try to replicate the feeling and experience I get when I sit in a house of worship. I’m even discerning about the people I invite there! Whether you live in a small apartment or an expansive mansion, your environment should inspire you and remind you of what’s important in your life — what you hold most sacred.
Creating a sanctuary from the stresses of work and the “noises” of the outside world helps you to slow down and feel more grounded. Surrounding yourself with beauty and inspirational objects keeps you in touch with your dreams and your purpose. Achieving a feeling of sanctuary is not related to airtight security (i.e., fences, gates, multiple locks on doors), nor does it have to do with how much money is spent on furniture or personal belongings. A multimillion-dollar home can be devoid of a feeling of sanctuary if it’s designed and decorated to impress rather than to create a sense of welcome and comfort.
The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into someone’s home is how it feels — the quality of energy that dominates it. Homes that nurture the soul come in all shapes and sizes. Even an “inner-city” home can evoke feelings of harmony and a connection with nature through the use of plants, flowers, a simple fountain, a fireplace, or a collection of natural objects such as rocks, driftwood or pine cones. The colors, textures, and materials chosen, whether natural or synthetic, can further contribute to the creation of a nurturing and inviting space. We all have different lifestyles and personal needs, and so the variety of “home-as-sanctuary” environments is endless. Each will have a personality and a character that embodies the essence of its inhabitants. Its capacity to reflect peace and beauty reveals the ability of its occupants to live comfortably in the world.
In creating such an environment, it’s more important that you imprint your own vision of harmony than hire a professional designer, decorator, or feng shui practitioner to advise you. As talented as they can be, they may leave you with an image of their own tastes and energy rather than your own. A newly designed space won’t be nurturing or complete until you’ve personalized it and made it yours. A home is not only a symbol of what you value in life, but also of the state of your consciousness. Rearranging your home is like rearranging your consciousness; the process itself will be as transformative personally as it will be for the physical space you live in.
In our fast-paced society, designating a specific area for personal solitude within your home will help you maintain a sense of inner peace. If you’re married, living with someone, or simply sharing a home with others, it’s even more essential to create such a space.
The size of this place of reflection isn’t important. It might be the corner of a room where you can meditate or listen to inspiring music. Maybe you’ve turned a large closet into a meditation room or designated a bookshelf as a location for things you value. The top of a dresser may be the perfect surface upon which to create an altar. Altars, usually thought of in a religious context, could also be a place to honor what has meaning for you. Photographs of people and places, favorite objects, incense, stones — anything that evokes your own special sense of what is sacred — can remind you of how pleasing such a feeling is. Did you ever notice how often children create special places in their rooms for their most cherished treasures?
When you learn how to slow down, simplify, and create an environment that nourishes your spirit, your life will become more balanced, harmonious, and fulfilling. From a more centered and focused state of mind, you can make wiser decisions. You’ll then be able to discern the nature of your own particular genius, stop trying to conform to other people’s models, and learn to be your authentic, individuated self.