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Religious Home Decor

3 Keys to Creating a Sacred Meditation Space

Friday, October 24, 2008
Blue SkyWe all know the profound benefits that meditation practice bestows. The two important aspects though, in order to extract the wonderful benefits from meditation, is that the practice needs to be consistent and long term. To that end, one of the biggest obstacles to a long term, daily meditation practice, is the lack of a meditation space in your home.This article will help you overcome this issue by providing helpful insights on how to set up your personal meditation space. Having such a meditation space, vastly increases the chances that you will develop a consistent and deep practice. The space helps counteract some of the resistance that thoughts will no doubt put up in your efforts to practice meditation on a daily basis. Having an inviting, inspiring meditation space ready to go, allows you to get busy with your session as soon as it’s time or as soon as inspiration strikes.Here are the 3 key components for setting up this important, sacred space in your home.

1. Find a Quiet Space: Try to find a quiet, peaceful place in your home to set up your meditation space. Meditation and spiritual growth can be called the business of silence. Although, the silence you will encounter in meditation practice is that of the infinite creative force, silence in the environment will help you with the concentration required to penetrate into these depths. So, as best you can, ensure that the area is situated such as to minimize sounds and distractions.

2. Get the Right Equipment: Yes, just like a professional tennis player needs the right equipment in order to perform at his maximum potential, so will the right equipment help you achieve your highest spiritual potential. This equipment includes important items such as a Zafu or meditation cushion, loose clothing that will not cut off your circulation, a chair if necessary, and a meditation timer to set your meditation time with.

Don’t underestimate the benefits of the above items. When your meditation practice deepens, you will like to sit for longer periods of time, and this can prove to be uncomfortable on your knees and back. A Zafu or chair will go a long way in helping curb this problem. Proper clothing, for similar reasons, is also very helpful. One of the most common complaints in sitting meditation, is that one’s legs tend to fall asleep and having proper meditative attire will help prevent this.

A meditation timer is also a must. Once you commit to sitting for a particular period of time, you need to see that through. Early in your practice, the body and mind will greatly dislike being told what to do in this way. They are both used to running the show, and all of a sudden being told to be still and concentrate on a particular thing is going to greatly upset them. The timer should be the only factor determining the end of your meditation session. Until it goes off, you should remain frozen in time and attentive to your practice. The timer will also be of value in helping you gauge your capacity to sit in meditation for long periods of time.

3. Add Inspirational Items: Place items in this location that inspire and uplift you. They can be anything from pictures, religious crosses, idols, symbols to books. You may also wish to keep some incense or a candle handy, as that can greatly enhance the ambiance of a meditative space.

Summary:

A personal meditative space is a must. There is very little chance of establishing a strong and significant practice without it. Over time, you will find this space filled with positive vibrations and just entering it will uplift your spirit. Try to keep this space clean and exclusively for meditation, this might just become your favorite place on Earth.

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Religious Jewelry Gifts That Don’t Lack Style

Thursday, October 23, 2008
3 Crosses with ChristMany People often wear religious jewelry as a manifestation of their faith. When you give religious jewelry as a gift you are acknowledging that persons spiritual commitment to whatever religion they believe in.Today religious jewelry is worn for fashion and style as well as an expression of religious commitment. Religious jewelry has indeed a wide diverse market in the jewelry industry. Religious Jewelry gifts once consisted mainly of rosaries or small beaded bracelets. But today jewelry designers have expanded the religious jewelry market to include unique jewelry items like religious crosses, bracelets, pendants, brooch pins, rings, and any other style of jewelry that shows an individual’s religious belief in their God.In the Catholic tradition, a gift of jewelry is often given as a Baptism gift, a Communion gift, or a Confirmation gift. Tiny rosaries or small bracelets are often given to babies upon their Baptism, while necklaces and rosaries are often chosen as gifts for First Holy Communion. For Catholic children, however, it is Confirmation - and the Saint medals that are the most meaningful.

Today Sterling silver crosses and cross pendants can be found in different sizes and styles. Catholic jewelry in styles ranging from the traditional to the modern can be a bangle bracelet depicting the Last Supper, which is a very popular item when it comes to Christian jewelry. This type of Christian jewelry item comes in solid gold or silver and has details carved over it.

