Now that the holiday decorations have come down, we’re shifting our focus to re-organizing our homes and creating a calm environment to relax and reflect in. Our friend KRISTINE LO is a big advocate of taking this a step further by creating a unique, sacred place within your home just for you. A special place to step away from the chaos of life and back into the present moment. Our goal is to navigate through 2022 with peace and ease, and lucky for us, KRISTINE is here to help us get there. Read on to gather her steps to creating a sacred space in your home.
Creating a sacred space in your home is a visual and sensual reminder to pause and be in the present moment.
Creating your sacred space not only creates beauty but can be a place to rest, meditate, practice your rituals, and feel more grounded.
As someone who moved more times than I can count by the time I turned 21, decorating and styling my home did not come naturally. It wasn’t until I started practicing meditation and Cha Dao Tea Ceremony that I learned the ritual of creating your sacred space. The practice is in itself like a meditation. Even if you are not an avid meditator or subscribe to a specific spiritual tradition, I invite you to create your sacred space or nook in your home. It’s a ritual to create beauty at home and a way to cultivate mindfulness – the practice of being in the present moment. In the present moment is where we can feel more calm and creative.
Burning ‘Palo Santo’, meaning ‘Sacred Wood’, has been practiced for centuries in South America for spiritual and healing ceremonies. Burning Sage is also known as ‘smudging’ and has been practiced by Native American peoples for ceremonies. Smudging is a practice that I have incorporated to energetically cleanse and clear my space before I meditate. The act of inhaling the sacred smoke also tunes out the mental chatter and anchors me in the present moment.
I’ve outlined simple steps to start cultivating this ritual at home.
Kristine Lo (She/Her) is a Creative Director and Mindfulness Guide based in Ojai, California. Her passion is creating beauty, community, and immersing in experiences that connect to nature and the divine. Through her Conscious Creative Studio, NATURE AND INTENT, she works with healers, wellness brands, and conscious beings to elevate their authentic essence and online presence.
You can find more about her creative and mindfulness offerings at kristinelo.com and on Instagram @kristine.lo.
Disclaimer: As a non-native person, I acknowledge that Sage and Palo Santo have been culturally appropriated and commodified. I honor the people and cultures who’ve practiced these rituals mentioned and hold reverence to the essence of these plant spirits. Although I’m no expert in the indigenous practice of smudging, I share how I incorporate this into creating your space to find your calm and creativity.