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Solitude, regardless of age, profession and temperament, is sometimes required by everyone. Why is personal space so important to each of us? We explain the reasons for our need and share tips on how to create a personal territory.
Why do we need personal space
Once I gave a master class «Writer’s Notebook». I started by asking students if they like to read. Writers, experienced and novice, laughed in response: this is Seattle, recognized by UNESCO as one of the literary cities of the world.
I then asked if the congregation had a special place where they could write. Most answered yes. Perhaps the matter is in the specifics of the craft they have chosen. I am sure that everyone should have such a “sacred space”, regardless of profession. Yogis need it for spiritual practices, creative people — to create works, and everyone else — to rest from the chaos of life.
We all need a private space to retreat and reset. Virginia Woolf wrote about her own room in a book of the same name. And she meant not a room as a closed space of a certain area, but a place in which a person feels comfortable and safe and can write if he wants.
How to create a sacred place
When creating your own sacred space, remember that it should match your personality. It can be filled with things and books that represent who you are. Your energy should fill the room, inspire you and make you smile. There may be memorabilia, reminiscent of happy and bitter moments of life.
My sacred space contains candles, scented oils, rosaries, family photos and of course many books.
The top shelf holds a collection of typewriters. The Buddha sits on the corner of the desk. In his hands he holds a stone with the inscription «Serenity» and sets the right mood. I read a long time ago that large corporations light coffee-scented candles to increase employee productivity, and now I have one on my desk. The reading chair is on the other side of the room.
What will we get
The American writer and mythologist Joseph Campbell also talked about the importance of sacred space — a place where you can be yourself and who you want to be. He viewed it as a creative incubator. Campbell noted that although the chances of a muse are increasing, even here we can be overtaken by a creative crisis. In The Power of Myths, he wrote that in this place «you may not know what the papers are about, you may not remember who your friends are, and you may forget your duties.»
Where to arrange it
Sacred space does not have to be created inside an apartment or house. When I was a teenager, my grandfather took me to Parisian cafes to learn the art of people-watching. For him, cafes were that innermost space. So it is only important to understand what is right for us.
Tips
Find a place where you won’t be disturbed for a long time.
Create a pleasant environment.
Choose the music you like.
Surround yourself with your favorite books.
Get a notebook and pen ready.
Turn off your gadgets.
Perform a cleansing ritual or light candles.
Take the creation of a sacred space seriously, because this place is vital for your emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being.
About the author: Diane Raab is a psychologist and author of eight books.