Egyptian religious jewelry usually includes motifs of the ‘Eye of Horus’. The ‘Scarab’ - a good luck symbol and ‘Ankh’ - the symbol of eternal life can also be found on religious jewelry pieces from Egypt. Jewish religious jewelry uses sacred symbols and geometry from the Qumran and the Kabbalah.

Native American religious jewelry usually includes various elements of nature. The Prayer watch is a piece of Islamic jewelry that is very valuable to followers. It shows accurate prayer times all over the world in Western and Hijra dates. It is bilingual - in English and Arabic. Buddha pendants, Islamic charms and medals of Christian saints are preferred religious jewelry pieces.

Most religious jewelry stores specialize in lapel pins, crucifixes, rosary beads and pendants and also charms. Angel charms are one of the most significant religious jewelry pieces. There are many religious people who believe in angels so this type of gift would be very much appreciated by them. Jewelry designers today see the need to not only design jewelry for people of faith, but they make an effort to make it beautiful and fashionable as well.

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Insight on the Cross Tattoo Design

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Cross Tattoo

Cross TattooCross tattoo designs capture the heart and soul of people who are both religious and not. Cross tattoo is made more attractive with various kinds of cross designs to choose from. For people in some conservative areas, cross tattoo might be acceptable since it has been a part of Christianity since the Bible times.

There are various cross tattoo designs you can download from the internet. If you are the kind of person who is in deep with Jesus, well you should have the cross with a religious theme in it not the other cross designs. The cross with a heart, which represents the sacred heart of Jesus is the common design since we usually see them in church pamphlets, and small pocket calendar pictures distributed around.

Aside from the typical religious cross with the meaning of Christianity, there are other kinds of cross tattoo like the Celtic cross. This tattoo is not far different from the original cross, which has a long beam crossed with a smaller beam. Celtic cross tattoo is designed with a circle around the area where the beams meet. In addition to the design, the cross has a different series of knot patterns in its beams.

The type of design represents something significant especially with the Celts. Celtic cross depicts the cultural heritage of those people living somewhere in Ireland, Scotland or Wales. Crosses are also used during the ancient times by the Celts. The circle around the cross means something is “eternal” or “everlasting” which can be God’s love for us. And the cross itself can represent the four elements which are the Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire, or perhaps the directions North, South, East and West. As a whole the Celtic cross both have the spiritual and physical meaning in itself.

As historical events show the timeline of these crosses, people have used them as part of their own belief and sometimes altering its original purpose and meaning. For Gothic cross tattoos, the cross has the opposite meaning from Christianity. Although in history, Christianity has been introduced to Goths as a religion, the Goths made their own beliefs.

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Jewelry With Meaning

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Blue SkyEvery woman appreciates beautiful jewelry, regardless of the occasion. But while jewelry is always well-received, jewelry with meaning is a particularly wonderful gift.Why jewelry with meaning?These days, people are looking for more than just a pretty piece of jewelry. That’s why meaningful jewelry that symbolizes a religion or belief, expresses love, or is personalized is especially popular.The following are some of the reasons jewelry with meaning has become so popular:

Significance. Jewelry these days should do more than just accessorize an outfit. People are looking for jewelry that has deep significance to them. They want to look at a charm bracelet and smile as they recall where they got the various charms or who gave them to them. They want to remember or be reminded of their religious beliefs when they look at a ring or pendant. Jewelry with significance is much more meaningful than jewelry purchased solely for fashion or wealth.

Great for marking an event. If you want an event to be particularly meaningful, giving jewelry is a great way to do this. Many people have family traditions of giving a particular piece of jewelry on a certain birthday; for example, a birthstone on a 16th birthday or a cross on a baptism day.

Can be passed on. For centuries, people have been passing on jewelry as family heirlooms that will allow their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and more to remember them for years to come. It is not unusual to pass down a wedding ring or charm bracelets and charm jewelry from mother to daughter.

Religious meaning. Jewelry that has religious significance has always been popular. Many people hold their religions and beliefs dear to them, and jewelry is a way of reminding them as well as showing others their devotion to their faith, whether it is from a cross pendant or a Star of David. Star jewelry, cross jewelry and Celtic cross necklaces are a few examples.

Heritage. People are proud of their various heritages and can display jewelry that symbolizes their heritage. Particularly meaningful heritage jewelry includes popular Celtic jewelry, whether it is a Celtic knot on a pendant or a Claddagh symbol on a ring. Ankh jewelry is another example, and is the Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol for life.

