Inner Sanctuary
About
Your inner sanctuary is a place that you create in your mind or visualise that is a place that you can feel safe. ONLY those people/spirits that you trust implicitly and can feel safe with can enter into this space – namely your guardians and guides. You can allow others to visit this “sacred space” however you have choice over who enters and who doesn't, and if you permit them to enter then you also have choice as to how long they stay. Regardless – each person you allow into your “sacred space” can be allocated a key that cannot be copied and is returned to you should you withdraw consent at anytime of their “visitation rights”.
In this sanctuary you feel safe to explore and perform your own spiritual work or development of awareness on both an internal and external nature through communion with Divine (in the form of guides, angels or higher self – whatever you are most comfortable with). It assists to strengthen our connection with source, and it helps us to feel centred and peaceful within our physical existence and is also empowering – opening us up to greater strength of character and capacity to be loving. By creating the inner sanctuary you also create the connection to “divine wisdom” and greater understanding of events that are transpiring in our earthly lives.
In this sanctuary you feel safe to explore and perform your own spiritual work or development of awareness on both an internal and external nature through communion with Divine (in the form of guides, angels or higher self – whatever you are most comfortable with). It assists to strengthen our connection with source, and it helps us to feel centred and peaceful within our physical existence and is also empowering – opening us up to greater strength of character and capacity to be loving. By creating the inner sanctuary you also create the connection to “divine wisdom” and greater understanding of events that are transpiring in our earthly lives.
Preparation:
A key to the creation of this sacred space – is to invoke BEFORE starting the meditation, that you are going to your sanctuary, and to put aside any preconceived ideas. You don't try and force to visualise anything – once you have invoked, you just going into the state of breath and allow the rest of it to happen naturally. One technique you may want to try is to invoke, read this meditation and then go and sit down and “hand it over to the angels”. Your invocation has “stated your intent”, and then by allowing yourself to go into a meditative state – you simply put your focus on your breath, and allow things to happen naturally. You take on the role of “observer” of your meditative state, and make a note of the things that you observed upon return to normal “awake state”. You then have an opportunity to reflect on your observations and what they mean to you in your conscious state. For instance some people don't feel the need to have a house or walls or a garden in their sanctuary whilst others might have themselves in a medieval castle with gargoyles on the gate. The inner sanctuary reflects our internal sense of self and well being. An interpretive tool is offered at the end of this meditation to assist you with this process.
REMEMBER!! YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS EXPERIENCE. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, then you have the power to bring yourself back to your conscious awareness. If you feel that there is a presence that you are uncomfortable with -you have the capacity to shift this presence or sensation to the side, through calling on your guides/guardians or higher self. Divine guidance never EVER gives a fear based message, so if what you see or feel “frightens” you, or gives 'less than love messages” then put this down to your ego, and shut it down. (and when you are in your conscious state – work on sending energy of love into your areas that are “less than love” or “coming from a space of baseless fears”. Choose to release your limiting thoughts and behaviours and replace them with empowering thoughts and actions that are founded in love for the highest and greater good, with the best possible outcomes for all.
REMEMBER!! YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS EXPERIENCE. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, then you have the power to bring yourself back to your conscious awareness. If you feel that there is a presence that you are uncomfortable with -you have the capacity to shift this presence or sensation to the side, through calling on your guides/guardians or higher self. Divine guidance never EVER gives a fear based message, so if what you see or feel “frightens” you, or gives 'less than love messages” then put this down to your ego, and shut it down. (and when you are in your conscious state – work on sending energy of love into your areas that are “less than love” or “coming from a space of baseless fears”. Choose to release your limiting thoughts and behaviours and replace them with empowering thoughts and actions that are founded in love for the highest and greater good, with the best possible outcomes for all.
Getting Started
Set the scene to enable you to sit or lie comfortably for 20 min to half an hour. You may want to burn some incense, or light a candle (use a candle holder and place away from curtains and potential harm. During a meditation once I was brought out of it by the sound of sizzling and the smell of burning hair – my cat which had a hugely fluffy tail had sat next to it and set her tail on fire. Although its a hilarious visual it was actually really quite scary as the sound scared her and sent her flying around the house next to curtains while my children and I were chasing her! No harm done but a singed tail!). You may also want to play relaxation music. I find Terry Oldfield's album “illumination” or Tony O'Connor “Mariner” albums to be perfect for this kind of meditation. Turn the phone off, ensure that you won't be disrupted and then make yourself comfortable. Before starting a guided visualisation – you may want to start with a Relaxation meditation).
