Thanks! I appreciate you reading this. This weekend I'm going to scout out an outdoor location for a reading. I think I know a spot, then I just need to figure out the logistics of how to record myself
I love a long walk in the woods. It helps me feel connected to Earth in a way few things do. The funny thing about my garden is that it’s a mess after years of neglect. Last weekend my oldest child and I put a few hours in as we work to reclaim the space from rogue blackberry bushes, invasive ivy, and other weeds. However, when we were working out there, it did feel peaceful and holy--like our work was reconsecrating the ground. Be the fall we will have a proper space again for people to wander and lounge in, next year we will have fruit and veggies again!
I’ve learned a lot from gardening. Things like forgiveness, redemption, patience, and connectedness. I remember the day it all came together for me, all the pieces clicked into place. I felt the earth between my fingers and had a great awakening.
That's beautiful. It sounds like the background for a wonderful poem or essay! There are so many lessons to learn from the Earth, if only we're willing to learn
Totally honored to be shared with. I've found 'sacred space or place' as well, more in individual areas, like my mini camper, lighthouses, my mini greenhouse (posted). I feel like solitude, beauty, refuge are qualifiers. And I can just-be.
Jason, I for one would love to hear you read your poetry from someplace deep in the woods where the sounds of birds, insects and the rustling of wind through the trees is your background music. Do it! Do it!
I like it that so many of us are reclaiming from religion the rights to the sacredness of being fully and autonomously human! ❤ My sacred spaces are in nature, in gardens, in my home, in libraries and bookstores. When I enter a place with lots of books I feel hope, I feel like love is there.
Reclaiming sacredness has been a big thing for me. As you say, I’m reclaiming my humanity and interpreting my holy experiences in all their myriad forms for myself
As far as audio recordings go... I'm deaf so I read the captions if there are any usually with the sound off. I do enjoy seeing the author read, the way they move, their smile. Occasionally I'll turn on the sound to try to hear the voice but usually that doesn't add sound-information for me. 🤷♀️ FYI I do occasionally read aloud my own poems or talk on camera because I know other people enjoy it or because it's a way to be silly - like my holiday poem https://youtu.be/SMP6HSiZSj0
Growing up, both my parents were deeply involved with a spiritual organisation. I grew up steeped in all the scriptures from Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Islam... I grew up inside of Thai enormous community.
I’ve had my own tensions and explorations of where I am in relationship with that place of spirit and sacredness. Ultimately, I turned away from it. It was an appropriate turning away, but there was a heartbreak in it - and for years I felt lost.
Finding my direction, meant learning to follow my heart. Another way to say that is learning to listen to life, notice things and follow the trail of what feels sacred.
I definitely understand that feeling of heartbreak when you choose something different for yourself than what the rest of your community has chosen. For me, it's still bittersweet.
Thanks! For a really long time I did not think I was someone worth getting to know. Writing has helped me heal from a lot of trauma and given me the courage to connect with other humans again
Finding sacredness is a choice - one you seem to be making very deliberately and beautifully, I might add - it is a quality of looking at something that you give it, because on their own, at least in my Animistic world view - everything is essentially already sacred. We just do not recognize it, or are willing to see it. I love how you value and add to the sacredness of your home. Many blessings
Thank you! I agree with you. Our human sense of sacredness is often just the act of noticing what is already there. If consecration means to set something apart, to make it sacred, what that really means is us tuning in. We consecrate spaces by noticing what is there and appreciating it for what it is. Desecration would mean to make something common. By ignoring the true nature of our surroundings or by being distracted we don't change the fundamental sacredness of a space, we simply turn ourselves off from the sacredness of it.
Thanks! I appreciate you reading this. This weekend I'm going to scout out an outdoor location for a reading. I think I know a spot, then I just need to figure out the logistics of how to record myself
I know this might be a trite response, but I'm one of those who finds sacredness in the wilds of nature.
I don’t think that’s trite at all. I also find the wilds of nature to be sacred--more so than any church I’ve ever been in
Thank you, Jason! I like the idea of home being a sacred space. I also find my gardens and the woods behind my home to be sacred places.