Beliefs. Some people believe that a particular piece of jewelry or symbol inscribed on jewelry, also called amulets, can ward off evil, bring good luck, or offer protection.

Examples of jewelry with meaning

If you would like to give jewelry that has meaning to it but don’t know where to start, consider the following examples.

Religious jewelry. Celtic crosses date back to 5th Century AD and are rich with meaning and symbolism, not only of Christianity but of Irish heritage. Other crosses are particular significant to Christian faiths and are often given on baptisms or first Communion gifts. Other religious jewelry include the Star of David or Chinese lettering and symbols.

Charm bracelets. Charm bracelets have been popular for years. The idea behind them is simple yet meaningful – a charm that reminds you of a person, event, or place visited can bring back happy memories to the owner.

Heritage jewelry. Irish Celtic jewelry is one example of jewelry that helps the owner proudly display his or her heritage.

Jewelry is not just about fashion or wealth – today, more and more people are opting to give jewelry that is meaningful to the ones they love.

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How to Make Beautiful Religious Arts and Crafts

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Religious arts & crafts

Three Crosses with ChristReligious arts & crafts allow artisans and crafters the opportunity to showcase the symbols of their faith, and the opportunity to craft an expression of their faith into tangible form. In this manner, religious arts & crafts provide a way for the faithful to proudly acknowledge their beliefs, and profess their love for their god or gods. Religious arts & crafts usually do this by referring to their religion’s main textual tenants or predominant symbols.

Which religions use arts & crafts to express belief?

Religious arts & crafts, as commonly thought of in western society, is concerned primarily with Christianity. For this reason, the common symbols of Christianity - religious crosses, fish and loaves, angels, Jesus Christ, etc. - are commonly incorporated into American arts & crafts. Another popular theme is to incorporate scripture quotations. Of course, Christianity does not have a monopoly on religious arts & crafts; arts & crafts are well known within the Jewish tradition, for instance. Jewish arts & crafts typically focus on the most widespread symbols of Judaism, and include the Star of David, menorahs, and other icons of the belief. Jewish sayings are also frequently featured on Jewish arts & crafts.

Ideas for religious arts & crafts

Religious arts & crafts are designed to serve as decoration for one’s home, office, vehicle, or church. Although religious features could be showcased in virtually any type of arts & crafts, these are some popular ideas for religious arts & crafts used for decoration:

1. Beaded Crafts: With a set of beads and string, pipe cleaners or safety pins, the devotee can create cute, creative religious arts & crafts. The possibilities for these crafts are almost endless, and are great for the whole family. These beaded crafts can be designed as jewelry, decorations, and other adornments. Virtually any religious symbol is possible with this versatile craft idea, from the Star of David to the Shroud of Turin.

2. Paint Your Own: Try to let your creative side out and paint your religious items for decoration and display or even for use in a religious service. Special ceramic paints are great to use for painting, decorating, and personalizing ceramic crosses, angels, and even scenes from the Bible. Personalize these paintings with names, birthdays, and scripture to make wonderful personalized gifts.

3. Cross Stitch & Embroidery: While it may take more skill and expertise, with a bit of practice most devotees can become experts and creating needlework arts & crafts. Religious needlework is especially noteworthy as it can combine both graphical images of crosses, angels, doves, and Bible scenes, as well as scripture, Bible verses, and other words of inspiration. Some more popular options for religious arts & crafts using cross stitch and embroidery include religious pillows and Bible covers.

4. Stained Glass Arts & Suncatchers: Stained glass art is popular for religious arts & crafts since stained glass is usually associated with churches and places of worship. This does not mean that you need to be a church to afford stained glass art. Far from it, inexpensive stained glass kits are readily available in most hobby and craft stores, and can be used by those without any previous experience.

5. Ornaments & Window Hangers: Ornaments and window hangers are often quite simple to create - in the absence of specialized skills, all you need is some imagination and a dash of creativity. Ornaments may be designed specifically for the Christmas season, or may be year-round crafts that can be hung anywhere, even from your rearview mirror. Look on the Internet for some fun ideas for religious ornaments, hangers, and other crafts.

6. Handmade Jewelry: Most religious people will happily wear the symbols of their faith as a personal reminder of their faith and devotion. Handmade religious jewelry is very popular, and can include anything from resin angel earrings to homemade metal crucifixes. Brooches, necklaces, and bracelets are also very popular, and while they are generally designed for women, men are becoming increasingly comfortable wearing fine handmade crucifix necklaces.

