SACRED SPACES

BODHI TREE’S GUIDE TO

CREATING SACRED SPACE

IN YOUR HOME

A BODHI TREE PUBLICATION CONTENTS

1 Introduction

3 Detoxing Your Home’s Energy

10 How to Smudge

16 Using Essential Oils: A Room-by-Room Guide

27 Burning Incense for Self-Care, Space Clearing and Spiritual Cleansing

35 Creating a Meditation Sanctuary at Home

43 Conclusion INTRODUCTION

In our busy, technology-driven world, it’s more important than ever to have a sacred space that allows us to carve out moments of calm, help us find our center and just be. We created Sacred Spaces to help you do just that.

Your home isn’t just a place where you live. It’s a sanctuary for your mind, body and soul that’s in constant need of energy clearing and attention. For us, the art of creating sacred space is one of the anchors of our spiritual practice. It grounds us in times of uncertainty and liberates us during moments of distress.

As you may know, we began our journey in 1970 on Melrose Avenue. Bodhi Tree Bookstore was the epicenter of the New Thought movement in Los Angeles and was the place to find metaphysical books and goods and to hear top authors and thought leaders speak on a wide range of topics. But more importantly, it was a sacred space for seekers from around the world to gather, connect and just be.

1 While our current journey is in this digital space, we want to share our knowledge to help you create sacred space in your home. In this ebook, you’ll discover how to detox your home’s energy, how to perform a smudging ritual for clearing and protection, how to use essential oils and incense to find calm and transform your mood, and even how to create your own meditation sanctuary. May this wisdom serve you and your sacred space well.

Blessings,

2 CHAPTER 1

DETOXING YOUR HOME’S ENERGY

by Meredith Sloane

3 START WITH YOUR HOME’S ENERGY FOUNDATION

Think of your first chakra (also known as the root chakra) as the foundation of your energetic house. Associated with grounding, home, survival, fears and needs, the first chakra is the one upon which all the other chakras are built. With a weak first chakra, there’s the risk that everything will come tumbling down when an emotional earthquake occurs. In order to balance the first chakra, you need a safe and grounding home space.

Most of us spend a great deal of our lives in our homes, and almost a third of our life sleeping. Our home is our nest. We choose the location and furnishings in our home. So, our houses are filled not only with our energy, but also with the energy of those we invite in. Creating a solid, peaceful environment can be done in four easy steps.

4 4 SIMPLE STEPS TO DETOXING YOUR HOME’S ENERGY

Step 1: Clear out non-useful items When rebuilding your home’s energy foundation, it’s essential to clear out old energies first. You can begin by getting rid of objects that you no longer use, from clothing to kitchen utensils. It’s important to know that every object contains a vibration, so the more you have, the more energy is in your home. By letting go of items you no longer need, you’re creating more open, energetic space in your house. With less clutter, good energy can circulate through your house with greater ease.

Step 2: Throw away items that no longer resonate After purging non-useful items, begin to look for things that no longer resonate with your current state of energy, such as possessions you’ve grown accustomed to but that no longer represent you. It’s easy to tell if an object resonates with you: If you still love it, it’s a vibrational match. A good place to start is by assessing furniture or wall art. We often overlook things that have been in our homes for long periods of time; they become normal to us, but normal doesn’t always mean it has a high vibration. If an item doesn’t resonate with love, it’s time to let it go.

5 “If an item doesn’t resonate with love, it’s time to let it go.”

6 Step 3: Clear out old energies with shamanic rituals

Once everything in your home represents who you are today, it’s time to clear out old energies. A good clearing tool is palo santo, a “holy wood” used by Peruvian shamans. Set the intention to clear your space and then, with a window open in each room, walk the perimeter of each room with the lit palo santo stick. After the energy is cleared, use ethically sourced sage to raise the vibration. Close all windows, light one end of a bundle of sage, and again walk the perimeter of each room. (See Chapter 2 for more detailed instructions on how to smudge your space.)

Step 4: Fill your home with high-vibrational energies

Once your house is clear of old energies, it’s time to fill it with all things high-vibrational. Invite over loved ones and those who you laugh with. Fill the rooms with happiness, love and joy. Bits of nature, such as flowers or driftwood, also raise your home’s vibration. To uplift your spirit, place essential oils such as lavender, jasmine and lemon in a diffuser to fill rooms with inviting scents. Spend time nesting in your home and doing things you love. You can start a new creative project such as painting or crafts or curl up with a great book. Try to minimize time spent arguing inside. If you have an argument with a loved one, take it outside if possible. The more love you create in your space, the safer the space will feel for you to do your first-chakra work.

