A Space to Honor You

Kathryn J. Raths, LLC photo

I like the quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., "Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."  However, my love once showered my home, the house where I live today. It felt cozy, and I loved this space when it felt like it reflected a life filled with hope. But, as my marriage fell apart and the love dissipated for my ex-husband, the walls suddenly became dull, the energy of my home space felt like it seeped away, and I was left feeling exhausted in a toxic space. The home I once loved felt so harsh and unwelcoming. As the life drained out of me, it drained out of my sacred space. I hated feeling so uncomfortable there; my home turned into a house. It was a traumatic experience, and it took some time to regain my momentum and recreate my space. I repainted, used white sage in my home to clear the negativity, rearranged and replaced the furniture, and implemented Feng shui. I meditated, drew, wrote, and returned to a healthier me. My children were a big part of my recovery as I leaned into their well-being, and we worked to feel our cohesive energy again. As my spirit surfaced, the house was revamped and again became my home, a container holding safe and sacred love. It is possible to clear a space and make it your own. You can do it through heart work. I had projected much of my pain outwardly, became aware of this, and then grieved to release it. To learn more, check out Everyday Health. 

It might sound silly, but there is a difference between living in a house and living in a home. My hope for all of you is that your space honors your well-being and gives you a therapeutic hug every time you step into your home. I believe home is truly a space outside your body that is your essence; it’s your heart space, much like the quote's meaning that was shared above. 

What are your thoughts?  

A safe place, continued...

Lifetime Art Impressions, LLC photo of Michigan Tech University artwork 

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

This article was inspired by an assignment in my Trauma-informed Expressive Art Therapy class. In my response to a safe place, I wrote the following, "I feel safest while in my home. It is an extension of my creativity and it reminds me of me at my healthiest. This is my 8^th year volunteering in a domestic violence/sexual assault shelter and I have and continue to feel grateful each and every time I put my key into the lock, unlock my door and step into my home.

My home is warm and colorful. It feels artsy and inviting. The furniture is familiar and comfortable. The material feels soft but supportive. It usually smells like a nourishing meal I’ve recently cooked. It’s a nice place for relaxation; a place to let my guard down...

If I’m feeling startled or uneasy, I turn on the lights outside of my home. I might look around the front and the back yard through the windows upstairs to see if anything looks questionable. I will also get up and make sure the doors are locked; we have 4 young adults, 17 years old to 20 years old so most bumps in the night are connected to our kids. I will wake my fiancé or I might call someone if I’m feeling uncomfortable and he is away on business."

I'm happiest at home, it is a place of retreat for me. My heart aches for those who do not have a safe place in their life. I'm sending prayers of safety to all of you. May you find a peace of heaven right here on earth; you deserve this safe haven, create it if you can!