As a non-religious person interested in religious building and iconography I have been contemplating where one might go to reflect. I knew I wanted to create something based on grief for this project and so have combined both ideas, considering where I find it most cathartic to grieve.
The term sacred space is an inclusive term of all religions and spiritual practices, being broad enough to include many types of people. This is why I find myself coming back to the term frequently. I define a sacred space as, a space that one resonates with on a deep and personal level. For many people, religious buildings are their sacred space, others might find serenity in nature or elsewhere. I fall into the latter. Whether religious or not, there is importance in having somewhere to feel safe and at peace. One can have a multitude of sacred spaces. And just because one person finds a particular place sacred, it does not mean that other people will.
One of my own sacred spaces is ‘toms shed’. A shed in the garden of my family home which my late uncle repaired to a livable standard and lived in. It’s a period of my life I look back on very fondly.
Another element of a sacred space could include; rituals, shrines, and altars. Having a symbol for reflective time and space in which one can perform their rituals can be useful for some, as having a sign that it is an appropriate place to feel such emotions that are associated with sacredness.
Daily practices as rituals – as mentioned by Luciano Maggiore in the sound arts guest lecture on 25th April, are the processes one completes daily to enrich ones artistic practice and daily life.
Altars are inherently religious, they originated in the Christian church as the place to hold bread and wine for communion. The Oxford Dictionary defines an altar as “a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual”. Some spiritual people who may describe themselves as ‘witches’ also have altars, they use altars as a spiritual focal point for reflection and their general spiritual practice. Unlike shrines which are more broad, yet still rooted in religion, shrines are typically dedicated to specific people.
Images of sacred spaces and altars/ shrines:
