Some religions use ornate shrines to pay tribute to a god or spirit.
Many religions use flowers as a tribute to those who have passed on or to honor a spirit with special meaning. A small Buddhist shrine, for example, is adorned with fresh flowers. The freshness of the flowers indicates the devotion of the shrine keeper. The same is true of the flowers placed at a memorial site or grave in Western culture. Whether you are building a small shrine in your home or paying tribute to a lost loved one, flowers can be a significant part of that expression.
Instructions
1. Gather the flowers you are using. The color and type of your chosen flower carries meaning. The color of a rose, for example, has different meanings depending on the circumstances. A white rose adorning the base of a memorial means reverence and heaven, while a yellow rose is a token of remembrance.
2. Design the shrine. A shrine pays homage to a spirit, so the image of that spirit is the central component of the shrine. This is a statue, painting or photo. Surround the image with candles and place incense in the front. Leave out the candles if you are designing a flower arrangement for an outdoor memorial.
3. Cover the sides of the shrine with flowers without obstructing the central figure, plaque or gravestone. Place flowers below the shrine and spread petals across the table or ground where the shrine is resting. Keep the flowers far from the candles to prevent early wilting and reduce the risk of fire. Flowers decorating a smaller shrine are placed in a vase with water so they stay fresh longer.
4. Replace wilted and dead flowers. Wilted flowers may be perceived as a lack of devotion or act as a sign of disrespect, so replace them as soon as they begin to sag.
