Kitchen serenity sacred space to ease life event struggle
Kitchen is the place where people gather, talk, argue, cry and celebrate many of life’s turning points, those important events. I was not brought up to honour anything in particular. Honour was not a word that I was familiar with. I’d heard it used in connection to receiving a medal, an award, or being courageous. After many years studying, applying and teaching the knowledge of living in a more connected, mindful way, I’ve come to understand that honouring is more about having a deep respect for, an appreciation of and a celebration of life’s turning points and events .
“Feeding our spirit, connecting to the land, our health and our culture”, quote by Styawat, Leigh Joseph, Ethnobiologist This quote relates to indigenous plants, yet to me it’s also about honouring of the knowledge and the wisdom that plants, trees and the land give to us. In feng shui there’s an understanding that our environment that it reflects something about who we are. It’s not all about the design features, the furnishings and location of the bed!
Sanctuary retreat space
Our homes are meant to be our sanctuary and our personal retreat space. Kitchens are designated for function. Yet these spaces can also transport us away from purely from function. For example, the kitchen may also provide us with a dancing, physical movement self expression area. As we clear and clean we might also slide and shine our dance moves. As we chop veggies we might also sing. Plenty of cultures use chanting and singing in this way. We are sending good vibes into the food. Creating a personalised Serenity space within the kitchen is a way to remind us to feed our spirit. All of us experience challenges in life and a Serenity space enables you to honour those life transitions. Utilising visual, auditory and tactile design elements.
How to create a small serenity kitchen space
This is an example to illustrate one way to create a serenity sacred space. A little about the client:
- Urban lifestyle, living in a concrete/wooden box in the sky
- Disconnected from the natural world
- Feeling a little lifeless – overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, stressed, tired out etc
Design ideas in Creating a Simple Serenity kitchen space:
To honour the plants that nourish us physically. A growing plant/herb is alive! Have you felt this energy, do you know how to feel the energy? I cover this in my personal mentoring sessions.
Place one or several pots of small veggie or herb plants in a kitchen area that receives natural light. Being aware of the area not being too hot or cold temperature.
Keep a special watering container with clean water for these plants. Locate this near to the plants.
Take a quiet moment, a pause moment. Tuning into your inner self with mindfulness choose key words, one for each pot. The words relate to your circumstances. For instance you might be bereaving the loss of a loved one. A few words selected might then include: soothing, peace within. Write the word(s) you’ve chosen, by hand onto a label that you stick onto each pots.
Taking pause and reflection
Each day set aside time to take a pause moment #pausemomentsforyou to spend time by these plants. Gently touch the greenery. Allow your mind to separate all the many tasks for the day, just for a moment and to focus on this plant. It’s the plant’s life enhancing gift to you. Feel gratitude for this. To honour and acknowledge the plant and your own body being able to process and use the nutrients.
Use your eyes softly to look at the words. You may speak the words out loud, absorbing the truth.
Water the plants (as needed), feeling thankful and with gratitude for the water is given by nature, for use by the plants and us.
Keep this space clear and tidy.
Enjoy the creating of this space, the rituals and sacredness. For the what you are giving yourself, the time-out, slow living and quiet mind moments.
In this article I describe a client case study. They wanted to create a yoga space in their home to motivate their practice and being a feeling of calm reflection to the end of their day.
Podcast
Have you listened to my podcast yet? Easy Like Sunday Morning Holistic Living – here’s a link to the intro about.
I’d enjoy hearing about your experiences from doing this. Send me photos and description.
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