Creating A Summer Sanctuary

As Summer continues to unfurl around me, I’ve been pouring time and intention into my garden, slowly shaping it into the sanctuary I know it’s meant to be. Like many, I need a space that is safe and joyful for my son to play in; but I also need somewhere that feels tranquil. I need a place to breathe, to unwind, and to smell the flowers- both metaphorically and literally.

I’ve always said that nature is my church. While I’m fortunate to have an indoor space devoted to the Goddess, I’ve long held the vision of creating something similar outdoors. A space that’s both earthy and sacred; real and reverent.

The First thing I did was define my vision. I’m lucky to have a large garden that naturally divides into distinct areas, which has made it easier to shape the space with intention. These are the zones I’m currently working on:

• A play area for my son which is safe, engaging, and full of freedom.
• A relaxation zone for friends and family with room for conversations, meals and laughter.
• A growing area where I can cultivate fruit, veg and herbs. This is recieving the most love right now, as it holds and grows the sunflowers I planted with my son earlier this year!
• And a secluded corner near the pond, which I’m slowly tranforming into an outdoor temple space- my sacred garden sanctuary.

We’ve been paying attention to the colours and texture we’re bringing in as a family. Around our social spaces, we’re opting for a modern touch with clean lines and rich grey. But around my sacred space, I’m leaning into something more natural, intuitive, and gently wild.

As I’ve tended the soil, cleared brambles, found bindweed and continued to be more persistent than Marestail (still fighting that one!), I’ve made plans and allowed my deeper inspirations to flow through the process. The moon, the ocean, the Goddess-they’re all part of how I move through the world, and I wanted to weave their essence into this space.

Some of their personal touches include:

• A statue of Aphrodite, who will sit gracefully near the pond.
• Lunar windchimes to cleanse the air with sound.
• Plans for a solar-powered water feature, so that I have the soundscape I love the most and a perfect space for meditation.

Once I’ve finished reclaiming the land from its current wildness, I’ll begin planting flowers, herbs, and companion plants that will support the ecosystem that I’m trying to nurture. I want this space to be a haven not just for me, but for the creatures that call it home.

I’ve loved watching the frogspawn mature into tiny frogs this year. But the weeds around the pond, while offering them much-needed shade, are growing unchecked. My next step is to replace them with the plants that offer shelter and beauty without overwhelming the space. I want balance: something self-sustaining, soul-nourishing and supportive of life.

As the structure of the garden comes together, I’ve also begun thinking about how I’ll use it-especially the sacred pond area.

• I plan to create a natural altar, using stones and foraged treasures to honour the seasons and the Goddess.
• I want it to be interactive-a place where my son can also leave offerings and connect with the earth in his own way.
• I imagine sitting beside the water, lighting candles at dusk, marking the turning of the Wheel of the Year beneath a wide open sky.

This space is becoming more than a garden- it’s a reflection of my inner world and the journey I’ve taken through my life. I want it to be slow, seasonal and sacred.

Creating a summer sanctuary doesn’t have to mean perfection. For me, it’s been a slow unfolding that will continue into the following year. It’s one shaped by sweat, sunlight, soil beneath my nails, one or two brushes of nettles, and a clear knowing that this space is becoming what I envisioned.

It’s a space to grow into. A space to return to. A space to just be.