Sanctuary

My pictures of my room yesterday were all dark, and perhaps even ominous appearing to some, so I wanted to show the room more fully today.

I mentioned the room in the first place because it brings me so much joy, first of all, and secondly, it is so amazing the peace I feel upon entering it, as I said. It's not just the lovely and inspiring quotes I have on parchment pinned up on the wall, or the gorgeous pictures by my favorite painter, John Williams Waterhouse.

It's all of it.

It's my purple meditation candle (a new candle, but it's always purple) surrounded by various stones that remind me to be the things I want to be - Be Creative, Be Kind, Be Love, Be Beauty, Be Ever-Expansive, Be Abundant, Be Receptive.

It's the tranquil smell of incense and oils.

It's my books.

It's the tiny jars of herbs.

It's my altars (there are two).

Meditation music.

It's my working table with my stones and all of my favorite tools within reach.

It's looking around, and seeing all of the things that I love.

They're only things, of course. They're not as important to me as my children, and Eric.

But, too, there are no traces of anyone else in the room - only me. Only my thoughts, my dreams, my personal journey, my desires regarding who I want to be, and my Truths.

(shrug)

Maybe it's selfish... but it doesn't feel selfish.

It feels... wonderful.

Something to appreciate and cherish.

It feels supporting, and peaceful, and beautiful, and right.

If I lived in a tropical clime, no doubt I'd have a green garden with palms, and a japanese rock garden, and Tibetan statues, and lots and lots of lovely bamboo. And a pond. And orange trees. A zen sort of place.

But I don't.

If I lived in England, and had access to a magical forest, I'd find a great oak that was hundreds of years old that hid at its base a secret doorway to an underworld of faery kings.

Or I'd have an enchanted cottage with a thatched roof and a huge fireplace that would hold a great cauldron. (What I'd do with it, I don't know -grin- but I like the idea!)

Folks would come from all around asking for love potions and cures for their babe's fussiness.

Where was I?

Oh, yes.

My little room.

I'm not advocating being selfish.

But mostly our children have their own space.

And while we Mama's are certainly Queens of the Castle, and get our way with most of its trappings, those of us doing our best to live our lives in partnerships with our families don't usually claim a space for ourselves.

I have done so, and I find it a wonderful thing, indeed.