Enclosed shrines sit inside larger structures.
Enclosed shrines offer all of the advantages and peace of an exposed shrine, while also offering privacy. Buddhists and Wiccans often use enclosed shrines for prayers or spellwork, leaving ritual items in place and simply closing the door to the shrine. This way, the shrine is ready for the next use. Enclosed shrines feature deep shelves and sturdy doors. Most modern shrines look like ordinary cabinets when closed. No one will know about your personal beliefs or sensitive spellwork with this clever display.
Instructions
1. Choose a structure for your enclosed shrine such as a small closet you aren't using, a small chest with doors, an old wardrobe or even a secretary desk or old dining room service. Make sure that you can sit comfortably in front of the structure and that it has plenty of room inside for your shrine.
2. Spray paint a few plastic desk organizer drawers with plastic spray primer. Allow the primer to dry for two hours.
3. Paint the drawers with a final color. Lacquered black, red or gold work well for Asian-style shrines or you may use colors appropriate to your practices. Let the paint cure overnight.
4. Open up your structure and dust out the inside with a soft cloth. Paint the inside of the shrine a bright, saturated color. Gold, copper, deep royal blue and bright green work well. The paint reflects light into your shrine, illuminating it. Let the paint dry overnight.
5. Add lights to the inside of your shrine. Stick four mini tap lights in a square to the back of your shrine and four to the ceiling. You may also use battery-powered twinkle lights, hung with sticky hooks in the same formation.
6. Spread a shrine altar cloth in the bottom of the enclosure. The altar cloth cushions your ritual items and gives the shrine a more finished look.
7. Stack your painted plastic drawers inside your shrine, spacing them about 18 inches apart. This leaves plenty of room in the center of the shrine for your main setup. Fill the drawers with ritual supplies such as extra candles, incense and prayer books.
8. Set a deity statue in the center of the shrine. Add offering bowls, candles and incense to the setup. You may choose to perform your first prayer now or close the shrine and come back when it feels right.
