When I signed up for the Sacred Stories class, I didn’t really know what I was in for. Would we be examining sacred texts from the major world religions and telling stories featured in those texts? Like examining living mythology? I had a lot of trepidation about what might be expected. Religion can be such a hot-button issue.
But what I found is that the sacred is highly personal and individualized. For some, those stories in sacred texts are very personal. Others find sacredness in remembering people who have passed on, or in sentimental objects, or in inspirational personal stories they’ve heard. Others are touched by traditional oral stories from many different cultures, and others feel a personal connection to the natural world around us.
The idea that what is sacred is flexible and defined by each individual gave me a sense of safety and belonging. I don’t follow an organized religion, so I was worried I wouldn’t really have a place in the Sacred Stories class. But after being immersed in so many ways to celebrate what is sacred to each classmate, I actually feel more connected. It’s that old power of story to build bridges and point out how humanity is more alike than different that I’ve seen over and over again in class.
I feel empowered now to use the word sacred in reference to myself and those ideas and memories that hold deep meaning for me.
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