Sharing Our Stories: Take Space for Writing.
The word sacred can have many connotations. When I read today’s invitation to write about your sacred writing space, I began with thoughts about the word itself. Sacred. Yesterday I read Nikki Giovanni’s poem “In the Spirit of Martin” alongside a fifth grade student. She asked the question, “What does sacred mean?” responding to the poem’s first line, “This is a sacred poem…”
My initial response was “holy.” Sacred is a place that is quiet and contemplative, like a church.
Is my writing space sacred? Consecrated by different sizes, shapes, and surfaces of paper. Blessed with pens which become cat toys if I leave them out. Ordained by hard maple wood. My writing space is my kitchen. It’s where all the animals hang out. It’s close to the coffee pot. There’s a door that leads out to a winding bayou and cypress trees.
Our writing spaces become sacred when we make the space to sit in quiet stillness, to listen to the inner voice, and to be confident enough to put words on a page (or screen).
When the c trades places with the a, sacred becomes scared. Sacred can be scary. I’ve certainly had that mix of butterfly flutters in my belly when entering a sacristy.
Writing can be scary, too.
I’m learning to trust the process. To let my words be sacred. To open up myself to the vulnerable space. It’s still scary, but more often than not, it feels fulfilling and safe.
Reflections on the Teche 
I love this, Margaret. Both your poem exploration with your student and your thoughts on creating sacred and safe writing spaces. The gorgeous postcard you sent is on my beauty board in my own sacred writing space–thank you!
Beauty Board? Stealing that idea! Thanks.
Beautiful thoughts, Margaret. Your students are so lucky to have you to guide them. Your words “consecrated,” “blessed,” “ordained” carried the image of “sacred” in such a special way.
So good. It’s true that it’s both scary and safe. Both ordinary and sacred. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I love that word sacred and it is so true of my space as well. I agree that poems, if we work with children can become their sacred space where really anything goes. It is so freeing. XO
It is scary to put words out for the world to read, but so many lives are enriched by the thoughts you share. Isn’t it interesting how a word pops up in different places. I think that’s serendipity. 🙂
I love how serendipitous words can be. Thanks for your kind comment.
I am working on a writing space. It is slowly evolving from my son’s room to mine. I will be thinking about it being a consecrated, blessed, and ordained space. Beautiful!
I enjoyed reading your words. “Our writing spaces become sacred when we make the space to sit in quiet stillness” – is the favourite thought to carry with me.
I love this line: “Our writing spaces become sacred when we make the space to sit in quiet stillness, to listen to the inner voice, and to be confident enough to put words on a page (or screen).” Beautiful.