How to Create a Sacred Space for Calm, Connection and Renewal

Over the past nine years, I have learned so much about the nuances of healing and the path to becoming whole — not only through my own experiences, but also through the journeys of the thousands of women I have had the privilege to serve.

Across social media and in online spaces, you will see practitioners advising that healing is an inside job. While I agree with this truth, there is an important consideration that is frequently overlooked. For those who have suffered trauma, who are highly sensitive, empathic and deeply affected by the world around them, the journey within cannot always begin in isolation, and without a supportive external environment in place first.

With such clients, I have often had to reverse-engineer their care — starting by creating calm in their external environments before guiding them inward. Establishing safe, soothing and nurturing spaces externally has proven immensely impactful: easing the nervous system, regulating emotions, quieting the mind and fostering a sense of physical safety and self-connection.

So today, I am sharing the very strategies I have guided hundreds of women through — practices that allow them to self-support and prepare the ground for their inner work. If you are a highly sensitive soul prone to anxiety, overwhelm or depletion, this post is especially written for you.

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Table of Contents:

1. Why Creating a Sacred Space Matters

   • Benefits of Having Your Own Sacred Space

2. Envisioning Your Sanctuary

   • Begin with How You Want to Feel

   • My Intentions for Sacred Spaces

3. Practices for Your Sacred Space

4. Elements of a Sacred Space

   • Sound and Ambience

   • Aesthetics and Light

   • Scents and Aromas

   • Comfort, Texture and Softness

   • Ritual and Soul Tools

   • Form and Symmetry

5. A Reflection of Your Inner World
   

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Why Creating a Sacred Space Matters

Mastering your energy and cultivating mindful connection can feel difficult at times. We are leading far busier lives than previous generations, so finding the time and space for stillness can feel like an impossibility.

When you are feeling stressed or depleted, having a place you can go at any time — to be solely in your own energy — is an important part of self-regulation, recharging and regaining your balance.

Science shows that our cells respond to and are influenced by their direct environment, a process called cell signalling. So for many highly sensitive women, it can be advantageous to work from the outside in, by creating a sacred space that inspires calm, ease and connection, helping to stabilise your inner world.

Benefits of Having Your Own Sacred Space

• A quiet, safe place to soothe the nervous system and encourage self-regulation.

• A way to come back to yourself and your energy, reminding you of who you truly are.

• An invitation for reverence, rituals of self-care and mindful connection.

• Much-needed space between yourself and the outside world.

• Amplification of your core identity when curated with items you love.

• A nurturing container to support your creativity and self-expression.

The very first exercise I take my private clients through is creating their own sacred space. This might be a simple chair in the corner of your bedroom, or an entire room.

Whatever you choose, having a peaceful place to return to regularly will serve you deeply. It becomes a foundation for creating a life that supports and nourishes your personal and professional evolution.

Envisioning Your Sanctuary

Before you begin, it’s important to first envision and conjure the blueprint of what you want to create.

Begin with How You Want to Feel

Firstly, decide how you want to feel in your power place. When going through this process myself, I knew I wanted to feel relaxed, peaceful and inspired. Having a career that calls for high output and demand can be depletive, so I also wanted to be able to unplug and not be accessible.

When spending time to get to know yourself more deeply you will soon find physical representations that resonate with who you truly are - such as colours, scents and items that make you feel a certain way. Over the years I have received many compliments about the look and feel of my workspaces and my home. Being attuned in this way has influenced the way I curate my personal style, business branding and any interior spaces I create — for myself and my clients.

Humans are multi-sensory beings, constantly receiving transmitting and interpreting energy from our surrounding environments through each of the senses. So when we feel that our outer world reflects our inner one, this provides us with a sense of self-connection and belonging.

My Intentions for Sacred Spaces

Some examples of my intentions when creating or recalibrating spaces are to feel:

• safe

• pure and clear

• expansive

• joyful and uplifted

• thankful

• attuned and hopeful

• open and receptive

• relaxed, light and at ease

• inspired

• replenished

• seen, held and supported

• abundant

• harmonious

Practices for Your Sacred Space

What will you do in this space? Here are some gentle practices to inspire you:

• Journal

• Meditate

• Read your favourite book

• Write affirmations

• Paint, draw or create

• Listen to music

• Use tarot or inspiration cards

• Sing or chant

• Breath work

• Drink your favourite tea

• Stretch and gentle movement

• Daydream

Next, it is time to consider the elements and start curating. Let's begin...

1. Sound and Ambience

This aspect is very important in supporting your focus and presence. Being able to spend time undisturbed, either by people or distracting noise is key when spending time in your power place.

If you are creating a space that is frequented by others at certain times of the day, make sure you choose times that you can have that space for yourself and let the others know of your intention to not be disturbed.

If your chosen space has external noise such as traffic, create a more relaxing environment by introducing soft, ambient music such as nature sounds, white noise or relaxation music to help aid your connection and soften your awareness of any potential distractions from the outside world.

Another great asset is noise cancelling headphones. These were a godsend to me during c.19 when my daughters were at home and I was still needing time to work, write and honour my daily spiritual practice.

2. Aesthetics and Light

This is my most favourite aspect of this process. I am a visual person and find immense joy in creating beautiful spaces that invoke the ways in which I wish myself and others to feel.

The more ways you can find to bring natural light into your space, the more open and receptive your senses will be to the purposeful activities you do there. Consider choosing a space with large windows, or drapes that can be opened. If you don't have that option, there are some wonderful indoor lighting options available.

