How to Invite Irish Healing into your Home

What’s it for?

Before you get started building your ‘Airmid Altar’, take a few mindful minutes to sit and consider what you really want the space to represent in your home.

We’re all different on so many levels, so it makes sense that when we have time to ourselves there will be a large variety of ways in which we choose to spend these moments. If you’re into yoga or pilates then you may want a dedicated space to practice, or perhaps if you’re an avid reader you’ll want a little book nook in which you can get lost in the pages before you.

Setting out an area for these activities gives you a sense of purpose when you enter it and wards off other distractions. For example, if you try meditating in the living room you may well end up being diverted by the television, while journaling at your desk could easily be side-lined by the growing pile of paperwork that you spy out of the corner of your eye!

If home is where the heart is then your sacred space is where your soul is, so make sure it has the freedom to be expressed.

Picking a Place

Once you’ve decided what the function of your sacred space is, you can start thinking about where in your home you can best channel your energy into your chosen task.

Obviously if you have a spare room to hand, you can get started with the Feng Shui and develop your own little Chakra cave, however not many of us have that kind of liberty in the floor plan. The good news is you don’t need masses of space to let your soul roam free – just enough to house yourself and a few choice objects.

If you want to use your space for yoga, make sure that you have enough room for your mat and your body as it moves into different positions. You don’t want to be cramped, but you don’t need a full studio to yourself either.

If you want to spend your time reading, then you may just want to move a couch away from a wall – leaving a cosy gap in which you can arrange a comfy bean bag, some blankets and a pile of books. Similarly, if you are meditating or praying, a window seat provides the stability you need to position your body – and the views you need to inspire your soul.

Make it Irish at Heart

Where better to reconnect with your Irish roots than with a little Emerald Isle in your very own home? Your sacred space is the perfect opportunity to display your favourite treasures that you’ve collected during your Irish at Heart subscription, and lets you appreciate them on a more intimate level.

Pick a few meaningful objects and arrange them on a flat surface within your space, whether it’s a small side table, a windowsill or simply a shelf. If you’ve decided to dedicate your area to reading, then perhaps a few of your favourite Irish novels stacked neatly will help you step into the land of literature, or maybe a gold and green throw over the back of the couch helps to convey a Celtic influence.

Amongst your favourite Irish collectibles be sure to include more personal touches if that is what your soul needs to be at peace. A framed photo of loved ones, a shell collected from a memorable beachside holiday, or even a handwritten inspirational quote that will stimulate mindfulness.

Be creative with your space and experiment to see what works for you - just remember that whatever you pick can be changed to suit your mood, so don’t be tempted to overcrowd your space with a bit of everything. If you do, your motivational message to yourself may be lost in the clutter, and your space could become more of a home for loose ends rather than spiritual reconnection!

Address all the senses

When decorating your space remember that your inner vision stretches far beyond your eyes, and that mindfulness can be invoked with all five senses.

When meditating perhaps you want to light a fresh and vibrant candle, to transport yourself to the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way, or create a playlist of soothing sounds to set the scene for your sacred space. Maybe your soul will know that its home when you pop your toes into a soft pair of slippers, or take a sip of your favourite herbal tea that you reserve for moments just like this.

Make your healing process part of your weekly or even daily ritual, just as you would schedule in work or shopping. Whether this is taking five minutes every day after your morning shower to prepare yourself for the day ahead, or an hour in the evenings before bed – your mind, body and soul will thank you for it.

So grab your mat, book, pen or candles, leave any negative energy at the door, and enter your very own spiritual shrine. After the year you’ve had – you definitely deserve it!