Sacredness

The term hierophany, coined by Mircea Eliade, is used to describe the way the sacred reveals itself to us by allowing the divine qualities of everyday objects to shine through into our awareness. When we make a tree, candle, or loaf of bread the subject of our full attention, we transform it into hierophany, an object of the sacred. For the one who experiences hierophany, the object is not good or bad. There is nothing extraordinary about it. Except the perceiver notices all levels of its existence beyond just the surface layers and feels the interconnectedness of it all. This level of perception allows the person who accesses hierophany to see wonder in the mundane. It makes us feel alive. Even looking up at the sky would evoke a sense of sacredness.

Have We Lost Sacredness?

In 1957, Elidade brought to the reader’s attention that he believed the world we live in had lost its hierophanies and all living things were part of the same flat reality. Meaning had trickled away, leaving us with nothing more than the demands of industrial society in the place of depth and wisdom. And yet, we, as humans have an urge to infuse places, objects, and events with meaning to make them sacred- whether it be our spiritual practice, a family tradition, or the soil behind our woodshed where we buried our dog. These things help us to connect with something bigger than ourselves so we are more able to understand and value our lives.

Perhaps our ancestors interacted with the vast landscape differently than how we engage with the numerous neutral places we encounter regularly. They may have seen the depths in a land that was in itself hierophany and had a different way of experiencing the world- one that required more intelligence from their bodies rather than their minds. But I don’t entirely agree with Elidade’s statement that we have lost our ability to find the sacred in our environment, although all the distractions we now face in today’s modern society add a different layer of challenge. There is no denying that it is difficult to be present with the sacred world around us when we can just as easily put a screen in front of our faces. Still, I don’t believe we are too far gone or too out of touch with our reality to lovingly connect with it.

Invaded Sacred Spaces

When I reflect on places and things I believe to be sacred and hold meaning in my life, my mind automatically goes to my shower. My most favorite part of the day involves turning the dial to the hottest setting while steam fills the room. I can forget about all that lies ahead and simply focus on the quietude of the moment. This square enclosure is where my mind becomes the most still and also experiences bursts of ideas and potential insights. Peace and calm wash over me while my worries float down the drain.

Ironically, my sacred space recently was invaded by a stout 2-year-old with a mound of hair and raspy voice. We call him Leo and he is my son. He recently decided he wanted to disrupt whatever sacredness my morning shower once provided me. Now, I sneak into the bathroom with hopes of him staying in the living room, consumed by his trucks and books. Not a chance. He comes running in as soon as he hears the water flowing. I now find myself lunging to protect his clumsy body from slipping head-first into the tub rather than stand silently in solitude. I rush to unclothe his daily outfit, which minutes prior I had to wrestle him into. Then I have to use my body to shield the once soothing water from entering his eyes, or else he will let out a piercing scream.

My mind is consumed by his comfort rather than my own. Vigilance and reactivity wash over me while past solitary moments float down the drain. And yet, the fullness of my attention on this tiny human and my knowing that this stage will pass, makes me feel a sense of aliveness that wasn’t there before. My sacred space has become enhanced with his presence that in turn helps me to be more present.

Even Sacred Forms Change

Not only are Leo invasions temporary, but also I know there will be a day when he will no longer follow me around the house, or live under the same roof. Soon, this stage will change. Change is an inevitable factor of parenthood and of life. Not even places we call sacred are immune to the effects of change. Our family cabin that holds some of my favorite memories will one day belong to someone else. Our backyard trails, where I spend endless hours hiking, will one day be too steep to climb. The yoga studio where I teach weekly classes will also eventually end.

There is a hint of grief that accompanies things we long for, but also relief in knowing that nothing lasts forever. I often remind myself of the impermanence of all things as we enter the colder and darker months of the year. The frigid temperatures, lifeless trees, and the odorless scent of winter will pass. Family structures, job responsibilities, and parental roles will also take different forms. If I am lucky enough to enter old age, my hair will turn grey, my skin will sag, and my physical capabilities will decline. I can sit in my rocking chair and boss Joe around instead of rushing to make something of myself. Topics of conversation will change, and my memory of faces will become blurry. One thing that won’t change is my endless motherly instinct to worry about Leo. But I suppose that will also change when I am no longer here to worry about him. Or maybe I will change and become enlightened and decide that worry no longer has a place in my life?

It may be possible to find hierophanies in a world in constant change when we pause long enough and connect with the temporary role we, and all of life, play. We all depend on and influence one another during our time here. And yet, we often forget to pause long enough to connect with the person in front of us. We overlook our surrounding environment with a false sense that it will remain unchanged and instead find ourselves caught up in the world inside our heads. We search for the meaning of life in places, people, objects, or events and fail to realize our tendency to over complicate things. Connecting with the sacred is less complex. It simply requires us to slow down and learn to interact with life from a knowing that ‘this too shall pass.’ Even hot showers don’t last. And from that knowing, we can remember to be here now. There is nothing more sacred than that.

Life's Sacred Gifts

We can all discover our own hierophanies without stepping onto a yoga mat or committing ourselves to a religious doctrine. All we have to do is slow down our minds and notice how we are infused with sacred life. There is a sacredness in our ability to watch shadows and lights dance across floors. How sacred to have ears that allow us to hear laughter, breath, and rattling wind. There is a sacredness in the words we can speak, filled with love and compassion. And our ability to feel gentleness, heartache, and joy, which press against our hearts and make us feel alive.

To notice the sacred, we must live awake. There are divine elements we carry inside us always. There are gifts of life offered to us daily. It may be worth questioning if we are awake to the other lives alongside us. Such as birds singing and trees swaying. Are we awake to the wondrous parts of life? Like the changing moon, intricate snowflake, or warmth of sunlight. Are we awake to the things that touch our hearts? Which can be found in a song, final good bye, or loving embrace. Our search for meaning in this life can end once we access our own aliveness. And the key is to notice all the changing elements that fill our lives. After all, these gifts are here for us as part of our sacred human journey. Why not enjoy them all.

Contemplation Points

What does the word ‘sacred’ mean to you? Does this word make you uncomfortable? If so, why? If not, why?
Where places do you consider sacred?
How do you feel when you visit them
How can you bring more of these feelings into your everyday life?
What are things you encounter everyday that could be considered sacred? How often do you pay attention to these things? What can you do to integrate them more into your life?