Why are our homes so very important to us? How come, when we talk about our worst nightmares many of us will shudder and say that the most terrible thing we could imagine would be to lose our homes, to become homeless, to live on the streets? Statistics show that homes are very much on our minds nowadays - more and more emphasis is being put on them. More of us in the West own our homes than ever before. We spend more money on fixing our homes and one of the most popular hobbies is home improvement. It seems that now, maybe more than ever before, we need to feel the security of our homes. It’s not hard to see why. Our working lives are becoming ever less secure--few people nowadays can count on a job for life. With divorce rates soaring there is little certainty in our relationships. Acts of terrorism like 9/11 shake our faith in the predictability of daily life. And as our knowledge of space and the cosmos deepens, we can no longer rely on being at the centre of a gentle, embracing universe. Life is becoming psychologically very frightening.

In an uncertain, scary world, we cling to home. Yet many of us find our homes are not satisfying our needs. I think that’s because we often equate a "good" home with a large, showy, impressive home. We talk about getting larger square footage, upgrading to a bigger space, a grander style of house. We fantasize about pillars and columns, huge back yards and monumental spaces. Our egos might rate such criteria yet our souls cringe. I’m sure, if you think about it, you know what I mean. I’m talking about the kind of buildings which are built and designed so full of pride and prestige that you feel uncomfortable the moment you walk in. You barely like to sit down in case you crease the cushions. These are the kind of homes that make you stand to attention; that make children and animals unwelcome and adults feel ill at ease. They symbolize a complete breakdown between the owner and the earth--the link is simply not recognized. But anyone with sensitivity of soul can feel it in their bones. The place is not a home, it is a statement--like the latest designer clothes or the smartest sports car. It is hollow.

A true home should be our own mini-world, our own Mother Earth. It needs to be the kind of place which nurtures you and makes you feel safe yet also gives you the freedom to be totally yourself. When we feel safe and comfortable in our homes then we feel more able to deal with the often frightening outside world...

>>> Click to Continue Reading "Spirit of the Home"

© Copyright Jane Alexander. This article was originally
published at our website, SoulfulLiving.com, in November 2002, as part of Soulful Living's "The Soulful Home" Issue.

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