One of the images Laura Handler sent us of her Montana Log Cabin was her “shrine”, with these notes:
A Mexican Day of the Dead smoking shrine found in Oaxaca Mexico – note the cigarettes on top.
I have not smoked for eleven years – it’s working!
We know quite a few people who have created personal shrines over the years: arrangements of privately meaningful and sacred objects, quotes, images that remind, give power, hold an intention or a wish…
..like this one of a friend; it changes every once-in-a-while: the placement of elements shift, new pieces are added in. Anything can be a shrine: the configuration and meaning in the eyes – and heart – of the maker.
Personal shrines can also be made anywhere, like this shoeshine man’s shrine that “the Mexican” posted on his Flickr photostream:
When we did a search on the internet we discovered an interesting permutation on the theme of shrines: portable shrines made in Altoid mint tins, which are pocket-size and have a convenient hinged lid.
…google “altoid tin shrines” and you’ll find a trove…
Our favorite is an Altoid tin filled with magnetic words from magnetic poetry kits
(you can choose from all sorts of word kits: like love
What’s in your shrine?
Related posts: house tour: laura handler’s montana log cabin
meg hitchcock ‘hacks’ sacred texts to make new ones
keeping a dream book
slowing down and counting blessings
bob dylan’s blessing (+ our thanksgiving wish for you)
counting blessings as antidote
batali’s beautiful ‘fuck you’: a tale of 9/11x
Lovely: I had an idea for an Altoid Tin shrine several years ago. Seeing this, I broke it out again for my personal co-celebration of Ramadan alongside my Moslem friends. Trying to learn the Benedictine cycle of Read, Meditate, Pray, Contemplate.