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Religious Tattoos

Monday, October 20, 2008

Cross AntiqueBody art is a way of expressing something important to you. Putting evidence of your religion on your skin in the form of a religious tattoo is a popular way of keeping your beliefs close to your heart while sharing them with others. The religious tattoo tells everyone what you believe in - and you never have to say a single word to get your point across.

Some religions forbid body art, and some see it as honorable. In some cultures, the religious body art tattoos are actually a requirement for worship. Religious tattoos are often used to mark believers or make the body more sacred, allowing better communication with the gods.

A popular design is the religious cross tattoo. This is something that goes far back in history, when soldiers in the Crusades would tattoo small crosses on their bodies to symbolize their wish for a Christian burial. Besides the religious cross tattoo, there are numerous other choices Christians often make, from praying hands to flying angels to doves of peace. Tattoos of the saints are also popular.

Religious tribal tattoos are gaining in popularity in all cultures and religions. The religious tribal tattoos are often stark and simple, with heavy inks and basic colors. They are meant to symbolize different things, depending on the style and origins of the art. The Celtic cross is very popular, as are images of sacred animals, totems, and inked visions of the afterlife. In some tribal religions, the more tattoos you have on your body, the higher you fall in rank or caste.

Finally, a religious tattoo that is often overlooked is that of the cosmic - stars, moons, constellations, and other symbols that reflect the presence of the divine in everyday life. These tattoos were, for a time, considered mere decoration, but they are becoming increasing popular now for their deeper symbolism.

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Angel and Cherub Tattoos - Let the Angel Express Your Spirituality

Saturday, October 18, 2008
cupid.gifAngel and cherub tattoos are popular with both sexes. Angels are considered messengers from God and the link between heaven and earth. Having an angel and cherub tattoo expresses your spirituality.Even though the symbolism is clear as to what an angel and cherub tattoo means, you still want to make sure that it is your meaning. Take the time to find the best tattoo designs you can to make your tattoo outstanding and memorable.There are many other angels that you can depict in a tattoo but cherubs are the most popular. It was thought that cherubs were child angels but that is not true. They are just small angels. Cupids are cherubs and they represent love. You can also have guardian angels, archangels, like Michael and Gabriel and fallen angels, especially the most known fallen angel - Satan.

Angel and cherub tattoos can be various sizes and placed anywhere on the body. You can put an angel on your shoulder, or anywhere on your arm. You can make your cherub look different and combine clouds, hearts, crosses or other symbols to make it unique. An online tattoo gallery will have thousands of designs to look at to give you more ideas for a great angel and cherub tattoo.

Don’t take your search lightly. Don’t just settle for the first decent design you find. This tattoo will be with you forever and you want to enjoy it. When people ask you about your tattoo, you should have a story. It should mean something to you. When you take your time and search for a good, unique tattoo design, you feel better about your tattoo choice; you might get some ideas from cherub wall art

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A Look at Christian Lapel Pins

Friday, October 17, 2008
Wooden CrossA popular type of lapel pin is one that signifies a person’s faith. Today there are many beautiful examples of lapel pins specifically designed for Christians. These pins may be given out by churches, community organizations or as religious gifts. Due to the popularity of Christian lapel pins you can find a large selection of stock lapel pins with Christian symbols such as crosses, angels, doves and fish.Recently there has been a rise in popularity with Christian jewelry. News stories report on politicians and others wearing their Christian lapel pins with pride. Following on the heels of the popular “WWJD” (what would Jesus do?) jewelry trend amongst teens, there has been a trend for cherub lapel pins as well as fish, Celtic crosses and also Christian quotes and sayings.A Christian lapel pin is a thoughtful, affordable gift for a first communion, baptism or confirmation. With so many to choose from it is easy to find a beautiful and suitable design. Custom Christian lapel pins can also be created for religious camps, special events and even weddings! As the popularity of lapel pins continues to grow, more religions and groups will find their organizations represented in specialized lapel pins.

Many churches on tight budgets find Christian lapel pins an affordable way to thank the many volunteers and community members who contribute to the work at the church. An example is the Mormon Church who gives all of their missionaries lapel pins which helps identify them and bonds them with their fellow missionaries. Many churches also provide lapel pins to their ushers and altar boys and girls. Christian lapel pins are wonderful gifts for religious get-togethers or gift exchanges. With so many options, a gracious and respectful lapel pin is easy to find. Many church suppliers carry a wide selection of stock Christian lapel pins.

