I might have been a hermit in another life, I think.
This time of social distancing is easy for me. I’m in my home. I love my home. It is my sanctuary.
Or one of the anyway. I also find sanctuary in other places: the woods, friends’ houses, and, yes, church.
Are you in a sanctuary? Which sanctuaries do you miss?
Somerton Smith 
I, too, feel I was a hermit in another life. I’m finding being at home all the time is easy for me. Although I do miss spontaneously running out to the grocery, but other than that I’m good.
[FYI I follow a blog called Temenos of the Blessing Light. I was temporarily confused when I saw the title of your post. What are the odds of seeing that word twice among the bloggers who I follow and read?]
Considering that I had never heard of the word before I saw Robert MacFarlane’s tweet, it is interesting to see it twice. I guess you’re meant to have sanctuary today.
My husband has been the designated grocery shopper, so he’s the one taking care of that. I have missed spontaneous trips to hardware stores or home supplies stores though. With the cleaning and reorganizing underway, those are the spontaneous trips I’m missing.
I will also miss doing my book club in person next week. THAT is something that is not quite the same online.
My Gestalt training group uses a center near Philadelphia called Temenos; I loved learning the meaning of the word. It certainly fits. Thank you for that.
I too love being home. I live somewhat isolated here on 30 acres, surrounded by a few hundred more. I feel safe enough but I miss planning for the future — as in this summer. Will I see my children and grandchildren? But more than COVID; I fear my country will emerge from this unrecognizable. I listened to the WHO live call just yesterday —- I digress.
Thirty acres sounds idyllic. A beautiful sanctuary indeed. I agree, though, that the uncertainty is trying. Even in a place of sanctuary, the uncertainty nibbles on our contentment.
Temenos is a new word for me too, but I’m familiar with the essence. I love my home, my sanctuary, especially sitting in the blue-velvet chair where I write in my gratitude book. Outdoors, my patio where I see mother Cardinal building a nest. Unless it’s raining, like today, I can take a walk in the preserve where pines, oaks abound. I see the magnolia trees budding, something to look forward to.
I protect my sanity by reading headlines on my phone or viewing TV news in small doses. Very small doses. The BBC gives a broader sweep of events than network news, in my opinion.
Very timely post, Arlene, thank you!
Small doses! Excellent plan for balance. Your sanctuary sounds lovely – I can picture it. I envy you the magnolia tree. There are some in our city, but they have to be babied through our cold winters. I’m not the “babying” kind of gardener, so I am left to admire the ones in other’s gardens.
I need to add this word – Temenos – to my vocabulary. I just need to figure out how to pronounce it. I think I was a monk in a previous life. Total seclusion, chanting, meditating, gardening to grow produce for others, and maybe wine-making – all sounds divine to me. Now? My Temenos is walking along the beach, walking just about anywhere actually, or just sitting cross-legged in a room, eyes closed, and meditating. I also find Temenos snuggling with my guy in front of the fireplace, just relaxing together. He’s a sanctuary for me. ❤
I like your ideas of sanctuary. They are lovely. I could be a monk too – as long as being part of a book club was an endorsed activity. That’s one outing that I really miss. There’s nothing like a group of friends, a glass of wine, dessert and books – in person. That’s a sanctuary too.
Absolutely (group of friends is a sanctuary). My guess is that monks have a book club, and if they don’t, I’d introduce them to one. 🙂