Helping You Love Yourself into Success with Inner Peace! Meditation: Creating Your Personal Sanctuary by Ilenya Marrin, DSS HOME FREE NEWSLETTER PRODUCTS SERVICES ABOUT ME TESTIMONIALS RESOURCES CONTACT Meditations or distractions? Have you tried meditating at home only to be bombarded by children, pets and phone calls? Or your spouse wants help with a project? Or your roommates won't leave you alone? Or you have trouble settling down to meditate because nearby is a stack of filing and seventeen projects you need to handle? Meditation can be challenging for people with hectic, stress-filled lifestyles. You think you should, and you want to meditate, but it is so hard to find a quiet time and place and stick to your plan! If you find meditating at home more challenging than in a group setting at your church, yoga center or the like, chances are you could benefit from developing a special corner to support your meditation practice. Creating your special place, your personal sanctuary, for meditating at home will help you . . . 1) create an atmosphere conducive to peace and upliftment, 2) reinforce your intention to grow spiritually, nurture yourself and reduce stress, 3) relax more quickly when you meditate, and 4) set boundaries and teach your family to respect your quiet time. Your personal sanctuary can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. All you really need is a place to sit or lie down in a quiet room. Creating a beautiful and sacred atmosphere will enhance your inner experience, whether you seek stress relief or spiritual consciousness. Here are several points to consider. Where could you create your special place? The best answer is, wherever you can be undisturbed for the duration of your practice. In a busy household, you'll want to be able to shut a door to insure your meditation time is protected. Some people set up a spot in the bedroom, while others have the luxury of creating a separate meditation room. I know people who meditate sitting on the patio in nice weather, or in a cozy living room. One lady I know sits at her kitchen table after the children leave for school in the morning. When you plan to meditate may influence the location. Do you plan to meditate early in the morning, perhaps before the rest of my family is up? Or after the kids go to school? When you come home from work? Just before bedtime? What would make your personal sanctuary most practical, meaningful and supportive for you? Seating: Does your meditation practice encourage sitting straight in a yogic pose or on a straight chair? Are you meditating for relaxation and self-nurturing? Do you need to be comfortable for ten minutes or two hours at a time? Choose your seating accordingly! You might simply stack pillows on your bed and recline. (I use five against the headboard to create enough height to support my neck and head while sitting reasonably upright on my bed.) You might choose an easy chair or recliner, a simple straight chair, a balanz chair or a semi-reclining floor chair especially made for meditation. If you are comfortable sitting cross-legged, you might simply want a small floor pillow. If you and your spouse or partner both meditate, place two chairs appropriately. Alternatively, some people like to lie down to meditate, especially if you do yoga first. You might want to lie on your bed, or on a yoga mat or other special pallet on the floor. Do you want an altar? If a spiritual focus is a major aspect of your meditation, you might want to set up a simple altar. You could create your altar on a low coffee table, the top of a bookcase or dresser, or even a tv tray. Keep it open and uncluttered. Depending on your preferences, you could include candles, incense, flowers, photos or pictures, a sand tray, a fountain, a deck of angel cards with uplifting sayings, a book of scripture or a book of meditations. Whatever is sacred or uniquely meaningful and uplifting for you is appropriate. If you use candles, keep a lighter or matches nearby. Be sure to extinguish the flame when you complete your session. Comfort at hand: To keep preparation for meditation easy, have on hand items such as earplugs, an eye mask, a journal and pen, and perhaps a glass of water or tissues. You might also want to keep a cd player or your ipod here, for soft background music or audio meditations. Plan ahead: Turn off any phone ringers and electronic devices. Dim lighting usually works best. You could even put a "Do not disturb" sign on your door, or just train your family or roommates to respect your privacy while you are meditating. Creating your personal sanctuary should be fairly simple, using mostly what you already have on hand. Now enjoy your quiet space for a restful, stress reducing and uplifting inner experience of meditation. May it help you awaken to ever greater peace, love, light and joy. Back to List of Articles

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