Creating Sacred Refuge and Nurturing the Spirit
This lens focuses on altars, shrines, grottos, creating sacred, space and clearing clutter. As a creator of One of a Kind (OOAK) altar dolls, I have several altars at home and I am constantly taking photographs of the sacred places I visit in my travels. Many people ask me, how do I create an altar? Hopefully this lens provides enough information, pictures, and ideas to get you started creating your own sacred space.
View the slide show below for more images of grottos and shrines.
View the slide show below for more images of grottos and shrines.
Pilgrims Flock to the Healing Waters of Haiti's Voodoo Virgin
SAUT D'EAU, Haiti - By the thousands, observant Haitians travel by foot, car, and donkey to the healing waters of Saut d'Eau to seek spiritual comfort, healing and answers from the Voodoo Virgin Erzulie.
Click here for the full story.
Click here for the full story.
Grottos
A Grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide.The word grotto has an interesting origin. It comes from the Italian word grotta, Vulgar Latin grupta, Latin crypta, which means crypt. By historical accident, it is related to the word grotesque. Apparently in the late 15th century, Romans unearthed by accident Nero's Domus Aurea on the Palatine Hill. This was a series of underground rooms that were decorated with garlands and animals. The Romans were basically creeped out by what they had found in the "underworld" and referred to this form of decoration as "grotesque".
Really, where was their sense of humor?
Pictured is the main altar at the grotto in Dickeyville, Wisconsin.
Great Grottos on Amazon
Lourdes Diary: Seven Days at the Grotto of Massabieille
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A Cave of Candles: The Story Behind Notre Dame's Grotto
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La Gruta De Toscano/ Toscano's Grotto (Spanish Edition)
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Dazu Grottoes in a Nutshell
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The Dickeyville Grotto: The Vision of Father Mathias Wernerus (Folk Art and Artists Series)
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Leonardo da Vinci
Study for the Adoration of the Magi
In 1481 the monks of San Donato a Scopeto near Florence commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint an altar-piece celebrating the Adoration of the Magi. Leonardo sketched a series of preparatory studies which allow us to understand the process of conceiving the wooden panel, that he left unfinished when he moved to Milan in 1482. In one of these drawings, Leonardo drew with meticulous accuracy a refined perspective grid in order to place the architectural structures, the human figures, and the animals, which he intended to use to animate the scene, in a realistically proportioned way.The drawing is a preparatory study for the Adoration of the Magi, the wooden panel painting that was commissioned to be painted by Leonardo for the main altar of the monastery of San Donato a Scopeto near Florence.
Click here to see a large image of this drawing.
Online Exhibition
Leonardo da Vinci on Amazon
Leonardo's Notebooks
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The Da Vinci Code
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Leonardo's Machines: Da Vinci's Inventions Revealed
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Leonardo da Vinci: Experience, Experiment, and Design
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Leonardo Da Vinci Tarot
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Leonardo da Vinci
Adoration of the Magi
Recent Scientific evidence, provided by analyses using the most advanced, non-invasive technology, and carried out on both the preparatory drawing and the wooden panel, is surprising. We now have the proof that Leonardo left the panel unfinished when he moved to Milan in 1482. At that point he had made a detailed drawing with lamp black and covered it with a thin white lead priming, to guide the spreading of the paint. The latter appears limited to a sample of sky and faint shadows of parts of the figures and architecture. In a later period another artist added various layers of black and brown paint, thus hiding significant parts of Leonardo's original work. Thanks to recent scientific investigations we can now appreciate Leonardo's masterpiece in its original intent.
Click here to see a large image of this painting.
Online Exhibition
Classical Altars on Amazon
The Artists of the Ara Pacis: The Process of Hellenization in Roman Relief Sculpture (Studies in the History of Greece and Rome)
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From Pergamon to Sperlonga: Sculpture and Context (Hellenistic Culture and Society)
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Incense at the Altar: Pioneering Sinologists and the Development of Classical Chinese Philology (American Oriental Series #86)
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A collection of antique vases, altars, paterae, tripods, candelabra, sarcophagi, &c: From various museums and collections,
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How to Clear Clutter To Make Room for Sacred Space
Out of Clutter, Find Simplicity.