The time of day also plays a factor with lighting. I personally spend time in my power place each morning to utilise the beautiful, natural sunlight that streams through my window during that time. Mirrors that can be strategically placed to reflect light are also helpful in bringing more light into your power place.

Seeing an expansive, clear space helps us to generate that feeling within as well so that we can fully surrender and allow our calm connection. Choosing a lighter colour palette for the larger components — such as walls, rugs or furniture -— will promote a sense of lightness and calm for your nervous system.

Some factors to consider for the aesthetic of your space:

• Light

• Clean, uncluttered

• Pure

• Open

• Visual beauty for your eyes

Light is pure, high frequency energy and the more you can find and utilise light, the more pure and clear your power place will look and feel. Arriving into a well lit space also invokes a sense of calm anchorage, spaciousness and cosiness.

3. Scents and Aromas.

When creating your high vibrational power place, scent is also a key component in bringing your intention into being. Try to avoid overpowering scents if possible, and if your space is newly cleaned or painted, wait until the odours subside before setting up in there. Sometimes even being near the kitchen can distract your focus if someone is making something that smells utterly delicious!

Enjoy experimenting with scents to see how they make you feel. Including an assortment of essential oils, scented candles, some dried or fresh herbs and even plants to invoke your preferred feeling is beneficial. Try to use only the purest form of ingredients and avoid artificial perfumes, chemicals and additives.

If you are just starting out in this respect, here are some basic suggestions you to get started. Oil, herb and plant versions of the following are fine…

Cinnamon

Smudge or essential oil, is pure positive energy in physical form.

Eucalyptus

Holds the energetic essence of relationship. And is wonderful when cultivating your connection to your inner and outer worlds.

Rose

The highest and purest vibrational essence of all. Representing the power of the heart and love in unconditional form.

Lavender

Purifying trauma and unrest within the body and energy field. An ally when working energetically on worries and concerns.

Calendula

This increases the receptivity of your cells and allows life force energy to be received by you fully. Also assists the integration of light energy into the physical body for physiological assimilation and healing.

When using essential oils, and depending on the size of your chosen space, use only 5-10 drops in a diffuser.

When working with dried herbs, make a smudge mix by adding 1 tablespoon each of your preferred herbs, crumble a cinnamon quill and set alight in a fireproof bowl. This smoke is an alternative to incense - something I am very sensitive to personally.

4. Comfort, Texture and Softness.

Feeling cosy and comfortable during your spiritual practice enables you to relax and surrender more deeply. There is nothing worse than being in the midst of a beautiful meditation and feeling cold all of a sudden.

Discomfort is a distraction, so spend some time selecting items and clothing that have you feeling nestled and at ease.

Soft, cosy textures when placed on the skin resemble static touch, providing a calming effect on the autonomic nervous system.

Over the years, I have become familiar with the vibrational frequencies of materials and fabrics, and have refined my wardrobe and linens transitioning to nature fibres such as flax linen sheets, pure cotton or wool blankets and clothing that is both light yet warm to suit the cooler climate I reside in.

I have also collected cosy cushions in my favourite colour palette so that my sensory experience resonates with my inner climate and intentions of feeling pure, light and soft.

Some items to consider for your space:

• Pillows or cushions

• Warm blankets

• Light sheets for warmer months

• Socks

• Light weight clothing such as loungewear or luxurious pyjamas

• A cosy chair, mattress or other base to be able to sit/lie on for extended periods of time.
  

This is definitely a go by feel process, so enjoy discovering what feels soft and cosy for you. Start with a cushion or pillow and blanket to begin with.

5. Ritual and Soul Tools.

Material items are not necessary, however are a lovely way to connect with your intentions more deeply. Choosing ritual tools that reflect and represent your intentions help keep you aligned with your soul work and connection.

If you are wanting to amplify more light, use a beautiful candle in your practice. If you are wishing to work in a specific way energetically, choose a crystal that matches your purpose. Visual stimuli such as photos, colours and even tokens that represent special or sentimental events for you are all perfect.

Remember, the aim is to generate and activate the feeling within first, so that your energy and that of the Universe shall respond in kind. Focusing on joy, expansion and your blessings through tools and sacred keepsakes raises the vibrational frequency of your energy swiftly and effortlessly.

Soul Tool Suggestions:

• Beautiful notebooks and journals

• Crystals

• Candles

• Photographs or art

• Written affirmations

• Tokens such as feathers, jewellery or other artefacts

• Books

• A tea cup or tea set for ritual tea

• Tarot cards

6. Form and Symmetry.

Symmetry is an aligning of beauty with form. In this case you are cultivating an energetic environment that outwardly reflects who you truly are within. Your power place is an honest reflection of your truth, beauty and divine existence.

When drawing upon these key principles to create your power place, you will come to truly see yourself and all that you are through each of your sensory lenses. By creating your very own sacred space in this world, you give yourself a gift that can be expanded and implemented into every area of your life.

A Reflection of Your Inner World

Take time as you gather your special items for your space. Pay attention to what you feel drawn to. What feels good and right for you. Remember to keep your sacred place clean and tidy, this ensures the energy of your power spot is pure and clear. Replace fresh flowers and herbs regularly. Dust often.

The goal is to create an outer environment that reflects and amplifies who you truly are, while nurturing all that you are Becoming.

With love,

Olivia x

P.S Once you create your space, feel welcome to share by emailing me an image of your gorgeous power place. I would love to see what you have created and hear how you found this process! If you feel inspired to continue, my workshop: How to Find Your Starting Point is the perfect next step.