This Month's Article:
"Holding Space for the Devine"
by Connie Habash
Here are some inspirations I received for the topic of this month's Meditation & INSPIRATION group! What will you hold the space for?
~ Connie
Beneath the daily routines, the to-do lists, the commute to work, and lugging the groceries home, something stirs, like a tremor deep in the earth. Something longs to come alive within each of us; greater than we can imagine yet finer than a spider's thread. The Divine is whispering, tugging a bit at your sweater. Most of the time, we're just too busy to look and listen.
The Divine is the sacred -- not just in a church, synagogue, mosque or temple, but right here before us in everyday life. The Sacred is called by many names through many cultures and spiritual traditions, but its essence is the same: goodness, aliveness,consciousness, peace, and love. It's not a thing that we can see or touch, and yet it is in everything. The Divine is beyond emotions, yet we feel it. It brings the world to life, ignites our passions, stirs us to action, and touches our hearts. The Divine is the Source of all, and transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. It is not the pomegranate itself, but what makes the seeds seem like rubies and the juice taste like immortal nectar. It is not the golden retriever, but the joy inspired by that caramel-colored dog bounding after a tennis ball, tail wagging,and happily depositing it at your feet with a panting smile. We see Divinity in the icy mountaintop, but also in the eyes of a lover, and the delight of a child making her first cookie. Spirit dwells within simplicity and profound truths equally. And if we make space for it in our life, the mundane will take on the shimmer of the majestic.
To deepen our relationship to the Divine, we first must have clarity of what we are asking for. When we hold a space, we're asking for something to fill that space. What do you want to invite in? Is it a particular aspect of the Divine, like Jesus or Kali? Do you want to experience greater awareness of the sacred in day-to-day life? Do you wish to feel more connected with the universe in a palpable way? Are you asking for support from the infinite source in practicing peace, love, or kindness? Take some time to write down or mentally formulate what spiritual aspect you're ready to invite into your life.
Then, we must become receptive. Holding is embracing,containing, and receiving. When we embrace God/Goddess/All That Is, we hold the Divine like we are hugging a love done. It is an active practice of love and gratitude for the sacred in our lives. Whenever we recognize what inspires us and see the spark of the divine in something or someone, we can embrace that moment with our appreciation. This is much like the biblical use of the word behold. When we behold Spirit, we perceive it, whether with our inner or outer eyes. To Behold is like saying "Look!" "Wow!" Behold the beauty of the rainbow as it reveals itself in the glisten of sunlight streaming through an afternoon shower. Behold the beauty of Yosemite Falls, and the sacred feeling they inspire within. Behold the kindness of a child that drops a dollar bill in the cup of a homeless woman.
We also practice receptivity through the idea of becoming a container, a receptacle for Divine inspiration or love to pour into us. Imagine becoming a large bowl, a beautiful goblet, or a simple cup. When we sit for meditation, this is essentially what we are doing -- allowing ourselves to become a receptacle for inspiration, wisdom, or positive energy to flow into us. Take time to be still and allow yourself to be poured into!
In your daily life, too, you can become receptive to all the good that is available to you. It is amazing what inspiration and joy we can find all around us when we have receptivity to the infinite source of goodness that we call the Divine. Just this morning, I was at the gym and an elderly woman smiled at me and said, "Happy New Year!" I stopped and took the time to ask her name. She lit up and expressed appreciation for my interest in knowing her. I chatted with her briefly and noticed the radiance and love coming from her eyes. We both went about our day with smiles on our faces, and I know my heart filled with joy and a sense of connection. I glimpsed God in another's eyes, and it moved me. A simple act of reaching out and making that connection with another can fill you with that inspiration,too.
Certainly, it makes a difference to set aside time and a special place for holding space for the Divine. I have an altar in a particular spot in my home, and at one time in my life I had several little altars in various places, so that almost anywhere I was, something reminded me of the Sacred. These can be as elaborate or simple as you like. A small vase with a flower, changed regularly with intention to awaken a sense of Spirit can be enough, as well as a special stone or crystal, or a candle. A bowl filled with water can remind you to open yourself to receive inspiration. And of course, images that speak to you of your connection to the Divine are perfect, too. But wherever you are,you can consecrate that space -- in a conference room at the gym, out in a park,waiting at the dentist's office -- simply by standing or sitting mindfully and having the intention to open yourself to that greater presence.
I take some time, even if just a couple minutes, to create that sacred space every day. If you commit to a regular time you will find the feeling of connection increases over time, just as you experience greater results when you practice yoga on a regular basis. Often,this is before the sun rises or before I go to bed, when it's dark. The nighttime invites us to look inside,rather than outside, for our inspiration. Then, light a candle to awaken awareness of the inner light. But if you aren't able to sit in front of a candle, it's also fine to be sitting up in bed with the lights out, taking a few minutes before sleep to pray, meditate, or simply reflect on what touched your heart today. My family has a tradition of sharing what each of us is grateful for every day before we go to sleep. This practice of gratitude creates a sacred space that opens all of us to the abundance that the Divine offers us whenever we're receptive. Morning, noon, or night -- any time is a good time to hold a special space to connect to something greater.
Keep in mind that you're holding space --it doesn't weigh anything, and therefore can be effortless! When you have the attitude "I should take some time..." or "I have to make space for God," it becomes one more burden on your to-do list. Have a light, effortless attitude -- the Divine is here anytime, anyplace, and it doesn't have to be work or a struggle to allow it into your awareness!
Saints from the modern day and the past, such as Mother Teresa and Francis of Assisi, have motivated many to serve others with the kindness and caring they demonstrated. Throughout many cultures, women and men have experienced motherly love for all creation through symbols of the Divine Mother such as Yemaya, Demeter, Devi, and the Mother Mary. And we have seen the power of leaders who exemplified kindness and non-violence in the throngs who drafted on the inspiration of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, marching for peace and harmony in our world.
Finally, when you hold someone's space, you know that they're going to show up. It's reserved. This is expectancy -- an inner knowing that Spirit will reveal itself when you have the intention, openness, and create the space for it. This is different than having expectations. Expectations assume a particular outcome, and often lead to disappointment. Expectancy, however, is the ability to wait with confidence and trust that what arrives is good,whatever it is, even beyond your imagination! Have confidence that you will begin to experience the Divine in new and meaningful ways when you hold a space for it in your life. And get ready! When you expect a guest to arrive, you set the table, clean up the house, and have everything in place. What would you like to do to prepare yourself for this transformation of awareness? What inner or outer changes would support you in receiving more inspiration, more love, and more peace? Prepare for your guest, because when you hold the space for the Divine you can be assured of a special occasion.
The easiest and perhaps most effective way of inviting in the Sacred is to practice it in your daily life. Have the intention to deepen your connection to the Universe. Become receptive whenever and wherever you are. If the Divine is everywhere present, infinite, then it will be in any place you wish,at any given moment, if you are willing to perceive it. Then, know in your heart that it will show up and be willing to recognize it: in the little ant carrying a crumb, in the ink flowing from the pen, in the release of your hamstrings, in the smile of a stranger. Behold, the Divine is here,and the very chair you sit on right now is sacred space.
Blessings,
Connie
