What Is Temenos?

TYPE: noun;  a sacred circle where one can be themselves without fear – a piece of land cut off and assigned as an official domain, especially to kings and chiefs, or a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god, a sanctuary, holy grove or holy precinct.

Born in the U.S.A. on a hot summer day in the deep south, yet raised in Canada, I have always felt like I straddle those borders. In some ways still, with my heart often in two places. Racism and old tobacco barns are part of my dad’s family tree, yet many of those prejudices straddle that tree of mine, from both sides, and is a truth I’ve learned over the years. None I suppose are immune to fear-mongering and hate.

Well, so mom always told me I was her ‘fey’ one, like a tea towel in the wind, never knowing where I would land. Over the years I have worked, and read, and sought for the meaning of life, walking rural and urban streets,  watched the death of loved ones,  a marriage end, and all of it changed me.

This blog has become a sort of sanctuary, often a podium, seeking, finding, words and images, history and philosophy, in a Canadian accent, eh.

Welcome :: paulawalla2010@gmail.com 🙂

49 thoughts on “What Is Temenos?”

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  7. Hi Paula, nice to meet you. I’ve been travelling around your blog a little. I love the idea of Temenos, a sacred space.
    Also please accept my sympathies on the death of your husband. I can’t imagine . . . . . . . It was bad enough when my parents died. Still you are not defined by this and obviously life is calling you. Good luck with the job search! I love the way you write – easy to read.
    Thank you for visiting our blog and for the ‘likes’
    Blessings
    Alison

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    • Thank you 🙂 I love your photographs & stories of all the places you’ve been. Places I will never see…guess a little living vicariously thru your adventures, perhaps.

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  11. Kozo introduced me to your blog, I’m so glad he did. I haven’t lived much yet, but I hope to spend my days also “exploring, learning, loving, working, reading, walking rural and urban streets and listening.” I look forward to reading more of your interesting posts.

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  12. What a beautiful word… like so many Greek words, and like so many it has such spirit… a sacred place, sounds very precious, and I’ve always wanted and have tried to create such spaces… but now there seems to be something pushing in me that wants to recognise our whole dear planet …as the sacred place it really is…

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    • Temenos is something I’ve always been attracted to. I have always felt that I was blessed with a sense of sanctuary, but so many are not. But I guess that is part of the journey we are on, finding what moves us to share, create, change. I think we each contribute in our own way. Thank you for your comments. AND sorry I took so long to reply. 😉

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  14. Dear Paula,
    This is very touching – yes, a sacred space is what each of us needs. I was recently the Primary Caregiver for a man who died after six months, and his wife a month later – both elderly. It is quite a journey.
    with Love,
    Tomas

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    • Oh, it certainly is a journey. I piece of you seems to go with them for awhile. You are never quite the same. And thank you, it’s a sanctuary with plenty of friends to keep one company. 😉

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  16. Thanks for following my Blog, and I am counter-following you now 🙂 I think you’ve given your Blog a beautiful name, and I look forward to reading more of your posts.

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  17. Paula, I was delighted to find your blog and wonder at how your “About” page reminds me of a blog I was writing this time last year but rather gave up when I got to a point of needing to just go inward and digest… Perhaps you would like to take a look… psychevida.wordpress.com ~ In any case, strength and gentleness to you today and in the new year!

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    • I was looking back through my older posts and saw that sweet face staring back and realized I had not taken the time to go back to poke around your blog. Thank you for dropping in…and likewise, look forward to reading more of HoB.

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  22. I love the concept of this. It is a very powerful place for you to land and operate from as you move thru this sacred time of being present as a loved one passes. I send you my best wishes and strength as you move thru this. I am sorry for your aching heart. Take care.

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    • Thank you … sorry I took so long to reply. I was just poking around to see if I’d missed any comments…and there you were. 😉 I’m feeling brighter lately. Not every day, but this space now actually gets me out the door, to take pictures. That of course keeps furry monsters happy, and helps get me outside, which clears my head. Amazing how powerful the creative force can be if you let it flow.

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    • I know. This last 3 1/2 yrs here at the lake has been wonderful. I will miss the quiet when I move from here in the new year. I don’t know where yet, but no where this quiet I would imagine 🙂

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  24. You helped me and I don’t even know you… isn’t that the beauty of blogs! Yesterday as I was struggling to get ready for work, I read this page and the quote by Einstein you have in the upper right corner. I liked it so much, I immediately went to the bookshelf and pulled down Walter Isaacson’s biography of Einstein. We have had it for years but as of yet it has gone unread. Not anymore. I’m about a 1/3 of the way and can barely put it down. I am inspired by his thinking and view of life and the world. Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for turning my day around! 🙂

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  25. I love the concept of sacred spaces and the way you’re using it to define your writing. Thanks for introducing me to a new word and your lovely blog. Also, thanks for stopping by Gallivance with your encouraging comments.
    All the Best, Terri Vance @ Gallivance.wordpress.com

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    • I keep getting distracted and haven’t replied to you yet. I really love your photos..I’m a bit of a home body myself, so I’m living vicariously through your camera lens.

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  26. Photography is something I enjoy (but don’t have any particular knack for) and hope to eventually encorporate more into my writing. I’ll be keeping an eye on what you do. 🙂 I really liked this blog, by the way, I like the concept.

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  27. Tenemos–I’ve never heard of the term, but I love the concept. I mistook the term for the Spanish word for “we hold,” which might be relevant if you read below.
    Thank you for your courage and openness to share. I too am blogging to heal, inspire, and offer a new perspective.
    I was just writing a chapter for NaMoWriMo in which I was describing the sacredness of the Western Gate for the Chumash Indians. I literally clicked on your blog as a diversion from writing the novel, and title of your blog deals with sacred spaces. Feels like something from the Celestine Prophesy. “We hold” something in common.
    I am honored to meet you.

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    • I am honoured in return.
      ~
      “we hold” yes…it has the same “sense” as how I see Temenos, or sacred space. “We hold” these {insert} to be sacred, holy etal…but it is that “interconnectedness” that we sense maybe in these spaces…and so we honour them to show other future generations, maybe to remind them of “beauty”…which I believe is a Native American concept of the creator.
      🙂

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  29. My cousin just went through palliative care and passed away a couple of weeks ago. So hard. So sorry that you’ve had to go through watching a loved one die. I hope that your blog is a way to help you deal with your loss. I blogged about my cousin and I think it helped me – which, of course, is on a much different level than you’ve gone through. Anyway, thanks for stopping by my blog today – be blessed…

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    • Thank you Gretchen for stopping by. It is healing to share…and it helps to fill the void a little.

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