Foundations of the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is founded on four pillars of intellectual and spiritual wisdom:
(1) understanding symbols and archetypes, (2) depth psychology, (3) meditation, and (4) heuristic deconstruction.
Symbols & Archetypes
Long before we used phonetic alphabets to communicate with one another, we used symbols. In fact, most of the early writing systems began as simplified pictures which symbolized real-world concepts ranging from objects to actions. During medieval times, the height of what is sometimes called “The Dark Ages,” beautifully constructed statutes, mosaics, wood carvings, and stained-glassed windows were constructed to communicate complicated stories in a way the illiterate masses could understand.
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In the Sanctuary, we respect these roots of communication by returning to the use of symbols and archetypes (recurring themes) to more fluidly and fully express thoughts and experiences, in a way words alone cannot accomplish.
Depth Psychology
Modern psychology is a diverse field where practitioners use a variety of methods to help individuals become more self-aware. In the Sanctuary, we utilize the knowledge established by prominent early psychoanalysts such as Carl G. Jung and Alfred Adler and combine it with modern understandings of the neurology and cognitive reasoning to guide individuals as they explore their individual subconscious and help connect those discoveries to the larger collective unconscious, helping clients learn to identify patterns of thought and behavior they may never have known were influencing them.
Meditation
Many cultures have different forms of meditation, ranging from prayer and rituals, to the more stereotypical seated so-called “empty” meditation. Meditation is one of the core practices that allows us to center ourselves in body, mind, and spirit, simultaneously, providing opportunity for refreshment. Despite the importance of meditation, many people still struggle with understanding what it is and how to effectively begin a practice.
In the Sanctuary, we provide a variety of meditation exercises, including guided meditations that clients can follow to help them strengthen their total-self connection, whether you are an experienced practitioner or beginning for the very first time.
Heuristic Deconstruction
Heuristics are mental shortcuts our brains create to make it easier for us to recognize patterns as well as understand and process new information. We all have heuristics! For example, when we see our friends, we subconsciously begin to lower our social defenses as opposed to when we are only around strangers. While heuristics often make life easier for us (such as instinctively knowing to stop at a red light), often heuristics we develop in response to negative experiences can get in our way (such as when our anxiety about being perfect prevents us from completing projects on time). Soul Sanctuary Tarot uses an understanding of heuristics to recognize patterns both in the cards and in our lives.
