You Are Your Own Sanctuary

When we think of a sanctuary we usually think of some place away from where we are, that we need to travel to, or make a pilgrimage to. These may include churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, monasteries, retreats, and other sacred places such as an ancient Mayan site.

Sanctuaries may also be created in Nature, naturally or to protect species such as wildlife sanctuaries.

"We have a sanctuary deep within us, an oasis of the living waters of Spirit, that we can retreat to in meditation, prayer, and visualization." - 333 Keywords to Change Your Life

We may already know this, yet how much time are we spending in this sanctuary within? Our lives can be so busy, driven by the fast pace of technology, demands of work, cultural or artistic pursuits, that we may ignore or only give moments to that deep and profound inner sanctuary that is the source of our being, the spirit connected to a Divine Spirit, or higher power, and, like an iceberg, allows us to go beyond the surface of life to the depths of life.

Meditation may not be the only way to do this. However, it is a very effective way to journey into our inner sanctuary, and as a result, enrich our daily experience of life on different levels.

In a prior blog, Why Meditation is Amazing, I describe various benefits of meditation as well as different types or methods of meditation.

"Meditation is a perfect practice for everyone,
especially seniors and baby boomers, as life can

become one of reflection in middle age, and going deep might work for some folks. For others, maybe not. We each have our own choices as to what we enjoy........Why can meditation be amazing? Deep, Silent, Relaxing, Subtle, Opening, Insights, Breath, Awareness, Releasing, Joyful, Peaceful, Stillness, Being, Health benefits, Spiritual inspiration, Consciousness growth, and Creative ideas to name a few." -

In Lady Gaga's quote above, "I can be reborn as many times as I choose throughout my life" is her affirmation that she has created and continues to create her life as a sanctuary, a sacred space from which she lives, creates, and experiences life. Her reference to being reborn is is most likely not a religious reference, but rather a reference to an experience of initiation, or transcendence. Although this type of experience is described and experienced in various religions, it also occurs outside of religion. Religions do not have an exclusive on the mysteries of how a Divine Spirit or Higher Power connects with our spirit, and causes us to be reborn or renewed in spirit.

""One of the more subtle and profound initiations is not conducted by people, but by a Divine Spirit in which we can be transformed, renewed, reborn, or energized into a new level of knowledge and experience. This can happen outside of any organized religion, as a mystical experience, to anyone at any time. Dogma and authoritative belief systems are not required."
- Initiation - A Keyword for Sacred Experience

"The keyword “Sanctuary” invites us to acknowledge and reflect on the sacred or holy space that can be experienced within ourselves, as well as seeking spiritual peace and connection in churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, monasteries, retreats, and other sacred places. It also invites us to acknowledge the sanctuaries that we have created in nature for wildlife to be protected, so that these animals may enjoy their own sacred space where they will not be disturbed. We have a sanctuary deep within us, an oasis of the living waters of Spirit, that we can retreat to in meditation, prayer, and visualization. We can experience deep peace and increased spiritual awareness right where we are, even within a one-minute meditation."
- David Lawrence Brown, 333 Keywords to Change Your Life