Biblical Sacred Ground

Oak of Mamre.

We concluded our exploration of the Physical or Assiyatic Tree with two sessions in which we focussed on how Sacred Ground is depicted in the Bible. On 30th November we started with some stories from Genesis.

The Matriarchs and Patriarchs of the early chapters of the Hebrew Bible can come alive to us through their stories; stories that are deeply grounded in the landscape of the Holy Land and within the 'down to earth' lives the Hebrew people experienced as they tended their crops and herds.

Bible stories begin in Genesis, with a vision of a 'good and pleasing' garden:

Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9

Kabbalistically, the eating of the fruit of knowledge can be understood as the ego awareness and physical experience that each soul embraces in leaving the inner Eden and taking human birth. Yet the deeper spiritual vision remains within the soul and can be awakened at any moment, as we see happening for characters such as Abraham & Sarah, Jacob & Rebekah and Moses & Miriam:

Genesis 18:1

The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.  

Genesis 28:16-17

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

Exodus 3:1-4

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

   And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Each of these Biblical characters sets us a wonderful example in waking up and becoming present ("Here I am") to the divine dimension of the everyday ground of our lives!


In meditation, we took our symbol of the Inner Garden and explored it through a biblical form. We imagined ourselves travelling back in time to visit the great trees of Mamre and to enter the Cave of Machpelah (which still exist in a changed form to this day). There we were able to envision an inner encounter with a Biblical Matriarch or Patriarch and ask for and receive their understanding and wisdom, which proved to be a powerful and inspiring exercise.

Eternity's Sunrise

On Saturday 19th November, our much loved tutor, Peter Brennan, returned for a further day on the 'transcendent art' of poetry. This time, we focussed on the work of the visionary artist and poet William Blake. Peter had prepared for each of us an inspiring selection of Blake's poems, letters and art works and it proved particularly fruitful to be able to draw upon both visual and poetic imagery.

We started with an introduction to Blakes ideas, names and images for The Four Zoas, which Peter connected to the four living creatures of Ezekial's vision... an important Biblical source text for Kabbalah. It was affirming for the women amongst us to hear that Blake also had female aspects for each of the Zoas. Peter related the Lion to 'Tharmas' (male ) and 'Enion' (female) and the energies of instinct, strength and resolution. The Ox he related to 'Urizen' and 'Ahania' and the energies of boundaries, reason and what Blake called 'mind forg'd manacles'. The Man was related to 'Luvah (or Orc)' and 'Vala' and the energies of love, passion and emotion and finally the Eagle Peter related to 'Urthona (or Los)' and 'Enitharmon' or the energies of imagination and and inspiration.

Throughout both the poems and images we explored, we repeatedly met these great archetypal powers and felt how they must have played through Blake himself as he struggled to express his prophetic visions in a time and culture that did not recognise or support him. We discovered in his work a great courage...no idea or safe establishment (including the rules of punctuation!) remains unchallenged. As a priest, I especially enjoyed Blake's 'Proverbs of Hell' and his critique of the Church in 'The Little Vagabond' for example, which seems just as pertinent today

Dear Mother, dear Mother, The Church is cold
But the Alehouse is healthy & pleasant & warm;
Besides I can tell where I am used well, Such usage in heaven will never do well.


and Blake's calling into question easy, selfish ideas of being merciful and good (and highlighting our own participation in creating the suffering of others) in 'The Human Abstract'...

Pity would be no more,
If we did not make somebody Poor;
And Mercy no more could be,
If all were as happy as we;


In selections from 'The Book of Urizen' and 'The Four Zoas' we were all stirred by the power of Blake's poetry and the vivid images it evokes. So to conclude, here is a tiny taste from Night the Ninth (for all those who have ever found themselves enduring sleepless nights!)

And men are bound to sullen contemplations in the night
Restless they turn on beds of sorrow, in their inmost brain
Feeling the crushing wheels they rise they write the bitter words
Of Stern Philosophy & knead the bread of knowledge with tears & groans

Inner Sacred Space

Imagine a pool at the centre of your inner garden...

In the last session we made a start with creating and recognising outer sacred space and this time, in our fourth session for Autumn on 16th November 2011, we began to take this further, with a meditative exercise to help create inner Sacred Space

If you want to practise this exercise at home, remember to 'work up through the worlds'! So start by setting aside some physical space and time in which you won't be interrupted and take a little time to settle into a relaxed and upright posture with a straight spine. You might like to settle into meditation with a few minutes of simply breathing and letting the body settle. Even just reading through the exercise below slowly, with time given to relax and take a few slow breaths between each paragraph, will have some benefit. Once you have read it slowly through a couple of times, the simple structure will settle into your unconscious so you can recall and work with it in your own meditation time.