From Discord, Find Harmony.
In the Middle of Difficulty Lies Opportunity.
--Albert Einstein (Three Rules of Work)
The first step is to take an honest inventory of yourself and admit there is clutter to be dealt with. Clutter has a way of sucking our creative and productive energy by making the environment stagnant and the energy flow nonexistent. When you have done this, the next step is to be willing to let go of much of it.
I know all about clutter. I am the clutter queen. I know what it is like to stand in the middle of my office and go "Oh my holy buddha, where do I start?"
Then I do one of three things:
1. Nothing because I am too overwhelmed,
2. Call my friend, my fairy godmother who is a declutter and organization expert and who has a way of helping me get started,
or
3. Dig deep into my inner goddess wisdom that reminds me to keep it simple and start with what is right in front of me.
Then, I find 4 boxes and label them with the 4 categories.
Trash
Give Away/Sell
Storage
Put away
Trash- This includes items that have no business taking up my sacred space...junk mail, broken items that I have told myself I will get to fixing at some point in the future but never do, and magazines and catalogs (you know what I am talking about!)
Give Away/Sell- Think about how little, if ever, you use that certain something and how much someone else might use it. Consider the financial benefits of selling your stuff at a garage sale. But only if you are going to follow through with the garage sale! I got into the habit of going through my things, getting a load of stuff to sell at this fantastic garage sale I told myself I was going to have next weekend, and a year or two later (I said you have to get honest!) there the pile still sits somewhere else in my home or garage. Folks, this is not decluttering, it is simply relocating. Out of sight does not mean out of the house!
Storage- Put items in this box that you cannot part with but do not need on a regular basis. Make an inventory of the items as you box them. Group similar items together. Remember one good way to clean out closets is to store out of season clothing. Wash them and then...
Put Away- These are items that need to be out on a regular basis and should be your smallest category. Do you have a place for everything so that everything can be in its place? If not, then create a space for these items, and then get into the habit of putting them away!
From Discord, Find Harmony.
In the Middle of Difficulty Lies Opportunity.
--Albert Einstein (Three Rules of Work)
The first step is to take an honest inventory of yourself and admit there is clutter to be dealt with. Clutter has a way of sucking our creative and productive energy by making the environment stagnant and the energy flow nonexistent. When you have done this, the next step is to be willing to let go of much of it.
I know all about clutter. I am the clutter queen. I know what it is like to stand in the middle of my office and go "Oh my holy buddha, where do I start?"
Then I do one of three things:
1. Nothing because I am too overwhelmed,
2. Call my friend, my fairy godmother who is a declutter and organization expert and who has a way of helping me get started,
or
3. Dig deep into my inner goddess wisdom that reminds me to keep it simple and start with what is right in front of me.
Then, I find 4 boxes and label them with the 4 categories.
Trash
Give Away/Sell
Storage
Put away
Trash- This includes items that have no business taking up my sacred space...junk mail, broken items that I have told myself I will get to fixing at some point in the future but never do, and magazines and catalogs (you know what I am talking about!)
Give Away/Sell- Think about how little, if ever, you use that certain something and how much someone else might use it. Consider the financial benefits of selling your stuff at a garage sale. But only if you are going to follow through with the garage sale! I got into the habit of going through my things, getting a load of stuff to sell at this fantastic garage sale I told myself I was going to have next weekend, and a year or two later (I said you have to get honest!) there the pile still sits somewhere else in my home or garage. Folks, this is not decluttering, it is simply relocating. Out of sight does not mean out of the house!
Storage- Put items in this box that you cannot part with but do not need on a regular basis. Make an inventory of the items as you box them. Group similar items together. Remember one good way to clean out closets is to store out of season clothing. Wash them and then...
Put Away- These are items that need to be out on a regular basis and should be your smallest category. Do you have a place for everything so that everything can be in its place? If not, then create a space for these items, and then get into the habit of putting them away!
