At the Chacana Spiritual Center, our practices are deeply rooted in ancient Andean wisdom. One of the most fundamental yet profound rituals we share is the act of Opening Sacred Space.

Whether we are gathering for a community fire ceremony, a personal healing session, or a quiet meditation, we begin by calling in the directions. But why do we do this, and what does it truly mean to "set the stage" for spirit?

What is Sacred Space?

In our modern lives, we spend most of our time in ordinary time—a linear world of schedules, to-do lists, and ego-driven concerns. When we open Sacred Space, we step into non-ordinary time. We create a protected energetic "container" that allows us to leave the mundane world behind and enter a realm of healing, vision, and connection with the Divine.

By calling upon the four directions, Mother Earth, and Father Sky, we are inviting the archetypal energies of the universe to assist us. We aren't just reciting words; we are shifting our vibration to align with the natural order of the cosmos.

The Invocation: Calling the Archetypes

In this tradition, we turn to each direction to summon specific protectors and teachers:

* The South (Serpent): We call to the Great Serpent to wrap its coils of light around us. Just as the serpent sheds its skin, we ask to shed our past and the stories that no longer serve us, learning to walk softly on the Earth.

* The West (Jaguar): We call to Mother Jaguar to protect our medicine space. Jaguar teaches us the way of peace, helps us live with impeccability, and shows us how to step beyond fear.

* The North (Hummingbird): We honor the Hummingbird and our Ancestors—the Grandmothers and Grandfathers. We ask them to whisper to us in the wind and help us drink from the nectar of life, honoring the lineage that came before us.

* The East (Eagle/Condor): We look to the rising sun and the Great Eagle. We ask to be shown the high mountain peaks of our potential and to be taught how to fly wing-to-wing with the Great Spirit.

* Mother Earth (Pachamama): We touch the ground, acknowledging our connection to all our relations—the stone people, the plant people, and all creatures.

* Father Sun (Inti) & Grandmother Moon (Mama Killa): We reach toward the heavens, thanking the Star Nations and the Great Spirit—the "unnamable One"—for bringing us together to sing the Song of Life.

Why Must We Open and Close Space?

You might wonder: If I’m already a spiritual person, why do I need the formal ritual?

1. Protection and Focus

Opening space creates a "sanctuary." Just as a surgeon requires a sterile environment to operate, a spiritual practitioner requires a "spiritually pure" environment to do energetic work. It keeps out intrusive energies and allows you to focus entirely on the healing at hand.

2. Sacred Intentionality

The act of opening space signals to your subconscious and to the Spirit world that you are ready to work. It is the bridge between the "doing" of daily life and the "being" of the soul.

3. Integration and Grounding (The Importance of Closing)

Just as important as opening the space is closing it. Once your healing work or ceremony is finished, it is vital to release the energies. To close the space, you follow the same procedure—addressing each direction and thanking the archetypes for their presence.

If we leave sacred space open, we may feel "ungrounded" or overly sensitive to the world around us. Closing the space allows us to integrate the healing we received and return to our daily lives with our feet firmly planted on the Earth, carrying the light of the ceremony within us.

Practice at Home

You don’t have to be at the center to experience this. You can open sacred space in your home to create an atmosphere of peace and protection. Whether you are facing a difficult day or embarking on a new project, calling in the directions helps you align with your highest self.