The Meditation
Once you have stated your intent and invoked or called upon guides, angels, light support team, All That I AM, Divine, Higher Self aspect, God, Goddess (or whoever else you feel drawn to call upon by whatever name you give Them/Him/Her), you then commence with the breathing.
When you are comfortable – take a few deep breaths, Inhaling deeply through your nose to the count of five, and drawing the breath all the way into your abdomen.. In 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5, and then HOLD 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5, and then Exhale via your mouth.. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5. (note the IN breath is very deep , and the on the OUT breath, push all the air out of your lungs, and then breathe deeply again – IN through the nose; OUT through the mouth). The key here once again – is don't force! If counting to 5 is too much – then reduce it to 3, just ensure you breathe deeply – down into your abdomen, hold it and then exhale deeply. Do this breath sequence for anywhere from 3 -5 breathes where it takes a concerted and conscious effort, but then allow your own body to take its natural breathing rhythm, IN.. HOLD.. OUT... IN .. HOLD.. OUT. Your focus is on the breath remember!
As you breathe – see all the stress, anxiety and negativity leaving your body, exhaled in a gray mist to be dissipated and transmuted into positive energy by the universe. In the exhale see all of your concerns and stresses leaving your body, and feel your body start to relax, with all muscle tension subsiding. Then see your body in your minds eye enveloped in a great orb of white light (with opalescent qualities) or golden light (like a giant sun), this orb is approximately 1.5 meters (or 3 foot) from all points of your body and encases you to the left, right, in front and behind, and below and above. You are cocooned in a giant egg of light. Your breath has now purified your auric body and you are now exhaling the purest of light from your mouth into your egg shaped aura.. you are cocooned and embraced and safe in the light.
Now request your light support team to step forward into your aura, and to assist you with your purpose of visiting your inner sanctuary and building it as a place of spiritual refuge for you -and thank them.. You may or may not see your guides and guardians at this point in time – however trust that they are with you whether you can see them or not, and know in your heart that as you ask - so shall you receive. Your light team is there with you for the long haul – not the short term and whatever you think you may have or have not done, their love for you is unconditional and devoid of judgement.
You are now about to start a walk – a journey to your inner sanctuary, and in your minds eye you see yourself -you are walking down a road or a path.. take a look at where you are walking – is the earth paved or a road? Or is it a simple path with a well worn track? Walk a little further and as you come over the crest of a hill you look around and you notice that directly in front of you and as far as you can see – there are miles and miles of flowers.. the flowers are red..you look closer at the flowers. What do you notice about them? What type of flower are they? Are they healthy looking flowers? Make a mental note to recall these flowers later. Pay attention to your surroundings, can you smell the perfume of the flowers? Can you hear birds? Are there any other animals nearby within your sight? You thank your guides and guardians for bringing you to this place and you continue on with your journey.
You keep walking, and as you come to the top of the hill and go over the crest – you see directly in front of you this time there are fields of orange flowers for as far as the eye can see. You notice these and stop and look at the flowers a little closer, once again you look at them and inspect their condition, making a mental note of the type of flower, the brightness of the colour (or the subtlety), you notice the foliage and the scents, and at all times you are aware of what is happening in your environment. These flowers are beautiful and you thank your light support team for bringing you here. You continue on with your journey.
As you step over the next hill crest – you see yet another field of flowers. This time there is the colour yellow as far as the eye can see. You stop and you feel the colour yellow, you bend over and touch the flowers, and what do you notice about them? What type of yellow flower is it? What is the condition of the flower? How are the petals? How do they feel? Do they have a perfume? You make a mental note to yourself to recall the detail of these flowers later, and all the while you are very aware of your surroundings and any noises or environmental influences – are you walking alone or are their people near you or in the distance? You once again thank the higher beings for bringing you to this place and you continue on with your journey.