Clearing Away Clutter on Amazon
Clearing the Clutter for Good Feng Shui
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Home Organizing Workbook: Clearing Your Clutter, Step by Step
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Make Room for God: Clearing Out the Clutter
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Clear Your Way to a Clutter Free Life
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Feng Shui Diva's Clutter Queen Boot Camp
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Dealing with the Emotional Baggage Associated with Clutter
Often times, clearing out the clutter is more than just getting rid of things and getting organized. People tend to have emotional attachments to things that stand in the way of letting go. And I am not just talking about things with sentimental value. I am talking about holding on to clothes that no longer fit, letters from old lovers, canned goods that you don't ever eat, etc.
- Getting rid of clothes we'll never fit into again means accepting our current shape and level (or lack) of fitness.
- Getting rid of possessions remaining after a loved one has died means coming to terms with our loss and grief.
- Getting rid of books and magazines we don't have time to read means accepting that we will never have enough time or attention to explore every topic that's of interest to us.
- Getting rid of an expensive item we never use means admitting that we made a poor decision when we bought it.
- Clearing out the pantry means you accepting you are not living in poverty and are better off giving it to someone else who is hungry and replacing it with food items you will actually eat.
- Removing clutter means making room for new opportunities.
- Clearing clutter means removing all of the excuses that keep you from fulfilling your dreams.
- Clearing clutter and creating fresh, sacred space means you deserve to live in a clean and peaceful environment full of beautiful things.
New Clearing Clutter Link List
- How to Clear Clutter To Creat More For Your Life
- Advice for living abundantly, elegantly and simply.
- Getting Clear: Decluttering Life - Spiritual Growth Articles on ...
- The simple act of clearing clutter can transform your life! Decluttering allows you to release negative emotions, generate new energy, and create space in ...
- Article: What Clutter-Clearing Can Do For You - Fast Feng Shui
- Articles on clutter clearing, control, home organizing. What Clutter Clearing Can Do For You: You can get a pretty good idea of the benefits of clutter ...
- Clutterbug.net
- It also takes time to shed clutter. The important thing is to start small. Clear one clutter-free, peaceful space for yourself. ...
- Clear Your Clutter and Create Space for Miracles
- Creating a home is one of the most significant things we do. A home can be a true sanctuary-a place of laughter, joy, peace and welcome.
- Clean Your Clutter, Clear Your Life
- Step-by-step guide to help create a life free of emotional, physical, mental and spiritual clutter.
- The Happiness Project: This Wednesday: Tips...to clear clutter.
- This Wednesday: Tips...to clear clutter. Every Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: Tips...to clear clutter. About an article of clothing, ask yourself: ...
- Clear Your Clutter, Clear Your Mind
- Clear Your Clutter, Clear Your Mind, 7 Simple Secrets to Reclaiming Your Space, Step-by-Step Easy to Follow Guidelines, AZ of organized, peaceful, ...
- Clear Out Clutter
- Set up a schedule for clearing clutter. Once a month is perfect! Whenever we make efforts to sort through our things and get rid of items that no longer ...
- Benefits of Clearing Clutter - Clutter Cleared helps you clear ...
- Call Clutter Cleared to de-junk and clear clutter from your life and mind. Create space for new opportunities. Reorganize your home or office - be more ...
- How to Overcome Organizing Fears and Clear Clutter at iVillage.com
- Finding it hard to organize? Fear may be holding you back from clearing clutter. Organizing expert Jamie Novak helps you overcome organizing obstacles at ...
Feng Shui
Creating Sacred Space Through the Art of Placement
Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) literally means wind and water. Water represents the physical, manifest world while wind represents the inner world of energy that interacts with the outer. External Feng Shui is about arranging our environment, our homes and businesses to open to the energy (Chi) of Prosperity and Success. Internal Feng Shui is about exploring our inner worlds of mind/body/spirit and opening these worlds to the energy (Chi) of Health and Happiness.Feng Shui has been called the Chinese "Art of Placement," that balances the life energies, or chi, in a living space. Feng shui is a discipline with guidelines that are compatible with many techniques of architectural planning. Space, weather, astronomy, and geomagnetism are basic components of feng shui. However, many believe there are unexplainable scientific factors involved and so consider it a metaphysical art. Proponents claim that feng shui has an effect on health, wealth, and personal relationships.
