In our busy lives, itโs easy to forget that there is sacredness all around us. Whether itโs a stunning sunset, a calm moment with a loved one, or simply the act of taking a deep breath. There are special moments to be found in the ordinary if we only take the time to look for them.
What Is Sacredness?
At its core, sacredness is about reverence and respect. Itโs about seeing the divinity in all things, even (and especially) the seemingly ordinary things in life. To be sacred is to be whole, complete, perfect, just as you are. It is an honouring of self, others, and all of creation.
The Cambridge dictionary defines sacredness as: theย qualityย of beingย consideredย holyย andย deservingย respect,ย especiallyย because of aย connectionย with aย god: Iย believeย in the sacredness of allย life. Theย churchย triesย toย maintainย anย atmosphereย of sacredness.
In many indigenous cultures, everything is considered to have spirit and therefore is holy. Even rocks and trees are given names and honoured. Rather than seeing nature as something to be conquered or exploited, these cultures appreciate the natural world for all that it provides. This attitude of reverence for all life can also be seen in many of the worldโs religions.
Why sacredness is important?
One doesnโt have to look far to find examples of the sacred in everyday life. The next time you take a walk outside, pay attention to the small miracles happening all around you โ the bees buzzing from flower to flower, the sun shining through the leaves of the trees, the Squirrels chasing each other up a trunk. These seemingly mundane moments are actually extraordinary when you take the time to notice them.
Everyone experiences life differently, so what might be sacred to one person may not hold any meaning for another. The important thing is that we each take some time to find our own personal moments of connection with the divine. When we do, we start to remember that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.
How Can You Start Finding Sacredness in Your Everyday Life?
We often think of sacred places as being grandiose or vast โ mountaintops, ancient cathedrals, or holy temples. Contrarily, living a life with more sacredness doesnโt require travelling far or taking on religious practice. Itโs about seeing the wonder in everyday moments and connecting with our authentic selves. When we do that, we create our own sacred space โ a safe haven from the hustle and bustle of daily life. When we slow down and look for the sacred in everyday life โ it helps us connect with our own sense of sacredness.
The first step is simply slowing down and paying attention. Instead of rushing through your day on autopilot, take a few moments each day to really savour your experiences โ both the good and the bad ones. Tune into your senses and notice all the little details around you that you may normally overlook.
- Listen to the sounds of birds chirping or leaves rustling in the wind.
- Smell fresh-baked bread wafting through the air or flowers blooming in a nearby garden.
- Feel soft fabrics or sunbeam warming your skin.
- Taste freshly squeezed orange juice or hot chocolate on a cold day.
- Look for beauty in everything โ from a rainbow after a stormy day to an incredible sunset over city rooftops.
Finding sacredness is also about spending time in nature, connecting with your intuition or higher power, and practicing gratitude. Setting healthy boundaries, saying no when needed, being present with loved ones, being honest with yourself, trusting your gut instinctโฆ and many more. There are endless ways to connect with sacredness โ it just takes a little intentionality on your part.
Sources: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sacredness