7 When we clear our home, we create a sacred space that’s ideal for hosting and maintaining positive, productive energy—and a solid foundation for balancing our first chakra. Give it a try.

8 “Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.”

— Joseph Campbell

9 CHAPTER 2

HOW TO SMUDGE

by Justine Amodeo

10 WHAT IS SMUDGING?

As noted in Chapter 1, smudging is a simple yet powerful ritual to clear the energy of a new home or office, a space after an argument or even crystals or jewelry. It can also be used to clear the body, mind and spirit of any negativity by circulating the sacred smoke around the body before smudging your space. It’s an ancient Native American ceremony that dates back to prehistoric times.

11 WHY IS SMUDGING EFFECTIVE?

Recently, science has proven that smudging is actually one of the most powerful antiseptic technologies ever discovered. In fact, a 2007 scientific study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that smudging with “medicinal smoke” for one hour reduces airborne bacteria by more than 94%. It also found that the purification or disinfection could be maintained for up to 24 hours if the room stayed closed.

That’s because, when burned, sage and other herbs actually release negative ions that can purify a space. And while many plants and herbs have been used around the world for this purpose, indigenous cultures in North and South America find sage and palo santo to be the most potent. Palo santo, which means “holy wood” in Spanish, is a fallen wood from a sweet, fragrant tree from South America that has been used for centuries for cleansing and healing ceremonies. California white sage has been used by Native American tribes for rituals and prayers to bring balance and peace to a space.

12 THE TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO SMUDGE

1. Ethically sourced sage, palo santo, mugwort, sweetgrass, cedar or the smudging herbs of your choice.

2. A feather or a smudging wand to disperse the sacred smoke as you cleanse the energy all around you.

3.

A lighter, matches or a candle to light your smudge stick.

4. A sustainably harvested abalone shell or heat-proof dish to place your lit bundle in when you’re done.

13 HOW TO CLEAR YOUR ENERGY WITH SMUDGING

Step 1 When smudging, light one end of your sage bundle or palo santo stick, and make sure to gently blow out the flame while keeping the end lit.

Step 2: Fan the medicinal smoke with the feather or wand in four directions to honor the indigenous prayers going out to the elements of earth, water, air and fire.

Step 3 To set down the lit or still-hot smudge, place it in an abalone shell or heat-proof dish. Don’t forget to give your feather a final pass through the sacred smoke to clear away any energies it absorbed before using it again for a smudging ceremony.

14 “Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.”

– Walter Pater

15 CHAPTER 3

USING ESSENTIAL OILS : A ROOM-BY-ROOM GUIDE

by Sarah Ban

16 Another way to create sacred space in your home is by diffusing essential oils. The life force of plants, essential oils have aromas that are so transformative that they can draw you in, arousing your emotional and mental states. Aromatherapy, the practice of using essential oils for healing, is thought to work by communicating with the amygdala and hippocampus, the parts of the brain that serve as “storehouses for emotions and memories,” according to the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Guide of the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Ultimately, the essential oils you choose for your home are personal. Aromatherapist John Steele, founder of Lifetree Aromatix, explains that some oils are indeed better suited for different environments, but the reason why you choose them is completely subjective: because you love the fragrance, to enhance the activity you’re engaged in or to help purify your space.

That said, here are helpful suggestions for choosing complementary essential oils for the rooms in your home.

17 HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ESSENTIAL OIL FOR…

THE KITCHEN

The room that fosters nourishment already abounds with the scents of food, but when cooking isn’t taking place, many people gravitate to something fresh, bright and clean, such as lime or other citrus, says Steele. Paula Ferraro, founder of Scents of Awe, a company that makes hand-formulated personal and home-care products using wild, organic essential oils, recommends blood orange and bergamot citrus oils, as well as cleansing scents, such as may chang, lavender and fir.