EXTERNAL FENG SHUI
In arranging a room or building, 9 areas are noted to be of special significance. A Baqua Map (pictured), is used to illustrate the relationship of areas in a room (or home). Imagine dividing your room (home, office) into the following 9 areas:
1. Wealth
2. Fame
3. Relationships
4. Health and Family
5. Center
6. Children and Creativity
7. Knowledge
8. Career
9. Helpful People
First clear your clutter. This is one of the most important aspects of creating sacred space. Then place objects which reinforce the attributes of each area. In Feng Shui, nine special "cures" are noted to enhance energy flow. These cures include:
Bright Objects: Mirrors, Faceted Crystal balls, gems, lights, candles
Sounds: Wind chimes, bells, music
Living Chi: Flowers, Plants, Birds, Fish
Moving: Mobiles, Chimes, Fountains
Heavy: Stone, Furniture
Mechanical: Computers, Stereos, TV
Bamboo: flutes
Color: Relates to each area on Baqua Map.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui
http://www.mountainvalleycenter.com/fsbasics.htm
Feng Shui on Amazon
Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui
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Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life : How to Use Feng Shui to Get Love, Money, Respect and Happiness
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Feng Shui for Dummies
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Creating Sacred Space With Feng Shui: Learn the Art of Space Clearing and Bring New Energy into Your Life
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The Western Guide to Feng Shui: Creating Balance, Harmony, and Prosperity in Your Environment
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New Feng Shui Link List
- Feng shui - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Feng shui literally translates as "wind-water." This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of ...
- World Of Feng Shui Online
- Includes tips by author Lillian Too, events, forums, almanac, e-cards, shopping, and articles on I Ching, astrology, and various schools of feng shui.
- Feng Shui Ultimate Resource | Feng shui facts without the New Age ...
- Collection of articles about fakes and frauds, intended to help feng shui shed the snake-oil-and-incense image.
- Feng Shui - How to Apply Feng Shui - Bedroom, Home, Color Feng ...
- All about Feng Shui to Improve Your Life: from Basic Feng Shui Concepts and Feng Shui Schools to Practical Feng Shui Solutions to Improve Your Space with ...
- feng shui
- Feng shui (literally "wind water") is part of an ancient Chinese philosophy of nature. Feng shui is often identified as a form of geomancy, divination by ...
- Fast Feng Shui - Books, Products, Free Tips
- Fast Feng Shui books, products, free feng shui tips and information to help you transform your life and enhance your home.
- Feng Shui - Crystalinks
- Feng Shui (also known as "geomancy") is an ancient Chinese art used to promote such things as health, happiness and prosperity. The words literally mean ...
- American Feng Shui Institute » Learn Feng Shui!
- Center in the West that is dedicated to teaching the practice of Feng Shui as a scientific discipline.
- Feng Shui Times for Articles, Resources and Feng Shui Tips for ...
- Feng Shui Times for articles and resources on Chinese Feng Shui, astrology, Chinese culture and is fueled with tips for your home and office, practitioners, ...
- Feng Shui: Transform Your Home & Life - iVillage
- Learn how arrange your living space to harness the life energy all around you with complete Feng Shui information at iVillage House & Home.
Altars
An altar is any structure upon which sacrifices or other offerings are offered for religious purposes, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place. Altars are usually found in shrines, temples, and other sacred places. They occur in many cultures worldwide, particularly in the religions of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism (also known as Daoism), and Neopaganism. They were also found in other ancient religions.
In the Hebrew Bible, altars were typically constructed of earth or unwrought iron and erected in conspicuous places. After God appeared on Mount Sinai and gave laws to the Israelites, only two altars were used: the Altar of Burnt Offering, and the Altar of Incense.
A Wiccan altar is typically a piece of furniture, such as a table or chest, upon which a Wiccan practitioner places several symbolic and functional items for the purpose of worshiping the God and Goddess, casting spells, and/or saying chants and prayers. Upon the altar typically rests a cloth, used to protect the surface from damage by candle wax, spilled liquid, or dust from burnt incense. This cloth is often adorned by a pentacle.
