What do we place on our alters?
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Celtic_Dragon |
15 Apr 2003 |
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by a suggestion from zorya, I'm starting this thread of what items people place on their alters. I'm cerious b/c I don't have one yet. I don't know how far this will go but anyways.....
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| Victoria |
15 Apr 2003 |
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I can't believe how many altars of different sorts I have in my small apartment!
My sitting altar in the bedroom faces East, and has a Goddess/Spiral/Tree of Life figure, candles (melted and whole), noah bells, incense, a few lotus icons, tributes to my maternal grandparents, Tibetan singing bowl, symbolic art greeting cards, and a sub-altar with mate-attraction art/words/symbols.
My standing altar in the main room faces South and has a Calla Goddess, two offering bowls, candle, Tibetan singing bowl, prayer beads, incense and calacas. (And hovering above and to the side is an Elvis clock. His swaying hips and legs are the pendulum. Very Yang!)
Other small vibe-generating altarettes around the place include plants/fountain/goblet/candle/stone/hand of Buddha for wisdom; coins/plants/candle for money; etc.
There is an excellent book called "Altars and Icons - Sacred Spaces in Everyday Life" by Jean McMann. Her definition of altar boils down to : an ordered arrangement of objects with symbolic meaning.
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| jema |
15 Apr 2003 |
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i posted mine in this thread:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11822
but it is a bit different right now, i managed to clutter it up a bit with notes from my daily rituals and a bunch of tarot-cards and so on. i do try to keep it simple though - just candles and elemental tools. it is a working altar and i need to have space for papers and pens and "stuff" while i work at it.
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| zorya |
15 Apr 2003 |
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i too have many small altars, including windowsills.
my main altar is pretty large and contains a couple of drums, rattles, bells, pots, gourds, corn, smudge stick, incense and holders, candles, crystal ball, many stones and crystals, shells, feathers, figures representing spirit guides and helpers, plant materials, assorted odd other stuff that assists me ;)
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| Melissa` |
15 Apr 2003 |
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when I first set out to make my alter.. I went in with the conception that I had to buy and put on it everything that writers said I had to buy. It became pretty well expensive.. now I use extra cash for my decks.. not on extra nick nacks for my alter. I suppose you could say mine is pretty simple. Candles.. several and of different colors. Feathers that I found or popped up in unusual places.. a large rose quartz and a large piece of quartz. One simple eastern goddess stonework art.. an incense holder and two small clay bowls.
In my honest opinion.. it doesn't matter what you put on your alter, don't believe the books for everything.. they are great for ideas though. Put what feels right to you in your heart.. and you will know.
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| skytwig |
15 Apr 2003 |
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I love my altar. It has stones I gathered from the Womyns Gathering sacred fire. there was an altar at each direction and i was able to select a stone from each altar. I also have stones from the sacred fire, itself, which, for me, was quite significant. That was a holy place for me, that Circle. the fire Keepers did an amazing job preserving the energy.
Each stone is a mini altar, representing the direction which they served in the Sacred Circle. Stones, crystals, colors and symbols that represent each direction, are on or around each rock. I place my ritual/request notes on the appropriate mini-altar.
The center is represented by a star shaped mat made out of shells and a lotus blossom made out of thin shell, in wwhich i can place a votive. I also have a beautiful Goddess figure standing above the center (the light on Her face is wondrous).
I have feathers, lots of feathers, that are gifted to me. Crow, Goose, Mockingbird, Cardinal.
A lot of the items I have found at thrift stores or are things that i've had for a while that mean something to me, alot of 'found' items.
It is a personal creation between you and Spirit, so follow your feelings. You will 'know' what is important for you.....
PS: You will find that the energy builds as you use your altar.... It's splendiforous!
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| Rhiannon |
15 Apr 2003 |
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Here's a pic of mine. I also have a pic of Hecate on it now.
R :)
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| Butterfly |
15 Apr 2003 |
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I have a house altar, and a kitchen altar, but I like to think of my whole house as sacred, and devoted to the divine. They contain crystals, figurines, indoor plants and beautiful scented candles, or oils. I'm very much a green, kitchen witch.
I also consider my gardens to be altars, as I've cultivated them to the point where they are chock full of nature spirits.
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| Inana |
16 Apr 2003 |
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Mmmmh... here goes the "idiot question", but well... i really dont know about altars and its use, because never cared about.
By reading your posts i've noticed that i have over my Hi-Fi something that looks like an altar. I have there a robe with candles, a quartz pyramid and some incense sticks. The point is i never had thought about it like if it was an altar and actually i'm not using it for nothing, only to light a candle or burn incense from time to time...
So my question is for what do you use altars? I mean, is because most of you are pagan, so you practice there spells or religious rituals? Or can be used only to do meditation?
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| zorya |
16 Apr 2003 |
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inana,
some use their altars for spell work, some for meditation, some as a place to keep their spiritual 'tools', some as a place to focus on departed loved ones etc. it's a place that helps you connect to and or focus on the spiritual. ...so yes, over your hi-fi, you have built an altar.
