Let's talk about containers...cocoons, wombs, caves...Circles. And I'll throw in a little about squares too.
Over the years, in my work and study with dreams, and learning Dreamwork, I have become quite familiar with the idea of sacred space. That is - space that is designated for doing deep and healing inner work. The Greek word for this concept is temenos. That's where the square comes in. It's why we have square churches and square courtyards, square courtrooms, and square baseball diamonds. They contain. (In 2013, when I was beginning the shift in my own work, I wanted to name the business "Temenos." The name was already taken!)
A few years later, I was reminded of the concept of the Sacred Circle in a Jungian DreamWork class. It is the same idea, but comes from a different tradition. "It is an old Goddess ritual to bathe--purify--to don the white gown--the garb of descent to the land of the dead--and to draw a circle of magic protection--sacred thought--around oneself." (from Women Who Run with the Wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estes).
In my class, the professor encouraged us to create some type of circle when doing dreamwork, active imagination, or any other type of inner work that would engage the unconscious. A message to both the conscious mind, and the vast contents of the unconscious, that "I am serious - I want to listen - I want to go deep!"
So I began gathering my precious items - hunks of rose quartz and other crystals, rosaries, metal crosses, artwork - and forming a Circle around the space that I was doing some type of inner work, creating a program, or writing what I intended to share publicly. I was creating a Sacred Circle in which to bring that which was coming out of the unconscious, into my conscious mind. (I used to worry that if someone were watching this behavior they would have had some serious questions about my mental stability - but I did it anyway!)
I realized I had been doing this for years! Building and walking labyrinths. Turning my round glass top table into an altar. Painting the Celtic triad in my house. And beginning to meet in Circle with other women, mostly, under the guidance of Heather Elizabeth of SHE.
The significance of how I had been tapping into the energy of the Sacred Circle - how it had been holding me, protecting me, providing a container for growth and transformation - was brought to my awareness in such an incredibly synchronistic way! See Dreams, Synchronicity and The Handless Maiden for this story!
Maybe you are beginning to see the back story of how I have come to take this work so seriously. There is nothing that I ask you to consider investing in - whether that be time, energy, practice, or money, that I haven't done myself.
My journey continues - I am amazed at what keeps unfolding - and unfolding, like a never ending opening of a beautiful flower! And I want that for you! I suspect that you are wanting it for yourself too, or you wouldn't even be taking the time to read this blog.
How do you want to begin? I have laid out the options for ways I can accompany you on your own journey - the treasure hunt, I like to think of it. Just click on the link. Everything you will find there allows you to begin to experience that sacred container, in varying degrees.
And know this - no matter when you choose to peel back your own layers - The Sacred Circle is always there for you. We are always and continuously held by the Divine Spirit, where there are such vast and plenteous resources for the drawing on!
with gratitude and love, peace and healing!