Another way to attend to the spiritual dimensions of home is to seek to be intentionally hospitable, to open your home to welcome, feed, and nurture both friends and strangers. One philosophy of homemaking that is slowly catching on in American society is wabi-sabi. This ancient Japanese philosophy is related to creating spaces that are uncluttered, adorned with weathered or handmade items, and intentionally hospitable. The elaborate rituals related to the Japanese tea ceremony are expressive of the wabi-sabi mentality, which has at its heart consideration for others.

In The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty, Robyn Griggs Lawrence says that the key to hospitality is being attentive to the needs of others: “If it's cold, greet guests with a hot drink and invite them into a room warmed by a roaring fire. If it's warm, play tropical music and pass out fans. Keep their drinks filled. Watch for wallflowers and spend as much time as you can with them … Bear in mind Sen no Rikyu's Seventh rule of tea: Always be mindful of guests.”

If your home is orderly and the atmosphere peaceful, it will be a place where people want to linger. After guests leave and dishes are being stacked in the dishwasher, the blessing of their presence seems to linger in the home. Some people believe that hospitable homes don't just strengthen those who visit the home, but also nourish those who dwell there daily. As Kurt Vonnegut said, “The most daring thing is to create stable communities where the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

The theme of hospitality is present throughout the New Testament. In the book of Hebrews it says, “Be mindful to entertain strangers because in so doing some have entertained angels unaware.” This passage probably refers back to the Old Testament story of the hospitality of Abraham, through which Abraham and Sarah were likely more blessed than their guests.

The theme of hospitality is also present in the ancient Eastern Orthodox wedding service. During the course of this service, a prayer is said over the couple “that they will be blessed with wheat, wine, and oil so that they can give to others in need.” The notion of hospitality is based on the idea that gifts are intended to be shared. By generously sharing your space with others, you not only help others, you can help yourself and help your home to achieve its full potential.

As Victoria Moran writes in Shelter for the Spirit: “Gather some people around you and let your experiences blend with theirs. They may bring flowers or a candle or a bottle of wine, but those gifts aren't the ones that will live in your home as long as you do. The gift of each individual's presence is that lasting, though. Adding the good cheer of friends to objects that inspire you, simplified space, delicious food and lovingly maintained surroundings will result in the sort of space your soul will want to come home to.”