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Looking to add a little spirituality to your home décor? Check out our tips on how to decorate your temple at home! From small shrines to full-blown altars, we’ll show you how to create a sacred space that reflects your beliefs and brings peace and calm to your life.
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Introduction
Although Latter-day Saints are encouragedto maintain temples as the centerpiece of family life and activity, not every member lives near a temple or is able to visits often. Temples are sacred spaces where baptisms for the dead, endowments, and sealings are performed. They are open to the public for tours and free concerts, but only Latter-day Saints in good standing with the church may enter to perform religious ordinances.
If you live far from a temple or if your circumstances prevent you from attending often, there are still things you can do to bring the spirit of the temple into your home. Below are some ideas for decorating your home in a way that will help create an atmosphere of peace, reverence, and worship.
What You’ll Need
If you would like to decorate your own temple at home, you will need the following supplies:
-An imposing statue of a deity or deities
-A shrine or altar where the statue(s) will be placed
-Fresh flowers
-Incense
-Offering bowls
-A bell or gong (optional)
Step One: Choose a Room
In order to decide where to put your temple, you’ll first need to choose an empty room in your house. The room should be as big or small as you want, but keep in mind that you will need to be able to move around the room freely and comfortably. Once you’ve chosen a room, you can begin to decorate it according to the guidelines below.
Step Two: Pick a Theme
Picking a theme for your temple can be a fun and creative process! You may want to choose a theme that reflects your interests or personality, or you may want to create a space that is conducive to specific types of worship or meditation.
Some popular themes for home temples include:
-Nature
-Celestial bodies
-Animals
-Your favorite deity or deities
-Architectural features
Once you have chosen a theme, you can begin to gather materials that reflect that theme. You may want to look for statues, paintings, tapestries, or other artwork that reflect your chosen theme. You can also use natural materials such as stones, shells, wood, or plants to decorate your temple space.
Step Three: Choose Your Deities
Depending on your tradition, you may want to have a shrine with one central deity, or multiple gods and goddesses. You may already have a specific deity in mind that you would like to worship, or you may be undecided. If you are unsure which deity or deities you would like to include on your shrine, there are a few things you can do to help you make your decision:
– Research different pantheons and find one that speaks to you. Once you have chosen a pantheon, research the different deities within it and see if any of them resonate with you.
– Do some meditative work and ask for guidance from the divine. This could involve something as simple as sitting quietly with the question in your mind, or doing a more formal ritual with specific instructions for contacting deities.
– Look at artwork and statues of different deities to see if any of them stand out to you.
Once you have decided which deity or deities you would like to include on your shrine, it is time to start collecting images or statues that represent them. You can find these online or in metaphysical shops, or even make your own if you are feeling creative!
Step Four: Set Up an Altar
Now that you have your temple space set up and organized, it’s time to start decorating! One of the most important features of any temple is the altar. The altar is a sacred space where you can focus your attention on the divine. It is a place to offer prayers, make offerings, and meditate.
There are no hard and fast rules about how to set up an altar. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. The most important thing is that it reflects your own personal spirituality. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you set up your own Altar:
– Choose a spot for your altar that is peaceful and secluded. This will help you to feel more relaxed and focused when you are using it.
– Make sure the surface of your altar is clean and uncluttered. This will help you to keep your mind clear when you are using it for meditation or prayer.
– Decorate your altar with items that are meaningful to you. This could include statues or images of deities, candles, flowers, crystals, or anything else that brings you joy.
– designate a space on your altar for offerings. This could be a small dish or bowl where you can place food or drink offerings for the gods or spirits.
– light a candle on your altar whenever you use it. This will help to create a feeling of sanctity around your space.
Step Five: Choose Your Rituals
When you have your temple space set up the way you want it, it’s time to choose your rituals. You can do as many or as few rituals as you want, but it’s important to be consistent so that your temple becomes a calming and sacred space for you.
Some ideas for rituals include:
– lighting a candle each day when you enter your temple
– saying a prayer or affirmation
– meditating for a few minutes
– writing in your journal
– spending time each day simply being still and present in your temple space
Step Six: Add Some Aesthetics
After you have placed all of your sacred objects on the altar, you may want to add some additional elements to create a more pleasing aesthetic. This is completely optional, but if you feel called to do so, there are a few things you can add.
Step Seven: Keep It Simple
When you are first starting out, it is best to keep the number of items in your shrine area small. You can always add more as you get more comfortable with the practice. A few items that might be nice to have on your shrine are:
-A photo or statue of a deity that you feel drawn to
-An offering bowl or dish
-A candle
-Incense
-A bell
Conclusion
In conclusion, decorating your home temple can be a very rewarding and spiritual experience. It is a great way to express your religious beliefs and create a space in your home that is sacred and special. With a little planning and creativity, you can easily create a beautiful and peaceful temple that you and your family will enjoy for years to come.
