Sacred Places and Spaces: Make Certain That You Have Some!

As we say, “There is no spot where God is not!”

Thus, every inch of land, sea, and air is “holy ground.” Anywhere and everywhere that you go to is sacred. In truth, every part of the Earth, where your feet might stand on is the Holy Land.

But spiritual truths often can be very paradoxical. While every place is holy — because God is there — we often need and want some special places in our lives where we really feel that “Divine touch.” In Celtic spirituality such regions were often called “thin places” because the border between the sacred and every day material realms were so small — or even nonexistent.

I think it is important that we have such special “thin places” in our lives. These are places that we can turn to for extra power during our prayer and meditation times.

For example, some folks claim to experience this added connection with Spirit in places like Sedona, Arizona. I remember going there and feeling something very special. There is a modern Catholic Church in Sedona, which has large plate glass windows, and a balcony where you can walk out and really see Sedona’s majestic desert landscape right before your eyes.

The scientist and inventor, Nikola Tesla, said that you could understand the universe if you considered these three words: energy, vibration, and frequency. In other words, everything in essence is energy — and you can think of mass as being a form of congealed energy. Everything vibrates, and it is important that we strive for a high frequency.

In “thin places” we truly are aware of this energy and the vibrations. On holy ground, it is far easier for us to strive and achieve higher frequencies.

Let me tell you about some of the “thin places” in my life. First, back in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia, where my fiancée, Peg, and I once lived, the Roanoke River runs through a beautiful park. On Fridays, we would go down to the river for prayer and meditation. It was wonderful to see the herons fly over and gracefully land in the river, as ducks swam by. When it came time to meditate, we would close our eyes and listen to the sound of the rushing water flowing over rocks.

Another special “thin place” for me is in my living room. There is a reclining chair which I sit in during my morning prayer and meditation times. My black cat, Sphinx, climbs up and sits on my lap. I couldn’t ask for a better prayer and meditation buddy than Sphinx. I believe he worships the Cosmic Kitty with his purring. We both love looking out of a big glass window and at a large tree in the backyard.

Back in Virginia I had a small family altar in our living room. I am still unpacking from the move, and I have not as of yet come across the box that has the family altar in it. But I have found that this altar, at least for me but I can’t speak for Sphinx, increases the sacredness of our living room spot.

I have also found that several labyrinths create this “sacred place” feeling for me. When I was the minister at Unity of Roanoke Valley I would often go down to our wonderful labyrinth and walk it. I really felt that this labyrinth surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains symbolically represented Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey.”

Walking into the center of the labyrinth felt like going into new territory. At the center of the labyrinth, like the hero of 1000 faces, you hopefully obtain the gift of the “pearl of great price.” Then it is the return outward to share this “pearl” with the world.

I was hoping that when I came to Sacramento, I would find some new “thin places,” and I believe that I have found one. Recently it was SLC’s RJ’s “39th birthday.” Several men in the congregation joined RJ for a special birthday lunch at a Chinese restaurant.

But before we went to the restaurant, RJ had us visit the Vedanta Society of Sacramento, which is a spiritual organization located at 1337 Mission Avenue, Carmichael, California 95608. It is an incredible place, and I am amazed how many people in Sacramento do not know about it.

Serving the greater Sacramento area since 1949, the Vedanta Society is a part of the worldwide Ramakrishna Order affiliated with Belur Math in India. I was blown away by their garden to enlightened masters. There was a section dedicated to Saint Francis and another part for Mary. But my favorite place was the lily pond, bridge, and small temple and statue of Krishna playing his flute. There were park benches nearby, and I plan to come back often for prayer and meditation.

I hope there are some “thin places” in your life. If not, then such extra special places can be found and/or created. It is such a joy to be in these spots.

We are in the middle of SLC’s Faith in Action Series, and we are studying an interesting book by Dr. Jacob Liberman, (Luminous Life).

Dr. Liberman talks about the concept of Presence or Flow, where we feel a real unity between the mind, body, and the universe. He notes that you cannot force this Presence or Flow to happen in your life. But you can do things that will make this situation more probable. I believe that one of these things you can do is to have “thin places” in your life.

Many blessings,

Rev. Rick