Wednesday, November 19, 2014

ASMR Sacred Space Intro




Introduction


Walking into my home I want to feel calm yet inspired.  With children running around or clothes thrown on the floor, it can feel impossible to manage your own home.  It is time to take back control of at least a part of your home where you can experience the comfort of your own personal space.  It is hard to feel at peace when our environment is constantly chaotic.  This space can be the corner of one room, or just your side of the bed, but it is important to have a sacred area of your home.  This personal space is where you will relax and discover what is needed to help you through life changes. 
We all need different things from our home.  It is time to discover those needs and allow ourselves to explore new ideas.  Our environment plays a large part in our mood and emotions.  Have you ever thought about how different locations make you feel?  There are homes that make you feel creative and productive.  Some homes just make you feel exhausted.  How did your childhood home make you feel?  How does your favorite coffee shop or library make you feel?  How about your workplace?  Think about homes of your friends and places where you have spent vacations.  These different environments can affect the way we think and behave.  Sometimes we are unaware of why we always feel rushed when at home or why our office makes us anxious.  It is time to create a place that is physically and emotionally relaxing.  Many of these feelings are caused by external stimuli; by changing our thoughts about a room and the meaning it holds, we can often create a relaxing space without making many physical changes.
We must take all of our senses into account when creating a personal space.  Our thoughts and feelings are affected by sounds, textures and smells, as well as, the physical appearance of our space.  Sound is often overlooked as a strong influence on our moods.  Does the noise of the television dominate your home?  Do you live on a busy street?  Some people are comforted by background sounds, but others find these very disturbing.  Constant noise can make it difficult to concentrate or relax.  Is it possible to make at least one room in your home quiet?  One solution may be a clock radio which makes ambient noise, such as rain or ocean sounds.  This can help to drown out the irregular noise of a television or cars on the street.
Our bodies and minds can be altered by things, like the amount of lamp light and natural sunlight in a home.  Many of us feel these effects strongly in the winter.  We spend most of our time indoors in the winter.  If we are in a location that receives little sunlight, or doesn’t have adequate artificial lighting, this can add to depression and lethargy.  If you find this is true for yourself, you should try getting outside for 20 minutes a day.  If this isn’t possible for you, try sitting under a lamp which reproduces natural sunlight and opening the drapes on your windows. 
The way color is incorporated can reflect what we want from our home environment.  For instance, reds are invigorating, while blues are calming.   What colors are you drawn to?  These may reflect moods you are seeking in your life.  What colors are the rooms that make you feel most comfortable and relaxed?  These colors should be incorporated into your home, even if it is only a blanket thrown over a chair. 
The objects kept in our home also affect our mood.  Is your house cluttered?  This can make you feel safe and surrounded by the things you love, or confused and overwhelmed.  Do you like things organized with little ornamentation?  This can make you feel calm, or cold and uncomfortable.  Think of the rooms you love and what they have in common.  We will explore what makes you feel calm to create a relaxing sacred space in your home as well as in your heart.

For more visit http://www.jessicacrossasmr.com

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Hello, Thanks you for Signing up for the ASMR Sacred Space Workshop!

I am very excited about this Workshop www.jessicacrossasmr.com.  We will focus in written materials and activities on creating a physical space in your home.  Through weekly videos we will create and inner temple for meditations.  This temple will be your home base for regular meditation to rejuvenate your soul.

I want these spaces to be a sanctuary you can visit throughout the day.  I use several meditation spaces and return to my inner temple multiple times a day.  This practice has completely changed my moods and the way I observe the world.

You will shortly be added to the Private Facebook Group for this workshop.  The link to the first video will be sent to you a few days before the start of the workshop.  


If you just can't wait to start here are some supplemental readings you can start on.  These are nice additions but are not necessary for the workshop.

Spiritual Gardening: Creating Sacred Space Outdoors - Peg Streep 

Feng shui in a weekend : transform your life and home in a weekend or less - Simon Brown

Sacred Space Video - Open Hand Foundation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bmxdHIf79E

I am so excited to begin this journey with you and will be in contact again soon!

Jessica Cross, LCSW