Altars by Tansy Firedragon (Rachel Patterson)
What is an altar? Well I think it can be anything you want it
to be…
Let’s start with the
traditional idea, that an altar is a flat surface often a small table or the
top of a cabinet where you lay out all your ritual tools, offerings and image
of deity. It is also a place that you can
go to for meditiation and connecting with the Divine, it provides a focus. It is also a practical place to put everything
you need when in ritual so that you don’t have to run around looking for
everything once you have cast a circle!
A ‘traditional’ (for want
of a better word) altar for instance has some guidelines – what items to use
and where to put them. Goddess items go
on the left and God items on the right.
Goddess items being a chalice and a cauldron, God items being a wand and
an athame. Representations of the four
elements are usual as well, salt or soil for Earth, incense for Air, a candle
for Fire and a dish of water for Water.
A pentacle is often placed in the centre of the altar and either statues
or candles to represent the Lord and Lady.
But I like to mix it up a
bit…to me an altar is an extremely personal thing, it not only represents who
or what you follow, your faith, but also a reflection of you as a person.
I have several altars
around the house and I also have one in the garden. If I use deity representations on them I do
usually stick to the Goddess on the left, God on the right guideline but
generally I go with my intution.
I like to have altar
clothes that I change with the seasons, using colours to reflect the Sabbats or
the feel of the energy for that period.
I love to have fresh flowers on my altars, if possible ones taken from
my own garden. And candles…always lots
of candles... I sit in front of my altar
to meditate so having lots of candles to light for me to focus my mind is
important. But then I tend to add
whatever I feel is right, it might be particular crystals, it might be an
offering dish to leave bits and pieces in when I want to thank or petition the
Divine. One of my altars has a magpie
wing and skull along with some rusty nails and hag stones appear on all my
altars as a nod to my matron deity The Cailleach and my Ganesha altar has lots of brightly coloured bits and bobs. I like to use natural items to represent the
elements, I have shells for Water, pebbles for Earth, feathers for Air and
candles for Fire but I don’t have these on every altar.
An altar doesn’t have to be
on a table or cabinet top, I do have both but I also have a tiny shelf in my
kitchen with an altar on and I have seen altars in cupboards that can have the
doors closed or on trays that can be hidden away if you don’t want them to be
seen or are short of space. Mantlepieces
or window sills also work very well if you are short of space. They don’t have to be overly obvious either,
if you are conscious of other people in your home or still ‘in the broom
closet’ then an altar can just be a couple of pretty items sitting on a shelf,
a vase of flowers and a crystal perhaps.
Altars can be used for a
particular purpose, you could have a healing altar with specific herbs and
crystals laid out, an altar to celebrate and honour a particular deity with
items that represent them and a place for you to leave offerings. Altars can also be used to represent an
element, you could even have four small altars, one at each direction in your
home. And faerie or dragon altars can be
great fun to create. One of my altars is
what I call my ‘working altar’ it is where I leave any candle spells to burn
out, or medicine bags and witches bottles to work their magic once I have
created them. I also like to represent my totem/power
animals on my altar, whether it is with photo of the animal or in the case of
my life long totem, which is a wild boar I actually have a little figurine of
one, I also have feathers from my bird totems as well.
What about an altar to
celebrate the inner you? A place where
you can put representations of your wishes and desires and really connect with
your being. Make it bright and happy,
cover it with flowers and sparklies, even add a photograph of yourself. I know it sounds a bit vain, but really it is
all about boosting your confidence and inner well being. Stand in front of it each day and say
affirmations to give yourself a boost before you start your day. Re-visit in the evening and thank deity for
all the positive events that were created for you during your day and congratulate
yourself on all your achievements.
Altars are an excellent
place to leave offerings and petitions to deity. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just a
dish that you pop your petition in (a wish or request written on a piece of
paper folded up is just fine) or a crystal or two. But again go with your instinct, if your
intuition tells you that the deity you are honouring or thanking would like a
few chocolates then use them.
Outside altars are really
easy to make, they only need be a large stone with some crystals on or a faerie
statue works well. Hang some wind chimes
above it to make a beautiful sound.
Large pebbles can be painted and varnished with element symbols on or
pentacles and placed in a group. Sea
shells are wonderful to add to a garden altar and little pots of herbs would be
perfect.
Nature provides us with all
sorts of wonderful items that work well on inside and outside altars. Fallen
tree bark is beautiful, unusual twigs and sticks, pretty leaves, shells,
pebbles, sea glass, acorns, and seeds can all be used.
Altars can be decorated
with up cycled items such as old necklaces, pretty beads, mirrors and
buttons. Altar cloths don’t need to be
expensive either, I use chiffon and satin from the haberdashery and it’s only a
couple of pounds per metre, I also use old scarves that I have found in
charity/thrift stores for a few pence each.
Don’t forget about bones
too, I know it freaks some people out but I have often found small animal bones
when I have been out walking and have been gifted several from road kill. I certainly don’t advocate harming any
animal just to get a bone for your altar…however they are available from
animals that have passed away naturally or from accidents. The bones of an animal carry a huge amount
of power within them, they are wonderful items to place on your altar.
There are some gorgeous
statues of the Gods and Goddesses available in all price ranges and styles, but
you can also have a go at making them. I
have made fairly simple goddesses from Fimo modelling clay, but would also
suggest searching the charity shops and second hand stalls for figurines that
would suit your purpose. Again it can be
quite simple, if you don’t want an actual statue you could use representations,
a candle for each using colours that represent the male and female to you. A hag stone could be used for the Goddess and
a twig for the God…be creative and use things that have meaning to you
personally.
Don’t forget to dust your
altar regularly, it will keep the energy flowing. Unloved and unlooked after altars will block
and stall your own energy. Every so
often clear off everything from your altar and look careful at each item before
deciding to put it back on the altar ask yourself has it served it’s
purpose? Refreshing and revamping your
altar gives your whole spirit a boost.
Whether you have a tiny
shelf in a corner, a cupboard or seventeen grand altars around your home, it is
a reflection of YOU, have fun with it, go with your instinct and make if YOURS.
No comments:
Post a Comment