What is Sacred?
By Cathy Eason
Honoring the Personal, the Present, and the Powerfully Unique
In every woman’s life, there exists a quiet thread of meaning that weaves through her days—sometimes bold and bright, sometimes soft and nearly invisible. This thread is what many of us call the sacred. Yet the sacred is not a single definition, nor a universal destination. What is sacred to one woman may be entirely different from what stirs the soul of another. And that is the true beauty of it: sacredness is profoundly personal, gently shaped by our lived experiences, our desires, our wounds, and our dreams.
Sacredness as a Personal Landscape
Think of the sacred as a landscape within you—a place where your spirit feels most whole. For some women, this landscape is lush and expansive, filled with color and texture. For others, it is minimalist and serene. Some find the sacred in movement, in sound, in the pulse of life; others find it in stillness, in quiet breath, in the spaces where nothing needs to be said.
There is no right way to define what is sacred, and there is no requirement for the sacred to hold any religious meaning. There is only your way, and the answer to “what is sacred?” may shift and transform within you as you expand and grow into your truly authentic self.
The Sacred in Nature
Many of us discover our sense of sacredness in nature, where the world reveals its wisdom in reflected hues and seasonal rhythms.
The deep evergreen and forgiving floor of a forest can feel like protection.
The soft blush of the pink, orange, and yellow sunrise light can feel like renewal.
The sound of waves collapsing and retreating might echo the cycles of your own life—release, return, and release again.
The sacred might be the warmth of sunlight on your skin, or the rustle of leaves whispering ancient truths. It might be the stillness of a mountain trail where your thoughts finally settle, or the untamed energy of the ocean reminding you that you, too, are wild and powerful.
The Sacred in Color, Sight, and Sound
Sometimes the sacred is sparked by something as simple as color—a vibrant coral that awakens joy, a rich indigo that deepens your inner quiet, a gold that reminds you of the light you carry.
Sacredness may show itself in the sights and sounds that surround you:
The graceful movement of a candle flame.
The ringing laughter of a friend.
The rhythmic drumming of your own heartbeat.
A favorite song that seems to wrap itself around your spirit.
The whisper of your breath in meditation.
These sensory threads become invitations—moments to pause, to feel, and to return to yourself.
Finding Joy in Connection
For many women, the sacredlives in relationships—those radiant moments when connection feels effortless and true. It may be found in a shared meal, in tears wiped by loving hands, in deep conversations beneath the moonlight, or in the simple presence of someone who sees you fully and holds quiet space for you.
Sacredness blooms in sisterhood, in collective healing, in the safety created when women gather and remember their own power. Joy thrives in connection... and connection often reminds us that we are not alone on our journeys.
Finding Peace in Quiet Moments
The sacred also appears in silence—in the early morning before the world wakes, in the gentle pause at the end of an exhale, in the soft retreat from noise and expectation.
Quiet moments offer space to listen:
To your body.
To your emotion-filled heart.
To your intuition.
To the inner voice that knows exactly what you need. In these still places, sacred peace isn’t something you chase; it is something that naturally rises.
Your Sacred, Your Truth
Ultimately, what is sacred is not something you must seek outside yourself—it is something you uncover within. It might shift with the seasons of your life, evolve as you do, and reveal new facets of meaning over time. The sacred is a companion, a compass, a soft reminder to live deeply and intentionally.
As you move through your days—whether at a retreat in sisterhood, in your home, or out in the world—notice what stirs your spirit.
What feels nourishing.
What invites you to breathe more fully.
What is sacred is what brings you home to yourself.
These are your sacred things. And honoring them is an act of profound self-love.