The Practice

The shrines are sculptural expressions of the sacred feminine energy of Mother Earth, Gaia, Pachamama, hand built by Anne to offer a temple-like interior, which houses a little vessel.

The vessel may be a dish to hold a candle or burn incense, a glazed bowl to receive offerings of food or flowers, or a simple treasure vase to fill with prayers.

Shrines provide a sacred place in which to focus a daily practice of gratitude. Tending to a shrine each day, either by lighting a candle within, or placing something into the offering bowl, is a beautiful and simple way to connect in with ourselves on a heart level, to enjoy moments of peace and reflection. 

As the practice becomes part of our daily rhythm,  some of the gratitude and inner peace begins to spill over into other parts of our life, and can open a door to faith. The feeling that "All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well" as 14th Century female mystic Julian of Norwich famously wrote.

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Places Shrines Inhabit

The shrines are suitable for indoor or outdoor settings (if protected from hard frosts). They dwell in people's homes, gardens, therapy rooms and to retreat centres as well as holding space for ceremonial gatherings, yoga, meditation and mandala painting classes. 

They are self contained, as an altar unto themselves, yet also sit well as a centrepiece for a larger altar.

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​Technical Details

Each shrine is hand built and carved from either a honey coloured or terracotta textured clay, that withstands temperature changes, making it ideal for garden settings as well as indoors, and to comfortably hold candles or the heat of charcoal burned incenses.​​​

A carved 'cloak' forms the main chamber of the shrine and carries a geometric design, which allows both the light of day in, and, when lit from within by a candle, the radiance of candlelight out.

The floor of the temple-like interior is glazed with blue or green recycled glass, which has a crystalline glittering quality after firing.

All dishes and bowls come with a little ceramic stand. They are water and heat proof and versatile as a vessel for a candle, charcoal disc for burning incense, water in which to float a flower, a place to honour special stones etc.
 

Design 

Although the general intention of gratitude is the same, over the years the shrines have manifested in a variety of sizes, with different hand gestures, standing or kneeling, sometimes representing a particular goddess, element or quality, and sometimes including meaningful plants and animals.

The geometry of the carved mandala also varies. 

I mostly make shrines to order, so there is scope for customising the design details, such as:

• The geometry of the cloak

• Choice of blue or green glass for the interior floor

• The bowl glaze colour/ design

• Inclusion of plants and animals

Customers are often happy to trust my intuitive process regarding the design.

However, I am happy to embrace extra details you may envisage for your shrine. This is something we can discuss, and may require additional cost, depending on how complex and time consuming it is to make.

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If you'd like to discuss your ideas, please  CONTACT ME

 

Scroll down to view the gallery for some examples of previous sculptures.

 

Sizes (approximate)

Kneeling Shrine - 30cm high x 24cm diameter at the base​

Standing Shrine - 40cm high x 28cm diameter at the base 

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Cost

Kneeling goddess shrine - £350 to £450 depending on complexity of design

Standing goddess shrine - £550 to £750 depending on complexity of design

Prices cover materials, making, two kiln firings and delivery by courier.

 

Delivery

Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for making and delivery.

I use UPS courier and carefully package the sculpture to avoid damage in transit.

 

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Shrine Gallery