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Enchanted Garden Design Elements

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Angel Garden StatueA popular and enduring garden decor theme is the “enchanted” garden.In them you will find delightful expressions of whimsy such as faeries and water nymphs, frogs of all description and gnomes, surrounded by a bright and cheerful display of many varieties of wildflowers.

Many of the “old” religions viewed gnomes as those who tendered the earth and took care of its wealth. Many people now have gnomes in their gardens and they can be found in many styles and characters. Some gnome statues also have solar lights and these provide charming illumination in the enchanted garden. It is thought that having a gnome in your garden will ensure that the plants grow healthy, though its “lucky” properties. No enchanted garden is complete without at least one gnome!

Everyone knows that including angel garden statues in your garden will increase your chances of receiving little “gifts” from faeries, if they like you. Some faeries are known to be “naughty” creatures, but most of us now disregard this element, especially if you have read William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

A most popular and decorative enchanted garden feature, faery statues come in a huge variety of styles, sizes and colours. As with the garden gnome, a faery statue that incorporates solar lighting is both a practical and attractive addition to the garden. Some faery statues come complete with a crystal ball or a gazing water dish.

A third popular enchanted garden design element is the angel and these too come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some angels are child-like, such as cherubs, whilst others are depicted as more “adult” in appearance. Whichever you choose, they are sure to be “at home” in an enchanted garden.

One style of angel statue that you may consider for your garden is one that has a solar light in the form of a ball, upon which the angel rests her head. At night, the light emits an almost ethereal glow, suggesting a halo around the angel’s head.

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Cross Tattoo Designs - Various Meanings and Types

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Antique CrossCross tattoos have several various meanings. Obviously the most perceptible is religious symbolism, there are another reasons to determine on this design. Most of us connect cross tattoos with the Christian religion. Obviously this is often the case, these hot designs can also have another meanings. Here is a summary of some of the most mutual reasons why people get cross tattoos.Catholic or Christian symbolism plays a main role in picking types of cross tattoo designs. Obviously Christian and Catholic symbolism is not the sole base for cross tattoos, it is a very significant one. Several Christians and Catholics palpate very strongly about their religion and find this is a honest way to express faith by placing lasting resolution of it on their body. Christian crosses and Catholic crosses are tattoo designs that usually have the Latin cross, which has three equal spokes pointing up and to each side, and one long spoke pointing down — like a lower case letter T. Some other Catholic tattoos have a crucifix, which depicts Jesus being crucified on the cross.

The Celtic cross is often a combination of two various symbols: the Latin cross, and a circle. The circle is usually centered over the place where the two lines in the Latin cross intersect.

Celtic inspired tattoos combine religious and mystical symbolism from two very various cultures. The perceptible one is the Christian concept of being saved from damnation. Nevertheless, the circle also represents the ancient concept that is sometimes flippantly referred to as the circle of life — the notion that life and death is cyclical and eternal.

Another Celtic crosses have intricate Celtic knots throughout the design. Because these knots are never-ending, they carry the same symbolism as the circle. People who get Celtic cross tattoos may do so because of the Christian symbolism, the pagan symbolism, a combination thereof, or simply to express pride in their Celtic heritage.

The St. Andrew’s cross is a cross that is very different from the traditional design of a ‘T’ as the cross here depicts an ‘X’. On looking at the Gothic Cross, you can find its German origins in it with the elaborate wrought iron work displayed in it which was prevalent during the Edwardian and Victorian periods.

The Gothic Cross is usually worn by a person to express pain, anger and the Goth culture which is signified by the dark imagery of the cross like barbed wire and daggers. Of the many Celtic tattoo designs, the Celtic cross tattoo is the most popular one. It is found in a variety of patterns where you generally find a circle situated at the point of meeting of the horizontal and vertical lines of the cross.

The iron cross is a cross symbol that is infamous for its connection with the German military. The symbol, which has four equal prongs that flare out at each end, was first used by the German military in 1870. Obviously it was sole a symbol of the armed forces back then, over time the iron cross was used as a military decoration during times of war. As a result, these designs are now strongly associated with military valor and German history.

As you can see, there are several various kinds of cross tattoos, with various meanings attributed to each. Crosses have been a sacred symbol long, long before Christianity; thus the symbolism of these tattoos can scope from pagan or Christian, to more universal values such as bravery.

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