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| Astraea |
16 Apr 2003 |
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Inana, I agree with Zorya, you definitely have an altar there! Our local Arts Center recently had a show featuring many peoples' altars, and the diversity was absolutely fascinating...some of them wouldn't necessarily have been recognized as altars, because they were comprised of objects we normally find around people's houses -- but they were arranged in personally meaningful and interrelated ways, creating intentional space. It was beautiful. People of all spiritual traditions -- as well as some claiming no particular spiritual leanings -- participated.
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| Celtic_Dragon |
16 Apr 2003 |
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Although I don't have an alter now, I did when I was living with my parents. It contained a ton of stuff that was emotionaly important, even the alter itself was a biggie.
For the alter itself I used an old toy chest that used to be my brother's before it became mine. We both used it to place our toys in and play with it and it's kind of got that family antique thing going on. Which is good because that's a solid foundation for all my items to generate from love, commitment, honesty, and anything else a family represents.
Um, I had for a while, placed all my solitairy practicioner books 'inside' it as well as any other items that I may have not been using at the time i.e my tarot cards. I believe that I burned incense on it once but I do have some lovely candle holders. Something that you'd probably have to say (and I admit) that was kind of more than concidence, b/c they just fit...I mean FIT on my alter. It's still incomplete and at the moment I'm using the toy box for storage, untill we are able to move out. And to be honest, I kind of feel empty without it. I didn't relize it at the time but it must've been a big part of me, although I didn't do any spells with it.
p.s. I'm really supprised at how far this thread has gone! Keep 'em commin'!!
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| tabbycat |
16 Apr 2003 |
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Didn't think I had an altar, but looking around... every flat space in the house qualifies! I collect glass candlesticks, so there are candles EVERYWHERE, and all of my Mucha posters and mirrors are really images of the Goddess. There's a pentacle on top of the CD rack, a wand on the coffee-table and even crystals, a pendulum and a Bast cat in front of the computer monitor. On the bookshelves upstairs there are more candlesticks, crystals and a bell, and one corner of the kitchen seems to be gathering Green Men! There's also a rainbow of coloured bottles on the bathroom windowsill, and various glass and pottery vessels on iron tripods. Yeah, Feng Shui is definitely a dirty word around here - I love my metaphysical clutter!
Jilly (creeping briefly out of lurkdom!)
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| skytwig |
16 Apr 2003 |
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The images and energy I get from these postings are fantastic!
And altars ARE personal space, personal sacred space. Inana, I think of my very Catholic neighbor, she is 98, came from Italy when she was 15, on a dirty ship, looking for freedom and food. she is fiesty and prays everyday, with her beads woven among her tiny, delicate fingers. Her Mary statues are so filled with energy, it stuns me. Some of them are very old. They are her altars, though she would never dare say she has an altar in her home. For her, that means Church. But the energy of her 'altars' is the same energy in mine.
Sacred Space, Holy Insight, is what it's all about. Things that pull us to our Sacred Selves!
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| rota |
16 Apr 2003 |
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My home altar is a set of shelves I built to fit into the end of a little hallway. It has all the usual stuff: pictures, statues, candles... but it also has toys on it: windup dinosaur skeletons, fashion dolls and a plastic cat. The idea is to include a childlike simplicity with my aspirations, and not to get too full of myself.
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| jlbvt |
16 Apr 2003 |
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I think I have the most unique alter in this thread so far. The place where I sit to meditate, do my spreads, and (carefully/safely) place lighted candles and whetever else I think to do (occaisionally cast a circle) is my rug. In my bedroom I have the coolest (fake) oriental rug. The pattern looks like there are vines growing right through the rug! The color is the most soothing blue/gren, with bits of off-white, burgundy, and a few other colors. I searched long and hard for the perfect rug for my room, and when I found this one it was love at first sight! I love sitting on it.
When I am not using my decks and candles/incense, I keep them in a box under my dresser, so they all stay on the rug. So really, my rug is my alter! beat that! (lol!) ;) JOAN
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| Astraea |
16 Apr 2003 |
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Joan, I think that's very cool -- you're a portable goddess, not only "officiating" at the altar and becoming part of it in that sense, but literally one with it, as you sit and meditate or read your cards. What a beautiful concept.
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| Inana |
17 Apr 2003 |
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Thanks for your answers Zorya, Astraea and Skytwig. Now i understand better what are the altars about. I was having some uncomplete vision about them...
It feels like a surprise that im having an altar at my room actually. But its nice to know it. :)
Jlbvt that rug-altar sounds very good. Someway it remembers about oriental faith, like the rug itself.
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| jlbvt |
17 Apr 2003 |
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Thanks, guys! I'm so glad you think my rug-alter is cool. I thought I was just wierd! ;) JOAN
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| skytwig |
17 Apr 2003 |
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There's something sp magical about altars and creating them. just putting them up is ritual in and of itself, don't you think?
When I went to Womyn's Gathering, I automatically made an altar on my bureau. I used found stones and wildflowers and sage. I added little things throughout the weekend.
Everyone's sharings here have been delightful and inspirational. Thanks!
