Creating a Haven

How to create a space for yourself where you can comfortably relax.

• The first step is finding a suitable location, which you can use to create your sanctuary from the often hectic outside world. The most suitable place for this is your bedroom. Alternatively this could be a spare room, balcony, terrace, garage, basement.
• Now find comfortable seating. You don’t need to go out and buy a new sofa, you probably already have something that you can use. As long as it is comfortable it will serve the purpose. Perhaps cover a mattress with a sheet and some blankets or quilts.
• The second most important thing is ambient lighting. You don’t want harsh bright lights. The best lighting is one that you can adjust the brightness. Alternatively find a lampshade, or light which you can direct towards a wall to refract the light. Getting the right lighting is not hard, and it will create the atmosphere for you sanctuary.
• Find some candles. Candles light creates a fantastic ambient atmosphere to help you relax and chill-out.
• Buy some incense to help you relax.
• Find a small table to place you candles & incense (books, Shisha pipe). A low lying one if possible.
• You now need something to play some music. Use what you already have or you can buy a cheap CD player and some second hand speakers that will do just as good as the latest hi-fi. Find some relaxing music that ranges from soulful to chill out to slightly upbeat. Here is a list that will get you started: Budda Bar, Al green, Bob Marley, John Legend, Jack Johnson, Moby, Otis Reading, Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Coldplay, David Gray, James Blunt, Macy Gray.
• Beautification is the next step. Decoration to kit out your sanctuary can include pictures, wall hangings, postcards, statues, curtains and anything that is aesthetically pleasing. However be sure to avoid clutter. Clutter creates stress, which is not what you want.

To summarise, the following can be used to create your haven:

• Suitable location
• Comfortable seating
• Ambient lighting
• Candles
• Incense
• Small Table
• Music
• Beautification.