Domestic Shrines

Posted on | December 8, 2006 | 8 Comments

When M. and I moved into our new home together, we decided to create shrines around the house. These shrines are works of art that are pleasing to me and to my gods. By creating space for the gods in my home, I honor them and parts of myself that I could easily forget in the rush of mundane life. The shrines also serve as a visual reminder of the important things in my life and as a way to slow down and listen to my heart and my gods as I light the incense and pour the libations.

Our first altar-creating effort together is located just under the stairs in the dining/living room. The intent was for it to be the “family altar,” but as we have lived with it, the meaning for me has shifted. I use this altar as a place to give offerings to the spirits of the house and of the land on which we live. When one of us has misplaced something or if the energy of the house feels wonky, I light the incense and pour an offering of whiskey. We leave a large smudge stick of lavendar and cedar on this altar as well.

Ganesha is one of M’s deities and his shrine lives in a little niche in the front hall. M does daily offerings and prayers of sweets. We have found that Ganesha seems to not like my peanut butter cookies, as we find them usually pushed out of the bowl but not off of the altar and onto the floor.

Also downstairs in the living room is what has become in my mind the family and ancestor shrine. Neither M or I are Mexican, but we have collected some Mexican folkart, and I am a big fan of all things Day of the Dead. We have placed photographs of my family and his alongside some Dead of the Dead sculptures.

In the upstairs hallway, we have created a healing shrine to Asklepios and Hygeia. Here we make offerings of coins and wine as we ask the gods to help us with our healing work (M is a psychotherapist and I am beginning to learn hands-on healing). We have decided with this next month to start a familial tradition of doing a healing rite to Asklepios and Hygeia at the new moon.

In our bedroom, we have created a marriage altar to visually remind us each day to keep our marriage a priority in word and deed and to help us visualize and work toward the kind of loving relationship we want to have.

In my studio, I have my personal working altar and shrine to Hanuman. Each morning I light a green pine-scented candle and reflect on my work with the element of Earth this year. I then light some incense as an offering to Hanuman and ask him to help me open my heart to those I serve and to help me be devoted and strong in my vocation.

If you have shrines, however simple or complex, in your home, I encourage you to share them. I know that I would love to see them.

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