| Shrines are an extremely powerful expression of | | | | always reflects the season because I offer only |
| spirituality. Almost every spiritual path in the world | | | | flowers and foods that are in season. If I am |
| and throughout history has created dedicated, | | | | having a personal issue, healing crisis or other life |
| sacred space to connect with soul, cosmos and | | | | change- I might represent that on my shrine to |
| Divinity. I'd like to help you tap the potent healing, | | | | create a psychic bond between Deity and myself |
| Divine connection and personal growth that is | | | | that won't close down when I happen to forget |
| available by creating your own sacred space in | | | | for a moment that I am loved! |
| your own unique way. | | | | Traditional shrine implements from many paths |
| Why Keep Sacred Space? | | | | include: flowers, candles, incense, oils, talismans, |
| In my teachings and in my spiritual experience- | | | | stones, art, photos, written prayers, and so on. |
| shrines should be viewed as an external | | | | Allow your soul to speak out and be creative! San |
| expression of something happening deep within. | | | | Maximon Shrine |
| We are walking a material/physical path here, and | | | | Rites And Rituals Of The Shrine |
| so sometimes tapping into that power within that | | | | Many spiritual traditions have a set form of rite |
| exists on the more subtle/spiritual level can be | | | | and ritual to perform at the shrine. You might |
| tough. Keeping sacred space allows us to connect | | | | want to research some of these- or better yet |
| to that depth in a material way- engaging soul, | | | | create your own! Here are some basic ideas to |
| body, mind and even ego in the pursuit of Divine | | | | get you started... |
| connection! | | | | - Spend 15 minutes each morning sitting at your |
| Keeping sacred space not only literally reminds | | | | shrine in prayer and meditation |
| you of Divine presence in your life and the power | | | | - Make an offering of cool water and fruit each |
| of the path you walk every time you pass it, it | | | | day, then eat it once it has been blessed |
| also creates a deep subconscious link that | | | | - Keep a container to write prayers and requests |
| ever-runs keeping you present in that sacred light. | | | | on your Shrine and review them daily |
| Sometimes, when we pray within, the energy and | | | | - Recite sacred texts or books daily at your |
| movement we are trying to create by connecting | | | | shrine |
| to the Divine STAYS within. Shrines are a great | | | | - Create prayer postures to symbolize beginning |
| way to 'get out of your head' and truly open up | | | | and ending your shrine session |
| to something 'other'. Taoist Guan-Shi-Yin Shrine | | | | - Play musical instruments or sing to connect with |
| How To Get Started | | | | the Divine |
| The first thing you should do is pray and/or | | | | The more you work with your shrine, the more |
| meditate. Connect not to a specific religious or | | | | powerful it becomes. Eventually- the shrine starts |
| defined concept of your unique connection to the | | | | to resonate and vibrate at a spiritual frequency |
| Divine- but to your own. Allow feelings, thoughts | | | | that acts as a constant hum of blessings in your |
| and sentiments arise within you that give you the | | | | life! Shrine service should be consistent. There will |
| sense of being held by the All. You are certainly | | | | be times you'll need to break and just hang out in |
| welcome to use religious or traditional iconography | | | | that space- but a regular daily session will create |
| in your sacred space- but use it only if it really | | | | subtle changes within you, attract ascended |
| resonates with you. Remember that you are | | | | spiritual masters, honor the Divine in a BIG way |
| creating an outward symbol of your heart... so it | | | | and just give you something to really look |
| must be personal to be powerful! | | | | forward to. |
| People often get overwhelmed by the idea of | | | | Feel confident that anything you choose to offer |
| creating sacred space because they have seen | | | | to the Divine via your shrine service will be |
| what other people have. Don't start there! Begin | | | | perfect. You have a connection and relationship to |
| by establishing where your space will be- | | | | the Divine that is ALL YOURS! No one else in the |
| foundations first! Find a nice able, bookshelf, wall | | | | entirety of the cosmos relates to the Divine in |
| shelf or nook that will be undisturbed and can be | | | | exactly the same way you do! Honor that by |
| kept clean. A space you can have to yourself for | | | | creating sacred space that is in praise of the |
| private prayer and meditation is also a good idea. | | | | Divine while honoring you as an individual soul. |
| Once you know where the space will be, give it a | | | | Doing this creates a psychic bond between the |
| good cleaning and think about adding a cloth or | | | | Divine and the soul that you will notice in just a |
| tapestry to the top. I have an Egyptian brocade | | | | short time! Holy Spirit Backyard Shrine |
| hanging behind my shrine, and one on it that my | | | | Shrine Connection On The Go! |
| icons and other sacred items rest on. | | | | Once your shrine is established and vibrating with |
| You'll be surprised to find that as soon as you | | | | Divine power- think about making a portable |
| dedicate a space to your spiritual life- creating a | | | | shrine using a small linen pouch or matchbox that |
| new 'center of your universe', things that should | | | | you can carry with you wherever you go. Find a |
| be there will start popping up. Photos, statues, | | | | way to connect the dedicated shrine to the |
| stones, offerings of food and water, prayer | | | | portable shrine by using similar colors, symbolism, |
| beads, fresh flowers, incense, candles, etc. are all | | | | etc. so that what happens at the travel shrine will |
| common and very powerful additions to any | | | | resound and connect with the dedicated shrine. |
| sacred space. Keep your heart open and get | | | | I have a small cotton pouch that always hangs |
| excited about having the space and it will soon be | | | | around my neck. It contains (among a few secret |
| filled up! | | | | things hehehe!) tiny images made in clay of the |
| Dedication of your shrine should be specific and | | | | Divine Mother & Divine Father (Goddess |
| heart-felt. Shrines are traditionally dedicated to a | | | | & God). I love being able to hold it, feel it |
| specific manifestation/face/name of the Divine- | | | | against my heart, touch it, interact with it and just |
| so whatever form of the Divine All you work | | | | know it's there. Whenever I am eating on the run, |
| with can now call this place a temple! Buddhist | | | | I always imagine them receiving and blessing the |
| Shrine | | | | meal in a more tangible way. During almost every |
| What Should I Put On My Shrine? | | | | session I do with a client, one hand is on my |
| I suggest starting with some type of spiritual | | | | pouch-shrine :) |
| iconography that represents who your shrine is | | | | I hope this article inspires you to explore the |
| dedicated to. Spiritual iconography is created | | | | power and potency of creating sacred space. |
| (ideally) to evoke and invoke a very powerful | | | | Next week I will be writing about cleansing |
| response throughout all levels of our beings- and | | | | physical space using ancient and modern |
| having the icon really helps get focused and | | | | techniques such as smudging, prayers, symbols, |
| receive. | | | | washes and so on..stay tuned! |
| You may choose statues of a Goddess and/or | | | | Peace & Blessings, |
| God, abstract symbols like crosses or solar | | | | Josh Williams |
| wheels, painting of Deity or a personal symbol | | | | Get More! |
| that brings that energy connection to you. Again, | | | | Receive a FREE weekly newsletter every |
| allow this to be personal and honor what YOU | | | | Saturdaywhich contains a review of the weeks |
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| Once Deity has been represented, you'll want to | | | | via articles,tips, reviews, prayers, blessings, |
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| spirituality! | | | | |
| There will be come items you might keep on | | | | Receive your personal, discounted live phone |
| your shrine all the time like incense burners, candle | | | | session with Josh Williams today! |
| holders, dishes, stones, etc. There might be some | | | | Click below to call now or arrange a call for later |
| things that come and go with the season or | | | | on! |
| where you are at a particular time. My shrine | | | | |