Do you have a "sacred" place in your home or yard?

This was a question posed at a party I was at once and I thought it provoked some interesting answers. It doesn't necessarily have to be religious in nature. A sacred space can be anywhere that you feel rejuvenated and "in touch" with something greater than yourself.

I have a small area in my bedroom where I have set up a prayer/meditation area. On the table I have a statue of the blessed mother, incense and burner, two votive candles, and a decorative dish that contains colorful crystals and my rosary (I use the crystals in place of flowers. I call them the flowers that never die :-)).

Underneath I keep a couple of books about altars and a series of crosses. Here are a couple of pictures:

Great subject Diana!

I love my back yard. Unfortunately my husband never believed in spending money to make the back yard look nice but it is like a park in itself. We have a concrete patio that is shadowed by two silver maples. They are so tall that I like to sit at my patio set and gaze into the sky through the trees at the clouds and the deep blue sky. I feel so close to heaven at times sitting out there. I have bird feeders out and lots of little critters running about. Mostly chipmunks and squirrels but on occasion some deer wonder through the yard and even onto the patio. There is another silver maple in the lower section of the yard and three birch trees line the back of the property with pines behind them and two birch on the back side and pines along the side to the street. It feels almost like my own private oasis. There is a four tiered garden that backs into the patio. I would love to have perennials and arborvitae.

I had all the dreams of having my English Garden. Haven't given up hope yet though. I just may one day.  

Very cool, Diana.  Cathy, yours sounds lovely.  It reminds me of Pennsy, that's why I miss Pennsy sometimes.

About 5 years ago we added 500 SF to our house and one of the things we did was to enclose the old patio to make a lovely little sitting room.  It's quiet, faces the new back patio, and has book and knickknack shelves, wainscoting, muted colors, skylights and a big window for plants and is far enough away from the rest of the house to not hear the TV in the living room (lounge).  It has COZY written all over it - cool in summer and warm in winter.  

I think everybody needs to have a little "sanctuary" in their house, where they can retreat from the world for a while for a bit of peace and quiet.

Cathy your 'santuary' sounds lovely.

Mine is a tiny balcony in my flat which has space enough only for a futon.I live in a first floor flat and the balcony overhangs the garden of the flat just below ours.The campus where I live is very peaceful with a lot of greenery . I love to sit  in my balcony with just a cup of tea doing nothing and thinking of nothing (especially after office!)

What lovely ideas you have all had for creating your sacred places!

I don't have a yard where I live but I can see the harbor from my front steps and sometimes I enjoy a late night stroll down the wharf. The sound of the ocean is very relaxing.

Nature in general is very therapeutic. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy my job driving so much. I get to get out into the country, the mountains, and the ocean side towns. There is something new and refreshing to see everyday. Once, while driving down the highway I looked down into a glen and saw three deer grazing around a pond! I've seen hawks flying too.

I know this sounds weird, but my special place is the bathroom. Ever since the kids were tiny, tiny, when my husband came home I would retreat to the bathroom, and take the longest, hottest bath I could. 

I play soothing music, I relax.

I still do this, even though the boys are grown grown.  

It's also a great place to get inspiration for me. Also my bed. I always sort things out in my mind in the wee hours lying in bed.