Creating Sanctuary (4)

Anthony Lawlor, a visionary, author and architect has desribed to me his vision as follows (http://www.anthonylawlor.com/):

"While I have designed physical buildings, furniture, etc. for more than 25 years, my essential interest and offering is the architecture of perception.

The core of this design via the soul is that were are already living in a place of peace. Yet, we do not recognize it.

For the most part, we focus on arranging the objects and relationships around us to fit our preconceived ego preferences. We think if we can get everything placed just right then we will have peace, love, wisdom and delight. This does not deny the genuine suffering of many, if not most, people, and the environment pollution, ecological, visual and social, that endangers the health of Earth and her offspring.

Instead, my experience in working with the relationship between consciousness and matter for my entire life is that it is the way we perceive ourselves and our relationship to the objects, landscapes and people around us that determines our peace or conflict, wisdom or ignorance.

On the other hand, just saying it's all one can be an idea we use to hide the fear, confusion and conflict that every human being experiences. It is facing and learning to see through our structures of belief and form to the alive stillness that contains all objects and processes that opens the gates to genuine peace and freedom. This allows us go beyond formulas and rules to listen deeply to and touch what others are longing for. And THEN we can shape the physical surroundings to serve those needs and dreams with love instead of fear, wisdom instead of control.

I appreciate and support others with myriad other approaches to creating places of peace while I remain true to what life has taught me is my opening to wisdom and peace. "

P.S.
The Temple in the House by Anthony Lawlor (ISBN: 0874777771)

Illustrated with more than 175 photos and renderings, this book shows how the spaces we inhabit, from our public streets to our homes, can transform us. An award-winning architect identifies the fundamental design forms that have evoked a spiritual response throughout time, and relates these patterns to the elemental patterns of human awareness. Each chapter offers exercises and practical suggestions.