Common items on a Wiccan altar include:
* an athame
* a chalice
* a pentacle
* incense
* candles
* a cauldron
* a broom
* a wand
Some of the items represent the earth's four elements, but elements may be represented more literally, with gems, salt, water, plant material, insect casings, etc.
Photograph is of the Opferstein or Sacrifice Rock at Maria Taferl, Austria. It was used by the ancient Celts to make sacrifices upon and is now located in the plaza of the basilica there. This image has been released into the public domain by its creator, Maik 123. This applies worldwide. Source: de.wikipedia.org.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar
Great Altars and Shrines on Amazon
Altars and Icons: Sacred Spaces in Everyday Life
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Face of the Gods: Art and Altars of Africa and the African Americas
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Beautiful Necessity: The Art and Meaning of Women's Altars
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Altars: Bringing Sacred Shrines into Your Everyday Life
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A Book of Women's Altars: How to Create Sacred Spaces for Art, Worship, Solace, Celebration
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New Altars Link List
- Altar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- An altar is any structure upon which sacrifices or other offerings are offered for religious purposes, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take ...
- Day of the Dead Altar - Dia De Los Muertos Altars - Day of the ...
- Day of the Dead Altar, azcentral.com's coverage of Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos, a three-day Mexican holiday to honor and celebrate loved ones who ...
- Hand Crafted Hardwood Personal Altar
- A personal home altar can be used for healing, manifesting or meditation and a point of focus for your spirituality. These altars are made by hand of choice ...
- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: History of the Christian Altar
- An elevated surface, tabular in form, on which the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered.
- All About Altars -- Beliefnet.com
- What are the essentials of a true Buddhist altar? Tibetans often have amazing altars in their temples and homes, but I would like to have something simpler, ...
- Goddess Altars
- This is the Main Altar at the Spiral Goddess Grove. A place to meditate and be with the Goddess. Sacred flames burn here perpetually to honor Her. ...
Voodoo News
Strange and Bizarre News from Near and Far
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curated content from Flickr
Creating Sacred Space
Creating sacred space involves any activity that enhances the environment in which you live in and that produces a sense of connection to the Divine, harmony, or the natural environment in a peaceful and joyful way.Some rules of thumb include clearing out clutter and placing objects of significance in a meaningful arrangement where they can be seen, appreciated, and meditated upon. Special pictures, stones, flowers, dolls, statues, and anything else that moves you are good to use in creating your sacred space.
Sacred Space on Amazon
House of Worship: Sacred Spaces in America
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Creating Sacred Space With Feng Shui: Learn the Art of Space Clearing and Bring New Energy into Your Life
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Sacred Space
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Cultivating Sacred Space: Gardening for the Soul
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The Sacred Earth
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Shrines
A shrine, from the Latin scrinium ('box') is originally a container, usually in precious materials, especially for a relic and often a cult image, and/or a holy or sacred place , often containing the same, dedicated towards a certain deity, saint, or similar religious figure. These may include shrines in temples, home altars, and sacred burial places. A shrine where offerings are made is called an altar.Pictured is a simple shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, a common site in front of the homes of people with Mexican roots.
Two Iraqi Shrines Guarded by Troops to Prevent More Bloodshed
What is wrong with this world? When people can't even go to their places of worship without fear of being shot and killed? Just days after massive bloodshed, two major Iraqi shrines are guarded by troops while devotees attend Friday prayers.Read the full story here.
Great Shrines on Amazon
Crafting Personal Shrines: Using Photos, Mementos & Treasures to Create Artful Displays
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The Crafty Chica Collection: Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style (Quarry Book)
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Altars: Bringing Sacred Shrines into Your Everyday Life
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Atlas Of Holy Places & Sacred Sites
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Consuming Visions: Mass Culture And The Lourdes Shrine
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New Shrines Link List
- Shrine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- A shrine, from the Latin scrinium ('box'; also used as a desk, like the French bureau) is originally a container, usually in precious materials, ...
