No, we do not sit around praying to our shrines, though some people do consider them sacred. We do feel a smile coming on when we engage with our wee shrines, because they make us feel good to have created something special for an idea or a person we revere. In our world full of hectic busy-ness, more and more creative people are finding a need to create a sacred space to chill out, even if it's something they pulled out of their pocket. We have seen Bhuddist shrines in tins, shrines on a shelf or in the backyard, some on the window sill. It's a bit of armor against busy-ness, and sometimes business, and we all need it regardless of what we believe, which is why they are personal shrines. An atheist or a deist would both agree that there is a place in our hearts and minds that is where our passion for life and love nurtures us. Whether you call it sacred, or just a beautiful mystery, we sometimes need that break in the moment to recharge. The spirit house is a sort of shrine to people who have passed on, the home altar is where a person worships outside of their church, but the personal shrines/altars are small portable objects that we can take out, open up and be in our personal sacred space anywhere we might find a bit of privacy. The Bhuddists were masters at creating moveable shrines made into pendants called a "ghau" that could be worn on the neck or the belt, and was usually made of silver. It carried rolled up prayers and other ritual objects. You can find them today, and they are usually worn as jewelry. But we aren't silverworkers, so we made do. We have used any and every kind of tin, the larger deeper pocket size ones are the best. Friends come with ideas and sometimes objects, and I supply papers, objects and show them how to attach all these little beauties so they can stand up to being portable. Below are a few finished ones, and one in progress.

Sarah's Shrine Outside

Sarah's Shrine Inside

Sarah's Shrine Closed

Lynne's Shrine Outside

Lynne's Shrine Inside

Lynne's Shrine Detail