A shrine is a place set aside for spiritual reverence, worship, and communion. It could be someone’s own personal shrine, or one that is shared with others. It can be indoors or outdoors, and range from something very simple in someone’s own home or garden, to something more elaborate and on a larger scale like you would find in a temple or church.
Someone could have just one shrine, or as many as they like – in any combination of the variations outlined below.
Essentially, whatever the scale, and wherever the location, a shrine can fulfill the same purpose and follow the same principles. This guide is for creating a shrine in accordance with the principles of the ancient Religion of the Sun. I put it together with my husband Mark.
Contents
The Purpose of a Shrine
A shrine acts to direct our attention towards the spiritual. They are usually decorated with spiritual symbols and objects. These serve as representations of spiritual forces and principles, and allow our minds to focus on these spiritual forces in order to commune with them. Spiritual forces and Beings are generally unseen in daily life, and so by using objects that we can see, it can help us to center our attention on them. For example, throughout history and still today, people across the world find it useful to see an image of Odin, Jesus, Krishna etc. when addressing prayers to them.
However, some people can confuse the object with the actual Being or force being represented, and treat the object as though it and the force or Being were one and the same. But the mystery of the spiritual is much deeper than this, as these forces are present whether the object exists or not – the object merely acting as a kind of gateway or prop for our minds to communicate with forces that are within us and surround us.
The Essential Elements of a Shrine
Symbol of the triple spiral etched onto the ancient site of Newgrange in Ireland.
The essential elements of a shrine bring together representations of the key aspects of creation and divinity.
These essential elements are three in number, and have been depicted as a Trinity in many ancient cultures that were influenced by the ancient Religion of the Sun. They are:
1. The Sacred Sun/Son, and neutral energy in creation, usually symbolized by the sun
2. The Spiritual Mother and divine feminine energy in creation
3. The Spiritual Father and divine masculine energy in creation
How to Set out a Shrine and the Objects to Use
1. Altar. The first item is an altar, which the objects of the shrine are placed upon. Ideally this altar would have four sides of equal length, and its height be equal to the length of its side, so that it is cubic in shape, and be made of natural materials. If you aren’t able to find anything cubic in shape, it’s fine to just make sure that the surface of the altar is square in shape, rather than rectangular if possible. It could be a table, a shelf, a large stone/rock, a piece of wood etc.
2. Altar direction. Ideally, when standing in front of the altar, you should be facing as close to due East as possible – the direction of the rising sun on the equinoxes. If East is not practical, North is the next best direction, and anything in between in a North-Easterly direction. The Druids and ancient Hindus faced their sacred spaces in these directions, toward the sun. Even better is to have it so that the light of the dawning sun rises behind the shrine, so that you are facing and can see the sun while standing at the shrine.
3. White cloth. The altar should then be covered with a white cloth. This white cloth would ideally be made of white linen, although it can be any white fabric (preferably a natural fiber, like cotton, silk, or wool).
4. The Sacred Sun/Son. In the center of the altar, a representation of the Sacred Son is placed. The Sacred Son is best represented with a symbol of the sun, and additionally with the flame of a candle. . In front of this symbol, the candle is placed. Ideally either the candle or candle holder would be a golden yellow color like the sun, but if you don’t have a yellow one, then white is the best default color to use. As an optional addition, a statue or image of the Sacred Son can be placed together with the symbol of the sun and candle.
5. The Spiritual Mother. To the right of the symbol of the Spiritual Son (if you are facing the altar), a symbol of the Spiritual Mother is placed. The Mother can be represented by anything that is symbolic of the divine feminine – and can be a statue or picture. The main thing is to choose this image carefully so that the feminine is portrayed divinely, beautifully, modestly, and with dignity. Any items listed in the section below on creating a shrine dedicated to the Spiritual Mother can also be used here, on the right side of the altar – including flowers, a pink candle, and a bowl/cauldron/chalice of water.
6. The Spiritual Father. To the left of the symbol of the Spiritual Son (if you are facing the altar), a symbol of the Spiritual Father is placed. The Father can be represented by anything that is symbolic of the divine masculine – and can be a statue or picture. The main thing is to choose this image carefully so that the masculine is portrayed divinely, modestly, in a non-violent/warlike way, and with an air of wisdom. Any items listed in the section below on creating a shrine dedicated to the Spiritual Father can also be used here, on the left side of the altar – including evergreens, a blue candle, and a pine cone.
What Do the Elements of the Shrine Represent/Mean?
The Trinity
The Trinity, represented in Egypt as Osiris, Isis, and Horus. Image by rudr.rice.edu (GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
The Trinity has been symbolized as a family of gods and goddesses as Father, Mother, and Son in many ancient cultures that were influenced by the ancient Religion of the Sun. Here are a few examples that could be used on the shrine, although there are many others:
Ancient Egyptian – Father: Osiris, Mother: Isis, Son: Horus
Early/Gnostic Christian – Father: Joseph, Mother: Mary, Son: Jesus
Druidism – Father: Celu, Mother: Ceridwen, Son: Hu Gadarn/Taliesin
Norse – Father: Odin, Mother: Frigg, Son: Baldr
Vedic – Father: Indra, Mother: Adita, Son: Surya/Agni/Vishnu
Vedic/Hindu – Father: Vishnu, Mother: Lakshmi, Son: Brahma
Hindu – Father: Shiva, Mother: Shakti/Durga/Kali/Parvati, Son: Krishna/Vishnu/Rama
Greek – Father: Zeus (Dias), Mother: Athena/Gaia, Son: Apollo
Slavic – Father: Rod/Svarog, Mother: Lada, Son: Svarog/Dazhbog
Note that because these deities are so old, they have been interpreted and used differently over time, so this is just a general guide.
The Trinity is an expression of the three fundamental forces that give rise to all creation. They are found manifest as the three types of energy in the universe: that of positive, negative, and neutral, or masculine, feminine, and neuter, which are expressed at a sub-atomic level as protons, electrons, and neutrons. In nature these forces form the basis of reproduction and the family unit in almost all life. These forces are also related to our consciousness. The higher parts of our Being follow the same pattern found throughout nature and the cosmos, and so each of us have our own personal Spiritual Father and Mother, who give birth to the Spiritual Son/Sun within us.
The Spiritual Father
Woodcut for “Die Bibel in Bildern”, 1860. Public domain image found here.
One of the most ancient of deities is the Spiritual Father. To the ancient Proto-Indo-Europeans he was called Dyḗus Ptḗr, “the Shining Sky Father,” and was the highest and most revered divinity – the father of gods. He became Dyaus Pitar in the Vedas, Zeus (Dias) in Greece, Jupiter in Rome, Dievas to the Baltic peoples etc. His name is related to the original word for god, which the English words deity and divine are derived from, and also is the root of the word father itself in many languages. 1 In ancient Egypt he was called Atum and Amun; the Guanche word for heaven is Atuman and their word for the sun is Amen 2, which is very similar to the name of the supreme Egyptian sun and father god Amun. The Proto-Indo-European Dyḗus Ptḗr was also associated with the sun – both to the Proto-Indo-Europeans and ancient Egyptians, the sun was seen as his eye. 1 Jesus referred to him as the Heavenly Father.
The Father is both a cosmic and personal force. He is the masculine energy of the creator, and a higher aspect of our inner Being.
The Spiritual Mother
The Hindu goddess Durga pictured here conquering the demon Mahisasura. Image by ಶ್ರೀ ಶಿಲ್ಪಿ ಸಿದ್ದನ್ತಿ ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ (1885 – 1952) – ಜಗನ್ಮೋಹನ್ ಅರಮನೆ, ಮೈಸೂರ್ (Jagmohan Palace, Mysore), Public Domain image found here.
The Spiritual Mother is the feminine half of God/the creator, with the other half being the Spiritual Father. She is usually depicted as the consort of the Spiritual Father, and while he is often referred to as the Heavenly Father, she is usually referred to as the Earthly Mother. For example, Dyaus Pitar in the Vedas was accompanied by the goddess Pṛthivī of the earth. 1
Ancient creation myths of the Religion of the Sun describe creation as being brought forth by the dual action of both masculine and feminine energies, just as the union of male and female brings forth all life. The ancient Chinese called them yang and yin, in the Upanishads of the Hindus they are Purusha/Prana and Prakriti/Rayi, and the ancient Egyptians called them Shu and Tefnut.
The Spiritual Mother has been deified in many different forms – as Durga to the Hindus, Ceridwen to the Druids, Isis to the ancient Egyptians, Athena to the Greeks, and as many, many other goddesses. Orthodox Christianity censored Jesus’s teachings on the Mother, and excluded the divine feminine from the Trinity, replacing her with the Holy Spirit. Texts that included Jesus’s teachings on the Mother were excluded from the Bible. In them Jesus says that he has both a Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother. 3
The Mother is both a cosmic and personal force. She is the feminine energy of the creator, and a higher aspect of our inner Being.
The Sacred Sun/Son
A statue of the Saxon (Germanic) sun god Sunna by John Michael Rysbrack circa 1728-30. Public domain image found here.
The Sacred Sun or Son has been portrayed by numerous figures such as Horus (Egyptian), Baldur (Germanic), Lugh (British), Hun Hunaphu (Mayan), and Jesus. Each of these figures are recorded as going through very similar life events and sharing similar characteristics (although deities associated with the Spiritual Father like Odin/Wuotan (Norse/Germanic) and Osiris (Egyptian) also are recorded as going through similar life events). They also each experienced their major life events at the solstices and equinoxes. For example, the birth of most of these figures has been celebrated at the winter solstice, and their resurrection at the spring equinox. The events of their lives follow the path of the sun throughout the year and symbolize the path to awakening, which is found mirrored in the sky.
The Sacred Sun is both a cosmic force – the light of the sun, born from the union of the Spiritual Father and Mother at the dawning of creation – and also a higher part of each person’s Being that incarnates at a particular stage on the path of the sacred sun.
The Altar
The altar represents the human body, and the Earth. The four sides of the altar represent the four cardinal directions and the four elements that Earth and our physical bodies are comprised of. The Earth/the body is the foundation upon which the spiritual within is built, which is why representations of spiritual forces are placed upon the altar. By placing representation of the divine upon the altar, the spiritual is placed over matter, so that it dominates and illuminates it. The body fit for the incarnation of the spiritual within however, is a body that has been prepared and transformed spiritually, so that its energies have been purified and transmuted to a solar type.
The White Cloth
The white linen cloth draped over the altar represents purity. White linen was used by some ancient peoples on their altars, and Jesus and the disciples wore white linen in their mystic rituals 4. The Druids wore white as representing purity and the color of the sun’s light.5 White is the color of purity, unity, and completion. It is the color of the sun as seen from outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
Daughter of the Sun
Illustration of an Inca priestess referred to as a Virgin of the Sun. Public domain image found here.
The ancient Proto-Indo Europeans had a name for the daughter of Dyḗus Ptḗr. She was called Sawélyosyo Dhugətē ́r meaning “the daughter of the sun.” She was represented ceremonially in different places that were influenced by the Religion of the Sun as priestesses dressed in white who tended the temple shrine with its sacred flame. 6
In Ireland these priestesses were called the Inghean au dagha or “the daughters of fire,” which the Christians adapted to “the Brides of Christ”. In the Canary Islands the Guanche called their priestesses the Harmagadas, in Rome they were the Vestal Virgins, and to the Inca they were the Virgins of the Sun.
The daughter of the sun is consciousness, which Jesus refers to as “the drop of light” from our own inner Being that we carry within 7, and which is reunited with the higher parts of its Being on the path of the sacred sun. These parts are the Trinity of Sun/Son, Spiritual Mother, and Spiritual Father. Consciousness is not symbolized on the altar, as we bring our own consciousness to the shrine by being present and conscious in the moment.
Shrine Variations
In addition to, or instead of the shrine layout described above, you can also have shrines dedicated to each aspect of the Trinity. So for example, you could have a shrine dedicated just to the Spiritual Mother, and/or a shrine solely to the Spiritual Father, and/or just to the Spiritual Son/Sun.
The cloth can remain the same and so can the altar, but it doesn’t need to be square and the items upon the altar vary.
Dedicated to the Spiritual Mother
For a shrine to the Spiritual Mother, the items upon the altar could be as follows.
1. A statue or image of the Spiritual Mother, as has been described above.
2. A candle, which is always best to have present upon a shrine, as fire is living and divine, and why fire has held such an important place in ritual and religion. For the Spiritual Mother, it would be nice to use a pink candle or candle holder so as to cast a beautiful rose light upon the shrine, as she is often depicted as dressed in the color pink as it is related to the colors of the Earth, the body, femininity, and feminine love. If you don’t have a pink candle or candle holder, then white is the best default color to use.
3. Once these basic items are in place, the shrine can be decorated with other items related to the Spiritual Mother, such as:
- A bowl, cauldron or chalice, which is then filled with water (representing the womb of creation). The bowl etc. can be made of any natural material that is in “evolution”, such as copper, gold, brass, crystal, granite, or wood (not iron, or lead). In addition to or instead of this, a decorative egg could also be used (as in traditional celebrations of Easter/Ostara).
- Living or freshly cut flowers (representing feminine beauty and harmony).
- Burning incense related to the feminine, such as floral scents like rose, lotus, lavender, gardenia, etc.
- As an option, instead of or in addition to a white altar cloth, a pink one could be used.
Dedicated to the Spiritual Mother in Her Warrior Aspect
Another variation of a shrine to the Spiritual Mother is to dedicate it to her in her warrior aspect – in this aspect she is represented in her role as the destroyer of our egos. This aspect of the Spiritual Mother has most famously been portrayed by the Hindu goddesses Durga and Kali, although it has also been symbolized by the goddess Sekhmet in Egypt, Athena in Greece, and Inanna in Sumeria, as well as in many other cultures.
Here are the steps to create a shrine to the Spiritual Mother in her warrior aspect:
1. When standing at this shrine one can face any direction (including South and West, and any direction in between). All other shrines should be created so that one is facing East, North, or any direction between East and North. This shrine is different because the direction of the setting sun (West) and the Southerly passage of the sun (during the dark half of the year) is connected to the principle of descent on the path of the sacred sun, in which someone needs to descend into darkness in order to extract knowledge (just as the Norse deity Odin does).
2. The image or statue used of the Spiritual Mother should be connected to her role as the destroyer of evil and the egos.
3. The remaining items on the shrine, and the layout, can be the same as they are for the shrine dedicated to the Spiritual Mother.
Dedicated to the Spiritual Father
For a shrine to the Spiritual Father, the items upon the altar could be as follows.
1. A statue or image of the Spiritual Father, as has been described above.
2. A candle. For the Spiritual Father it would be nice to use a blue candle or candle holder so as to cast a beautiful blue light upon the shrine, as he is often depicted as dressed in the color blue as it is related to the colors of the sky and heavens, masculinity, truth, and purity. If you don’t have a blue candle or candle holder, then white is the best default color to use.
3. Once these basic items are in place, the shrine can be decorated with other items related to the Spiritual Father, such as:
- Living or freshly cut pine (representing the evergreen, and thus everlasting spirit).
- Pine cones (representing the pineal gland/third eye, and also the seed of life that enters the womb/egg of creation).
- Burning incense related to the masculine, such as woody scents like cedar, pine, cypress, agarwood, etc.
- As an option, instead of or in addition to a white altar cloth, a blue one could be used.
Dedicated to the Sacred Sun/Son
For a shrine to the Spiritual Son, the items upon the altar could be as follows.
1. The monstrance or sun symbol used on the main shrine, could also be used for this one. Additionally, a statue or image of the Spiritual Son from any culture or religion descended from the religion of the sun can be used, such as Jesus, Krishna, Lugh, Baldur, Svarog/Dazhbog, Apollo, Hu, or Horus.
2. A candle. For the Spiritual Son it would be nice to use a golden yellow candle or candle holder so as to cast a beautiful golden light upon the shrine like that of the sun. The yellow represents the color of the sun’s light as seen from Earth, which represents the role of the Son as the force that bridges Earth and heaven, the human and the divine. If you don’t have a yellow candle or candle holder, then white is the best default color to use.
3. Once these basic items are in place, the shrine can be decorated with other items related to the Spiritual Son, such as:
- Living or freshly cut flowers that look like the sun, such as sunflowers, marigold, or calendula.
- Burning natural incense.
- As an option, instead of or in addition to a white altar cloth, a yellow or golden one could be used.
How to Use a Shrine
There are a number of different ways a shrine can be used.
It’s important to note that a shrine for the Religion of the Sun is never used in a sacrificial way, in which the death or blood of anything is used or required.
1. It can be set up in a room that’s used for spiritual practices, and the candles and incense lit during a spiritual exercise to help bring a sense of the divine, and even spiritual help into the room to assist with the exercise.
2. As a place to pray or ask for spiritual guidance and help whenever there is a need.
3. If it’s set up in a fairly prominent place at home, tending the shrine can be used as a way to bring about a remembrance of the spiritual in the activities of daily life.
4. It can be used as part of the sacred space where the solstice or equinox is celebrated, whether celebrating alone, with family, or with a group of people. It could be set up in a room at home, in a garden, at a dedicated location like a temple or stone circle, or even set up temporarily at an ancient site for an event.
5. It can also simply be a beautiful feature of your home, or garden.
Following are a few excerpts, from the text the Kolbrin, on the use and purpose of a shrine. They outline some of the pitfalls people and traditions have fallen into when using shrines and altars.
The Last Forest Teachings (of Elidor) 8
True worship is the purification and elevation of the soulspirit, no more, all that purifies and elevates is worship. The purpose of worship is to arouse the soulspirit to wakefulness, it is the companionable unity of those serving a common cause. It is an act of mutual experience. It is not the servile humiliation of a slave before his master, but the linking of spirit with spirit.
These are the only sacrifices to bring: Bodily lusts and passions, evil thoughts, lies, deceit, slander and all forms of wickedness. To offer the blood of harmless creatures is easy and cowardly, and an insult to He who created them. These are the offering to dedicate to His service: Diligent study of the Good Books, wisdom, courage, moral purity and steadfastness, together with all things serving the purpose of good.
Eloma 9
If a man seeks to enter My presence by prayer and says, “God grant me this or give me that,” the thing will be neither granted nor given, unless it be for his spiritual good or benefit another. I am no huxter bargaining blessings in exchange for worship, nothing man can give can add to what I have. Also men do Me little honour when they fail to recognise that I am above concern for mere bodies which decay and fall apart when the enlivening spirit leaves them. Yet man is but man, know that I am a God of understanding and compassion. If man cries out to Me, in genuine stress and suffering, he will not go unrelieved and uncomforted. Yet understand that suffering and sorrow are the lot of man, that he may become Mangod. There is also the Great Law to which man must conform; there are the intricacies of enidvadew to be unwoven and the challenging paths of destiny and fate to be followed. Too often the price to be paid for things done or not done is pain and suffering, sorrow and distress, but where would be the benefit to the debtor were I to wipe out such debts? Yet will I see that never, by even a single grain, will they exceed that which is absolutely necessary and just.
…There is nothing on Earth that man can give God which could add to God’s glory or increase what He has. The only acceptable sacrifice man can offer is service to the will of God, and God’s will is that man should spiritualise himself and improve the Earth. To offer goods or money as a sacrifice is an insult to God, it is shirking the needful effort, evading the necessary duty and obligation; it is the easy way and not acceptable.
The text called “The Voice of God” from the Kolbrin 10
I do not deny you your rituals and ceremonials, worship Me if you will as you will, but bear in mind that this cannot substitute for your obligations. Ritual and worship cannot be an adjustment or payment for the things you have failed to do, or be an apology for your own shortcomings. Neither do they compensate for iniquities against your fellowmen. If you attach importance to ritual and ceremonial let it be in a proper proportion, and never let them dull your conscience against deeds of wickedness, of usury and injustice. Never let your duty and obligations be neglected because you worship Me diligently, following a formalized ritual and ceremonial. Let this not become an excuse for failing to share your bread with the hungry or for neglecting the needs of the destitute or weak. I am not deceived. A life dedicated to Me is not one preoccupied with worship, that is more the life of a coward trembling before the unknown.
…They who devote their lives to My service must do more than love and worship Me, for such service entails the elevation of mankind, the spreading of good and the combating of evil. They must not only fight against the ungodly, but also overcome the wickedness welling up in their own thoughts
…The ultimate in goodness is to actively combat all the root causes of evil. Those who are my true followers live a life of service and goodness. They live in harmony with their neighbors, harm none and do not shirk the burdens and obligations of earthly existence.
…I know too well the deceit to which men are prone. The adulterer and fornicator preach chastity for others, while the liar declares the virtues of Truth. The thief preaches honesty and the lewd-minded professes modesty. Men say one thing and mean another, while all too often the half or slanted truth replaces the real thing. Men may deceive themselves and other men, but I am not deceived. Now I say, let men first cleanse their own souls and eradicate hypocrisy before presuming to approach Me. Men may well cry out, “Why does God remain mute, why has He deserted Me?” Do they think their deeds are hidden or that I cannot read the secrets of their hearts?
Worship by men of iniquity is mere mockery. How rare the sincere and genuine heart! Were men indeed deserted by their God, they would have none to blame but themselves. Do men think their lack of kindness and consideration for others, their insincerity and inconsistency are truly hidden from Me? I am the All Knowing One. I see too little love of goodness in the hearts of men and too much fear for the consequences of their deeds.
Real and sincere worship is to obey My laws and to shoulder the responsibilities of men, to steadfastly conform to My plan and to live in neighbourly harmony. He who devotes his life to Me also devotes it to his own welfare. He who serves Me well likewise serves himself. This is the Law of Laws. For the whole purpose of life is not the service of God but the development of the soul of man. He who worships Me with empty ritual and vain ceremonial but neglects the wellbeing of his own soul, does not serve Me well, for he thwarts My purpose. I have endowed the creature made in My likeness with a religious instinct, for this springs from its everlasting spirit, as fire generates heat; therefore, to worship is not unnatural. But blind worship lacks the vitalising element, it defeats its own end, for in true worship man should reach out beyond himself to discover his own soul. Then, having done so, he should develop it until the soul aspires to godhood itself.
By Lara Atwood
Footnotes
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_religion
- Gordon Kennedy, The White Indians of Nivaria (Nivaria Press, 2010) 55
- Edmond Bordeaux Szekely (translator and editor), The Essene Gospel of Peace
- G.R.S. Mead (translator) Pistis Sophia
- Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages pg. 22
- http://ceisiwrserith.com/pier/deities.htm
- Douglas M. Parrot (translator), The Wisdom of Jesus Christ from the Nag Hammadi Library
- The Kolbrin, published by The Hope Trust 1994, chapter 14 pg 712
- The Kolbrin, published by The Hope Trust 1994, chapter 2 pg 57
- The Kolbrin, published by The Hope Trust 1994, chapter 15 pg 133
In Japan there is the story of Izanagi and Izanami, the parents of Amaterasu, the sun goddess in Shintoism. Izanagi and Izanami are said to be siblings and and they were the last generation of the Kamiyo-nanayo(“Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods”. The Kamiyo-nanayo refer to the seven generations of gods that emerged after the formation of heaven and earth. Izanagi and Izanami were not only responsible for giving birth to Amaterasu, but also for the birth of Japan’s islands and a few other gods. The story of Izanagi and Izanami and their relationship to Amaterasu is somewhat similar to the concepts of the Spiritual Father,Spiritual Mother and the Son Lara talks about. The only thing with Amaterasu is that she is a feminine figure, I’m not sure if she should be called the Son. Amaterasu is not a son of Izanagi and Izanami, she is a daughter. But she does represent the sun in Shintoism.
My Japanese friend has recently been using a corner of her room as a shrine, dedicated to Amaterasu. She did follow some of the guidelines listed above for setting up a shrine for the sacred sun but not all of them. As she was describing as “adding her own cultural elements” to it. For example instead of living or freshly cut flowers that look like the sun such as sunflowers, marigold or calendula she would place cherry blossoms plucked from a tree on her property and fruits on the altar. She would also use a traditional Japanese incense burner. I asked her why is she using all these items not mentioned above in the shrine she says while she may not be following the guidelines exactly but this way helps her build a better connection to her own spiritual sun and she argued that the set up of the shrine is not as important as one’s own state of mind. She also asked me don’t I think everyone should have their own way of connecting to the Divine? She insists that she would not remove or change any item she places on the altar. I don’t know if she is doing the right thing and her argument sound very legitimate to me. I’m also considering building my own personal shrine and I want to do it in a way that resonates with me the most but also I don’t want to do what defines the purpose of the shrine.
PS: She explained to me that the cherry blossoms and the incense burner are symbols of Japanese culture, in a way they are representing her as an individual soul with her own unique cultural background while contemplating on the oneness that connects her with all other living beings. while the fruits represent spiritual enlightenment. The word for “fruit” in Japanese (as well as in Chinese language) can also mean “result” or “effect”, and sometimes they would say people with spiritual accomplishments have obtained the “sacred fruit”. Among the fruits she placed on the altar lemons do seem to be the most common ones since they are yellow and yellow is the color of the sun. It does look like she has her unique way of doing things but I doubt if that should be the way you practice the Religion of The Sun. She believes she is and she thinks one does not need to strictly follow the guidelines to set up a shrine, you can modify your shrine in anyway you want as long as the set up aids you in your spiritual growth. I am skeptical about the set up though and nearly got into a fight with her about what should and should not be placed on the altar. I don’t think her way is the way that would make the most sense to me and she doesn’t expect me to set up my shrine using hers as a model, but I’m not sure if I should do my own modifications to the shrine and not following the guideline exactly as it is…
Hi Emily, nice to hear that your friend is so inspired too! I just wanted to say that while yellow flowers like marigold or sunflower are recommended for the shrine dedicated to the spiritual sun/son due to their golden, sun-like colour and also the way they follow the sun in their movement throughout the day, my understanding is that the shrine to a goddess does not necessarily need to have yellow flowers. Actually, cherry blossoms sound absolutely wonderful for a goddess shrine to me! A gentle purple-pink colour is a colour associated with the divine feminine in the religion of the Sun (for example the colours of the Goddess Lakshmi in India), while the blue or the deep blue with the masculine/fatherly principle, which refers to the colour of the sky (the sky father). So to me it looks like your friend may have intuitively tapped into something true.
Hi Lucia, yes my friend has been fascinated by the Religion of the Sun for a while now and the two of us are actually looking into traces of the Religion of the Sun in East Asian cultures together. She has been reading Lara’s books and she even said she wants to translate them into Japanese and publish them in Japan, but she hasn’t decided if she’s really going to do that since she hasn’t finished reading them yet. We found some interesting beliefs and practices in Shintoism that are somewhat similar to what the Religion of The Sun, but it is not very clear where did those belief originate…I’ve heard people saying that there is evidence there were people of Caucasian descent present in Ancient Japan…although that theory has not been 100% confirmed but maybe those were the Aryans who went to Japan and brought the Religion of The Sun there, and that’s why there are elements of the Religion of The Sun in Shinto practices. My personal view, however, is that all races of humans on the planet once had the supreme spiritual knowledge, this whole “Indo-Europeans/Caucasians/Aryans brought spiritual wisdom to different parts of the world” claim sounds like a theory fabricated by the White-dominated world to justify their claims of racial supremacy…and some of this belief has been mingled into their religious beliefs overtime, which is very unfortunate. The Wisdom Bringers taught that all people, regardless of race or national origin have the same potential for spiritual growth…we can all find the spiritual sun within us if we are willing to gain insight into our inner world and realize who we truly are(which our true nature transcends the concept of race and nation). While different figures from different cultures that had inherited beliefs from the Religion of the Sun used them to remind themselves of the spiritual sun/son, I’ve just realized that the spiritual sun/son should not be ascribed with a particular gender, it can be interpreted by an individual as either masculine or feminine. While many solar deities around the world are male, Amaterasu is one of the few female exceptions. This may be because the Japanese associated the spiritual sun with a feminine aspect of creation, a sort of motherly side of the Whole that illuminates all of the world with unconditional love…just as a mother would love all her children unconditionally, which is something I’ve found to resonate with me personally as well. Most of the world that represented the spiritual sun with male figures…I think that could be the result of patriarchy, which may had been one of the most serious mistakes in recorded human history, and I have been exposing and condemning the truth about patriarchy around people I know of(they would pay more attention to feminist talks than the facts about the Religion of the Sun). Little do they know that the principles this lost religion of the Golden Age actually teaches against male-domination or patriarchy. Now thinking back to it,I think I can absolutely agree with you on what you said about cherry blossoms! It is interesting that cherry blossoms are also associated with femininity in Japanese culture, although the ones plucked from my friend’s tree are more pinkish-white than some of the cherry blossoms you see associated with Japan with an adorable pink color…in Japanese culture cherry blossoms are also symbolic of the fragility of life, since they are only in bloom for about one to two weeks and after that they would fall off…in the spring the cherry blossom trees bloom and in summer the trees would grow leaves…year after year so cherry blossoms also represent life, death and renewal. Life, death and renewal are also essential parts of a cycle that many things in the universe go through…as Lara explained in one of her videos. I didn’t know about the symbolic meanings associated with cherry blossoms back then when I wrote my comments but now I think there are good reasons for her to put them on the altar. She called me the other day saying she is planning on adding some yellowish mangos in her shrine since that also represents the “fruit of enlightenment” whereas one finds his/her spiritual sun. She does seem to have more fruits on her altar than anything else…still not sure if that’s totally appropriate but I guess I like the idea of fruit of enlightenment and I’m considering having something like that in my own shrine as well. As long as it’s not animal flesh or anything like that there shouldn’t be that big of a problem…that’s a big no-no. Even though Lara exclusively talked about human sacrifice and how that was wrong but I think animal flesh should not be offered on the altar either. These days it’s illegal to kill humans in most civilized societies in the world but many religions in the world still slaughter animals to praise the gods. It’s very bloody and I really don’t like the idea that exist in some of these religions that it is reasonable for animals to be sacrificed because they are beings that are somewhat lesser to humans. No, they are not lesser beings, they have feelings just as humans do, and they will feel pain when being slaughtered.