You come to the crest of the next hill and as you step over – from where you to stand to where you vision stops – all you can see are the colours pink and green. Notice the hues and shades of the colours – is there more green or more pink? Is there a balance of pink and green? What type of flowers are they? Are the flowers big or small? Notice these flowers, their perfume and their textures, and the condition of the foliage along with the plant health, and make a mental note to remember it later. You thank your guides once again for bringing you to this place and you continue on with your journey.
As you walk further along and come to the top of the next hill crest and step over it – you see yet more fields of flowers. This time they are blue flowers. You stop and soak in the colours of the blue and the scents and sounds of these fields and you walk closer to the flowers, taking some time to inspect the petals and to enjoy the colours of the flowers. What type of flower is here? Are the petals small or large? Do the flowers have a scent? You enjoy being here for a short time but you have somewhere to go and so you thank your guides for bringing you to this place and you continue on with your journey.
You now come to the crest of a new hill – and as you step over for as far as the eye can see .. you see indigo/violet coloured flowers.. everywhere. You stop and take a look at these flowers and soak in their perfume and pay attention to the detail of the flower. What type of flower? How healthy are the petals? Are their other colours here? What do you notice? You thank your guides for bringing you here today and once again you continue with your journey.
You come to yet another hill – and as you step over the crest this time there is a mixture of flowers as far as the eye can see! – the flowers are beautiful – there is a mixture of white and lilac colours. You breathe in the scents and perfumes and you step closer to the flowers to see them more clearly – what type of flowers lie here? Notice the textures and the petals and the shapes of the flowers. Enjoy them for a short while, and then thank your guides and guardians again and continue with your journey toward the final crest..
As you step over this final crest there is a clearing – and in it is your sanctuary. Your sacred space. You walk toward it and as you do so you are aware of your surroundings. What do you see? Is it a wide open field with no trees or shrubs or flowers? Or is it a a cosy snug? Is there a house in the middle of your clearing? Is there a fence around it? Do you need to build a fence around it? What do you see, feel, smell and hear in this area? Feel free to touch anything that you see and to explore anything you see here – this is all YOURS, and you are totally in control in this space. You are also comfortable in the knowledge that now you have been to your sanctuary – you can return here any time you like. You don't need to spend a long time here – you can just come and go as you please.
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When you are ready you start to make your way back to your conscious reality and state – in the same way you arrived here. You thank God/Goddess/All That I am, guides and guardians, for assisting you with this process, an then you start to make your way back. You walk away from your sanctuary, back towards the fields that you saw on your way in, you are on your path, and going through the fields of lavender and white, and continuing on the path home, through the paddocks of indigo flowers, walking home peacefully and fully restored, content and comfortable past the flowers of beautiful blue, walking further along down the path, feeling lighter in your stride all the while, past the pink flowers with the green, and you head further down the path/road, through the yellow flowers, allowing their presence into your awareness feeling more empowered along your journey, feeling stronger, and more confident with greater faith and trust in your own ability to survive this journey of life in a way that supports your emotionally and financially.. you continue your journey back to the earthly conscious state – through the fields of orange feeling passionate and motivated toward your journey in life, you are excited to be in possession of your new information and to have access to your own divinity. You continue further along the path through the flowers of red, and knowing that through your alignment with Divine you will be able to support all your base needs and take care of yourself in this physical world. You start to bring yourself back to your conscious awareness and the physical state.
Stretch and flex fingers and toes initially – stretch calf muscles and arms and gently flex your other muscles. Sit up gently and slowly, and stretch some more before attempting to stand. You have been on an extensive journey to “self”. Write down your recollections of what you noticed in your sanctuary, it will provide you with insight on the well being of your own psyche. If you find that the sanctuary was barren and lacking in comforts or material things, or whatever, then you have the capacity to rearrange it in your next visit.
NOTE: The first time I did this meditation many years ago, I felt that my garden was devoid of trees – not flowers. So I decided on my next “visit” to put a fully grown jacaranda tree in it.. one that has beautiful blue/purple flowers that scatter.
The biggest part to any guided meditation is to not go into them with any preconceived idea of what you will find. The structure of your sanctuary will tell you a lot about yourself. About how your past incarnations are affecting you in this lifetime. The structure size, description and feel will be a representation of who you are now, and how you are connected to your spiritual past.