Readers will recognize the feeling they experienced when they stepped into a towering cathedral or walked under the protection of a canopy of ancient trees. Something inside us goes quiet, and each breath brings a sense of peace and connection. In that fleeting moment, the world outside and its worries, seems to fade. Is it perhaps the colorful light that filters through stained glass, or maybe the smell of wet moss? The echoes of our own footsteps as we admire Monet´s Water Lilies, or the profound vibration of mantras? These environments create a potent shift: It is a universal experience of sanctuary, where we enjoy immunity and protection from affliction.

Trauma and its associated suffering leaves stubborn marks on the mind, body, and spirit. It disrupts the fabric of one’s sense of self and worth, and our connection to the community. As professionals in clinical psychology, neurobiology and trauma recovery constantly remind us, healing from trauma is a difficult and complex process, where one size never fits all, that requires a multifactorial (and creative) approach. Should we consider the role of physical environments, particularly religious and sacred spaces, and how people use those spaces, in how we come back from trauma? If so, what makes these sites effective in trauma healing? This blog will examine how their physical design and the ritualistic practices that take place within and around them can foster recovery and be considered as platforms for innovative (yet historic) transformative healing.

More Than Places of Worship

Frequently, these sites are seen only as locations for religious practice: churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, or shrines. However, this narrow understanding overlooks a broader potential where wholeness, peace and protection are at hand. They are if, if you will, “areas of transcendence”.

These areas of transcendence create openings for the expression of thought, movement, emotion, and personal agency in new ways, where understanding and being can emerge and may carry enough emotional truth and resonance to challenge or reshape the dominant social or institutional narratives that once defined and constrained an individual’s experience (Ursula, 2021; Turner, 1979).

Understanding these spaces as gateways and thresholds is central to the transformative power of sacred environments in trauma recovery. However, sacred spaces are not only those that are religious in nature. Secular spaces, for example memorial sites and museums, can arouse a profound sense of sacredness and connection, offering healing in the same way religious structures do (Sullivan, 2020).

As mentioned earlier, for those who have experienced potentially traumatic events, these environments can become a sanctuary. A place in and out of time where survivors can restore connection to their own bodies and communities.

Rituals and the Healing Power of Sacred Practices

One meaningful component of sacred spaces are the rituals that take place within them. Rhythmic, repetitive group activities like drumming and chanting, which are often associated with spiritual practices in diverse traditions, can help regulate trauma-affected brains and bodies.  These activities engage the mind and body in a way where they are no longer stuck in fight/flight, and freeze response (van der Kolk, 2015).

Rituals also provide a sense of stability and predictability. This is relevant because trauma often is a disruptor of the sense of control that people have over their life and surroundings, which leaves them in states of hypervigilance, hyperarousal, or helplessness and numbness (Herman, J. 2022). JLI’s Scoping Report on local faith communities and the promotion of resilience in humanitarian situations from 2013, review gathered evidence of how “rituals and rites define passage through phases of life, communities united by belief systems offer mutual support, and respected leaders offer interpretations of life’s challenges and advise on the means of surviving them”.

Studies in ritual behavior also emphasize their calming effects, particularly through repetitive movements and symbolic actions. Ritual behaviors can reduce stress and increase emotional regulation, which is crucial for trauma survivors who often experience emotional dysregulation. Rituals can also regulate deficits in performance goal states, and social connection to others (Hobson et al., 2018). In Religion for Atheists, de Botton (2017) says that rituals, when performed in spaces designed for reflection, can bring psychological stabilizing benefits, such as giving structure to emotions, reinforcing social cohesion, and instilling healing values like compassion and forgiveness.

Neurobiology and Sacred Spaces

Beyond the psychological and social benefits of rituals, we might also want to consider the idea that physical spaces themselves can also facilitate healing and wellbeing. How could this be possible? Intentional design and properties of sacred spaces may contribute to this process. Studies in architecture, design and psychology have found that factors such as light (G Vandewalle, et al., 2010), (Baron, et al., 1991) sound (Silva, 2017; Becker, 2009; Loui, 2014), size and dimensions (Maladkar, 2024; Higuera-Trujillo, et al. 2021), and color can positively influence our emotional, psychophysiological, and physiological responses. If designed with healing in mind, sacred spaces can provide an environment that promotes a sense of peace, relaxation, and emotional regulation.

It is well established that exposure to natural light can significantly improve sleep and mood, thus alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety (Ulrich, 1984; Govers 2015; Glazier and Ko, 2022). For trauma survivors, who often struggle with feelings of isolation, alienation and helplessness, natural light can contribute to the regulation of the circadian rhythm, which is a major factor in sleep quality, feel-good hormones (Watson, 2024), and overall well-being. Incorporating natural elements for example plants, flowing water, stone, or wood into physical structures has shown to reduce physiological stress and improve emotional resilience (Kellert & Calabrese, 2015). Design elements inspired by nature, known as “biophilic” principles, are being used more and more in healthcare settings, including trauma recovery centers, to help improve patient outcomes.

It is important to note that different cultures and traditions might have a different understanding of what characteristics make a building beautiful, balanced, or in religious terms, concordant with sacred architecture. While for some, spaces that are free from external disturbances and sensory overload, characterized by minimalism, calm colors, and soft lighting, might help individuals with trauma feel safe and grounded, in other cultures a building bursting with bright colors, intricate artwork, communal energy, and sacred sounds might offer a very similar sense of safety and connection. In other words, “atmospheres are always connected to a specific cultural sensitivity and attentiveness on the part of the carriers of practices, a specific sensitivity for perceptions, impressions and affections” (Reckwitz, 2015). As the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) notes, ” Houses of worship and other religious sites should be sanctuaries where worshippers feel safe to practice their faith” (USCIRF, 2019). In this regard, sacred spaces provide not only physical refuge but also emotional sanctuary, creating an environment conducive to neurobiological regulation. In How God Works (2021), David DeSteno presents evidence of how communal prayer and synchronized worship engage brain regions linked to trust and social connection. This suggests that spaces designed to support collective focus may enhance these effects, offering valuable support for trauma recovery. Studies in the neuroscience of space and emotion, show that a direct sensory experience of space, and structure, and how we perceive materials, textures, and light, influences our emotional state and perception of safety (Pallasmaa, 2012). The architecture of sacred spaces, designed with these principles in mind, can promote healing by activating neural and neurochemical pathways responsible for relaxation and emotional regulation.

A framework for designing areas of transcendence

Designing a hypothetical sacred space specifically for trauma recovery would not be a matter of aesthetic preferences; but a thoughtful, intentional process to highlight the powerful role certain environments can play in promoting recovery and wellbeing. These spaces would require careful planning to ensure that they a) meet trauma-sensitive features, b) incorporate biophilic characteristics”, c) consider cultural preferences, and d) serve practical and functional purposes. When we recognize sacred spaces as catalysts for healing, not just of faith, but of trauma and toxic stress, we unlock new opportunities for collaboration among architects, spiritual leaders, psychologists, and communities. The question is no longer whether these spaces can aid in healing, but how we will ensure that healing is accessible to everyone who needs it.

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