Absolutely agree with you Emily that the killing/sacrificing of animals is a barbaric act, and would spoil the sacredness of the altar. I remember reading that the more older versions of religions, like Irish Druidry for example, kept to just flowers and incense, and only later developments of some religious movements seem to have degenerated into killing animals (and humans) which is where they seem to have clearly gone off course and become dark.
There are parts in the Kolbrin that really spoke to me, showing how easy it is to go in the wrong direction and ignore advice and common sense. For instance, in a kind of desperation, there was a part where people who would resort to new tactics to seek help from the divine, which were harmful and cruel, only to neglect the obvious (and perhaps more difficult to face) inner discipline of purification and goodness.
Lovely to hear about you and your friend’s explorations into Japan’s sacred solar past :)
It really stood out to me in Mark and Lara’s book how important cultural individuality and authenticity is. Your friend’s changes sound like a lovely way to find more depth in her cultural heritage, and it’s connection to the sun and spiritual principles. In my opinion, symbols are so rich that it’s not like a particular symbol is wrong (unless it’s inverted), but more like you bring out a symbolic aspect, so a cherry blossom could mean something in particular, and it might even be for a specific reason if you look into it, like something related to its natural life-cycle. For example the father, being associated with eternity, is associated with a pine tree, which is ever-green. So if you look at it from that perspective, you can probably figure out what the most appropriate symbols are for which purposes (such as cherry blossoms), and find out why they are important Japanese symbols to begin with, maybe even on a deeper level.
I always really liked this depiction of Baldur/Balder: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Balder.jpg
If anyone has come across a statue similar to this, please let me know.
That’s very nice Dave, I like the arm gesture, how it has the link to surrender but yet the feeling and overall impression of the image is still one of power. Good luck finding a statue that is similar!
Thank you Lara for posting those updates on the various altars – I found them to be very helpful. I originally had a beautiful pink embroidered silk and cotton cloth that I was using for my altar dedicated to the Spiritual Mother (Lakshmi) which I had changed to white after initially reading this article. I longed to use the pink one because it was lovely to look at and I felt it captured the essence of the divine feminine so well. I was even contemplating whether to incorporate both by having the white cloth placed over the pink one but I didn’t want to do something that may not be in line with this guide. Happy to see that it can still be used. I also wanted to thank you for adding the photo of the altar dedicated to the Spiritual Son/Sun – it is simply beautiful.
I was thinking the same Paty… I also felt very tempted to use a pink/purple woolen scarf I have as a cloth for the Lakshmi altar in my bedroom, but was not sure if it would be OK, since the white cloth was recommended. So I am also happy to see this update. It makes sense, as a cloth like that would add to the general pink-ish hue for the altar.
Actually, now thinking about it, I already went for something like that with the nativity/son-dedicated shrine I have set up in December, where I used a yellow cloth… Somehow it seemed to me like there wasn’t enough yellow represented, so I felt like that would be ok. The Son/sun altar depicted in this article is really nice in this regard with its golden/yellow/orange-ish hues, while still having a white cloth.
Thanks for this comprehensive guide Lara. Having a dedicated area for practice and prayer can be a lovely addition to an indoor or outdoor space and direct the mind towards spiritual activities.
Thanks also for detailing the various representations of the divine throughout various spiritual traditions, which I think helps a lot in connecting the dots, to show the common spiritual history of humanity. You also made a good point about the importance of avoiding attachment to the physical objects themselves, but to instead focus on what they represent.
The quotes from the Kolbrin also give a lot to reflect upon. The first quote makes a crucial point about the type of sacrifice that is needed to progress spiritually, which is to sacrifice the animal drives within. It is unfortunate that so many religions and cultures throughout history have distorted this principle and incorporated not only the physical sacrifice of animals, but also of humans. It seems clear that no loving spiritual being would be pleased by these kinds of bloody actions and they do nothing to advance a person spiritually, as it is an “easy and cowardly” option, as the quote states.
The last quote also highlights the importance of applying spiritual principles throughout one’s life and avoiding the trap that many religious followers fall into, which is developing a sense of devotion and worship towards the divine, but not acting in a spiritual way throughout the events of daily life. I agree that the quotes you selected break through the barrier of time and still speak in a clear way directly to the reader.
Hi Lara,
Thank you for this through guide. I was so surprised how setting up a few small altars in accordance with these principles made our home feel so much better.
Thank you Lara for the post. Its comprehensiveness is very helpful to make an altar myself that is in line with principles of the Religion of the Sun. I particularly appreciate its directions because that is something I had wondered about for some time.
The excerpts you have included from the Kolbrin are a very direct teaching. I appreciate how clearly they speak on what is worship, sacrifice and the importance of responsibility to oneself and to humanity.
This week I will make an altar in our ‘home-office’, and will post an image of it once it is ready.
Thank you Lara for putting together this guide. Having something physical to remind us of the non physical seems like a very good idea. Great comments too touching on aspects that I would not have thought of.
Thanks very much for sharing this great information, this has been very valuable and detailed,and also very motivating, It certainly helps to feel more peaceful within being able to set up the shrine with all the right details Thanks Lara
Thank you for outlining this information in such a comprehensive manner.
My altar had been facing West for as long as I can remember due to it being the only usable space. Finally managed to move everything around to get an East facing practice room and altar. Will be an interesting experience exploring the new cardinal point and practice orientation. Just sat in the new position before though and everything felt ‘backwards’. Its amazing what one gets accustomed to.
What a beautiful idea and precious guidance Lara how to make a shrine and how it is important to exist a shrine in the house!
Reading this article many things have much more sense.
I like the connection you did the Holy Trinity and their energies with the protons, electrons, and neutrons and their energies. It was a shock.
It seems that in every molecule there is the witness of Holy Trinity.
As above, as below in every corner
of creation until in its minimum aspect.
Here there is an excellent connection between seemingly different sciences Esoterism-Theology and Physic.
If these teachings were taught in schools probably the most children would pay much more attention about the Physic and wouldn’t feel boring, as it happens in many cases.
I’ d like to add some information, in case they are useful.
In Greece, Zeus is called more as Dias, so we can see the same root of Divine Father with other ancient civilizations.
Besides according to the Greek mythology, the Divine Spouse of Goddess Gaia (it means Earth in greek) was the God Uranos (it means Sky) who lived in the sky, but unfortunately after he moved away.
From this first Divine couple were borned the next divinities as Kronos etc.
That’s very interesting Zeus is more commonly referred to as Dias in Greece, as the word Dias is in some ways even closer to the Proto-Indo European root of Dyḗus Ptḗr, and the other variations of it i.e. the Baltic form of Dievas, and the Vedic form Dyaus Pitar. I have updated this in the article.
As with so many cultures, over such a long period of time, gods took on so many different roles – so that it is now hard to make much sense of it. In that case, I’d suggest that unless there is a clear Trinity which is spiritual (and does not have degenerate elements in it), that it’s best to just use representations of the gods and goddesses that best represent the divine principles of the Trinity – even though they may not have a direct relationship to one other i.e. were known in stories to have been married.
Thank you, Lara, for your clarifications.
I understand what you mean about the representations of the Gods.
This about the God Father Uranos (Sky), I mentioned mainly in order to emphasize to the Shining Sky Father of Proto-Indo-Europeans.
There’s a lot to study here Lara, thanks so much for putting this together, it is greatly appreciated.
