Making Your Soul at Home

According to Iowa architect Anthony Lawlor in his book, A Home for the Soul: a guide for dwelling with spirit and imagination; "From the moment we are born, we seek to find home. Yet, despite this primal longing, our dwelling places often disappoint us. The very places that hold the promise of harmony and revitalization can, instead, be the abodes of disorder, friction and loneliness. If we do not learn how our homes can care for the soul, there will always be a gap between who we are and where we live."

In his book, Lawlor goes on to show the reader how to transform their dwelling place, room by room into a home that nurtures the soul. What are a few of the things we can do, regardless of our particular spiritual path, to create an atmosphere within our living space to help us renew ourselves after a hectic day of striving to be more than ordinary?

One of the most direct paths to making our home a place that nurtures our soul is to give it a good cleaning and repair the things we have neglected. Cleaning forces us to slow down and pay attention. Because we get in such a hurry, we often become alienated from our surroundings. Cleaning not only purifies our homes but puts us back in touch with our possessions. As we clean and tidy treasured items, we remember the stories that go with them. By looking at all of the "stuff" we own, we can choose to keep those items that enhance our creativity, imagination, and sense of well-being, and get rid of those things that do nothing for us and make us feel weighed down.

Eat more home cooked meals and less take-out. Not only is it better for us but it is better for our souls. From the beginning of time, people's lives have revolved around the cooking fire and the community meal. The kitchen is the place where the elements of fire, water and earth combine to feed our whole being. If you live alone, invite others to share a meal with you often to enrich your life and home with a sense of community. If you share your home with others, intentionally set aside mealtime as a time for staying in touch with each other. The menu need not be exotic nor the utensils fancy to cultivate warmth in the "hearth" of the home.

Choose items for your home that bring you pleasure. Depending on your budget, choose a set of sheets or a blanket or pillow that evokes a feeling of sensuality in you. These might change depending on the time of the year or your moods. Hang pictures of images that help you feel restful and peaceful, even if they are clipped from a magazine and arranged in a dime store frame. Think of your bedroom as the place where you are recreated each night to prepare for a new tomorrow. Take electronics out of this room as much as possible to foster a sense of rest from the hurry of the world outside your door.

As we rush around in our attempt to fit in and be like everyone else, remember that our homes can be places that nourish our souls- a retreat away from all that would strip us of our uniqueness. Lawlor reminds us "that the sacredness we seek can be found right under our noses, in the environments we inhabit."