5 steps to creating your sacred space

The Danish term "hygge"(hoo-ga) is a term that describes the nurturing of the senses felt in a place that brings joy to your heart and heals the soul.  Beautiful lighting, textures, artwork, comfort and coziness.  A place to read, reflect, sip tea and feel completely "home."

But how to truly carve out that space is not always easily done.  Just "decorating" a space is not enough.  Being hygge in your thinking takes a little more digging, because it is not simply about what the space looks like, it's how it feels, smells, tastes and sounds. True hygge is medicine for our souls.  Finding it  is an enjoyable, and beautifully rewarding, process. 
Here are 5 jumping off points to get you started on creating you sacred,  hygge, space:

1.  With a notepad and your phone camera, take a walk around your home. Note or take pictures of the things that instantly bring you joy. (Ignore the laundry or unmade bed for now)  You may not be aware of these things because you pass by them so often, but what are they? A window with plants? A grouping of candles or your favorite leather chair? Your grandmothers kitsch that no one loves but you? Your flow blue china cup, books, something from your travels,  your child's artwork? A color of wall paint that is perfection?
Let go of all preconceived notions of style or decor, and just focus on what makes your heart happy. 

2.  Take a trip to the art museum and walk around. Go online and visit artist websites and Etsy. Consider original art or economical but museum quality giclée prints. See my selection here: prints (ggwatercolors.com)
​What takes your breath away or gives you pause? What colors, styles or subjects grab your attention? Antique shops or estate sales are also good places to search for what you love. Not buying, simply being present and listening to what your heart is attracted to. The point is that you can have the freedom to choose without being targeted by marketing tactics. 

3. Ask a friend what they see as your style, then ask yourself if that is truly reflective of what you love or not?  My brother and I were in a shop once and he said "this looks like you"  I realized that he was right, it was what I loved, but did not have represented in my home. Since that day, I have paid more attention to and been deliberate about creating a home with things that bring me joy.  You can make it work if it makes you happy. 

4. Make a real live "hygge" board and just write, draw or paste anything and everything that resonates with your soul. Let it be a stream of consciousness. Do you love kittens but don't have one? Find a pillow that feels furry and soft, or find a drawing of a cat. Or long for the beach but live land-locked, maybe shells or a chime or a mosaic of beach glass. 
Whatever it is- old forgotten bits of you that you left along the way, things that you love but have not made "space"(not necessarily physical) for in your current living arrangement. Make this visual something you look at often and then edit as you go. Your space will take time. Start small and let it evolve as you go deeper in your discovery. 

5. Take time as you dig deeper and find new ways to create your sacred space. Keep an open mind as you do a "treasure hunt"  and search for things that give your surroundings calm, hopefulness and mindfulness. Begin to learn how to nurture your soul, find your perfect hygge, and create a space you long to be in. 

Good luck and post or send me a photo of your most hygge spaces! To read more on hygge, see -  Welcoming the Winter Hygge - ggwatercolors



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