This is very helpful information and much appreciated. I’ve got so much to learn, this is all very inspiring.
Thanks Lara for all your hard work.
Thanks for this information Lara. I find it helpful to have a focal point somewhere in the house. It is a good reminder of the work.
It is interesting that you mentioned Athena as representing the Mother Goddess in the ancient Greek version of the Holy Trinity. I always perceived her as a motherly figure and I have had dreams in the past that indicated that was the case. I was confused though because she was said to be Zeus’s daughter (born from his forehead which may have a symbolism). Zeus’s wife was said to be Hera.
The Kolbrin excerpts are very interesting. Definitely on the books to read in the near future.
Thank you Lara
Without sounding funny, this really does feel like a heavenly inspired upliftment to have at home and thank you so much for outlining in it with so much care and detail. I learnt a lot from peoples comments and your answers, and look forward to your suggested readings from the Kolbrin.
I felt very grounded reading those excerpts you provided in this article and was thankful you did actually, as its easy to get carried away with an idea or ‘feeling’ of reverence, but neglect the need of inner change. It’s like you brought the scales into balance :)
I hope that I can also form this shrine in my own heart and beautify it with the light of inner change.
Thank you for this wonderful gift you and Mark have given.
Those are amazing excerpts, they really help to put the purpose of a shrine in its proper context of uplifting you and linking you with the divine. I’ve always liked having some sort of shrine at home, and the time when it worked best for me was when it was the focal point of a practice room. Having it in a dedicated space where I could go for contemplation helped me to focus on why I was there, and the feeling of reaching out to the divine from a space of quiet.
I’m really looking forward to creating a shrine that has representations of the trinity, especially with the different options you’ve outlined. Thank you very much for the pictures, they help a lot too.
It was very inspiring to read this. To have all those symbols and items for each spiritual force described and explained so clearly. To have a clear understanding of how to set up a shrine in accordance with the religion of the sun. Even the scents that relate to the different forces; I hadn’t realized that before. I learnt many new beautiful things.
Like others have mentioned, we also have one or two in our home but it’s been more of a mixture of different spiritual items, pictures or symbols that we liked; but comparing that approach with the one you explained I much prefer yours! I look forward to setting up ours according to these guidelines. It would be beautiful to have one in nature too; will see if that’s possible where we are.
In Bulgaria people sometimes intuitively build small shrines at sacred sites. At one site there was a natural hole in the rock where someone had placed an image of Jesus praying and some flowers, and people would leave pennies there, according to local custom, as a kind of symbolic sacrifice I guess. At the same site there was a large, special beech tree with a hollow trunk where a shrine had been set up also. It’s interesting to me that it seems to come naturally to people (of Bulgaria at least, haven’t really visited ancient sacred sites elsewhere) to want to have a specific place of worship at a spiritual site. Being from a secular country where ancient sacred sites in nature have mostly been destroyed or forgotten, or even if remembered, worship there wouldn’t occur to most people, it’s really nice to see.
Perfect timing on the release of this post! I was just considering how to improve my mediation area to include an altar/shrine, and here you are posting explicit instructions!
Many thanks for this detailed information!
Thanks Lara for presenting this information in such a practical and inspirational way and for sharing those beautiful photos of the altar with us. I was surprised to read about the reference made about the colour blue representing the Spiritual Father. I somehow thought of it being more closely associated with the Divine Mother (water, sky). Even the reference to the pinky red colour used for the Spiritual Mother was another surprise because it happen to be the colour I chose for my existing altar that I’ve dedicated to the Spiritual Mother (with a beautiful statue of Lakshmi) before reading about it here in this article.
This is the first time I have heard of the Kolbrin. The section of quotes taken from “The Voice of God” text really stood out to me – the words felt incredibly honest and sincere to read.
I noticed how the Spiritual Mother is often depicted in art wearing a pink/red gown and a blue cloak, sometimes with a pattern of golden stars over it. Is this symbolic to the relationship between the Spiritual Mother (Earth, feminine love) and Father (the blue hue reflected in the sky and seas as seen from Earth)?
Lara I also had a question about the use of a square table in an altar. In the past it was discouraged to light candles on tables with four legs. Could you clarify whether that still applies? I had in mind using a square cube table made of banana leaves by removing the legs and having it sit flat on the floor.
Hi Patricia,
I suspect it does symbolize the relationship between Mother/earth and Father/sky. I have noticed how the Mother is depicted as wearing red or pink too, as in the paintings of the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi, and the Virgin Mary.
It’s fine for a table to have four legs, and to have the shrine on top. If the shrine with a candle is on top of the 4, this symbolizes spirit over matter. It is the same with a pentagram, when it has 1 point above the other 4 below.
Thanks very much for sharing all that Lara – very inspired to set something up in my house now. Thanks for sharing the Kolbrin quotes as well – seems like a book to definitely put on the reading list.
Those excerpts from the Kolbrin are so very clear and accessible. It’s interesting that they’re written in the first person when it seems to be referencing a spiritual source, I wonder who wrote it?
The message about worshiping without fear really speaks to me and is something I’ve been reflecting on lately. It’s easy to do many things with an underlying fear without realizing it, which for me the passage rightly puts as a fear of the unknown. I think it’s a motivation that can make the religious very zealous in their fear of losing heaven or avoiding hell, without really having an understanding of either.
I find looking at shrines reminds me of the spiritual, and gives me a kind of sense of joy or wonder. Thinking back to my time in Waldorf school, I recall the teachers would set up little shrines. There were pine branches, pinecones, candles, little wool woodland animals, angels made of cloth, fairies, stones, etc… These pins of advent decorations give some idea of what they’re like: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/38351034300851072/
Hi Julian, The examples of those little shrines at the link you sent are nice. Although they wouldn’t serve as a shrine in the sense I outlined in the article above, I can how they would serve as a lovely decoration to have set up somewhere over the winter solstice.
Hi Julian,
Thanks for sharing your insights. It struck me what you said about fear. A while ago I had a feeling like guidance, of how differently I would approach some spiritual practices if I didn’t have a certain perspective, arising from fear, about spiritual things. I would have much more strength and motivation to move forward basically, like it’s stopping me. This probably isn’t quite the same thing as what you were describing but I agree, that passage and so many others of what Lara quoted of the Kolbrin really spoke to me too.
Those advent decorations look beautiful. Would be very nice to create for the winter solstice period as decorating the house at this time seems natural but the regular Christmas decorations often seem too garish to me.
Yes, I agree with your comments about fear, Julian and Laura – the quotes from The Kolbrin are very apt. In some ways, fear could be motivating, such as in the example Julian gave of avoiding hell. But fear can be a very crippling emotion, so I agree that fears of a religious nature are also not helpful, especially if they lead to a fanatical adherence to dogma, or create an underlying anxiety or uneasiness, which can ruin our perception of the present moment and inhibit our ability to feel the spiritual. It takes time to develop a truly objective outlook, as we’re all so clouded by the influence of the subconscious, but I think it’s good to be aware of emotions like fear creeping into our spiritual lives and to work to reduce it.
I remember a talk from Mark, where he mentioned that we shouldn’t start worrying about facing all the tests along the path to enlightenment at the same time, as whatever challenges we may need to face will arise in their own time. He also mentioned that following this spiritual work is the essential purpose behind our lives and that we shouldn’t go through our whole life with fear. I think that’s a good attitude to have – being motivated to change and prepared for future challenges, but not allowing fear to thwart our attempts to move forward by making us scared to act, or create an obsessive dogmatism, which can cloud our common sense.
