Why SacredSpace? Why now?
A note from Noelle:
As a ritual artist, theatre-maker and cultural organizer of many years, I remain in awe of the transformative possibilities that arise when we gather in community to create, to meditate, to ritualize together. While I love aspects of what the online world has provided for us - to educate, connect, open our minds and share across borders - there is an isolation that comes with it. That comes with an online class, sitting behind a screen, scrolling, listening through the computer, layers of machine between humans, between our breath and vibration.
There is a kind of magic that can happen when an ensemble of people gather together in sacred space.
I have seen this in plays, I have experienced this in workshops, ceremonies & group meditations and rituals. When we are able to truly connect with our inner world, and feel connected to OR notice our disconnection with ourselves and the world around us. These gatherings are an integral part of feeling belonging and wholeness.
As Thich Nahn Hahn writes in his book No Mud, No Lotus “In the collective we can see the individual, and in the individual there is the collective. There is no absolute individuality; there is no absolute collectivity.” We are inextricably linked to all of life and to one another.
Sometimes, it's only after hours of movement, meditation, building an altar together or playing theatre games that we are slowly able to let go of that tugging feeling of ego, or that tightness in our chest that we didn't even know was there. When we are actually able to fully arrive into the moment, into our bodies, into spirit, alongside one another.
A surrender happens. There is a homecoming. A healing. Sometimes a rupture. A calling to ancestors. An attunement and alignment.
When I create sacred spaces - this is what I am going for. Connecting us back to the magic and vibration that allows us to be vulnerable with ourselves in community.
Sacred spaces of gathering are essential to our liberation movements. Coming together in physical space to hold eye contact, to listen to the sound of each other’s names, to create song that is birthed from the ancient fire in our belly and bones and blood, to build an altar together to honor our waters and land, connects us to spirit, open-heartedness and our intuition - guiding forces leading us into greater harmony.
These sacred spaces are a part of our collective, multifaceted journey to live together with shared freedom.
The late Malidoma Patrice Somé writes “Ritual is a gathering with others in order to feel Spirit’s call, to express spontaneously and publicly whatever emotion needs to be expressed, to create, in concert with others, an unrehearsed and deeply moving response to Spirit, and to feel the presence of the community, including the ancestors, throughout the experience.”
These experiences are unquantifiable. Yes, I can try to find the words to showcase what this is. But I would rather just gather. :)
As we birth new worlds in these heavy times, I come back to Malidoma Patrice Somé's writings. He reminds me:
“Ritual is the principal tool used to approach that unseen world in a way that will rearrange the structure of the physical world and bring about material transformation."
I look forward to journeying with you...
Noelle Ghoussaini, 2026