A waterfall is not necessarily a sacred space. A meadow with sunflowers, marigolds, and daffodils blooming, bunnies bounding, and no civilization isn't necessarily a sacred space. I don't think the concept of heaven is sacred, nor do I think places like Kaaba or The Vatican are sacred. It is completely dependent on an individual's idea of his/her personal sacred space. To some, it might be the romanticized, previously-mentioned meadow, and to others it could be a cubicle. But, because somewhere has religious, iconic, or beautiful connotations does not make it a sacred space. An individual's reaction to a place makes it sacred.
Have you ever been somewhere new and felt as if you've already visited? I'm not referring to simple Déjà vu. I'm trying to describe a place that you feel you know every inch of. Or, a place where it seems some gigantic emotional situation occurred in which you can't return to normal. Maybe a place where you feel extremely comfortable, or maybe a place that makes your stomach flip. Somewhere that, for some reason, elicits such a powerful emotion that you can't leave. These, I believe, are sacred spaces. And, it's not to say that a church, for example, doesn't/can't do that for some people; it can. But, it doesn't do that for everyone. Nowhere will. A sacred space is a completely individualized location in which people have a primal, intuitive reaction.
One more point. Sacred space can be mental, too. It could be a state of mind, a feeling from a loved one, piece of art, etc. It's not necessarily a physical location. I think it's less about the location, and more the emotional reaction to it. If music, for instance, moves you so passionately that all thoughts wash from your head except a pure emotion, then it is a sacred space.
Thundercat-
ReplyDeleteOur feline brains must be working in tandem! I share many of your thoughts on sacred space. I especially agree with the notion that sacred space is defined my the individual. I like that you also acknowledge that sacred space can be a mental process. As we are both musical cats, I know music can be an escape for us; it's as much of a sacred space as a synagogue is for a Jew. I do think, however, there are certain scared spaces that are beyond our individual interpretation and are simply sacred. For the most part, individuals define their own sacred space, but certain places with rich spiritual/historical backgrounds are bigger than a single persons beliefs.
Good post Tcat!