One of the literal shrines that inspired my idea for Shrine of the Real was El Sanctuario de Chimayo, a Catholic shrine in northern New Mexico. I visited in 2017 and again in 2019, and have carried the shimmering peace and hope of this place with me ever since. A small vial of its holy dirt still sits on my desk.
There are several stories of how the shrine in Chimayo came to be, why pilgrims are compelled to go there. All the versions offer wisdom about what makes a sanctuary. These are some of the lessons I am pondering now…
The soundtrack for this essay includes traditional religious folk music of New Mexico.
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