Hi Julian,
I’ve come across the little ‘Waldorf’ seasonal alters here and there and they’ve always left such a nice impression on me. It’s lovely that children in contact with this kind of education learn a sense of creating that special place, but also of observing the seasons and what nature is doing at that time. The principles of using natural materials, soft and primary colours and items from the natural world creates very pleasing displays.
Hi
We have a statue of Ganesha at home and since I’ld prefer to have statue instead of a picture on the shrine, I’ld like to ask if this one can be used representing the son?
Hi Fotis, I don’t know much about Ganesha. But the deity chosen to represent the Son should have some connection to the sun or events such as resurrection, birth at the winter solstice etc. The Son should also be represented by a deity that embodies spiritual principles. What I mean by that is that the statue of the deity should not look aggressive/warlike (a lot of statues of Norse, Germanic, or Celtic gods can look quite violent), immodest (particularly some of the Greek ones can be without many clothes, or any at all), brutish (some can look thugish, like wrestlers, rather than a divine man), effeminate/womanly/girlish (often some of the statues of Krishna or Jesus can make them look like women), or overweight. At a quick glance, the issue I see with Ganesha is that he is described as, and thus depicted as, having a hanging belly (or pot belly). Having a pot belly is definitely not in accord with spiritual principles (unless someone has a medical reason), and is thus not an appropriate depiction of the Son. Taking all these requirements into account, it can be difficult to find an appropriate statue, but there are a few out there. This is one good example, or though of course there are many others in different cultures: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lugh-Statue-Wood-Finish-Dryad-Designs-Celtic-God-Wiccan-Wicca-Pagan-/170942441823?hash=item27ccf6a95f:g:SRwAAOSwKfVXI2jD
This is really useful to know Lara and clarifies a lot what kind of images or statues are good to use. Looking at the statue you linked to inspired me to find an appropriate statue I like even though I haven’t been into them previously. Thanks for taking the time to answer all the questions here.
Thank you Lara for your reply, it makes sense what you said about the characteristics of the figure of one statue. Actually, self-observing myself can see the egos that some statues are triggering because of their appearance. I definitely can say about the statue you linked for example that triggers gently feelings.
Ganesha’s belly looks like being part of its elephant characteristics :) but seriously after reflecting on this, I think that the statue or picture could be a figure I feel familiar and appeals to me more and I might use when for example I’m visualizing my Father.
Looking forward seeing photos from shrines of the religion of the sun popping out :)
I really like this statue as well, Lara. I’ve come across it a while back and noticed that sometimes it’s sold as Lugh and sometimes as Belenus, though both are deities associated with fire and the sun. What I thought was particularly interesting about it is that the style of it is very reminiscent of traditional depictions of Hindu / Vedic deities, yet it’s a Celtic deity being depicted. And in the case of Belenus there is a very strong connection between mythology related to him and Vedic mythology about the Sun deity Surya. Made me wonder if the artist had that in mind when they sculpted it? Either way, it’s a really nice depiction of the sun god. Many others, as you say, can be violent, lustful, or just somehow off-putting.
Also, thank you for the detailed article, and especially for including the end quotes — the Kolbrin is a text I haven’t gotten around to reading yet, but the passages you highlighted do seem very applicable in a timeless way, as you mentioned in your response to Justin here. It’s nice to come across something so fresh, direct, and inspiring.
I agree Jenny about the statue, it looks like an amazing mix of the Celtic and Vedic traditions. I had a quick look if I could find a female counterpart to this statue, and I found a nice “Moon Goddess” from the same company and of the same style, which can be bought here: https://www.ebay.com/i/171502695569?rt=nc
Hi Lucia,
One of the main things I’d recommend looking out for with female statues is that they don’t look overly sexualized – or in this case, overtly “busty”. Some might claim it’s to do with representing overt femininity, but to me it is more to do with an artist’s own lust influencing what they create. It’s a real shame, as so many goddess statues seem to have been created with an element of this. One way of telling is to see if there are elements to the body that look unnaturally over-represented, particularly the sexual parts.
Thanks Lara for your clear clarifications on these things, it’s very useful.
I’ve seen in general that with many strands of ‘modern paganism’ that, to different degrees, indulgence into pleasure is considered as okay and part of the practice. In celebrations, clothing worn, and down to the paintings and artwork. It’s a real shame in my opinion because such direction taints and disables the ability to pursue and experience spiritual things. It also puts what were once spiritual cultures and gods into a bad light, and it’s off putting to someone looking for something genuine.
I’ve found it impossible so far to feel confident I’ll like a statue enough to buy it online; I really need to see it up close, touch it and be in its presence! I was trying to choose a statue of Athena recently and it took me a long time. Subtle differences in the faces of almost identical models made a big impact on the feeling of the statue. But that statue of Lugh gives a really nice first impression!
Ehhh, that’s right! Believe it or not, I didnt really notice it! :-O But now having a specific look after your comment, it is indeed true, there is a really weird and out-of-place emphasis on that part of the body. What a pity, as it could have a been a nice image otherwise.
Thanks for that clarification Lara, highlighting issues that can subvert the pure nature of the shrine. I have a statue representing the Divine Mother that is overly ‘busty’, but ‘settled’ with it — without pinpointing what was wrong with it — until you mentioned it here. Clearly I will have to do better, and replace it.
I think you made some very good points there Karim. I agree that it’s a real pity that some of the most profound spiritual celebrations have become associated with debauchery and indulgence.
Some festivals that stem from burning the symbolic figure of John Barleycorn at the autumn equinox have now become an excuse for hedonism, where some of the festival goers walk around naked, or with very little clothing, get drunk, take drugs etc. It’s a pity, as the point of the original celebration was the rebirth of the spirit, out of the darkness of the animal drives.
The same kind of mishmash of values seemed to happen with the hippy movement in the 1960’s/70’s, which had some great ideas, such an openness to new forms of spirituality, an appreciation of nature, and often an interest in social justice, but which also brought with it a lot of promiscuity, drug taking etc., despite being a return to innocence at face value.
I agree that it’s a shame that the desire for lust and pleasure seeking often infiltrates spiritual celebrations over time, so that when looking back retrospectively, it can obscure some of the core spiritual principles that those celebrations represented and paint previously spiritual cultures in a bad light.
I just wanted to correct something I said above about the statue: I came across the original one which was made by the artist Paul Borda, and according to his original design it’s a statue of Lugh and not Belenus (even though it’s sometimes sold / referenced as such in some sources online).
Hi Lara,
I really like that statue – it gives off such a gentleness in it as well as strength, wisdom and peace – it’s actually really helpful to see how different feelings I got from looking at the different statues out there gave me. It’s interesting to see and experience in a sense, it gives an idea of what we see can affect us, and how it can either uplift us or have an opposite effect.
@Jenny, I know! I had the same thought as well, how it looks so similar to many Hindu statues I have seen, thus further depicting the connections between the various cultures. It’s really neat.
While I wasn’t raised in a religious environment, I always remember when going to a place of worship feeling a connection, a respect and a certain reverence to whatever shrine I came across – it always brought a certain peacefulness within, like connecting to something even though at the time I had no idea what I was trying to connect to, or whether or not, I would be listened if I ‘talked’ / ‘prayed’ to the shrine – but surely, this is what it brought me to feel and do, ‘talking’ / ‘praying’ and there was always something to it – it wasn’t like I could put something into words, it was more a feeling.
It’s interesting to realize how simple objects and representations can have his uplifting affect, and brings us closer to the divine, but it really does. Fresh flowers for example bring about this natural beauty, and the aromas of the incense are also pleasing to the senses.