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| lawguy51 |
17 Apr 2003 |
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I've just finished my alter, inspired by my beginning to read and work with the book, Tarot Shadow Work. But I was perusing this section in order to post a picture when I spotted this thread. It's a pic of this beautiful Avalon Priestess doll that I purchased from a woman who had been auctioning her dolls on Ebay. I contacted her and bought this one directly. It is stunning and is now the centerpiece of my alter:
http://griselda.hypermart.net/special/avalon_priestess.jpg
Check it out. If any of you are interested in contacting her or seeing more of her work let me know.
Lawguy51
p.s. I'm going to take a pic. of my alter and post it later.
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| Astraea |
17 Apr 2003 |
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Wow, she is stunning. I can well understand why she is the centerpiece of your altar. Does the woman who made her have a website? I am looking forward to seeing a photograph of your altar.
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| Astraea |
18 Apr 2003 |
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Lawguy, thank you for those links! This artist's work is exquisite -- her paintings are evocative and draw one in, but it's her dolls that particularly call to me. They are incredibly powerful presences. I intend to contact her about purchasing a doll, if I can ever keep from buying decks long enough to save some sheckles! I wonder if Griselda has ever considered doing a tarot deck...
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| lawguy51 |
18 Apr 2003 |
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My pleasure. I've been corresponding with Griselda and she seems like a lovely person. After I posted those links, I sat in front of my alter and meditated for the first time with the alter 'completed'. I'm not really very good at meditation but I keep at it. I opened my eyes after a while and just softly focused on the doll for a few minutes and out of nowhere, something fell off one of my book shelves, like a picture or piece of paper. I saw it fall out of the corner of my eye. It scared the bajeebers out of me. Send chills right through me. I turned on the light to see what had fallen and couldn't find anything. Weird. Means something, means nothing, I don't know. But an interesting inauguaral meditation with my now completed alter.
Lawguy51
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| lawguy51 |
20 Apr 2003 |
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Here it is in all its purple glory!
Lawguy51
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| lawguy51 |
20 Apr 2003 |
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Let's try that again!
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| zorya |
20 Apr 2003 |
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another kind of altar that has barely been touched on is an outdoor altar. for those who do spellwork, they add the benefit of working in nature. i love to use mine under the moonlight.
they also are a great place to leave offerings. plants and herbs can be left without worrying about drawing insects and other critters into your home, lol. i like to make prayer sticks and place them nearby, so that the feathers fly with the wind.
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| Ramses |
20 Apr 2003 |
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well...I´m quite confused about how to describe my altar...hehe...
could I say my whole bedroom is my altar??...or my bedroom would be my personal temple, and the place where I put my incense trays, and eye of horus is my altar???
well...anyway...what I did was to spread around my bedroom, symbols that have special meanings for me, so that there isn´t really a usual altar in my room...I got an Ankh hanging on my door, an oriental banner with the 5 elements on the wall in front of my bed, a shelf with incense trays, eye of horus, dragon, a pyramid thing with a crystal on top, etc....and I could say I also got a special compartment in my wardrobe, with a mini-sword of around 30cm, egyptian statuetes, stones and crystals, and tarot decks, and others things...
yeah...I don´t know if I have exactly what people call an altar, but I hope it works a place of energy..the whole bedroom...
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| skytwig |
20 Apr 2003 |
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Ramses, sounds like a sacred Place. great energy.
and Zorya, how wondrous. I live in an apartment now and miss my herb gardens (and the fairies too!) what about 'natural' altars we come upon in the woods and by watery places? sometimes, i find rings of grass that are greener than the rest or stacked stones. To me, they are sacred places.
Of course, all ground is sacred, but how many of you come across natural altars? and i'd also like to hear about garden altars you may have..... :)
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| Demonesse |
21 Apr 2003 |
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Absolutely beautiful altar, Lawguy! I wonder how big it is? I couldn't judge from the picture. I love the serenely mysterious expressions on Griselda's exquisite, shamanistic dolls, especially the one third down on her page, I believe.
Outdoor altars are common amongst the Chinese (and the Thai as well, I believe), taking the form of little red/gold huts having statuettes of gods or prayer markers decorated with peacock feathers, as well as incense pots for joss sticks, prayer papers and little cups (for tea offerings). You can often see them at odd corners or at roadsides to appease spirits. Indian houses sometimes have little altars with a picture of a god and some other items (coconut, strings of leaves) propped above the doorway to a house.
My own altar....
....is still in progress.
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| Astraea |
21 Apr 2003 |
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Lawguy, your altar is very beautiful -- it is clear that each object associated with it has been chosen with great care and sensitivity. Thank you for posting the photo. I like seeing the Priestess of Avalon doll in context.
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| lawguy51 |
21 Apr 2003 |
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Originally posted by Demonesse
Absolutely beautiful altar, Lawguy! I wonder how big it is? I couldn't judge from the picture.
Hi Demonesse; The alter starts in a bookshelf and cascades over my album collection, so it's about 2 1/2 off the ground and the purple velvet just falls to the floor and extends out about a foot. It's maybe 1-2 feet wide.
Thanks Astraea. Some of the items like the Zuni jewelry I've had for decades and just thought it appropriate to add them to the alter.
Lawguy51
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The What do we place on our alters? thread was originally posted on 15 Apr 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.
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