Refuge Refuge is not the same as a retreat or isolation. Refuge is more a feeling of comfort, safety and belonging. It identifies a space as yours, even if just loaned to you for awhile. I like to think of refuge in the same terms as a wildlife refuge, a protected area where you can live your life free from predators, neighbors and boors. It means having boundaries saying what s yours, boundaries that can be crossed only when invited.
Refuge is an individual perception.
It may be ratty slippers and a floppy hat that you re afraid to be seen in in public. Refuge might be visible to passers-by, but protected from intrusion, or a little getaway hidden in the backyard. The boundaries are yours to draw. Or your lot may be tiny, with a postage stamp front yard. Be creative in your boundaries.