Shrines, Altars and Sacred Spaces

[Zoness]

In your religious practice, do you have any personal sacred space, shrine or altar dedicated to your god or spirits? In my home office I have some space set aside for a few divine icons, altar tiles in wood and metal of different symbols including the Pentacle and Triskele, a pewter censer shaped like a dragon for burning incense and a couple of charms that were given to me from a Japanese temple. I even have one or two pop culture symbols as the art fits nicely with the aesthetic and meaning of the piece.

It's fairly eclectic but its meaningful to me. Does anyone else have that sort of space? Maybe with just pictures or icons? A place in your living space where when you see it you're reminded of the divine.

I know some variations of Christianity and Islam specifically disallow this but I am unsure about other religions. I know my Mom has space at her home with an icon St. Michael, some candles and an image of Jesus and the Holy Mother. It seems like its more common in Catholic and Orthodox spaces but I figured I'd ask everyone!

 

[awitch]

It's not a permanent altar, but for the right occasions it's a small table with purple altar cloth, two glass taper candle holders, wood incense burner, ceramic pentacle on a little wood stand, small statues of Ceridwen and Cernunnos, and a silver plated chalice with Celtic style crow design (with mead). The latest feature I've included is the use of two feathers.

When the weather is nicer, I started setting up an outdoor altar, usually a rock, up on a mountain or in the woods away from prying eyes. That usually just includes the altar cloth, chalice (with mead), ceramic pentacle, and feathers.

 

[cloudyday2]

I have an exercise mat that doubles as a kneeler by my bed. So I can kneel on the mat and rest my head on the mattress while praying or thinking.

Icons and so forth don't do anything for me, and I know so little for certain about God that even praying is difficult. I don't know who God is or what he wants from me if anything, but I try to pray simply to remind myself that hopefully there is a God and a purpose to life.

 

[honey badger]

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have from God? And you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

 

[Albion]

In your religious practice, do you have any personal sacred space, shrine or altar dedicated to your god or spirits?

No.

In my home office I have some space set aside for a few divine icons,...

I wouldn't consider the mere display of an icon or crucifix (for example) to be what you were asking about, however.

 

[Zoness]

It's not a permanent altar, but for the right occasions it's a small table with purple altar cloth, two glass taper candle holders, wood incense burner, ceramic pentacle on a little wood stand, small statues of Ceridwen and Cernunnos, and a silver plated chalice with Celtic style crow design (with mead). The latest feature I've included is the use of two feathers.

When the weather is nicer, I started setting up an outdoor altar, usually a rock, up on a mountain or in the woods away from prying eyes. That usually just includes the altar cloth, chalice (with mead), ceramic pentacle, and feathers.

This sounds very nice, I want to start doing some altar cloths and ribbons to mark the Sabbats but there's always way more fabric and material than I actually need as my space is just not very large. I'm considering having an outdoor space too on my property, I'd love to put up some symbols in a garden perhaps, thanks for sharing your setup!

 

[Rajni]

I have often wanted to set up something altar-like displaying what touches my soul. I just have to figure out the best location for it in my home, because my cat will, invariably, want to tap-dance all over it.

A couple of years back, I was looking for a decent statue of Lord Krishna, but then got side-tracked by another spiritual matter related to the discovery of what I'm (cautiously) concluding might be my twin-flame (I won't know for sure till I catch up with this person on the Other Side). Anyway, that particular curve-ball redirected my focus and taught me a few new things since then (so it hasn't been a complete waste of time, lol!). But the Krishna Statue Project was put on hold as a result of that.

Still, the idea of an altar is very appealing to me. And I do want to recapture that fire of love for the Divine I had before. Lordy, that was the best!


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[dlamberth]

I have a couple of alters setup in the house and I also have one garden. I also have Tibetan prayer flags hanging and different figures and statues from the various spiritual traditions through out the garden and pictures of different spiritual beings that have meaning to me hanging on my walls. Because of all of the noise in the world, I forget the Divine easily and I like to have a lot of reminders around to bring me back to breath.

