Sacred Space

The picture to the left is not my sacred space, but it is as close to it as I can find a picture of. Why can't I just take a picture of my sacred space? Because mine is in my mind.

But first let me explain what Sacred Space is. It is a place of peace and harmony, a place where you can go to feel revitalized, refreshed, and at peace. Many witches have Sacred Space. Most either have it in their homes, or their yards, areas of their house or home that the cleanse regularly, and where they feel safe, and secure. It is where many witches do their ritual work. Some have their alters in their sacred space all the time, some move their alters in to work.

Growing up with Christian Parents who at first were not pleased at my choice of religious change, I could not create a sacred space in the house. Sure - I could have gone behind their backs and created it anyway... but that would have imbued my sacred space with the negativity of lying to my parents. I also respected their beliefs, and it was after all their house. So, instead I create sacred space in my mind.

My Sacred Space:
In my mind, I removed all other thoughts, and began to build my sacred space. I let it come to me, adding things here and there, piece by piece. It started with a waterfall about ten feet high. High enough to jump off into the large deep pond below. The rocks of the waterfall slowly gave way to a grassy hill, that leads into a stretch of grassy meadow on the pond's eastern shore. Around the pond on the other sides, and around the meadow, is a thick forest. It is almost always dark in the forest, and I have yet to explore into it. It feel enchanted, and sacred, and I feel I should be invited, but the sacred space is my own.

So woods surround my space on all sides, encasing the meadow, the mond and the waterfall inside a wall of trees. On the eastern shore of the pond is a large flat rock that I often sit on or lay on and watch the fish in the pond. I like to watch the sun and the moon rise and set. It is a magickal place.

Before, I would invision myself doing rituals here. I would lay in bed, and in my mind I would imagine I was walking the circle in the meadow, and casting my spells in my sacred space. All in my mind.

Just like prayers can be answered if you say them in your mind, so can spells work if done in your mind.

Now my sacred space is my bedroom. My parents are okay with my religious choice. But I still refrain from doing any actual spells in my physical house, as I know that though my parents no longer ban me from having books on wicca in the house, and they no longer try and talk me out of my religious choice, I can tell they are still uncomfortable with it, as are my sisters. (Mostly because my parents or sisters often make offhand remarks about me casting spells, or curses on them. They are joking, and do not mean to offend me [though it does hurt a little] and I understand the fear that causes them to say these things).

I dream of the day when I can one day have my own home, my own sacred space, and practice my religion freely. I can now sympothize with the puritians we learned about in my early years of school, who left for America for religious freedom. I will be doing a similar thing when I strike out on my own and leave my parent's house.

So, How do you make sacred space?
There are many different ways to do this, but the most basic is simply to cleanse the area and empower it in a similar way you would cleanse, and empower your tools for wicca, or your circle for spellwork.

First, physically clean the area. That is right. Actual physical mess can create negative energy. I myself have trouble keeping my room clean, but it is easier to keep up with if you know that leaving it messy can pull in negative energy.

Second, find the center point of your sacred space. From this point choose in which direction your four elemental points will go. It is whatever fits with you personally. For example, the standard for water is in the west, but for me living on the east coast, the closest water is the ocean to the east, so I put water in the east. I put fire in the south, because the further south you head from where I live, the warmer it gets. North is air, because it reminds me of the crisp, fresh air of the mountains, and alaska. That leaves earth to the west, and the long stretches of the midwest plains and mountains. I put down insence for air, a small bowl of water for water, a candle for fire and a small bowl of salt for earth.

Third, if you are casting a spell now, and not just making sacred space, make sure you have everything you need. Some people just make sacred space when they are going to preform magick. Myself, I re-empower my sacred space every friday. Some people only make it when doing a spell. Basically making sacred space is casting a circle.

Fourth, stand in the center. Center yourself, clear your mind, stretch are shake all over to just loosen up a bit. You should always be relaxed and calm. Don't worry about making mistakes, your bedroom won't blow up. Visualize a white light pouring down from above and filling you up. Once you get that warm, tingly feeling, head on over to whichever point you put air. For me, it is north. Repeat these words: "Welcome powers of the north and air, fill my words with magick." now envision that white light inside you spilling out from your hands and filling this area.

Fifth, move clockwise around the room. It doesn't matter where you start, just move clockwise to each element. For fire say: "Welcome powers of the south and fire, ignite my heart with magick."

For water say "Welcome powers of the east and water, flow into this sacred space with magick." Remember to visualize the white light filling the area.

Lastly, go to the earth direction and say "Welcome powers of the west and earth, give my magick rich soils in which to grow."

Sixth, go to the center once more. This is the time in which you would cast a spell if you were going to do so. I generally do not, and just make the sacred space. I cast an actual circle before doing magick, and just refresh my sacred space every week.

If you are making sacred space instead of using a circle, or along with using a circle, you can retrace your steps around the sacred space, thank the powers for helping you, and finish. I myself going around, thank the powers for cleansing my sacred space, and bid them farewell. You don't want to keep them there. But their effects will linger on, making your sacred space a warm and inviting place.

Whether you did a spell or ritual or not, it is always good to ground and center yourself after any working. This is done traditionally by eating cake and drinking wine. You may be too young to drink wine, and may not have cake on hand. I myself don't like to drink, so I eat a piece of bread and drink some fruit juice. As long as you eat and drink something, it doesn't really matter what you choose.

Pick up the elemental representations (insence, candle, etc) and put them away.

Try to keep your sacred space clean. You wouldn't leave clothes lying around a church? or dirty dishes on an alter would you?

I am terrible at keeping my room clean, which is why I still mostly use the sacred space in my mind, and clean my room well before doing any actual spellwork.

Sow how do you use envisioned sacred space?
Before casting your circle, stand in the center of the space you will work in. Close your eyes and picture your mental sacred space. Picture it stretching out to fill the room. when you get really good at visualization, you will hardly notice the walls of your room, or the pictures on the wall, but will see your sacred space. I am not even that good at visualization yet however.

Once you feel your sacred space is up around you, then proceed with the casting of your circle and your magick.

You can also do magick spells in your mind. Simply lay on your bed or sit on the floor. light some insence, play some nice music, whatever calms you and keeps you focused, then preform your spell in your mind.

Enjoy your sacred space!
Blessed Be
Epona Waterlily.