Building a Shrine Within

What if you could build your own shrine and carry it wherever you go?

Photo by Doug Robichaud on Unsplash

Hi friend,

Today I have a special story to share.

My wise, late maternal grandfather was not a man who frequented temples, churches, or mosques. In fact, he did not care much for rituals, rules, and obligations.

He was on a spiritual path and lived by his values of kindness, tolerance, and non-interference. He believed in letting people walk their path. Nothing could shake him. Nothing could disrupt his peace.

Just how did he do that?

His secret was to meditate. Nothing fancy. No yoga centres. No dedicated rooms. No special yoga attire.

He meditated in his pyjamas! Yes. It’s true (and a bit funny).

He did it early morning at 7am, on his sofa, before my grandmother had woken up. He’d put his legs up in Siddhasana and savour his 30 minutes of quiet. Every day. Without fail.

He often reminded me to meditate too. ‘It will help you. Try it, young lady.’

‘But Nana, where is the time?’ I’d say. I was working 40 hours a week back then and felt like I barely had a life.

He’d laugh and say, ‘You have to make time for it, young lady.’

Nana passed away nine years ago, almost eleven months after I stopped working and decided to go back to university for my master’s. It was the first year I actually made time to meditate. I would sit on my dorm room floor, play a soft track, close my eyes, and give in to the quiet.

I began experiencing an innate sense of peace in those moments. Peace that was made for me and by me, while being so far, so lonely, and so out of touch with my culture and traditions. It was then that I made meditation my habit. It became a little shrine I could carry with me.

This habit has changed over the years. I still meditate, but on other days I do something equally calming. Something my soul craves, like painting, drawing, or sculpting. I lock myself in the guest room for as long as the soul wants and give in to the calm I find. As long as the mind says, ‘Ah, that’s it. That’s what I wanted.’

No matter what happens in the world, I can retreat into this inner shrine and grant myself what I need: peace, happiness, unconditional love, or validation. The best part? I can still carry it with me. I always have a journal, pens, markers, and stickers in a bag at hand, for example.

That is the shrine I am asking you to build within. It doesn’t have to be meditation in its traditional sense: it could be any practice you feel grounded by, like walking, knitting, painting, playing an instrument, or writing. You decide what makes your shrine a place of quiet and reflection. There are no rules.

The world is an overwhelming place with the influx of good and bad news, social media, and the quick pace we work at.

Wouldn’t it be nice to carry a little shrine with you wherever you go, and withdraw from it what you need?

Have a lovely week.

With gratitude,

Raksha