Altars on a Budget
by Jadecoyote
Not all of us are fortunate enough to have large, permanent altars in our homes. Some of us aren't all the way out of the closet, and others live in places where they have to get creative with how they represent the elements or where. So what can we do in light of these limitations?
Incense candles Location, Location, Location
Not every altar has to be a small table situated in the corner of one's room or study. Window sills, shelves of cabinets or closets,even small sections of your desk or dresser can suffice. Such everyday places are perfect reminders to take a moment and meditate, or offer a silent prayer of devotion to your deities—so long as you don't let them fade into the background. Rearrange them every now and again, or move them to another section of your room to keep them fresh in your mind and heart.
When lasting displays aren't feasible, portable altars are the only alternative. An ornate wooden box or even the altar cloth itself can not only protect your magical instruments against mundane energies while in storage but also serve as the altar surface itself on the floor of a room or atop a chest or trunk. Others opt for a small, hand-carved stool or miniature table to take outdoors
Whatever you choose, remember that the choice is ultimately personal, and improvisation is fine as long as your intent is pure.
What about the elements?
In an ideal world, we would all be able to include our candles and censers, pentacles and athames on every altar we construct, but that is not always so. The cost of some altar tools can be prohibitive for some, and for others being caught with such items would incur a fine.Below are some simple substitutions that still hold the essence of
each of the four quarters.
Some people prefer to represent the elements with stones, using quartz crystal or petrified wood for earth, coral or aquamarine for water, carnelian or pyrite for fire, and blue topaz or amethyst for air. Others use the alchemical symbols drawn on bits of paper or traced into the ground. One could even use a seashell for water, a feather or wind chimes for air, some rock salt or other "drab" stone for earth, and pumice/obsidian or cayenne pepper for fire. But when it comes down to it, we don't need any of these to love and honor our god/desses in
ritual.
Representing the Deities
As much as we would all love to have a hand-carved pair of statuettes signifying the Lord and Lady for our altar, that seems to be something reserved for well-funded covens. We'll just have to "make due" with our own images, won't we? I've always been a proponent of plaques and home decorations that hint at the deities, but seem innocuous to the casual guest. In keeping with the stone motif, silver and gold jewelry or pieces of moonstone and hematite can work for mini-altars.
I've seen candle holders with the images of the pagan deities carved into them, but a more economical alternative could be adorning the candle holders you have with holly/oak leaves or antlers for the Horned God, in addition to stalks of wheat or flowers (depending on the season) for the Mother Goddess. In a pinch, you can even print out
some of your favorite images from the internet and mount them on card/paperboard.
All it takes is little ingenuity to create a working altar on a budget, or find meaningful alternatives for the elements and god/dess.Good luck!
by Jadecoyote
Not all of us are fortunate enough to have large, permanent altars in our homes. Some of us aren't all the way out of the closet, and others live in places where they have to get creative with how they represent the elements or where. So what can we do in light of these limitations?
Incense candles Location, Location, Location
Not every altar has to be a small table situated in the corner of one's room or study. Window sills, shelves of cabinets or closets,even small sections of your desk or dresser can suffice. Such everyday places are perfect reminders to take a moment and meditate, or offer a silent prayer of devotion to your deities—so long as you don't let them fade into the background. Rearrange them every now and again, or move them to another section of your room to keep them fresh in your mind and heart.
When lasting displays aren't feasible, portable altars are the only alternative. An ornate wooden box or even the altar cloth itself can not only protect your magical instruments against mundane energies while in storage but also serve as the altar surface itself on the floor of a room or atop a chest or trunk. Others opt for a small, hand-carved stool or miniature table to take outdoors
Whatever you choose, remember that the choice is ultimately personal, and improvisation is fine as long as your intent is pure.
What about the elements?
In an ideal world, we would all be able to include our candles and censers, pentacles and athames on every altar we construct, but that is not always so. The cost of some altar tools can be prohibitive for some, and for others being caught with such items would incur a fine.Below are some simple substitutions that still hold the essence of
each of the four quarters.
Some people prefer to represent the elements with stones, using quartz crystal or petrified wood for earth, coral or aquamarine for water, carnelian or pyrite for fire, and blue topaz or amethyst for air. Others use the alchemical symbols drawn on bits of paper or traced into the ground. One could even use a seashell for water, a feather or wind chimes for air, some rock salt or other "drab" stone for earth, and pumice/obsidian or cayenne pepper for fire. But when it comes down to it, we don't need any of these to love and honor our god/desses in
ritual.
Representing the Deities
As much as we would all love to have a hand-carved pair of statuettes signifying the Lord and Lady for our altar, that seems to be something reserved for well-funded covens. We'll just have to "make due" with our own images, won't we? I've always been a proponent of plaques and home decorations that hint at the deities, but seem innocuous to the casual guest. In keeping with the stone motif, silver and gold jewelry or pieces of moonstone and hematite can work for mini-altars.
I've seen candle holders with the images of the pagan deities carved into them, but a more economical alternative could be adorning the candle holders you have with holly/oak leaves or antlers for the Horned God, in addition to stalks of wheat or flowers (depending on the season) for the Mother Goddess. In a pinch, you can even print out
some of your favorite images from the internet and mount them on card/paperboard.
All it takes is little ingenuity to create a working altar on a budget, or find meaningful alternatives for the elements and god/dess.Good luck!