- Shinto Shrines
- Shinto shrines are places of worship and the dwellings of the kami, the Shinto "gods". Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the ...
- Catholic Shrines USA
- Catholic Shrines USA, A listing of Catholic Shrines in the United States.
- Creating Shrines
- Personal shrines are a way to acknowledge and affirm the sacred in our lives. Shrines hold the power to make us forget our everyday cares and to help center ...
- The Arreat Summit - Shrines and Wells
- Some of the most mysterious are the Shrines and Wells scattered across the lands. These Shrines and Wells are always beneficial, but you should choose the ...
- Shrines to the Virgin Mary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- In the culture and practice of some Christian Churches - mainly, but not solely, the Roman Catholic Church - a shrine to the Virgin Mary or Marian shrine is ...
- Cyber Shrine
- Photos of scenic Shinto shrines in Japan.
- shrine: Definition, Synonyms and Much More from Answers.com
- shrine n. A place of religious devotion or commemoration, such as: a place where devotion is paid to a deity or deities, as in Shinto.
- Designing and creating home shrines - altar cabinets, tables
- The making of shrines, altar cabinets, altar tables, is in itself an act of creating sacred spaces, which provide the sanctum from which the Being or Deva ...
- Diablo II - Shrines
- The appearance of shrines is also are much more varied. There are a number of graphics for shrines, and the type of shrine that occurs is randomly selected. ...
Voodoo Art Dolls
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySacred Grove of Oshun
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Oshogbo, Nigeria
Oshun in Yoruban Mythology
In Yoruba mythology, Oshun is an Orisha (spirit goddess) of love, intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy.According to the Yoruba elders, Osun is the "unseen mother present at every gathering", because Oshun is the Yoruba understanding of the cosmological forces of water, moisture, and attraction. Therefore she is omnipresent and omnipotent. Her power is represented in another Yoruba scripture which reminds us that "no one is an enemy to water" and therefore everyone has need of and should respect and revere Oshun, as well as her followers.
Oshun is the force of harmony. Harmony we see as beauty, feel as love, and experience as ecstasy. Osun according to the ancients was the only female Irunmole amongst the 401 sent from the spirit realm to create the world. As such, she is revered as "YeYe" - the sweet mother of us all. When the male Irunmole attempted to subjugate Oshun due to her femaleness she removed her divine energy, called ache by the Yoruba, from the project of creating the world and all subsequent efforts at creation were in vain. It was not until visiting with the Supreme Being, Olodumare, and begging Oshun pardon under the advice of Olodumare that the world could continue to be created. BUT not before Oshun had given birth to a son. This son became Elegba, the great conduit of ache in the Universe and also the eternal and infernal trickster.
Oshun is known as Yalode- the mother of things outside the home, due to her business acumen. She is also known as Laketi, she who has ears, because of how quickly and effectively she answers prayers. When she possesses her followers she dances, flirts and then weeps- because no one can love her enough and the world is not as beautiful as she knows it could be.
Oshun is beneficent and generous, and very kind. She does, however, have a horrific temper, though it is difficult to anger her. She is married to Shàngó, god of fire, thunder, and power, and is his favorite wife because of her excellent cooking skills. One of his other wives, Oba, was her rival. They are the goddesses of the Oshun and Oba rivers, which meet in a turbulent place with difficult rapids.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxum
Our Lady of Charity
La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre
Also known as cachita, a statue of Our Lady exists with a miraculous origin. It stands about 16 inches high. The head is made of baked clay covered with a polished coat of fine white powder, possibly rice paste, and until recently was covered with several layers of paint. She stands on a moon that has silver clouds at either end and three golden-winged cherubs beneath it. She cradles the Christ Child in her left arm, and holds a gold crucifix in her right. The Child raises one hand in blessing, and in the other hand he holds a golden globe. The image's original robes were white, but as usual, the figure is covered by a heavy ornate cloak with gold and silver embroidery, including the Cuban national shield. It hides the body and gives the statue a triangular shape.Some time around the year 1600, two native Indians, Rodrigo and Juan de Hoyos, together with a ten year old slave boy, Juan Moreno, went out looking for the salt needed to preserve the meat of the Barajagua slaughter house, which supplied the workers and inhabitants of "Santiago del Prado", now known as "El Cobre." That day they were just able to reach Cayo Francés, halfway across the Bay of Nipe, where they encamped to escape the fury of a storm which would have torn their frail canoe to pieces.