 

[Zoness]

I have a couple of alters setup in the house and I also have one garden. I also have Tibetan prayer flags hanging and different figures and statues from the various spiritual traditions through out the garden and pictures of different spiritual beings that have meaning to me hanging on my walls. Because of all of the noise in the world, I forget the Divine easily and I like to have a lot of reminders around to bring me back to breath.

Yeah this has been the best function of them for me. I don't need them but its a very nice to have that reminder.

 

[Rajni]

I finally started the process of setting one up. As predicted, my cat jumped up on it -- her way of "christening" it I guess. Hopefully, by the end of the week, it will be complete.

 

[cloudyday2]

I finally started the process of setting one up. As predicted, my cat jumped up on it -- her way of "christening" it I guess. Hopefully, by the end of the week, it will be complete.

I have read that cats don't like peppermint, so you might be able to use a spray around the altar.

 

[Rajni]

I have read that cats don't like peppermint, so you might be able to use a spray around the altar.

Thanks, cloudyday, I may try that. Though I have noticed that after I brush my teeth she obsessively sniffs around my face, so it may end up having the opposite effect, lol! I might just keep the door closed so she can't get in there.

 

[Lukaris]

I think cats initially think peppermint is katnip then realize they were given fake dope.

 

[Darkhorse]

I have read that cats don't like peppermint, so you might be able to use a spray around the altar.

Something else might work better. Catnip is a member of the mint family.

 

[awitch]

In my tradition, if a cat wants to walk through your sacred space, you let it.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I own a couple of icons that I've picked up, though they aren't currently hanging anywhere as my house has been in a state of massive disarray for months now. But I would like to set up a home altar/prayer corner somewhere at some point. I doubt it will be as elaborate as some I've seen,

but I do think I would like a designated spot for icons, prayers, Scripture readings, something more on the simple end I think.

Something closer to this:

Just to throw some people's expectations for a loop. The first image is actually a Lutheran home altar, and the second is a Catholic one.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Rajni]

In my tradition, if a cat wants to walk through your sacred space, you let it.

Well, there is that. I do believe cats are tuned into the spiritual realm; mine has demonstrated that already, I think.

I would just need to keep a watchful eye if she's around when I'm burning candles and/or incense there. I live in a condo and would feel terrible if either got knocked over and ended up burning the building down.

 

[cloudyday2]

Well, there is that. I do believe cats are tuned into the spiritual realm; mine has demonstrated that already, I think.

I would just need to keep a watchful eye if she's around when I'm burning candles and/or incense there. I live in a condo and would feel terrible if either got knocked over and ended up burning the building down.

When I was trying to meditate several years ago by staring at a candle my cat almost caught his tail on fire. (Makes it kind of challenging to meditate when there is curious cat in the house LOL)

 

[Zoness]

When I was trying to meditate several years ago by staring at a candle my cat almost caught his tail on fire. (Makes it kind of challenging to meditate when there is curious cat in the house LOL)

Our furry friends sure like to make their presence known on altars. I don't have a cat because my wife is allergic but a friend has a Bast statue her cat loves to sit next to. She [the cat] must appreciate the effigy to the cat goddess, seems appropriate.

 

[PloverWing]

I have been experimenting with creating a sacred space at home, since the pandemic lockdown has shut me away from my familiar sacred spaces. I like the idea of a table with candles and an icon or crucifix, but in the end I've settled on an outdoor space. I carved out a little section of our back yard, with a lawn chair and some wind chimes and Moravian star suncatchers. The wind chimes and suncatchers serve partly to mark the space as set apart, but they also call attention to the wind and the light, both of which are good images of God for me. (Something like icons, just natural.) The space is under some trees and faces a row of trees, so there's a feeling of life there. The singing insects make a good choir.

My cat Thorn likes to join me when I meditate there, so maybe that's another vote for spiritual cats.