Visiting the Inner Garden

Once you are physically settled and your awareness has stabilised at least a little, start to imagine yourself standing on an inner ground. Let it be a natural wilderness place and take time to find your inner feet, to look all around, below and above you. Allow this inner landscape to reveal itself to you and trust your inner senses which may take any form. You could see images but you might equally well get energetic impressions or feelings, hear sounds or emphasise another sense such as scent or taste. Stay in touch with your breath and try to calmly observe whatever arises, even if it is unexpected or unpleasant. You can stop at any time and return your focus to your body and the outer world if you wish.

Once you are settled in your inner landscape, look for a path. Know that this path will draw you on towards an Inner Garden. 

Take time to move along the path and look around you as you breathe and move along. It may be that you will see something of interest or significance or that you may encounter someone or something along the way. This may seem like a blessing or a challenge, which you can engage with and move through. If you need help, inwardly ask for it and you will receive what you need.

Further along and looking ahead, you see your companions, each converging on the doorway to the Inner Garden from their own paths. Together we stand in front of the door and take time to sense or see it. One of us steps forward to open the way and we each consciously cross the threshold into the Inner Garden.

We take time inside to get our bearings. We have a sense of being within a sacred enclosure. Three paths lead from our feet. One goes towards the left side of the garden, which is shady and cool. One goes towards the right side, which is sunny and warm. One leads straight up the centre of the garden towards a circular central pool and then continues on the far side of the pool to a spring source at the top of the garden.

In our own time, we follow 'the Kabbalistic path of the lightening flash', moving first to the central pool. We take time to gaze into the water and notice whether it is smooth or moving and to gaze at any reflections there or glimpses of below the surface.

We then move towards the left side and take time to experience this cool shady side of the garden and notice our responses to it. We may find a message or token from this side…

We then cross right over the right side and take time to experience the warm, sunny side of the garden and notice our responses to it. We may receive a message or token from this side…

We then move up to the top of the garden where pure, cool water flows from a spring source and sparkles in the light. We take time to drink or bathe in these waters of the spirit and in the light. Spend as much time here as you wish.

When it is time to return, we walk down the central path, following a stream of water that flows along it from the source. We follow as it leads back past the central pool and back towards the door where we came in. Consciously we step out of the Garden and one of us closes the door. In our own time we each make our way back along our own path. As we move and breathe, gradually our inner senses fade and we focus back simply on the breath and the body, until we are ready to open our eyes and move our awareness firmly back to the outer world.

Sacred Ground

Sacred Ground in Dartington.

In our third Session of the Autumn/Winter Term on November 2nd 2011 we continued to explore the Physical or Assiyatic dimension of the Tree of Life through ideas and practices to create sacred space. Here are some notes from our session:

Our first sacred ground is within our own bodies and spiritual practices, such as the energy body meditations we have been practicing, are a significant way of re-sacralising this ground of our being. When we give kind awareness to each part of the body and gently listen to its tensions and pains, we are engaged in conscious transformation and healing. Every time we imagine a flow of light or warmth or breath within us, we become a little clearer, a little more in touch with being a vessel for God and for good. So it's worth persevering with these simple practices and letting them gradually transform us.

Our next sacred ground is our home. If we are able, we can set aside a room or corner as a sanctuary space. We may not be able to dedicate a physical space in our homes in this way all the time, but even for a time each day or each week, consciously seeing an ordinary space as sacred can transform the energy of our home and bring heaven to earth. Remember how the Israelites took their tabernacle with them through their nomadic life and kept recreating their sacred space within each new place they came to.

A simple focus such as a candle or something of beauty and inspiration, when carefully and consciously placed, can make an altar out of anything from a simple shelf or windowsill to the kitchen table. Combine this with regular and conscious use, such as lighting a candle before meals, saying a prayer or blessing or spending some time in meditation… It doesn't matter if you are the only one in your home who knows the deeper purpose of that vase of flowers or who silently prays a blessing as plates are brought to the table or an email sent… for not only will such practices transform your experience of homely life, they will quietly touch the lives of those around you too.

A similar awareness can be brought to moving out into our locality. Why not make an ordinary walk, a walking meditation? No special techniques are needed, simply a conscious decision to be fully present to what and who you meet along the way. I like to take circular walks from my home that connect me with all different aspects of my locality, and not just the beautiful bits! To touch tarmac as well as earth, bless the petrol station as well as the river… With awareness, anywhere we visit can be sacred ground and while we might choose some places to nourish us, others we might choose to nourish, in any way from picking up litter to praying blessings or being there in meditation.

Moving further still, we can make pilgrimages to special or troubled places in our country and our world, to receive inspiration and healing or to give our support. These may be physical visits or the practical support of work or charity donations, but they can equally well be meditative visits and the support of prayer and distant healing.