One of the important practices of Spirits of the Urban Sacred is to honor the life that enfolds and embodies all the spaces we enter on a daily basis. For example, each building has its own Spirit, its own qualities and tone. In addition, each room has its own ensouling or embodying Spirit, its own qualities and tone. Add to that the fact that we touch each space with our own qualities and tone whenever we spend time there, so we are in constant interaction with the Spirit of wherever we may find ourselves.
As we come and go from the spaces we encounter along the way, we can recognize, acknowledge, and honor the Spirits that embody these spaces.
Each time you approach or enter a building, take a moment to sense into the presence of the Spirit that embodies the whole building, in much the same way you can sense into a Landscape Spirit when you enter a garden or a park. (I think of these Spirits as Devas, but it doesn’t really matter what you call them…)
Reach out to the Spirit of the Building with your heart perception, letting it know you wish to enter its space, and then see what comes into your awareness. As with all these practices, you’ll have more success if you let go of “working at it” and, instead, simply be open to impressions that may come into your awareness. Also, offer the Spirit your regard and gratitude for the work it does to enfold and care for all who enter the space.
Even if you don’t sense anything, or even if you aren’t comfortable being quite so interactive, notice what happens when you take a moment to acknowledge the Spirit of the Building and thank it as you enter and as you leave.
Do the same with each room or space you enter and leave. It doesn’t take a lot of time or a lot of focus. It’s a matter of remembering that each of these spaces is embodied by a living Spirit or Essence.
Also, the more you pay attention to subtle flickers of awareness, the more you will nurture your capacity to receive impressions from subtle realms. If you find you have a tendency to push away what drops into your awareness, take a moment, instead, to simply notice what it is and file it away as a possible response from the Spirit of the place.
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Some additional thoughts on entering and leaving spaces:
One of my ongoing practices is to greet and then say goodbye to any space I encounter. With my office, I say good morning to it each day and then thank it at the end of the day when I say good night. My interactions with it include not only the physical space, but also any of the invisible beings that are part of the healing context that the office embodies.
When I enter Central Park each morning on my way to work, I greet the Spirit of Central Park, thanking it for the gift of such a beautiful natural setting within the midst of New York City. Often, on my way across the park, I find myself communing with the Spirit of the Park at special places along the way, offering more gratitude.
Going into Grand Central Station, I’m aware of the near-constant hustle and bustle and of the amount of energy encompassed by the Spirit of the place. I express gratitude here, as well. As you can see, there’s no limit to the opportunities in city living to remember, attune to, and interact with the invisible support that is all around us…
Also, I’d like to make a comment about expressing gratitude. Whatever your belief system, whatever your usual spiritual practice, having an active and dynamic relationship with gratitude tends to promote a deep sense of well-being and connection to the world around you. Even if you don’t know quite what to think about the idea that there are subtle realms and subtle beings that interact with our material world in every moment, having a dynamic and active gratitude practice can only add positively to your quality of life.
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