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is an essential when it comes to families and living peacefully within them. It all starts with you.
    Sacred Space
    Sacred space is an important concept to the Pagan. We all need a secret, personal place to seek refuge and retreat from the routine and structure of daily life. We all need a place where we may be ourselves and unwind and calm down and recuperate from the many problems and obstacles we face in life. This is our sacred space—a place of privacy, silence, peace, and beauty, where our bodies may instantly relax and our heartbeat attune to the natural flow that underpins the chaotic strain of the average existence. Living at home with a family can often inhibit any chances of establishing and defining your own personal territory. Unless you have the house to yourself, it can be fairly difficult to find a refuge where you will be undisturbed for a period of time.
    In the past, Pagans have worshipped in groves, temples, and stone circles. Whatever the sacred space, it was generally a natural area of significance in terms of lines of power, local deities, faerie and spirit lore, or sacred geometry. As the deities of the ancient Pagans were generally local spirits known through oral myths and stories, certain places nearby the community were seen as sacred to that particular deity. Many sacred spaces were conceptualised through shapes, especially circles. Stonehenge in Salisbury, England, is just one example.
    As Pagans, we understand and honour the earth and all of Nature as sacred and imbued with the universal life force, Magick. All places are therefore sacred. However, through centuries of environmental damage and exploitation, many places on earth now seem empty and devoid of life. Fortunately, not all of Nature has been exploited, and there are many natural places that are dotted evenly between housing and shopping centres in urban settlements. Then again, you may be completely comfortable in the confines of brick or wood, and your bedroom may be adequate enough for your Craft.
    Sacred space is defined by the interaction and relationship felt between the place and yourself. If you feel uncomfortable or edgy in a certain park or district, do not seek to forge a friendship with that energy. Use your intuition and be honest with your feelings.
    Once you have found your sacred space, you can begin by familiarising yourself with the area and attuning to the energy frequencies. The following is an easy-to-do exercise that requires nothing but yourself and your sacred space.
    Sacred Space Meditation
    Begin by finding a position you are comfortable in. The ideal meditative position is to be sitting up, either on a chair or cross-legged. Lying down often confuses your inner vision, and if you draw too far into your meditation, you may even fall asleep. Personally, I find it easier to kneel.
    Now focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply though your nose, letting the air move down into your abdomen, and allow your stomach to push out to its extent. Now hold your breath for four counts and release, allowing an even exhalation of the breath.
    Feel yourself centred and aligned and open to the energy all around you. Do not hurry yourself or push for something to happen; simply enjoy the peace you have and remain patient. Soon enough you will receive impressions on the energy in your sacred space. It may not be a distinct feeling; it may be something subtle—perhaps it may even remind you of an event or stage in your life. If the energy here is compatible with your own, allow yourself to psychically poke around the space. Extend your consciousness outside of your physical being and explore. Get to know the place well.
    Once you feel you understand the energy of your sacred space and have bonded long enough with the area, slowly return your focus to your breathing and gently reawaken your body through physical movement. Wiggle your toes and fingers, roll your neck, stretch your arms, and attune to your worldly senses. Now