Holding Sacred Space

Article from Volume 1, Issue 4 - Litha 2019

Turtle Island

We, as residents on Montreal Island, and really most everywhere across Canada, live on land that is sacred to many peoples and cultures, unceded land, land our ancestors stole and defiled and built upon… desacralizing it for a predominantly secular contemporary culture and tons of other religions who now have claims of their own to this land. How then can we make up for these terrible crimes against both Nature and the early peoples of North America? Clearly, we are not likely to be able to just give it back the tribes. How then can we make restitution?

Holding Sacred Space/Place starts with this sort of recognition. Who lived where you are standing now? What was the land used for or recognized as? How did those people honor it? As an exercise, let us do this for Montreal Island. This island (and the whole of North America really) was once called Turtle Island. The legend goes that land was deposited on the back of a turtle and eventually was able to sustain people and other creatures. This is the land we are on right now. There are many variations to this legend by the many various Indigenous Peoples, a creation story. Most common versions are heard from the Ojibwe, Cree, Haudenosaunee, Algonquin, and Iroquois peoples. Montreal was a spiritual place of meeting and exchange between tribes, a place of trade. The land, the rocks, and trees were all sacred. The wildlife, too, was sacred: Turtle, Loon, Muskrat. Honoring starts with recognizing all this and respecting the original name: Turtle Island. When holding a public event or service, ritual, or even a private activity; take a moment to thank the land you are upon, apologize for it having been and remaining unceded, honor it with its original name (if you can), ensure it is a clean space before AND after you use it.

“We recognize that Montreal is unceded land belonging to Turtle Island’s Indigenous peoples and we are but guests upon it.”

Non-Physical

Holding Space/Place does not need to be a physical location. Holding space can refer to time, such as the silence we hold at 11am for 11 minutes on November 11^th for Remembrance Day, the silence we hold at a funeral, or the silence we hold during a Dumb Supper at Samhain. Holding space can be the sanctity within a councelling session or a healing circle where permission is granted for safe sharing under a promise of confidentiality and compassion. Holding space is also evident in such things as community gatherings, radio/podcasts, and magazines (like WynterGreene) that provide and ensure space and place for voices to be heard.

An example of this last (excluding WynterGreene) is a new grassroots zine called ‘Holy Matter/s’ by Camellia. As stated in the first volume, this zine is her “effort to connect witches around the world in community, conversation, and compassionate growth.” It is full of amazing art, literary quotes, stories, recipes, personal essays, poetry, advice, and more. I personally enjoyed seeing a contributer’s playlist as I find music a great inspiration for writing. The wisdom and shared experiences within are deeply personal to the authors. Holy Matter/s holds a sacred space and place for voices to share in their Pagan experiences.

Divine Space

On a more private note, you can hold space/place for the gods, spirits and ancestors within your homes. Setting up a shrine is the way to do this. Who/what are you honoring? Choose an appropriate place in your home for your shrine. For example, don’t set up a shrine to a cooking deity in your bathroom! Bathrooms are for water spirits and deities and spirits of cleansing. What goes on a shrine? Images, objects, or statues that represent who/what you are holding space/place for. Decorate it thematically according to correspondence related to that entity. Think about what they like as possible offerings. Finally, does the being have a particular day or time if worship or honoring?

For example, I have a shrine in my office dedicated to both the spirits of Tea and Momiji (Japanese maple tree). It is decorated with a cloth that has a momiji leaf motif. Upon it are: tea cups, momiji art, a tiny tea book. Regular offerings of tea and incense are made at it. I offer meditation and worship once a month at the first light of the waxing moon (new moon). I hope space for the spirits then in ritual. I drink tea to them and with them. This shrine is still a work in progress as I have yet to mouth a larger art about tea and paint the kanji for Momiji and frame it. It is important to maintain a shrine, keep it clean, freshen the offerings, and sometimes adjust the décor.

For Someone

Holding space is a valuable tool for healing, counselling, and connecting with other people. According to the article “The Sweetness of Holding Space for Another” published by HuffPost, when you hold space for someone, you bring your entire presence to them. You walk along with them without judgement, sharing their journey to an unknown destination. Yet, you are perfectly willing to end up wherever they need to go. You give them your heart, let go of control, and offer unconditional support.” Holding space is a sacred act of love and support for someone (even yourself). It is committing time to be with someone in need, being with them in whatever capacity they need you to be.

                Sometimes that is just being present in their life, letting them know you are there. Sometimes it is “doing the hard stuff” by showing up with food or being prepared to help them clean their home because they have stopped being able to cope and to do the basics for themselves for a time. Sometimes it is sharing tea with them or taking them out to change their headspace. Sometimes it is helping with child care, or elderly care. Sometimes it is holding them tightly while they cry. It is giving them permission to take time in a safe place to fail or breakdown, knowing they are loved and permitted to take the time they need to piece themselves back together.

                It is actively listening without including yourself or your opinions. Provide safe space (sacred space), listen (past your own defenses and ego), and permit or validate the emotions of the person for whom you are holding space. Unless you are holding space for yourself, it is NOT about you.

                Some key concepts for holding space…

• Safety
• Let go of your ego
• Full attention / active listening
• Validation & acceptance
• Compassion & non-judgementalism

Can we actually hold space, even sacred space for ourselves? YES!! And we must! Everyone needs a little “me” time. Holding space for yourself is critical to self-care. But how do we do this? It seems so obvious how to hold sacred space for unceded land; how to hold sacred space to offer voice to people to express themselves; to hold sacred space for deities, spirits, guides, totems, and ancestors; or to hold sacred space for someone else. You can most definitely hold space for yourself. No, this is not a selfish act; it is an act of self-love. It is important to permit yourself some personal time to sit with yourself and be fully present for yourself. It is important to listen and reflect on your own health, emotions, and mental state. It is important to hold space for yourself to recharge and work on yourself so you have the capacity to be there for others when they need you.

Let me say this again because we all need to hear it LOUDLY!

It is important  to hold space for yourself.

You are important.

You…. Are…. IMPORTANT!

~ by T. Scarlet Jory