Sanctuary

"When you own your breath, no one can steal your peace.” “Reality” around us is always changing, and at an ever increasing rate. We are inundated with more stimulation, more distraction, more competition for our attention, and more choices than ever before. If we allow ourselves to be swept up into the raging current of information and technology, we lose our sense of grounding, our sense of self, and ultimately, our inner connection to Sanctuary. 

It may be that we find Sanctuary - our place of refuge and protection - in a specific geographical location. It may be that we find it in a less specific place - like by a river or in a coffee shop. I am here to remind you that these places are just allies to you - Sanctuary is a place that comes from within.  I invite you to metabolize this, because we will not always have access to the physical spaces we have become accustomed to finding Sanctuary within. This may be because of our life trajectory, or because the space ceases to exist. It is essential that we spend the time and energy cultivating our connection with our inner Sanctuary, as it is the only space we can be guaranteed access to throughout the course of our lifetime.  Dedicating time and energy to this practice is as important as eating, drinking, and breathing. If we do not spend time tending the heart’s hearth and aligning our nervous systems with the heartbeat of the Earth, we open ourselves to the anxiety, depression, loss of connection and fear that comes with being tossed around by the insanity of humanity. When our individual roots go deep, when they intertwine with a community that sets collective intention, there is always a way to re-center in the Sanctuary of our inner knowing and remember ourselves, no matter how much those in power try to make us forget.  Pictured here is a femme presenting being of color sitting centered on compacted garbage. Women/femmes - specifically femme of color - experience the highest rates of violence and oppression as we live in a world where sexism, misogyny and white supremacy are still dominant ideologies. She sits upon the waste of humanity, and as it rots beneath her she is centered, utterly resilient, and looking towards the future she is creating for herself.  Behind this is a personal photograph taken by a partner of mine while driving, leaving the shutter on the camera open. It is evocative of the fast paced nature of humanity, with change moving at an accelerated rate. The being in this image is committed to the pause, is committed with sitting with their center in the face of the unchecked momentum and ugly waste that humanity generates.  There are always challenges, always things beyond our control that impacts us without our consent. Congratulations on taking the time - RIGHT NOW - THIS very minute - to give yourself space to slow down and focus on creating your own Sanctuary.  Is there something that you can offer yourself everyday to cumulatively build up your resilient reserves? Everyday the world is moving faster, and the garbage messages never stop, so PLEASE, spend some time everyday slowing down and welcoming in the simple and small beauty, the magic in the mundane. And when you notice things are becoming too much, find a spot wherever you are to get an elevated perspective and sink into your inner Sanctuary. Even a minute there can shift the steerage of your course back into your own hands.