Clinical aromatherapy expert Dorene Petersen, founder and president of the American College of Healthcare Sciences in New Zealand, prefers sweet fennel, which has a sweet, peppery and fresh aroma, reminiscent of licorice or anise. “While it might be a less obvious choice for the kitchen than something like lemon or cinnamon essential oil, I like diffusing fennel because it piques my senses but doesn’t trigger a food craving,” she says, adding that fennel also has traditionally been used for healthy appetite and

18 THE LIVING ROOM

The living room warrants an uplifting scent. “In the living room, I like to use citrus oils to enliven and refresh the space,” Petersen says. “Grapefruit is a good example. The characteristic aroma is fresh yet tangy, which can create a pleasant, mood-boosting atmosphere. Also, citrus oils have antibacterial properties, which can help cleanse and purify the air in high-traffic areas of the house.” Steele adds that if you want to invite nature into your living room, try juniper or fir.

THE BEDROOM

Because the bedroom is typically reserved for sleep and intimacy, “you want it to be calm, warm and nurturing,” says Steele, who suggests lavender to combat stress and promote relaxation. In fact, studies have shown that lavender helps reduce anxiety and insomnia, possibly by stimulating the amygdala in the brain, similar to how some sedative drugs work. “You also want it to be an invitation to some degree of sensuality,” adds Steele, whose favorite sensual scent is jasmine, but also suggests rose as a good option because it helps people express their true emotions. Petersen recommends diffusing clary sage essential oil before bed. “Clary is from the Latin sclarea, from clarus, meaning ‘clear.’ In addition to its warming, sweet aroma, clary sage fosters a cozy, relaxing environment, perfect before bed,” she says.

19 THE BATHROOM

“Essential oils can serve a functional purpose,” Steele says, as many possess antimicrobial properties that counter bacteria and viruses, making them excellent additions to areas like the bathroom. Plants have long been used in hospitals across the globe to promote cleanliness and calm. Petersen favors lime, especially because it has a disinfectant-like aroma. “A cleansing and refreshing citrus oil, lime has the active constituent limonene, which has antiseptic and bactericidal properties,” she explains.

20 A bathroom can also be a place to unwind. Whether you’re getting ready for work or decompressing in the bath after a long day, you want to be stress-free. For a bright and clean smell, Steele recommends a scent from China called Litsea cubeba, which emits a lemony aroma. Or you can try vanilla, a warm, soft scent that studies have shown to be a buffer against stress. For men, Steele suggests cedar and bay, which have earthy, spicy notes.

21 PRO TIP: if you want to tone down a rose scent, try blending it with a bit of sandalwood.

22 THE HOME OFFICE

The home office is where you want to be focused, with increased mental acuity and memory, says Steele. He recommends lemon, which has been shown in studies to reduce computer errors by 50%. “Citruses in general inspire creative play. My favorite citruses for creativity are blood orange and mandarin,” says Steele, who adds that floral scents are also known to be conducive to creative thought. If you prefer something woodsy, Petersen recommends bay, which has a sweet and slightly spicy aroma that can be very uplifting and invigorating—also good for focus. In addition, she suggests coriander, which helps stimulate and awaken your senses but won’t distract.

23 “Aromatherapy, the practice of using essential oils for healing, is thought to work by communicating with the amygdala and hippocampus, the parts of the brain that serve as storehouses for emotions and memories.”

24 A CONTEMPLATION/MEDITATION ROOM

“In a place of retreat, you want to get away from the scattered, ever-changing nature of the outside world. You want something that’s calming, grounding, centering and slows breathing,” says Steele, who suggests frankincense for its ability to clarify and calm the mind, and even connect one to the divine. “It slows down breathing and has the capacity to clear the psychic windshield.” He also recommends sandalwood, which has been used since ancient times for its grounding and centering effects.

THE DINING ROOM

Any scent in the dining room “should be suggestive rather than overpowering, because you don’t want to overpower the actual smells of the food,” cautions Steele. Instead, the aromas should help stimulate digestion, such as tarragon. Petersen prefers nutmeg because its warming aroma can help stimulate the appetite. “This is an especially good oil to diffuse in the dining room before a dinner party or holiday meal, when you want to create a warm and inviting atmosphere,” she says.

25 ROOMS & SCENTS AT A GLANCE

THE KITCHEN THE BATHROOM lime lime blood orange litsea cubeba bergamot vanilla lavender cedar sweet fennel bay fir

THE LIVING THE HOME ROOM OFFICE grapefruit lemon juniper blood orange fir mandarin coriander

THE BEDROOM THE MEDITATION lavender ROOM jasmine frankincense clary sage sandalwood

THE DINING ROOM tarragon nutmeg

26 CHAPTER 4

BURNING INCENSE For Self-Care, Space Clearing & Spiritual Cleansing

by Victoria Lewis

27 Smudging and diffusing essential oils aren’t the only ways to create sacred space in your home; the ancient practice of burning incense can make a positive impact, too. Thousands of years ago, fragrant resins of frankincense and myrrh were traded as currency, often valued far higher than even silver or gold. In ancient Egypt, frankincense was sought out as an insect repellent, perfume, wound salve and aromatic incense that was burned in offering to the gods. The ancient Greeks and Romans imported these resins as incense via the Silk Road for use in cremation rituals and other ceremonial worship.

