SACRED SPACE

Grounding the Client in the Moment

Place your feet flat on the floor. Become aware of your surroundings and your sense of self in them. Pay attention to your breathing. Imagine that you have big, thick tree roots growing out of the arches of your feet. Let them go down as deep into the earth as you can possibly imagine. Let them go to the earth’s core. Imagine that there is a huge metal bar at the core of the earth.  Wrap these roots around the bar so that they are taut and tight.  Let them anchor you to the earth.  Like ourselves, the earth possesses an energetic field and, as you inhale, draw the earth’s energy up the roots, on up through the soles of your feet, and on up into the rest of your body. With each breath, this energy can travel further and further up your body until you can feel it at the top of your head. You may actually feel the energy. It may feel cool, warm, tingling or you may not feel it at all. It does not matter. Breathe like this until you can feel your breath tingle in your torso and upper extremities.  Breathe evenly and consistently.

If it helps, the clinician can instruct the client to count breaths, such as ‘1' as you inhale, ‘2' as you exhale, ‘3' as you inhale, ‘4' as you exhale, and then start again with ‘1'. [Breathe with the client.] The counting becomes your mantra and helps you to become more centered and grounded. Do this for a couple of minutes. Remember, breath is life.

As you exhale, breathe out any negative or toxic energy. Just feel yourself relax.

Finding the Sacred Space

Keep your eyes closed throughout the duration of this exercise. Take the essence of who you are right now and go inside your body in search of what is called a Sacred Space. What is meant by a Sacred Space is a special place which you will create where you can go in search of comfort or calm, solace or solitude, safety or support or anything else that you seek. Start at the top of your head and go to the tips of your toes in search of this space. This is your space, and it belongs to you solely and no one else. Please do not tell me where it is. It’s your special place. No one ever has to know, unless you want them to, where your Sacred Space is located. If you cannot find a Sacred Space, just pick a space that you feel might be appropriate. When you are finished, let me know. Keep breathing.

Preparing the Sacred Space

Wait patiently and silently until the client indicates to you in some way that  he has located an appropriate spot in his body for a Sacred Place. When he has done so, instruct the client as follows:

Getting Comfortable in Your Sacred Space

Once the client has indicated that they have finished preparing their Sacred Space, invite them to go there.

Now go to your Sacred Space. Nestle down among the things you have placed there. This is your Sacred Space, and you should be comfortable in it.  When you are comfortable, please let me know.

Imagine that there is a bright light coming through your forehead creating a channel to your Sacred Space. It is through this channel that you can graciously and respectfully invite Wisdom (or Guidance) into your Sacred Space. Wisdom (or Guidance) may come in any form. It may come in the form of a book, a picture, an object, a symbol, a person or a group of persons. When Wisdom (or Guidance) is there, let me know.

Listening for Wisdom’s (or Guidance’s) Message

Wisdom (or Guidance) has brought you a very special message today.  Graciously and respectfully ask Wisdom (or Guidance) for that message. When you have it, please let me know. [Pause]  Just give me the first thing that comes to mind.

When the client indicates that they have the message, say:

What is the message?

Make sure you write it down and say:

Now graciously and respectfully thank Wisdom (or Guidance) for the message, and remember that Wisdom (or Guidance) can come any time it is called into your Sacred Space.      

Closing the Sacred Space