Creating Sacred Space for the Sacred Feminine with Amalya

Creating Sacred Space for the Sacred Feminine with Amalya

For our 1 ½ hr session we will: Explore questions about Sacred Space for the Sacred Feminine with a little Show & Tell plus Co-create a Sacred Ritual Space with a theme and intention of honoring the 7 CHAKRAS symbolized by the 7 VEILS as our focal point for the altars and as a conduit for blessing our inner energy centers and and Participate in a Guided Movement ceremony, with dances to the 7 Chakras to empower our Sacred Space Without and Within. Conclude our time together in a final circle

Intentions for today Inspire you to have a deeper awareness of creating sacred space for the Sacred Feminine, for yourself and your community. Inspire you with visual ideas from other sacred spaces. Share a step by step method of Setting Sacred Space & making altars for a ritual. Co-create a ceremony. Dance and lift our spirits!

What is Sacred Space ~ Without & Within"? Sacred space WITHOUT is an environment that feels safe, nurturing, peaceful and holy. It is any awe inspiring time and place that encourages us to suspend our mundane thinking and reflect on the spiritual, divine and magical mysteries of life. Location: Nature, home, dedicated place WITHIN The most sacred space is within your Heart and your Inner sense of Divine Self. The Chakras can also be a conduit to commune with your inner energy centers as well.

How does Sacred Space for the Sacred Feminine differ from current traditional religious spaces? Circles vs Rows AND Sharing vs Sermon Female Imagery Altars & Icons & Celebrations that honor Goddesses or the Earth and her elements, seasons & cycles & women s s passages --- vs icons & holy days that honor prophets, their persecution & their relics; or scripture or other dogma Welcomes dance & personal creative expression & sensuality as a form of spiritual devotion

Photos of Goddess Temples and Other Sacred Feminine Spaces

Glastonbury Goddess Temple, UK

Sekhmet Temple Las Vegas

Karen Tate s s private temple space

Goddess Temple of Orange County, CA

The Goddess Studio of Escondido, CA

Sacred Feminine Spaces ~ Outside

Altars ~ The best ingredient for creating sacred space

ALTARS ~ Why & How WHY set up an altar, what is it s s purpose? Creating an altar is an act of DEVOTION and a way to HONOR the ESSENCE of what or whom the altar is for. An altar is the best vessel for setting sacred space. Creating an altar is a symbolic act that helps awaken the intuitive connection to your subconscious and spiritual guidance. The ACT of setting up an altar is therapeutic and healing: it takes you out of the mundane and gets you into a play and creative mindset as it works on the symbolic and intuitive level of consciousness. Viewing an altar: REMINDS you of your divinity, reminds you of beauty and peace; reminds you that you are not alone. Viewing an altar gives you a focal point to help you meditate and quite your mind. Also, viewing an altar is a way to honor and express gratitude and devotion to the essences it represents.

Create an Altar a) Start by physically cleaning out a special spot, corner, or mantle b) Energetically clear a space with your intention perhaps augmented by burning sage, lighting candles, ringing bells or drumming; reciting a prayer or affirmation or chanting; or spritzing aromatic hydrosols; or using Feng Shui principles. c) Pick a THEME or INTENTION: ie ie: Sabbats ~ Honor Divine BEINGS ~ Honor PASSAGES ~ Special Occasions ~ Healing. Or just to create something fun, playful, beautiful and inspirational! Or a personal altar to honor YOU! d) Decorate! ~ ideas: small table or mantle with beautiful cloth over it, candles, flowers, pictures or figurines of Goddesses ses or Deities, something to symbolize the 5 cardinal directions and 5 elements perhaps; crystals, a vision board, poems or affirmations, or any objects of special meaning to you, things you ve made, photos of yourself and those who need prayers.

Altars ~ Inside & Outside

Personal Altar

Honoring ISIS

Imbolc

Ostara

Beltane

Litha

Lammas

Mabon

Samhain

Yule

Outside Altars

How do we Hold sacred space? For Leaders/Priestesses Holding space means 1. 1. Leaders/Priestess must know how to set the example of the mood for the gathering with their own demeanor,, and an hold an attitude of compassionate guidance good boundaries yet flexibility. 2.. and maintain constant observation of the group energy, feelings and dynamics, and step in as needed to balance the needs of the group and the individual to maintain physical and emotional safety. 3.. Keep Commitments! For Participants: Holding Space means 1. arriving on time and not leaving in the middle of the ceremony to honor your s and the group s s intentions and time commitments. 2. It means to show respect for the intention of the gathering by not n sliding into socializing/ cross talk and chit chat which is physically a distraction for all and energetically it diffuses and siphons away the energy the group is building. 3. Being Open & Present.

