Making Space

Have you thought much lately about the spaces where you dive deep into your practice? The dance hall where you spin every Sunday… the retreat center that becomes home for a week each summer… the yoga studio that you stumble upon in the midst of your travels. Whatever their size, shape, and location, these are the places and spaces that can either help or hinder our journeys of body and spirit.

We’ve probably all experienced varying levels of support from the spaces that host our explorations and inquiry. Venues that convey such attentiveness and care that we are ready to return before we have even left. Venues that lack that extra sparkle, inadequately protecting the raw, tender openings that result from our process. Whether these details are at the forefront of your experience or not, the fact is that every room, every location, has the potential to contribute in a not-so-subtle way to the tenor and safety of the experiences that it holds.

For this reason, just as a facilitator tends to various components of their teaching, so should they attend to the space in which they present their work. This process is often referred to as “creating a container,” implying that the space needs to consciously contain its participants. It’s very much like working with, well… a container. If we grab a piece of dirty Tupperware from the sink for our leftovers, we’re starting with a contaminated receptacle. Not cool.  Even if we put our favorite leftovers in a clean container, but then leave the lid off or forget to put it in the refrigerator, we haven’t properly stored our food. The point is, creating a safe and effective container for our practice requires forethought and diligence.

If you are responsible for setting up the space for a group practice, take time to identify what needs attention and consider specific methods to anchor the proper tone for the room before others arrive. This may involve clearing out energy left from previous groups that were in the room or invoking new intention that supports your teaching efforts.
Once people start arriving, remember that they will impact the field that you have established; lead by example and stay true to the energy that you intend for the space. When you come to the end of the practice, save time for your students to get closure before they leave. You may choose to lead a ritual or to speak particular words in order to support an effective conclusion.

Maybe you have nothing to do with setting up a space, and are simply attending a workshop or retreat. Much like a facilitator must look after the physical space in which we practice, you can bring attention and focus to your internal space. As you move through a workshop or retreat, it is inevitable that you will, at some point, land in a swirl of emotion, questions, or just plain confusion. Many of the same techniques used for clearing rooms can be easily applied to the body in order to help you move through material that arises. Be willing to take this initiative of keeping your own field clear so that you contribute to the overall health of the group space.

Whatever spiritual journey you are undertaking or facilitating, physical space is going to be part of the deal. You have the choice to call on that space as a powerful ally, a valuable facet of your practice, to elevate the experience of everyone involved. Once you feel the undeniable impact of a well-crafted container, it’s not likely you’ll ever reach for the dirty Tupperware again.

THE TOOLS
There are endless methods for clearing and setting space. Once you try a few of these, get creative and try your own, personalized solutions for pulling things together.

Sound moves energy faster than any other medium. Try different volumes, rhythms, and tones with:

• Singing bowls
• Hand chimes
• Clapping
• Humming or chanting
• Bells

Sacred Objects can help anchor energy in a space and provide a focus for your intentions. A few tried-and-true options:

• Candles
• Flowers or other beauty sourced from nature
• Water fountains or bowls of water
• Crystals

Aromatherapy – the use of fragrance to altar a space – should be used with discretion, as many people are extremely sensitive to odors. Use these solutions only when they are easily ventilated:

• White sage
• Incense
• Essential oils of Lavender and Cedar to ground and of Lemon and Rose to elevate.

Intention, though intangible, can be the most unique and personalized way to affect space. See what you can invoke through:

• Poetry
• Affirmations
• Prayer
This article was originally published in Conscious Dancer Magazine

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