I love a long walk in the woods. It helps me feel connected to Earth in a way few things do. The funny thing about my garden is that it’s a mess after years of neglect. Last weekend my oldest child and I put a few hours in as we work to reclaim the space from rogue blackberry bushes, invasive ivy, and other weeds. However, when we were working out there, it did feel peaceful and holy--like our work was reconsecrating the ground. Be the fall we will have a proper space again for people to wander and lounge in, next year we will have fruit and veggies again!
I’ve learned a lot from gardening. Things like forgiveness, redemption, patience, and connectedness. I remember the day it all came together for me, all the pieces clicked into place. I felt the earth between my fingers and had a great awakening.
That's beautiful. It sounds like the background for a wonderful poem or essay! There are so many lessons to learn from the Earth, if only we're willing to learn
This was lovely. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading!
Totally honored to be shared with. I've found 'sacred space or place' as well, more in individual areas, like my mini camper, lighthouses, my mini greenhouse (posted). I feel like solitude, beauty, refuge are qualifiers. And I can just-be.
Thank you for reading this! I like your idea of finding sacredness in small spaces that provide solitude, beauty and refuge.
Jason, I for one would love to hear you read your poetry from someplace deep in the woods where the sounds of birds, insects and the rustling of wind through the trees is your background music. Do it! Do it!
I’m going to think of a good setting for a reading!
Yes!!!
I like it that so many of us are reclaiming from religion the rights to the sacredness of being fully and autonomously human! ❤ My sacred spaces are in nature, in gardens, in my home, in libraries and bookstores. When I enter a place with lots of books I feel hope, I feel like love is there.
These are all great places, Sue!
❤📚
Reclaiming sacredness has been a big thing for me. As you say, I’m reclaiming my humanity and interpreting my holy experiences in all their myriad forms for myself
As far as audio recordings go... I'm deaf so I read the captions if there are any usually with the sound off. I do enjoy seeing the author read, the way they move, their smile. Occasionally I'll turn on the sound to try to hear the voice but usually that doesn't add sound-information for me. 🤷♀️ FYI I do occasionally read aloud my own poems or talk on camera because I know other people enjoy it or because it's a way to be silly - like my holiday poem https://youtu.be/SMP6HSiZSj0
This is good feedback. If I do make videos, I’ll make sure to add captions and I’ll make a transcript for any audio-only recordings.
Thanks for even considering it!! I appreciate you!!
Growing up, both my parents were deeply involved with a spiritual organisation. I grew up steeped in all the scriptures from Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Islam... I grew up inside of Thai enormous community.
I’ve had my own tensions and explorations of where I am in relationship with that place of spirit and sacredness. Ultimately, I turned away from it. It was an appropriate turning away, but there was a heartbreak in it - and for years I felt lost.
Finding my direction, meant learning to follow my heart. Another way to say that is learning to listen to life, notice things and follow the trail of what feels sacred.
I definitely understand that feeling of heartbreak when you choose something different for yourself than what the rest of your community has chosen. For me, it's still bittersweet.
I am really enjoying learning a little more about you beyond 17-syllable confines.
Thanks! For a really long time I did not think I was someone worth getting to know. Writing has helped me heal from a lot of trauma and given me the courage to connect with other humans again
Beautifully written, Jason. I consider my home a sacred space as well for many of the same reasons mentioned in your post!
Thanks Justin! We are so fortunate to be able to have these spaces in our lives
Finding sacredness is a choice - one you seem to be making very deliberately and beautifully, I might add - it is a quality of looking at something that you give it, because on their own, at least in my Animistic world view - everything is essentially already sacred. We just do not recognize it, or are willing to see it. I love how you value and add to the sacredness of your home. Many blessings
Thank you! I agree with you. Our human sense of sacredness is often just the act of noticing what is already there. If consecration means to set something apart, to make it sacred, what that really means is us tuning in. We consecrate spaces by noticing what is there and appreciating it for what it is. Desecration would mean to make something common. By ignoring the true nature of our surroundings or by being distracted we don't change the fundamental sacredness of a space, we simply turn ourselves off from the sacredness of it.
I could not agree with you more. Well stated.
What a great view on sacred places. I really like the phrase "Unity does not mean conformity." That is so important.
That crook of two branches looks pretty sacred, too, by the way.
Thanks! It's taken me a long time to learn the difference between unity and conformity.