Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
How To Set Up Your Goddess Shrine

How To Set Up Your Goddess Shrine

Last updated on: April 17, 2018 at 7:26 am by Lilith Dorsey

How To Set Up Your Goddess Shrine 2018-04-17T07:26:07-05:00 Lilith Dorsey

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

People of all faiths and traditions can set up a Goddess shrine. They can be part of the sacred spaces of Wiccans, Pagans, Ceremonial magicians, devotees of African Traditional Religions, and even, in a way, with some Christians ( with the reverence for the Virgin Mary.) Shrines for the Goddess have been made by humans for thousands of years, since the beginning of culture.

As someone who has been setting up altars and shrines my whole life, I forget sometimes that people may not know how to begin creating these devotional areas. Let me start by making the distinction that altars are usually created for a specific purpose, while shrines are generally set up as a permanent way of honoring what is represented. If you would like to welcome the energy of a specific Goddess in your life, creating a Goddess shrine is a wonderful way to begin.

Goddess Shrines : Separate But Equal

The first thing to think about when setting up a Goddess shrine is location. Obviously, this decision is going to be dictated by which Goddess you are honoring, and where her sacred power lies. Another thing to consider is the amount of space you have, and what type of space that is. Do you have a large space, or a small one ? Do you need to keep it hidden from prying eyes or others who may be in your home ? Is it a place you need to protect it from small hands, or paws (you know what I mean)?

In my post on How To Create A Shrine For Yemaya I write “Remember to always consult with your godparents before setting up any type of shrine, or purchasing something. Begin by making sure you have a separate space for your shrine. Many Lucumi devotees even craft separate cabinets so their shrines can have equal but divided space. At the very least set up your shrine on a table, and cover it when you have guests present or are not actively honoring it. ”

Some African Traditional Religions have a prohibition on setting up a shrine in your bedroom. The belief is that the intimacy of that room should be kept separate from your sacred life, and this is something I was always taught from leaders in the New Orleans Voodoo religion.

Goddess Shrine : Size Matters

A few months back my godson offered a workshop called Size Matters: Crafting Mini-Altars and Shrines. Many people have the need for smaller shrines to use for travel, or even in your own home. These types of shrines can be crafted in small tins, cigar boxes, or just about anything. They use smaller offerings than you would put on a regular size shrine, but their functionality is the same.

What To Put On Your Goddess Shrine

Vijayadashami special decoration For Goddess Mahalakshmi photo by Mahalakshmi gubbi. Licensed under CC 4.0

Obviously, the things that you place on your shrine will be specific to the Goddess you are dealing with. There are some commonalities, however. Very often people leave a tribute of flowers or food. As in the photo of Mahalakshmi which accompanies this post.

Goddess Shrine Offerings Can Include :

Flowers
Plants
Candles
Food
Drink
Images of the Goddess
Statuary
Crystals
Items specific to the Goddess you are honoring ( for example Amber for Freya, Raisins for Hekate, or Oranges for Oshun)

Further Resources and Readings about Goddess Shrines and Altars

There are many books and resources to consult about setting up sacred spaces for the Goddess in your place. One amazing resource, which I am proud to be part of, is the Mystery School of the Goddess. A sacred feminine wisdom school, they offer online classes and workshops detailing all aspects of Goddess worship.

As far as the Afro-Caribbean traditions are concerned there are a few books I would recommend. First there is Santeria Garments and Altars by Ysamur Flores-Pena and Roberta J. Evanchuk. This wonderfully illustrated book includes numerous sacred garments and spaces used in the religion. Flores-Pena talks about one specific altar or throne for Oshun saying ” this particular altar would be … ‘a structure within a structure.’ In this sacred space, for seven days, the iyawo would eat, sleep, and experience the process of initiation into the priesthood of Oshun….[His] altar and the initiate who becomes part of it, together, must send a message to those who see it. ” And there certainly is a lot to see here. Another wonderfully illustrated work, this time dealing with Haitian Vodou, is Vodou Things: The Art of Pierrot Barra and Marie Cassaise. Personal expression is key here. Consequently, the focus is on devotional works of art that are altars and shrines in their own right.

Finally, for more information on other ways to honor the Goddess please check out my book 55 Ways to Connect to Goddess. As always if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to like, comment, and share !

About Lilith Dorsey

Lilith Dorsey M.A. , hails from many magickal traditions, including Celtic, Afro-Caribbean, and Native American spirituality. Her traditional education focused on Plant Science, Anthropology, and Film at the University of R.I, New York University and the University of London, and her magickal training includes numerous initiations in Santeria also known as Lucumi, Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo.Lilith Dorsey is a Voodoo Priestess and in that capacity has been doing successful magick since 1991 for patrons, is editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly, filmmaker of the experimental documentary Bodies of Water :Voodoo Identity and Tranceformation,’ choreographer/performer for jazz legend Dr. John’s “Night Tripper” Voodoo Show, and author of Voodoo and Afro-Caribbean Paganism, 55 Ways to Connect to Goddess, The African-American Ritual Cookbook, and Love Magic. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

April 13, 2018

Divination Space Station: Mat Auryn

Next Post

April 22, 2018 Review: Religion In The Kitchen By Elizabeth Perez

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ancestors astrology Candomble Crystals Divination Entertainment Goddess Herbs Hoodoo Ifa Pagan Ritual Recipes Santeria Spells Uncategorized Vodou Voodoo Witchcraft

Select a Month May 2025 January 2025 September 2024 August 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 September 2023 June 2023 March 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I was a scribe skilled in the Law, and I set my heart to study, practice, and teach it. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Solomon Nehemiah Ezra Samuel