Sacred space, don't get carried away!

This morning I had an email in my box from a woman who lives in a busy household, full of kids, pets , and all the things we pick up off the floor everyday. She wants to set up an altar, but feels there is no place in the house that won't get (in her words) "slimmed".

It isn't about the slime, it is about the energy of the space, period. Try to keep it as clean as possible, but don't get rid of your pets (who are full of awesome energy and SHOULD be near sacred space), or your kids. Be realistic.

She was worried about the animals and accidents, the kids and food. The bedroom seemed like a good place, but then she stressed about the language on HBO.

No worries.

Sacred space is a place that is held by positive energy. It can be as small as a nightstand, or as large as a room, it does NOT have to be hermetically sealed, nor should it be. Sacred space is about LIFE.

It is the energy of the place that matters, and keeping good energy locked in. People get all kinds of carried away , locking people out of their rooms where their sacred space is, that is NOT what sacred space is about...think of a church where the doors are always open to all.

Never worry about animals, or the messes they leave behind. Think of what a glorious place for a sacred space a glen in the woods would be. How much deer, opossum, raccoon , bird, and snake waste is out there? How many owl pellets? We all know what bears do in the woods. People who think scared space is to be devoid of everyday life detritus are people who have read too many books without understanding a word of them, and have not lived life. Kids sneeze, cats puke up hairballs, dogs pee, it happens. We clean it up and move on.

Your house is a place where you live. "Live" being the operative word. It doesn't matter if you and hubby sit in front of the football game drinking a few beers and hubby shouts and expletive when the ball is fumbled. It DOES matter that the space is in a place where nothing will be broken or removed, and that when you need it to be quiet and peaceful it will be.

It does matter if you and hubby do nothing but fight in the bedroom. It does matter if he shouts expletives in anger at you, or puts you down. It does matter if he throws his beer at the altar...again the ENERGY and INTENT is what is important. If he says "Damn you look sexy today", the altar will not burst into flames.

So what IS important. It is important to cleanse it and bless it before you ever use it. It is important to make sure that the space never experiences things that allow harmful energy in. That means no anger, no fear, no drunkenness or drug use, especially to the point where the person is incoherent or unconscious (this is like putting out candy for negative spirits and harmful entities). There can be no abuse, no violence, no hatred, no negative energy near sacred space.There can be no mental nor emotional illness that doesn't allow the person to honor and respect life or to understand the space.

If any of the things mentioned above happen, the space needs to be cleaned and cleansed, then blessed and rededicated.

I had someone mention the other day that people were drinking in my classroom, which is sacred space.
 So what? If you can't drink in or near sacred space we better call the Pope and burn down every church that serves communion wine. Many Pagan and Traditional religious ceremonies and rituals include wine and sacred space, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Now, drunkenness is a whole other story. There are too many "holier than thou" people in this world who are the most UHholy of us all. People are idiots, they have no training and no capacity to think beyond their noses. Do not be afraid to set up a sacred space in your home thinking it isn't worthy, or people couldn't have a beer and watch Rambo in the house anymore. They can't carry on where it will effect you doing any rituals, healing, etc., but your home does not become off limits to life. It can be all so pure if you want it to, but you don't NEED it to.

So dear reader, you most certainly may put that space in the corner of the bedroom where Rambo sometimes shouts expletives from the TV, or the cat hacks up hairballs, the Universe isn't concerned with that, it is concerned with your state of mind, your intent, your focus, and what energy you put out. If it makes you feel better, cover your altar when not in use, but those of you who want a whole room, go for it. Just make sure that if a person with issues, or who is out of their mind in some way (substance overuse or mental illness), enters the room, you cleanse it and bless it.

They don't take the cross of the church wall when the sinner enters, so don't get crazy.

Sacred space is about the ENERGY of the space and the cleanliness of spirit in that place. It is not about anything else. It is a safe place with only positive energy and spirits. I had to cleanse my sacred space the other day due to a person being so very intoxicated that they were at the point where negative spirits can come in. They pretty much threw the door open wide like a Ouiji Board and said "come and get me". That night there were loud noises in the house, and the next night too...I cleansed, and all the issues and noises are gone. THAT is what you DON'T want in sacred space!

Spirituality requires common sense. Don't be afraid to try things that you think will be helpful! Fine tune as you learn.




Peshaui Wequashimese





(C)Dr R M Wolf. May not be used , copied or reproduced without prior written permission.