To create space can mean both ‘within or without’. We can create space in our mind and body through practices in thought, relaxation, creativity, movement, food approaches and more. You may use a physical place for example a room, a building, a temple or spiritual environment and geographic locations such as the ocean, beaches, deserts, mountains or rivers.
It is also possible to create space imaginatively as the inner geography of the body in Tantric yoga, or visually and spiritually as is the space of a maṇḍala.
A sacred space may not always be aesthetically pleasing but rather holds an energy ‘a feel’ that goes beyond its physicality to a divine source. Many sacred places, even places that are central in the religious life of the community, are unimpressive to someone outside the tradition. The form of the place, without a knowledge of what and how it signifies, may not convey any spiritual sense at all to an outsider looking in.
Similarly, a sacred structure or place within a holy land possesses something—a character, a significance, or an object—that sets it apart. Animals can often serve as messengers in sacred space.
Sacred space is often created as a place of communication and connection with the divine, it is in this space that we can access profound connection with the Self. The spirit or essence of who we are, and all that we are truly connected to. When we create space, we allow the energy of our divine self to flow more freely.