Kat's Nine Lives & Katstyle Designs
Where Passion Meets Action - For Restyling Personal Growth, Home Energy and Business Style
Create Your Intentional Garden Space Project
An archive project
SACRED Experiencing summer is all about being outside. Creating “Sacred Space” can be just an outside site where you mentally place your intention. The more you reinforce it in your chosen location, the more the energy literally “spins”, as we say. Those that do see energy patterns tell me it is like a small vortex spinning over the area. The more thought you give it the more the energy stays elevated. We know that elevated energy is just “like attracting like” to create a match.
As I marveled at the color and diversity of objects on a Thai shrine, I noticed there was no one special place where a shrine would be found. They were outside large high rises, where business people would take a few moments to place their thought and send it up in smoke with a lit candle they had purchased; or outside the entrance of a home to remind them when they return what they were affirming. My favorite one was in front of an elevator, which really made me think of what that intention was about.
The objects found at the mini shrines varied: baby rattles, flowers, pictures, stones, a cassette tape, plastic food. Animal miniature ceramics, which were assigned a meaning, were added. It wasn’t the object that was important, but the intention behind it that set the space. You know when you enter that space that something is different.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN “SPECIAL SPACE” AREA
Here are some suggestions for creating your own “Sacred Space”. Sacred here means special, so what you do in that space only needs to be special to you and the others that are joining in. Where: Create your special space anywhere, indoors or outside, home or office. You often see these mini-spaces in a beauty shop from an Asian owner.
Who: Special space can be yours, your clients or made for the whole family to enjoy. There can be more than one place. Once you get going, it is fun to create different ones. One for the bedroom might be intended serenity, where the one for the kitchen would be bountiful blessings to continue. Your office creates a sense of community energy. Maybe it reminds the group of a project outcome everyone is waiting for. Select your space The base can be a large flower pot, turned over, or medium ones glued together to add height. I have used an old plastic bird bath with a bread baking tray on it. The unused, out-of-date coffee table works perfectly. Stacking two or three tables of assorted sizes is what a Thai shrine looks like.
Decide how much of nature you want to incorporate into this. You could add an old birdhouse in the center. If you fill your tray with bird seed, know you will be sharing this space and cleaning it. Maybe do two of them. I have seen grass seed grown – like a mini lawn - and the objects placed in it. Pay attention to your weather patterns. You may want it covered and protected.
What to put in you Special Space –
Each member decides what they will offer. This is a perfect place for the nature collector in your family – shells, rocks, found objects, feathers, and memorabilia from family outings that were shared. Growing flowers are better than cut ones. Died flowers are dead energy and that defeats the use of the space. Candles need to be enclosed and watched. Incense heightens the senses. Sound can be achieved by bells in the wind, chimes, even a mobile of shells or recycled glass. Make this a family project. The purpose of this is to create a directed focus in the space.
How to use the Special Space – Writing down your thoughts is a very powerful action. Tie a pen and small pad to the space to jot down new thoughts. Use a small glass bowl, or metal pot, and place the written thoughts in the bowl. Once a week, light them as a ceremony of everyone sharing blessings, maybe before the barbeque. Ancient cultures believe the smoke is the prayer being passed on. This creates more than “Special Space”. It also creates special time spent together and never forgotten memories to share. Intentional dreams will become a proven reality - you will never forget.
GARDEN
SPACE
Where Family Love
Comes Together Outdoors
By Kat Cunningham
You don’t need to fly to Thailand to the Vats, (Monasteries) to experience a “Sacred Space” feeling outside. Nor do you need to spend a lot of money at a secluded spa or retreat on an island to feel the energy of serenity with nature. In my travels, I have experienced these feelings; and the one constant I have found was that when you returned from serenity, the same restlessness was still there. Our brain tells us a “get-a-way” is the answer - or was that advertising that told us that? All you need to find a serene energy can be created right at home.
OUTDOOR FAMILY SPECIAL SPACE Styling consciously
1 Step-At-A-Time
Here’s a fun one to create that will bring a family’s time and intentions together.
First find the space that feels right for all the family members to see fairly often. Notice if it is sunny or shaded. Candles and flowers will be an issue.
Find Recycled Materials -
Keeping in mind the size of the space, look around the house and garage for useful items. You will need a base and altar top. An old tray, baking sheet, or anything with a flat surface is what you want. A slab of wood adds an earthy feeling. This is a great recycling project and might get that “clean the garage” project prayer answered.
Each object placed there is assigned a meaning. It can be shared or kept a secret. Decide an affirmation to connect to it – a stone for more family camp outs; a high school ribbon tied to winning the football game; a sealed picture of the new family home; a passed-over loved pet to be remembered. Anything goes, there are no limits.
I was impressed that even in front of a big corporation, the people on the street or in the building, brought their personal desires to where they work, shop, and congregate daily. Each item placed in the shrine means something only to them.
Each time they go by their item the thought is enhanced energetically to create it.
LET'S LOOK AT THE COMPONENTS USED TO BE ABLE TO CREATE YOUR SACRED SPACE
SHRINES ALONG THE ROAD, IN FRONT OF HOMES CAUGHT MY EYE.
The objects found at the mini shrines varied: baby rattles, flowers, pictures, stones, a cassette tape, plastic food. Animal miniature ceramics, which were assigned a meaning, were added. It wasn’t the object that was important, but the intention behind it that set the space.
Your space can have many colors: ribbons, flags, outdoor fabric cloths, anything that you give a meaning to.
HERE IS HOW I USED THIS IDEA IN MY HERB GARDEN
Structure: An old wrought iron plant stand,
an old rusty cookie tray to form the top
Decoration: An outdoor fabric placemat was added for color. The beautiful wood carved house structures were created by my painter bird house. I am willing to share with the birds if they choose. A bowl of bird seed was used to offer them enticement. Ribbons were tied to the frame.
Object symbolism: apple - abundant crop and thoughts, bowl - bird seed sharing, bamboo plant - a good luck symbol -a year of releasing for me, bell - to know I always have spirit help from nature- to call on them, elephant -a symbol of support for my venture - I have the strength and stamina to succeed, frog - to recognize the transitional phases as they arive and not fear the change.
THIS IS A REALLY FUN PROJECT THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY TO MAKE THEIR SPACE HAVE SPECIAL MEANING. GO AND CREATE YOUR VISUAL SHRINE OF DREAMS. FOR MORE IDEAS READ THE FIRST COLUMN.
TO DOWNLOAD THE PROJECT GO TO HOW TO CIY PAGE