Around the same time, Native Americans also adopted a custom of burning herbs, primarily sage, to cleanse and purify their homes and ritual spaces. And though Christianity initially rejected incense due to its associations with pagan worship, churches eventually adopted it as an integral part of services. Although incense no longer trades at the same value as gold today, there’s still a case to be made for its emotional, spiritual and physical benefits. The proof is in the several millennia of civilizations that couldn’t get enough of it. It just took modern scientists some time to catch up.

28 “The sensory and therapeutic effects of incense make it a powerful tool for self-care.”

29 THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT OF INCENSE

As it turns out, there’s a very real reason humans are drawn to the scent of incense. In a 2008 study, published in The FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology), researchers reported that burning boswellia resin (also called frankincense, one of the more popular ingredients for incense) activates channels in the brain that reduce anxiety and elevate mood. In other words, the Wise Men really were on to something: frankincense is a gentle, natural antidepressant.

Of course, fragrance has always shared a powerful connection to memory and emotions, which is why the smell of incense can have such a strong effect on the psyche. We process incoming scents via the olfactory bulb inside the nose, which has direct connections with the amygdala and hippocampus, two parts of the brain that are strongly associated with memory. Because we file away impressions with their olfactory data, all it takes to trigger recall is a single sniff. This association can happen with perfume, incense or any other scent.

30 “Light the incense! You have to burn to be fragrant.”

— Rumi

31 THE CONNECTION BETWEEN INCENSE AND SELF-CARE

The sensory and therapeutic effects of incense make it a powerful tool for self-care, even though its scent is less potent than essential oils in terms of aromatherapy. “I burn incense every morning to wake up. I burn it to settle in at work and to help move energy throughout the day,” says Persephenie Schnyder, who formulates and produces her own line of face care, perfumes, therapeutics and incense. Feeling down? Jasmine has been known to ease depression. Need a midday pick-me-up? Cinnamon boosts energy. In search of a little grounding? Frankincense and musk restore a sense of calm and peace. “Different plants evoke different emotions and sensations depending on the chemicals and scents they release,” Schnyder explains.

To use incense as part of a daily practice, just carve out a few quiet moments, perhaps for meditation or just a mental break in a hectic workday. Before long, you’ll find yourself craving the calm, peaceful moment that your brain associates with incense.

32 “I discovered Aomori Hiba incense 14 years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since,” says Studio Cue LA’s Keiko Matsuo about her unique product, formulated from 300-year- old trees found in the Tsugaru region of Japan. “The scent brings me to the deep woods instantly, wherever I am. It is uplifting, purifying and stimulating, perfect for my daily morning meditation.”

33 WHY QUALITY MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO INCENSE

When burning incense, it’s important to be mindful of safety. If you’re using high-quality, natural incense in a well-ventilated room, you shouldn’t suffer any problems from the amount of smoke that is produced. Look for brands produced in small batches by reputable sources. And don’t feel the need to burn it all day. Even half a stick as part of a daily ritual is plenty to brighten or center your mood.

“Incense will connect you to the energy around you,” Matsuo explains. “It will connect you with the universe.” After all, you’re joining a tradition of incense-users thousands of years strong, which carries an undeniable power in itself.

34 CHAPTER 5

CREATING A MEDITATION SANCTUARY AT HOME

by Sarah Ban

35 We’ve all heard of the immense benefits of meditating daily, but in our hectic lives, it’s often easier said than done. One of the smartest ways to guarantee a regular ritual is to create a sacred space to practice inside your home, so you’ll actually want to be there and meditate. “People need a space to find a deeper connection to themselves, especially in the highly pressurized madness of the modern world,” says Guru Jagat, Kundalini yoga teacher and founder of RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology in Venice, California. Here’s how to create yours:

36 7 STEPS TO CREATING YOUR AT-HOME MEDITATION SANCTUARY

Step 1: Begin with intention The most important thing is to create a space with your intention in mind, says Meredith Sloane, a Los Angeles– based Reiki master and rainbow energy healer. “All energies follow intent,” she explains. For meditation, an intention could be security, peacefulness, enlightenment or joy. “If you want to bring security in your life, for example, put that [energy] out into the world as your intention, and you’ll start attracting that sense of security,” Sloane says.