Calm was restored with daybreak, and they took to the transparent sea. In the distance, they saw a white bundle floating on the waves and approaching them slowly. At first they took it for a sea bird. As it came closer, it seemed to be a girl and at last they were able to determine that it was a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the child on her right arm and with a gold cross in her left hand. The statue was fastened to a board with the inscription, "I am the Virgin of Charity."
According to the sworn testimony of witnesses, despite the recent storm and the motion of the waves, neither the figure of the Virgin, nor her clothing, were wet.
Source:
http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//resources/engthree.html#cub
Day of the Dead Altars
El Corazon De La Muerte
Día de los Muertos is a holiday rooted in the ancient past of Mesoamerica. My ancestors were in awe of the eternal cycle of life and death and believed in the need for sacrifice to assure the continuation of life. The Aztecs of past honored those who have passed on with great feasts, sacrifice, ritual, dance, and sacred art that depicted their beliefs and customs. After the trauma of the Spanish conquest, their beliefs persisted by adapting them to the holidays of the Christian calendar. Although much of the ancient indigenous religions were lost, the core aspect of the days of the dead was kept. This core consists of the altar with offerings to the dead.The altar includes four main elements of nature - earth, wind, water, and fire.
Earth is represented by crop: The Mexicans believe the souls are fed by the aroma of food.
Wind is represented by a moving object: Tissue paper is commonly used to represent wind.
Water is placed in a container for the soul to quench its thirst after the long journey to the altar.
Fire is represented by a wax candle: Each lit candle represents a soul, and an extra one is placed for the forgotten soul.
To make a Day of the Dead altar, you will need the following items:
1. Photo of our Loved One. At the center of the altar is a photograph of the loved one to whom the altar is dedicated. It is decorated with momentos that reflect the individual.
2. It is customary to prepare a feast of foods that the spirits will enjoy. Tamales, mole, pan de muerto, and seasonal fruits are traditionally used, as well as foods that were favorites of the deceased.
3. Marigold Flowers (Cempasúchitl). In addition, yellow and orange marigolds are lavished upon the altar. Marigolds are used because of their abundance and their robust aroma.
4. Sugar skulls and calacas (skeletons). The presence of whimsical calacas offer those in the physical world something tangible that captures the spirit of the loved one.
5. Votive Candles. Purple represents pain, pink celebration, and white hope. Use whatever colors feel right as there is much room for personalization.
6. Grooming items. A bar of soap, a towel, perfume, and the like are placed on the altar in the belief that the dead ones have been on a long journey and would like to refresh themselves for the celebration.
Other items are also placed at the altar.
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El Corazon De La Muerte/Altars and Offerings for Days of the Dead (Spanish Edition)
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Day of the Dead: When Two Worlds Meet in Oaxaca
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Prepare su "altar de muertos".(celebraciones del Día de los Muertos)(TT: Building an altar to the dead.)(TA: Day of the Dead celebrations)(Artículo Breve): An article from: Semana
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- MissMerFaery MissMerFaery Feb 21, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
- This is a beautiful lens! Very interesting and enjoyable. I am reading Carol Owen's book Crafting Personal Shrines at the moment to learn how to make some myself.
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- mykey mykey Oct 9, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
- Hey! Love the bits on Feng Shui and on clearing clutter...SO IMPORTANT!!! Clearing clutter is a key element, people often wouldn't believe it and overlook it, but it makes so much sense and makes all the difference!!!
Thankyou voodoomama
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- Intuitive Intuitive Aug 6, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
- I love how you made the connection between clearing clutter and sacred space, illustrating that your entire living space can be an altar, with areas of concentrated focus within that. :) *5 stars*!!!
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