Sacred Spaces and Rituals of Solitude

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to take a quiet walk in nature. I chose a trail that isn’t one of my usual routes, and though I passed more people than I typically would have on a non-COVID spring day, it was still relatively quiet. Following the stream bed, I continued a short distance past the trail’s end and came upon a waterfall, no one there but my dog Tazi and me. I settled on a rock and absorbed the warmth of the shining sun, the sound of the water splashing on the rocks, the smell of spring. I stayed awhile, feeling an increasing sense of peace and connection with each passing moment.

With so much uncertainty in the world right now, which touches the lives of everyone I know, evoking my sense of inner peace is essential. Responding from a place of peace enables us all to encourage peace in others – and helps us all get through the difficult moments with greater resilience.

While sitting among the beauty of nature is ideal, it’s not required for coming into a peace-filled state. Any quiet nook will work. One of my yoga students who has young kids at home converted her closet into a meditation space. Just five minutes in there, focusing on her breath, helps her feel and choose peace more often. Find a nook in your yard, a corner of a couch, or a space in your laundry room if that’s all you have. Make it a space that invites and evokes your sense of peace. Surround yourself with images that inspire serenity, sounds that soothe, smells that calm. Breathe in. Breathe out. Be.

None of us knows how long our lives will be disrupted by COVID-19 or how devastating its toll will be in our families or communities. Yet amid any challenge, practicing peace helps. Create a sacred space and a ritual of solitude – and see what happens. Notice how it impacts your ability to be present to life and your ability to be lifegiving to others.

Namaste,

Colleen