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 Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:44 pm
While the approaches to ritual vary from step-by-step to random originality, when it comes to altars, the approach can often times be somewhat vague. Depending on what you practice, there may be certain spots for certain objects, and placing the athame where the wand clearly goes would be preposterous. Still, I've noticed that when it comes to altar construction, aside from the basics, a bit of creativity is needed.
I go for the standard "represent the elements, two illuminator candles, and maybe a statuette if the mood calls for it" standard, I have for the past 5 years-ish. I've also never been in the situation where i can keep an altar up for longer than maybe an entire night. So now I'm coming into a new atmosphere, where a household altar can and will be up 24/7/365. Aside from excitement, there is a significant amount of planning as to what is going on there and where.
I know my "giant" Buddha is going up, and offerings of fruit are going to be placed on it daily. To me, Buddha symbolizes that "All" we pagans keep reading about, despite the norm of it being a "him". I'm sure a Virgin Mary will be up there, as well as Krishna and Radha when I get the cash to get decent statues (or perhaps I'll make them meyself). As standard, the elements will be represented, and my tools will go on there, but I'm thinking of all the little nuances I can incorporate to make the thing "pop".
I'm thinking...down the line when we actually tie that knot, taking the little bride and groom cake topper and sticking it somewhere of importance on my altar, to symbolize and pay tribute to me and B's unity. Maybe pictures of the family I never get to see will be on surrounding shelves, so that I think of them and my ancestors during workings? And of course, for no other reason other than the fact that its random, it makes me laugh, and laughter is divine; the silly little Pichu figurine that somehow got placed on the temporary altar at my boyfriends house.
So you can see, altars are nothing if not personal and symbolic. I'm curious as to what you guys add to yours, to give it that special touch? Perhaps a dead pets "baby" (mine had this strange leopluridon-looking thing she carried around), or maybe something you pilfered off your sister, or an ex's pen. Heck, nothing is too strange these days smile
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 9:57 pm
I have a faerie offering area. The plate is actually pertified wood. razz On it I placed a Japanese melon candy, two pennies (one with my birth year and the other another significant year), a rose ring, and a mini rooster figurine. On the rest of my altar, I have a lamp, my stones in a pretty jar, two faerie statues (one is a mirror as well), an angel figurine for Ostara, a clay bowl I made in high school with a Goddess candle in it, *gasps for breath*, a chalice, a green bottle with a God candle in it, my incense holders and sand from beaches I've visited.
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witchunterobin Vice Captain
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