In this one verse from the Old Testament, or Torah, lays an invitation for each of us. We are asked to create a sanctuary in which to join together with God. Thus, these 11 words serve as the core of my teaching about creating sacred space.
What follows this verse is a detailed description of how to build the mikdash, or sanctuary, which is also called a mishkan, or tabernacle. Students of Torah often ask why the instructions for building this structure are so elaborate. I believe that we are to read into this the need to pay attention to detail. IN other words, we must be conscious of how we create this sacred space in which God will dwell with us. If the Divine Presence is actually to live among us when we, too, enter this Divine dwelling place, we might want to be very careful in creating that particular space.
Yet, I don't believe we need to go to such great lengths to create a sanctuary within which we can spend time with God. If we have the appropriate intention ? the desire to invite God into the space we design ? and we pay close attention when creating sacred space, we can build a sanctuary without needing wood, stone, gems, or precious metals.
In fact, I believe that it takes little more than our mind to create a sacred space (see meditation). If we visualize the space we are in as surrounded by a Divine light, and we set aside a time to be in that space, we begin to create a sanctuary. If we also do a few small things, such as say a prayer, meditate, light a candle, burn incense, or place flowers, holy texts or sacred objects on a table, suddenly we have a sacred space. We can even build an altar on which to place some of these things.
When we do this, we consciously or unconsciously send an invitation out to the Divine Presence asking to be joined in the mikdash we have created. We have set aside a sacred time and created a special place for our Divine Guest. We meet God's invitation with one of our own.
It's easy enough to create a sanctuary in your home. However, you can do the same at work. It's possible to make a small altar or to place a candle and a sacred item on your desk. Or you can say a prayer before you enter the office. Burn scented oils or play soft music.
Synagogues, churches, prayer circles, and other spaces used for spiritual rituals tend to invoke a spiritual feeling even when no rituals are being performed in them. They become vortexes of spiritual energy, and it takes little effort to recreate the sense of sanctuary and to invoke the Divine into the space. When we create sacred space in our homes or in our offices on a continual basis, these also become vortexes of spiritual energy. Eventually, just entering the space and performing a small act, such as saying a prayer or lighting a candle, draws the Divine into the space with us. This is the beauty of creating sacred space and using it for spiritual practices or rituals on a regular basis. The more we create and use the space, the stronger becomes our spiritual experiences in that space.
So, I encourage you to create for yourself ? and for God ? a sanctuary. Use it well and allow it to be well used, and each time the response to your Divine invitation will come more quickly. You will find yourself dwelling with God each time you enter your sacred space.
Creating Sacred Space With
We all know the profound benefits that meditation practice bestows. The two important aspects though, in order to extract the wonderful benefits from meditation, is that the practice needs to be consistent and long term. To that end, one of the biggest obstacles to a long term, daily meditation practice, is the lack of a meditation space in your home.
This article will help you overcome this issue by providing helpful insights on how to set up your personal meditation space. Having such a meditation space, vastly increases the chances that you will develop a consistent and deep practice. The space helps counteract some of the resistance that thoughts will no doubt put up in your efforts to practice meditation on a daily basis. Having an inviting, inspiring meditation space ready to go, allows you to get busy with your session as soon as it's time or as soon as inspiration strikes.
Here are the 3 key components for setting up this important, sacred space in your home.
1. Find a Quiet Space: Try to find a quiet, peaceful place in your home to set up your meditation space. Meditation and spiritual growth can be called the business of silence. Although, the silence you will encounter in meditation practice is that of the infinite creative force, silence in the environment will help you with the concentration required to penetrate into these depths. So, as best you can, ensure that the area is situated such as to minimize sounds and distractions.
2. Get the Right Equipment: Yes, just like a professional tennis player needs the right equipment in order to perform at his maximum potential, so will the right equipment help you achieve your highest spiritual potential. This equipment includes important items such as a Zafu or meditation cushion, loose clothing that will not cut off your circulation, a chair if necessary, and a meditation timer to set your meditation time with.
Don't underestimate the benefits of the above items. When your meditation practice deepens, you will like to sit for longer periods of time, and this can prove to be uncomfortable on your knees and back. A Zafu or chair will go a long way in helping curb this problem. Proper clothing, for similar reasons, is also very helpful. One of the most common complaints in sitting meditation, is that one's legs tend to fall asleep and having proper meditative attire will help prevent this.
A meditation timer is also a must. Once you commit to sitting for a particular period of time, you need to see that through. Early in your practice, the body and mind will greatly dislike being told what to do in this way. They are both used to running the show, and all of a sudden being told to be still and concentrate on a particular thing is going to greatly upset them. The timer should be the only factor determining the end of your meditation session. Until it goes off, you should remain frozen in time and attentive to your practice. The timer will also be of value in helping you gauge your capacity to sit in meditation for long periods of time.
3. Add Inspirational Items: Place items in this location that inspire and uplift you. They can be anything from pictures, idols, symbols to books. You may also wish to keep some incense or a candle handy, as that can greatly enhance the ambiance of a meditative space.
Summary:
A personal meditative space is a must. There is very little chance of establishing a strong and significant practice without it. Over time, you will find this space filled with positive vibrations and just entering it will uplift your spirit. Try to keep this space clean and exclusively for meditation, this might just become your favorite place on Earth.
Both Nina Amir & Anmol Mehta are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Nina Amir has sinced written about articles on various topics from self improvement and motivation, Guided Meditation and Dating and Romance. Amir, an acclaimed journalist, motivational speaker and a Kabbalistic conscious creation coach, currently is writing Setting a Place for God, A Woman's Guide to Creating Sacred Space and Inviting the Divine to Dwell Within It. To sign up for her FREE Tele. Nina Amir's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Anmol Mehta has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guided Meditation, Alternative Medicine and Guided Meditation. Anmol Mehta is a Yoga & Zen Expert. His site, , offers. Anmol Mehta's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
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