This painting inspired by the scripture in Luke 17:21,”… For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you”. Sacred Spaces evoke feelings that not only heal and inspire but also help us discover our higher selves and our oneness with the Creator. Often times we connect these spaces to physical, sanctified locations… but, as the Savior suggested, some Sacred Spaces are not limited by such boundaries. Any space becomes sacred when it transforms our mind and awakens our soul to discover the Kingdom of God, not only around us, but also within us. For me this piece represents a divine invitation to enter into those higher realms, a space of peace filled with His love and presence. The chronic effects caused by the frantic pace of modern life seem to be contagious to our inner soul and consciousness. Like most everyone else, my daily life can be hectic and it can often feel far from spiritually inspiring. As a result, it’s not hard to experience fear, discouragement, depression, anger, doubt and general negativity. I have found that regular meditation has created for me a special “sacred space” to which I can retreat and let the world and its persistent symptoms fall away. Meditation has become a rejuvenating refuge, a therapeutic cocoon from which I can reorient my perspective. People often ask me where my artistic inspiration comes from. I most often find it in my own inner sanctuary which I can enter through the stillness of personal prayer and meditation. This sanctuary serves as a portal to realms that at times seem heavenly. This is where I feel God’s love and inspiration. This is where I also become more familiar with what I think of as my Higher Self. This is a place personally accessible to each one of us!

by Greg Olsen