SeaTac Airport Opens a Second Prayer & Meditation Room

The Church Council of Greater Seattle celebrates the opening of the second prayer and meditation room at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. See the FāVS News coverage of this story here. The vision for these meditation and prayer spaces was birthed through the multi-faith collaboration of Muslim Association of Puget Sound, Northwest Dharma Association (Buddhist), the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, the Church Council of Greater Seattle, and representatives of several Christian churches.

Though prayer rooms or chapels are often available in large U.S. airports, they are often designed for Christian prayer, with Christian imagery. Over the past nine years, multi-faith leaders have envisioned together a sacred space within SeaTac Airport which is inclusive of many faith traditions, where the imagery, the layout of the room, and the furniture allow for multiple ways of engagement. The location of this second prayer and meditation room also allows for easier access to travelers.

Airports have become highly politicized spaces, particularly in recent years. At a time when immigrant, Muslim, Sikh, and Black and brown travelers are regarded with suspicion and sometimes denied entry or even detained without notice, the intentional creation of sacred spaces for people of all faiths within the airport challenges the political shift that seeks to normalize violent attacks enacted against our local and international neighbors. It honors the diversity of faith and cultural traditions of the people who live in and travel through the Pacific Northwest, and it conveys the message that even in this transitory moment, there will be a place for you to find continuity in your practices of prayer or meditation. Within this space we’ve created together, we are reminded of the values we hold in common across our many faith traditions – to honor the dignity of one another, to find rest within the chaos, and to connect deeply with that which centers us.