The True Sacred Space: A Simple Shrine I

As previously mentioned, having a physical space dedicated to spending one-on-one time with Spirit can be very important and uplifting. I’ve had some kind of shrine devoted to my relationship with God and Heaven for many years now.

I decided to dedicate this post to my friend, Toby, as well as others who might find it difficult or impractical to set aside such a space. Having spent many closeted years, I can say it’s not really as hard as it might seem to make your own outward sacred space. You just need to get a bit more flexible and creative than others do.

Personally, I don’t think there’s a “wrong way” to go about making your own shrine, especially in the beginning. The best ones I’ve used have all been portable and easy to conceal. A while back, I was in a situation that required me to be very covert about my spirituality. However, I desperately needed to see an image of something to motivate myself and maintain a sense of continuity. So, I used an empty breath mint tin to store small trinkets that served as reminders of what I was striving for.

This was extra special and unique because everything I used was something I found in the surrounding environment. I would keep the tin in my pocket or purse and take it out at night before bed. I focused on breathing, talking to Heaven in prayer, and thanking nature for providing what I needed. The next morning, I’d take a few minutes or even seconds to sit with my little shrine again and ask for help in the day ahead.

As far as what to use in/on your sacred space, it’s really up to you. Because of my own understanding of how God makes and organizes the physical reality, I began by collecting representations of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. A small stone I picked up on a walk represented earth. I originally used a leaf for air, if I recall correctly; but it was easily damaged. Instead, I used a scrap of paper. For fire, I used an acorn. And for water, I used a thin, blue ribbon that had come off an old piece of clothing and was about to be discarded.

While I don’t like sharing photos of my spaces online, I will share images related to various portable or easily-concealable shrines on my instagram over the next week or so. Be sure to take a look! I may also include a few pictures in part two, where I’ll give additional ideas based on setups I’ve used over time. Feel free to adapt them to suit your tastes and needs.