Reading Space
We all know the importance of sacred space, right? I think that the act of reading is an act of connecting with the Divine. A time of honor and respect. By creating the right atmosphere, we prepare ourselves to enter liminal place, a place conducive to bridging our conscious and unconscious minds, a place where “As Above” meets “So Below.” Certainly it is worthy of the small effort of lighting a candle…or at least clearing away the clutter. I’ve discussed the importance of sacred space many times in books. I believe in the importance of it. I have a lovely collection of cloths, candles, crystals, feathers, acorns, etc., etc.
On some websites and community forums, sometimes people post pictures of their readings spaces or altars. They are almost always well thought out, beautifully balanced, and filled with symbolic significance. I am impressed. And embarrassed. I cannot recall the last time I set up a really nice space for myself. Even though I know all the benefits and have all the necessary items close at hand, I must be excessively lazy because I don’t do it. If I want to do a reading or use the cards in some way, I just grab them and lay them out over whatever mess is in front of me.
My readings done this way are useful. I still get answers. But am I cheating myself by being lazy? Would my communication with the Divine be better if I prepared myself and my space physically instead of just mentally? Would I get more out of the experience if there was a Tiger’s Eye and Rose Quartz nearby rather than potato chip crumbs? I really think so. What do you think?
PS I am posting early (I usually post on Tuesday and Thursday) because I’m leaving for a solitary retreat today. I’ll be out of internet range until Wednesday afternoon. So, if your comments don’t show up right away, don’t worry. They will on Wednesday.
I’m confessing, I don’t have a separate sacred space. I read at my computer desk, put up a tv table, or even do a spread on the floor, now that my pets aren’t as active anymore. Sometimes I don’t even turn off the tv when I read for myself. What happens is that the cards grab me and the distractions recede as I read the cards.
Do I think it would be better if I had a dedicated space. Perhaps. What I’ve learned recently in a different context is that wisdom is very spontaneous and as long as you are THERE in your attention and intention, it works. Doing it over in a whoo whoo space won’t make it better because you did it right the first time.
I’ll eventually have a blogpost about this very idea at http://www.rowdygoddess.blogspot.com
I lke to read in a place that is nicely set up, but I can read anywhere.
Thanks, Bonnie. Do you think the environment has any effect on your readings?
I didn’t know about your blog! Love the name. I’ll watch for the post about the spontaneity of wisdom.
I have a beautiful reading cloth that a friend made for me. I can lay it out anywhere and poof! instant Sacred Space. 🙂 I think I have a Pavlovian response to the cloth now. I unfold it, run my fingers over the velvet and satin, and I begin to calm down and center.
Honestly though, I think it’s more important to ground and center before doing a reading, than having an outer sacred space.
Joanna, I am currently listening to Eat Pray Love and there was a part about a woman who has become so connected with her meditation that she just has to close her eyes and start to say her mantra and she’s “there.” That is, I think, the importance of ritual…it does make a Pavlovian response, an instant connection to where you want to (need to?) be at that time. No matter where you are, you can always ground and center, right 🙂 thank goodness.
I was just catching up on my favorite blogs and I saw this and thought I’d throw in a couple of pennies. 😉 I confess that I don’t have a “sacred space” where I do my readings. I do readings when I feel the pull and the most important thing for me is that I “connect” to my Source when shuffling.
In fact, I find that when I take a bunch of time to set up a space, the pull has faded. I still get good readings, but that warm fuzzy feeling is not as strong as when I pull cards at that spur of the moment. But then, I only read for myself, so this works for me. I’ve been known to pull cards at work during breaks, on my bed, at the (cleared) dining room table, and even on occasion in the bathroom, when I’m trying to find a quiet place without the kids yelling at mega-decibel levels!
When I have done readings for others, they have always been e-mail readings, which allows me to pull the cards when I feel that “itch.”
But don’t get me wrong, I LOVE seeing the beautiful spaces that people have put together for their readings, and I wish that I had that kind of undisturbed space to put together my own. 🙂 But not having one has never affected the strength of my readings in any way.