So thank you very much Lara, to be able to make a shrine, to understand the symbology, to be able to have this connection at home is something very special indeed – like you say, how it can have this reminder effect of the overall picture, connecting to the Sun, and be able to have that connection right here, at home, or even in the garden.
Thanks for the wonderful article. Very practical and also offering a lot of insight into the true purpose of a shrine and how to use a sacred physical space to connect ourselves with the internal and unseen.
As an aside, I found the passages from the Kolbrin particularly powerful. I have read a bit of it recently and read these excerpts here now, and everything I have read from it seems to have a very powerful feeling of truth and authenticity. It seems like a voice of deep wisdom speaking. I would like to better understand its origins and study it in more depth.
I found the same thing Justin. The Kolbrin is quite a mix of texts, and not all of them contain decent spiritual principles. However, those that do are remarkable. I had the sense when reading them that time vanished between myself and the writer, and that if I were to talk to them directly, we would speak about the same spiritual work with a shared understanding.
I have nearly finished reading it front to back, and will be posting a blog fairly shortly with a list of the texts within it that I would recommend to those practitioners of the Religion of the Sun to study.
Hehe, that’s great Lara, was just about to ask if it would be recommended.
Brilliant. Thanks for that Lara – really looking forward to reading it, but would really only like to read the recommended parts.
Thank you Lara for this detailed guide and beautiful pictures. I especially like the principle of the 3 colors – red/pink, blue/turquoise and yellow representing the masculine, feminine and neutral forces. When I was working in a publishing house, I learned that the to print any colourful image, only the 3 primary colors are needed – magenta (purple), cyan (turquoise) and yellow. And from these 3 basic colours then anything can be printed. So it is very interesting to observe these principles literally cascading down to the lowest levels, even manifesting in such mundane areas like printing.
The altars on the images look very nice, and I can imagine what a beautiful different combinations could be made if everyone uses the images/statues and other decorations from their own cultures or traditions, or maybe even their own paintings. :-) I also liked the mentioning of the “feminine” and “masculine” scents, it is a good thing to keep in mind.
Hello Lara,
I have been recently thinking about creating something at home and even our back or side yard so I really appreciate this guidance.
I look forward to reading this article and learning from it.
Thanks so much for this guidance, it is really welcome and appreciated.
:)
It’s interesting to see how common outdoor shrines are especially of the Spiritual Mother being prominently placed outside, usually in front of many homes, lawns and gardens in villages I’ve seen in Europe when I travelled to Italy, France, Greece, Malta. I found them to be carefully and beautifully decorated, filled with lots of flowers and candles. I would see them on my way somewhere and they would stand out so much, often using large statues of the Virgin Mary enclosed in some kind of a white shelter that I would stop to appreciate it. It was nice to see that they could be enjoyed by everyone including a passerby like me.
Thanks so much for this resource Lara.
I guess the Lord’s prayer is an obvious one for the father. Does anyone know one like that for the spiritual mother?
Hey Daniel,
In the Essene Gospel of peace there’s a prayer to the Earthly Mother which is similar to the Lord’s prayer.
It’s here if you want to check it out: https://www.spiritualsun.com/practices/texts/sampsaean/daily-prayers-to-the-earthly-mother-and-heavenly-father-from-the-essene-gospel-of-peace
That’s great. Thanks a lot Erik.
Thank you Lara for sharing this information in detail with us.
Make things more clear to me about how a shrine of the religion of the sun could look like. And it makes sense when what I have till now in my place is not so accurate, let say, even it is still a shrine. I’m looking forward changing it according to your suggestions and see how it feels like.
What stood out most though were the articles from The Kolbrin you posted. There are many points there that worth to reflect on and certainly need to be read over and over again. I think they make a clear distinction and what is the feeling of the purest sense of a religion.
Also something a bit funny, you made clear to me, why many parents are using pink for their daughters and blue for their boys :) It makes sense in the context of the masculine and feminine force, but obviously is part of an understanding and not that of a fashion/modern culture thing. But probably the origins of this tradition? come from this and with time the understanding was lost. I don’t know.
Thank you for the boost towards the connection with the spiritual and your wish. All the best to you too!
Thank you Lara for this guide, it’s given me new understanding, and some fresh ideas, on how to set up alters both in my home and in outside spaces. Like you mention, I’ve found that alters can really help direct my focus and become something of a refuge when they become ‘charged’ through my tending them. I look forward to renewing my alters and my relationship to them.
I find the emphasis on using linen especially interesting as I’ve read from some naturopaths that linseed oil (from flax) helps the body to ‘hold onto light’, through a process that I can’t fully remember or understand, but is about the fatty acids of the oil assisting the cells of the body to hold onto electrons and thus accept more protons. I know this is just the physical side of things, but possibly this has a higher-dimensional aspect to it too, and this relationship between flax and light might be why linen was so sacred. I also grew flax this year just for the flowers, they’re delicate blue flowers, (linked to the father?) that were so very beautiful they brought me so much happiness!
I wonder, if there is a location in your home that seems like a natural spot for an alter – a corner where there’s empty space and has a little table there already, say it’s facing west or south, could this be used as an alter to the warrior goddess? Maybe with a statue of the divine feminine in her warrior aspect? I’m thinking here of the Daksine mantra, an appeal to Kali when she’s in a southerly position, saving souls. Could we use this direction and this imagery to appeal to this aspect of her? (And to make use of those corners in the home?!)
Thanks again!
Hi Ella, That’s very interesting what you say about linen. I do feel it is important to use natural fibers for ceremonies and shrines etc. Like you say, they have properties that are other dimensional.
I think having an altar facing south or west is fine, as long as it follows spiritual principles. So in that case, it would be to the Spiritual Mother in her aspect as a warrior goddess like you say. It would need to be solely about descent and the death of the egos though, and the role the Spiritual Mother plays in that. So it would not have the Father or Son on there, nor would it have the Mother on there in her aspect of giving birth to the Son i.e. depicted as a holding a child. If someone wants to have a shrine to the Spiritual Mother in her warrior aspect, they could still also have it facing North and East though.
Because the Mother is related to both birth and death, there are more options in terms of her shrine layout. Thanks Ella, am glad you brought this up.
Thanks for all the great information Lara, including this clarification.
Regarding it being appropriate to have an altar with the Mother in her warrior aspect facing west or south, I just want to make sure I have it clear, does this orientation go by the point of view of her altar/statue or the direction the person is facing when standing before the alter? So for example, if her statue is facing toward the south, a person would be facing north when standing at the alter.
I say that because it is mentioned in point 2. of How to set out a Shrine that the practitioner should face east or north, in which case a statue of the Mother would be facing south or west anyway. So does this mean it is appropriate for a person to face south or west before a statue of the Mother in her warrior aspect (as well as being in acceptable in the usual orientation)?
Hi Matthew,
Yes, that’s right – so someone can face south or west (as well as north or east), or anything in between, when facing the shrine dedicated to the Spiritual Mother in her warrior aspect.
Thanks for raising this Ella and thank you Lara for clarifying.
Thanks Lara, that’s really helpful. I was using this principle to a degree, but will develop it fully now in my shrine layout at home. I had been placing a statue of Shiva as the Lord of Dance at the west, remembering his association with destruction of evil, but with more thorough research it seems the meaning of the imagery is more complex than that, and with Shiva obviously being a male figure, I guess it’s better for this to be facing the North or East too?
Hi Ella, Yes, that’s right. I feel it’s important that once principles are known, to adhere to them as best as possible, as otherwise what happened to so many other religions, will happen to the religion of the sun. If we are to preserve this knowledge and these principles as far into the future as we can, then it’s up to us to stick to them as best we can.
Yes, indeed. That’s something serious to reflect on. Thanks for the further clarification.