Creating a Personal Sanctuary

Our lives are often filled with so many things that we neglect our personal time. It seems like the easiest thing to let go of if we are pressed for time. Yet it is so vital for our inner peace. I believe we need a place to call our own sanctuary, a place we can escape to on a regular basis and find peace. I have always had such a place. At times it was my bedroom; now it is my office.

Many clients have created personal sanctuaries. Some have been in a corner of the lounge room; others outside under a pagola; still others have re-claimed a storage room or guest room. I recall reading about a woman who had eight children and in order to create her sanctuary, she would sit on her rocking chair and place a cotton sheet over her head like a tent. The children all knew not to disturb their mother while the sheet was covering her. She found a way to have peace in the midst of all those children.

One of my clients put up a big canvas tent in her backyard and filled it with special pieces of furniture and used it as her escape from the family. Whatever you choose, find a place that you can go to and be at peace for a time. 

How to Create Your Sanctuary: 

1. The Room: Find a room you currently have that can become your private space. Talk to other family members and gain their support.    
2. Create Warmth: Hang pictures, place candles and/or lamps on a table and/or desk. You might like a table fountain or some cushions on the floor. Perhaps you are artistic and you want to create a wall hanging or a collage for the floor. Use your imagination. Place plants, ornaments and vases around the room.   
3. Music: Place a CD player in the room and have a variety of CD’s on hand (relaxation, uplifting, emotive, classical, whatever suits your personality)   
4. Books: Have a bookshelf or some book-ends on the floor with several inspirational and/or self-help books, magazines and other written material that you particularly enjoy. Some of you may like to have angel cards or positive affirmation cards in the room   
5.  Other: I like to have a box with old magazines and a smaller box full of felt pens, paints, scissors, glue. You will also need a scrapbook and a journal.   

What to do in Your Sanctuary: 

1. Light a candle, put on a CD, read something inspirational.   
2. Close your eyes and take 5 deep, slow breaths in and out through your nostrils.   
3. Ask your thoughts to be quiet for a few minutes.   
4. Sit in stillness.   
5. Open your eyes and decide what you feel like doing next. Perhaps you will want to write in your journal. Maybe you will want to create some ideas in your scrapbook. Complete one of the exercises from this website.    
6. Use some of your time for self-awareness and personal growth.