Tuesday, October 05, 2010

On Altars

Throughout our home we keep several altars, as every home should. Some are discrete, some are not. I normally keep five in our 1200 square foot apartment but for Samhain I add a sixth. Let's take a tour of a few of them.

First, the Ancestor Altar created on our less than used dining room table. It holds several ancestral items, the book, the owl, and the small German Skull, as well as keys and lanterns to open the door and find the way to this world to visit us. There's also some black, silver, and white Mardi Gras beads from New Orleans on the table, sort of a nod to the Ghede. When it gets closer to the thinning veil I'll add food and flowers to this space. The denim vest hung around the chair is also an ancestral item but it stays year round. The Virtual Boy in the other seat is, well, a Virtual Boy. Heh.

Next we have the House Altar, residing on the kitchen counter, which changes from holiday to holiday. It keeps our house spirit, the little Knight.

He is currently fighting a dragon with his unicorn steed at his side. Joey found him in his store one evening and took him home and since I added him to the House altar we've had no home trouble. Sometimes he fights other things but I think he likes slaying the dragon best.

The Working Altar in my Studio/Altar room. I use this altar for my work and it's where I make most of my products. The top has all sorts of trinkets; found feathers I've had since childhood, squirrel bones, graveyard dirt, candles, etc. The bottom is in homage to the Dark Gods arriving and the Light Gods leaving. The Earth is returning to dormancy. The glass stemware holds natural objects found in the Thicket or close by; Crepe Myrtle bark, Rowan Berries, Yarrow, and a seashell. Also found here is my cauldron, mortar and pestle, several rosaries and crosses (given to me by my amazing Mom. I keep them there because they are filled with her love and protection), and my lanterns. The brass boxes hold charcoal disks and matches.

6 comments:

mathyld ▲under the pyramids▲ said...

Amazing !
Right now I have in my drafts a post called "altar magic" ... With pics of mine !
Soul sisters !
I love your Altar Room !
x x x
-m-

Danni said...

Gorgeous!

I love all the sacred spaces you've created and your altar room is breathtaking! I have my main altar, which is the one I typically update for sabbats and share photos of and a few wee ones around the house including a dia de los muertos altar and a nod to a few deities that I work with frequently here and there.

Anonymous said...

I love the photos and have studied them carefully. So much inspiration Alyssa. Thank you!!!

A.R.Spencer said...

Mathyld: I'd love to see your altar! Post your pictures!

Danni: Thank you, your altar is beautiful!

Gill: Thank you, it makes me happy you find my work so inspiring!

mathyld ▲under the pyramids▲ said...

Pssst ! The first part is there http://underthepyramids.com/blog/2010/10/on-my-altar-pinks-and-golds/
Just a glimpse but you *might* like it :)

Dabble HQ said...

Loved reading this thaank you