Creating Sacred Spaces In Your Home

About 20 years ago, I visited a very poor shanty town in South Africa. The shacks were cobbled together with sheets of corrugated iron, fraying ropes and discarded planks of wood. The “windows” were nothing more than holes on the walls that had a make-shift piece of material hanging there to act as a privacy shield, but provided no shelter from the elements. From the outside these shacks looked dilapidated, rusted and as if a strong wind could skittle them at any minute. But when I stepped inside, ducking my head as I went, my impression was immediately transformed. These so-called shacks were more pristine, and more “home-like” than the majority of houses I have visited. The dirt floors were swept so clean you could practically eat off of them. The bedding was freshly laundered, no doubt scrubbed within an inch of their existence and then left to dry in the African sunshine. Little pictures, carefully framed in home-made frames, hung on the walls. A 4 person family (usually a Mom and her 3 kids) would be living in a space no bigger than a10x10 horse stall, yet somehow she had managed to carve out individual spaces where her kids could retreat to. There was a reading corner with a quilt and over-sized pillows on the ground and a stack of books that just invited you to dive into. In another corner was a games area where a small table and two chairs sat with a ready game of checkers… you get the idea. The creation of these “sacred spaces,” even in such humble surroundings, was an important tool to help create a feeling of home. If you have no idea where to start, then I always recommend taking a look at Pinterest for some inspiration. Or if you’re close to an Ikea they have a ton of good ideas on a budget!