What Is A Sacred Space?

I am a firm believer that EVERY black woman needs a sacred space in her home. A space she can go to to collect her thoughts, pray, and meditate. I believe that every black woman needs a sacred space to help her remained spiritually centered, to practice mindfulness, and to manifest her dreams. Similar to a she-shed, or an art studio being a creative space, a sacred space is where a woman can connect to herself spiritually or connect to a deity to whom she prays. This space will be where she can find peace and quiet in her home. A space she goes to to clear her mind, declutter the stress in her life, and focus on prayer and meditation. A sacred space can also be a place where she writes her desires, plans her future, and to manifest her desires. At my sacred space, I pray, I write, and keep jars filled with my future desires. Many people also have multiple sacred spaces that serves different purposes. You can have sacred space can also be a place where pray for strength, protection, and cleanse your energy. If you are into the craft, your space can be where you cast spells, and practice rituals. If you are spiritual you will need a space where you can pray and meditate. Your sacred space is your quiet place where you can escape from the stress of daily life and focus on your spiritual relationship with yourself and whichever deity you pray to.

Picking A Location:

Your sacred space will have to be in a quiet location where you can retreat and not be distracted. Your space should be out of eyesight from your visitors, but it is okay if you are limited in space. You don’t want everyone to have access to your sacred space, because they can disturb whatever energy or spiritual work you do at your space. I think bedrooms are a good place for sacred space as many times company are directed to the living room Be sure to pick a space that doesn’t have a lot of foot traffic when your visitors come to your home. Some people also set up their spaces in a closet, an extra bedroom, or their home office.

Setting Up An Altar:

An altar is a place where you can pray meditate or ritual for your spiritual practice. Many religions and spiritual practices use altars in their rituals. Your altar can be where you can do daily rituals. This altar will be set up in the area you designated your sacred space to be. Before you decide to set up an altar, decide what you want your altar to be such as an ancestor altar, a protection altar, a wealth and abundance altar, or an altar where you decide to perform rituals. Below is an example of an ancestor altar.

Altar Photo Source: http://www.salimyers.com/how-to-set-up-an-ancestor-altar-give-offerings/

Many altars use the four elements (earth, air, water, and fire) to help with prayers, rituals, and meditation. To set up a basic altar, I suggest you get the following:

• table
• table cloth (white is commonly used)
• earth element (such as a plant)
• air element (such as incense)
• a bowl of water (water element)
• fire element (candles)
• bowl of salt (great for spiritual cleansing your altar)
• smudging bowl (to burn sage)
• picture of deity or deceased ancestors
• a sound element such as a bell
• a prayer book
• crystals for grounding, cleansing, and protection
• a chair or pillow to sit

When setting up your altar, I suggest placing materials as you see fit or researching how to set it up if you practice a specific spiritual practice. However, I learned that many people do what speaks to them and how comfortable it makes them feel for when they use the altar. Whatever you decide as it is your altar and for YOU.
This is just a basic outline for an altar and you can change it up as you feel. Once you set up your altar be sure to cleanse it, and you can do this by burning sage around your sacred space, and speaking a prayer to clear negative energy from your space.

© Tanisha R. Coleman and Visions Of A Black Herstorian, LLC 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Tanisha R. Coleman and Visions Of A Black Herstorian, LLC with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.