The innermost chamber of the temple of the ancient Israelites was known as the Holy of Holies - the sanctum Sanctorum. Here, according to legend, heaven and earth met. The curtain that separated this sanctuary was only opened by the High Priest, and when he walked out, it was said his face would glow.
Soren Kierkegaard, the philosopher, believed that everyone should have their own sanctum sacrum - a private sanctuary in his mind/heart/spirit which offered a haven to his "private persona" and barred all interlopers from entering.
We live our lives for, by, and with others in almost every aspect of our life. We are motivated either by the literal or imaginary gaze of an audience. We act to avoid embarrassment and gain affirmation. We take in opinions from all corners of the cultural landscape. Peers influence us long after we leave adolescence.
This social structure can bring about a lot of good.
There must be a place in your self where you can stop being so porous. You can use this space to house your unwavering convictions, sacred values, and creative visions that you want to remain untainted by all that's stupid, degrading and profane.
It is important to have a special place in your soul, one that is not based on other people's frameworks. This sanctuary should be where you can retreat and chant the incantations of your choice.
Stop converting people into brands and their lives into content.
You cynics need to get out.
You need to get out of this room with your attempts to call good good and evil evil.
You must have a place in your innermost self that you can close the curtains behind you to commune with the most sacred thing on earth, unadulterated personality.
The Art of Manliness published the article Sunday Firesides: The Sanctum sanctorum of Selfhood first.
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