T
hroughout the world, many traditions revere specific sites as “power spots,” which are regarded as places of power. These locations, some of which are sites connected to important events in the life of a spiritual master or saint, are a locus or confluence of healing or spiritual energy. The Bodhi tree in India is reputed to be the place where the Buddha attained his enlightenment. Christians from all over the world make pilgrimages to Bethlehem to honor the birth of their savior. One of the five pillars of Islam urges Muslims to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during their lifetime, and pilgrims from all over the world come to fulfill this commitment to their faith. Mecca is where Mohammed first received his revelation from God. Mecca is a mental and internal energetic focus for Muslims throughout their lives—one that sets the intention for the eventual pilgrimage. Anthropologists have discovered that indigenous peoples commonly revere specific areas or geographic locations, such as a particular mountain, that are considered to be “holy” places. Some people believe that these places of power are where the earth’s meridians or chakras coalesce and intersect, thus creating vortexes of the vital life-force energy that permeates all things. It is believed that these specific locations significantly affect the human vital life-force energy system by enhancing and facilitating greater openness to spiritual and healing capabilities.Many churches in Europe were built on what had previously been regarded as pagan power spots. Throughout the world, the faithful in all religious traditions construct altars in their homes as a way to honor the Divine. The sacred, whether it is one’s home altar, one’s community church, or the presumed remains of Mohammed in Mecca, is honored and revered. I can assert with absolute certainty that specially designated locations become sacralized through repetitive, ongoing mental focus and devotional practices. People are drawn to the great cathedrals of Europe because over centuries of devotion, these places have become imbued with spiritual energy. This also occurs in an altar in a home.
In Dynamic Energetic Healing®, we recognize the power inherent in devotional prayer (Dossey 1996), a directing of consciousness that is focused for a healing outcome. Consequently, creating a sacred space where we (you and I as therapists) work is built into the Dynamic Energetic Healing® model. This includes a number of components. At the beginning of each working day, I go into my treatment room, stay quiet for a moment, and affirm that all of my spiritual resources be present throughout the day. When I do this, I know and trust that I am being watched over, protected, and guided. I know that I am not alone in the room with my client. I am being supported spiritually in every session, and my treatment room has been transformed into sacred space, imbued with spiritual power by virtue of my renewed personal connection to Spirit.
To augment this, I ask my clients at the beginning of their sessions if they would like to ask for help from their own connection to God or Spirit and invite that spiritual energy (for example, Jesus) to be in the room with us for their session. This adds to the healing power of the space itself, which accumulates more spiritual power over time. It also affirms the clients’ own higher power, which can help them heal more rapidly by reinforcing that part of themselves which, to varying degrees, they may have disowned.
By creating a sacred space, I affirm to my clients how important I believe it is to draw upon the strength and healing power of Spirit.
But many clients are either agnostic or dispirited. Due to the seriousness of their persistent problem, be it depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder, clients may have no connection to or even believe in God. It is not necessary for them to have any belief in God in order for our work to be successful. I know that my healing space is sacred and radiating spiritual power. I know I have created and maintain a sacred space for my work with clients. Thus, I am aware and respectful of the possibility that the need for a spiritual container may be greater than what my client is initially aware of. The creation of a sacred work space provides this spiritual container.
I regularly integrate other components into my Dynamic Energetic Healing®
sessions in order to maintain the sacred space as well. After each client leaves, I either burn sage (which is called smudging the space) or chime my Tibetan bell to ensure that the space remains free of any residual negativity, dark energy, or stagnant emotional energy. Either modality is effective for cleansing.
It is also very important to follow my second attention, which is discussed in more detail in chapter 5, “Integrating the Second Attention into Dynamic Energetic Healing®.” How does this relate to creating a sacred space? To ensure that I do my part to keep the space clean within the therapeutic relational context, it is absolutely essential that I not withhold any of my internal experience or awareness when I am with a client. For example, if I am feeling sadness, anger, or spaciness when with a client, it is incumbent upon me to bring that awareness into the shared relational field in order to keep the energetic field clean. It is also my responsibility, to the degree that I am perceptually capable, to bring to my clients’ awareness what I am feeling or perceiving about their experience. Other models of psychotherapy may take issue with this stance, particularly with severely abused clients who are feeling extremely vulnerable.
Certainly, sensitivity to timing is important. However, my professional experience is that my being able to stay current with the flow of information both intrapersonally and interpersonally means that any stagnant energy or marginalized affective responses are kept to a bare minimum. Following your second attention is a very important part of the therapist’s responsibility to keep the work space clean, thereby maintaining the sanctity of sacred space.
There are many elements that go into making a space sacred. When the psychotherapeutic work space is indeed a sacred space, all manner of healing becomes
possible. It is simply foolish to presume that because of a therapist’s cleverness or technique, positive therapeutic outcomes can be counted on. At the end of the day, deep healing always occurs via the power of the numi-nous—the power of love. This power is always present in a sacred space.
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