How to create a meditation space in your home
If you want to meditate more regularly, creating a sacred space in your home makes it much easier. It’s more than just a lovely physical space. It invites you to make mental, emotional and energetic space for your meditation and devotional practices. It's an ever-present, sweet reminder that taking time to connect to yourself and with the Divine is something that's important to you.
Of course you don’t need anything to meditate – just a quiet place where you can sit comfortably. But creating a special place that is meaningful and comfortable makes it more likely that you’ll do so regularly. Creating it and using it are loving actions to ourselves, and send a powerful message to our subconscious that these activities and ourselves are worth making space and taking time for. The more you meditate here, with devotion and commitment, the more it absorbs the loving energy generated and becomes your sacred space.
Find a quiet, uncluttered space for it, where you feel relaxed. Somewhere you won’t be disturbed by other people. It should be away from a workspace, the kitchen, children’s rooms and high-traffic areas.
For most of us it will be a corner of a room. If space is limited, a cleared shelf or windowsill can be enough for the items you want in your space, and one comfy cushion.
If you have a large house you might be able to devote a room to it. Perhaps you can make this a larger project, and refresh and bring back to life an unloved spare room, loft or shed (with heating!).
Thoroughly clean and declutter the area. Cluttered space, cluttered mind. Bring nature in, with plants. Don’t let anyone walk here with shoes on (this brings in street dirt, multiple viruses and bacteria, and negative energy).
Gather a beautiful rug and cushions to sit on, perhaps a specific meditation cushion. Use colours that soothe, uplift and ground you (likewise for colours on the walls, if you’re painting your space).
Bring in lighting to set the mood – a lamp, fairy lights or candles. Add what’s meaningful to you, like flowers, crystals, a singing bowl, mala beads, a deity, or other objects. Keep it simple and use what you have, to begin with.
Bring in scented candles and/or incense that soothe your senses and will set the mood. I use original Nag Champa incense. It’s sandalwood, which I find grounding, calming, sweet and not overwhelming. Sandalwood is believed to connect the physical and spiritual realms.
If you’ll use music, have a speaker (not your phone). Sacred, meditative sounds are a powerful way to create a healing, harmonious vibration.
If you have a deity practice, create an altar. Have a statue or image of your chosen deity. Every morning, light incense and make a simple offering, such as a flower or some grains of cooked rice. Chant the mantra to the deity to call in her/his blessings.
Set an intention for your space. When will you use it? What will you do here and what are you seeking to add to your spiritual practice and your life? You might intend to connect to your highest self, or honour and invoke your chosen deity. You may want to raise your vibration so that you can rise up to live to your full potential or better serve others.
Inaugurate the space, setting your intention with reverence, chanting your most meaningful invocations and mantras, reflecting on and connecting to the energy of your objects.
Each time you use the space, do a simple spiritual cleanse by lighting incense to clear out bad energy from past arguments and negative experiences. The simple ritual of lighting the incense – or a candle – also brings you into the moment and signifies that it’s time for your meditation to begin.