Secret, Sacred

I keep everything in my head. The world, physical and social, is open to everybody. I have paces in the woods I know well and visit often, but they are shared with all of the organisms that reside within that space and can be visited by all. To have a sacred space it must be the most special and unique (and secret) place. It is a place where memories, emotions, wishes, and all other aspects of self can be stored without fear of discovery. This place is the brain. It is impenetrable.

My emotions are always readily displayed on my face, but the thoughts that run underneath my malleable flesh are mine to keep. Rarely do I completely reveal the contents of my brain. I think often. I make connections, and I analyze. Some things that I think about are not significant to others, so I keep them inside where they will be appreciated. Others thoughts are personal, they may be treasures or wounds. My favorite place to hide is within my head. That's why I am often quiet; it is not for a lack of thoughts, but for an overwhelming abundance of them. The things that I think have great meaning to me. They help me place in pieces of the world so that I can create a fuller picture. The process of creating this imagine, and the image itself are sacred to me. For this reason, my head is my sacred space.

Cathedrals and temples are conventional examples of sacred space. These are places of worship. But why are these places so significant to human spirituality? It is within these walls that people find beliefs and follow them. They think. Clarity is found by worshiping the sacred because it helps the people better understand the world in which they live. It helps them to better understand themselves. For these people, 'worship' resides within their minds. The building is simply a physical representation of the beliefs that are being celebrated. Much like me, they are grasping to fit together the pieces of human life. It is our brain that acts as the spiritual house, holding all our secret thoughts.