Step 2: Choose inspirational objects

“Our physical space is absolutely, 100%, a reflection of our inner space,” says Jagat, so customize it. The objects you choose don’t necessarily need to be spiritual, she says. “It could be artwork—I have record covers of the greatest musicians around my home,” and adds that every area in her house is an “altar of inspiration.” Choose whatever creates joy, energy and inspiration. In her RA MA studio, each corner is its own little temple with certain crystals, plants and flowers, plus pictures of spiritual masters.

37 Step 3: Make your own power vortex

“A power vortex is a place of heightened resonance for a certain type of activity,” says Scott Blossom, traditional Chinese medical practitioner and founder of Shunyata Yoga in Berkeley, California. There are places all over the world deemed power vortices, but you can also create your own inside your home. Jagat strategically built her RA MA studio on the 33rd parallel (an incredibly powerful vortex) and makes additional vortices inside her space as well. “Each little area I created in RA MA and all the pictures of the masters, they are little vortices that broadcast a higher consciousness,” she explains. Another great example of a vortex? The original Bodhi Tree bookstore in Los Angeles. “Bodhi Tree—at that place in time where that was—that became a powerful vortex,” Jagat says. “[You’d] walk in there and you felt what was happening. It was not location-specific; it was more about the intention of people gathering for spiritual purposes and the higher consciousness.”

Step 4: Stimulate your senses

Meditation enables you to tune in to all five senses—touch, hearing, smell, sight and taste—so your space should do the same. “The space that you create for your practice becomes a portal to spiritual inquiry primarily by the way it impacts your senses, so those are very important considerations,” says Blossom.

38 IDEAS FROM SLOANE TO STIMULATE THE SENSES

TOUCH: Items that feel cozy and safe, such as blankets and pillows, plus small pieces from nature, such as crystals, plants and flowers

HEARING: high-vibrational music or a fountain with trickling water

TASTE: a fruit offering, such as a tangerine or an apple

SMELL: a diffuser for essential oils, rosewater spray or smudge sticks such as sage or palo santo

SIGHT: clear out the space by removing anything you don’t love— especially clutter—and replace it with meaningful items like photos, statues of deities or candles for beautiful lighting

39 Step 5: Consider adding crystals

“If a crystal reminds you that the earth is unbelievably beautiful—and if that vibration does something for you— then you should use it,” advises Jagat, who sprinkled amethyst crystal dust underneath the floorboards of her Venice studio. Judy Hall, a healer, psychic and author of The Crystal Bible—writes that amethyst is an excellent crystal for meditation: “It turns your thoughts away from the mundane and toward tranquility and deeper understanding. It can help you to recall and interpret your dreams and, when placed over the third eye, it aids visualization.” For a simpler crystal source (that doesn’t involve removing floorboards), try a Bodhi Tree meditation cushion with selenite crystals (known to aid in mental clarity and psychic abilities) sewn inside.

40 Step 6: Pay homage to your teachers

“If you have a teacher, it’s beneficial to have a photo or reminder of the source of knowledge that leads to wisdom,” says Marla Apt, a certified Iyengar yoga teacher in Los Angeles. A teacher doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who is a mentor to you in real life. Jagat, for instance, covers her personal space with all the masters, from Jesus to Paramahansa Yogananda, along with her lineage masters and teachers.

Step 7: Keep it clean

All our spiritual experts underscore the importance of keeping your space tidy. “If you want to create a space that’s sacred, you want to treat it with honor. It’s also about respect,” Sloane says. “You are leaving the outside world outside and stepping into a symbolic space.”

41 “The thing about meditation is: You become more and more you.”

— David Lynch

42 CONCLUSION

We hope the information shared in this ebook inspires you to create sacred space in your home so that it truly becomes a sanctuary for your mind, body and soul. Whether you follow our tips for detoxing your home’s energy, commit to a daily smudging ritual or meditation, or simply incorporate essential oils or incense into your routine, we want your home to vibrate with positive energy for you and your loved ones. Thinking of your home as a sacred space is the first step on that journey and we’re right there with you.

To expand your reading on sacred spaces, please visit us at bodhitree.com.

Blessings,

43