What is SAFETY in a gathering? SAFETY FIRST! Physical safety and body needs must be met. Emotional Safety: be clear with group on ways to honor people s s emotional needs especially concerning touch, asking for what you need, honoring a need for privacy; and how to handle emotional catharsis Council Sharing & Talking Stick: have a clear method for sharing thoughts and feelings in a group that is honoring of an individual s s expression as well as honors the needs of the group and the time allotted.

How do we SET a sacred space for a Group Ceremony? (Amalya s 12 step outline ) 1) Clarify INTENTION & Objective & Theme for gathering: Keep a constant THRU-LINE through all activities and segments of the ritual. (For more complex rituals, write up an outline/chart or agenda to clarify the activities and the timing each activity segment will take.) 2) set up a ritual space ENVIRONMENT to honor that theme/intention on.. Start with an energetic space clearing; then decorate as desired in alignment with intention and physical and emotional safety considerations. Make Altars to help focus the intention for the gathering. 3) set an appropriate MOOD of reverence by music, lighting, chanting, drumming and most importantly maintain the appropriate attitude of leaders 4) PURIFICATION of participants (a symbolic act like saging or spritzing or sound healing of the body of the participant, or do some visualization to focus the intention for release of unsupportive energies thoughts, attitudes or feelings. ie ie the white sheet visualization.) 5) GROUNDING & CENTERING.. (To focus intention to be present and relaxed.) A short guided meditation to anchor your roots to the earth and breathe and center your awareness in your heart. Chanting Ma or Om is effective, or drum or sing!

How do we set a sacred space for Ceremony? Steps 6-126 12 6) Acknowledge the Cardinal DIRECTIONS & ELEMENTS (Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Energy) or do some symbolic gesture that affirms our interconnectedness s to all planes & substances of existence and the cycle of life (ie( the physical, elemental, emotional, mental, etheric,, and spiritual planes of existence and the seasonal and cyclical changes of Nature) 7) INVOKE Goddesses & Divine Beings & Ancestors as desired. 8) CAST CIRCLE or affirm energetic container.. (ie( close the circle of sacred space around participants through statement and visualization. IE Visualize an orb of light or rings or a grid around the entire space) 9) DO CEREMONY: (ie:: our Samhain Shadow Ceremony) 10) CONCLUDE CEREMONY with summary of intention as fulfilled 11) RELEASE the Directions-- Acknowledge and express gratitude for the Directions/Elements and Divine Beings you invoked. 12) OPEN the circle with song, chant, sound or simple statement like So it is! It is Done! Aho!! Namaste! YES! Etc.

7 Chakras & Veils

7 Chakras 7 Crown 6 Third Eye 5 Throat 4 Heart 3 Solar Plexus 2 Sacrum 1 Root

Let s s Create and Dance! Honoring our 7 Chakras / Veils Now that we have satisfied our mental Left Brain curiosity about Sacred Space ~ Let s move into our Right Brain and shift into our intuitive experience e and co-create create a simple sacred space and short ceremony here together. Using the general outline of Setting Sacred Space as I suggested previously, I have chosen a THEME / INTENT/ OBJECTIVE of Honoring the 7 Chakras as a symbolic process to empower our inner Sacred Space. 1) INTENT: to lift the veils and empower through movement our inner i sacred spaces of our energy centers or Chakras. 2) CREATE SACRED SPACE ENVIRONMENT & ALTARS: Take a few moments to add any items or (Affirmations on paper) to the chakras altar. 3) SET MOOD: put on music, light candles 4) PURIFICATION 5) GROUND & CENTER 6) Acknowledge DIRECTIONS & ELEMENTS 7) INVOCATION 8) CAST CIRCLE 9) CEREMONY: Dance the 7 Chakras (30 min *3min song/chakra, veils, or meditate) 10-12) 12) CONCLUDE / RELEASE DIRECTIONS / OPEN CIRCLE

Blessed Be! It is time to create sacred spaces for the Sacred Feminine to honor Her within oneself as well as without. Nurture your inner temple space through meditation, ceremony, art, dance, and create an outward physical sacred space to remind you daily of the beauty, power, wisdom and love of the Divine Mother and Her HERitage.

Connect with me & Blessed Be! Website: www.goddess-studio.com Meetup Clan: www.meetup.com/goddess /goddess-studiostudio Facebook: www.facebook.com/goddessstudio Email: AmalyaGoddess@aol.com This presentation written & produced by Amalya (Amy Peck) 9/3/13