Symbolism in Altars & Shrines

[SkySamuelle]

While I do enjoy the "show off your altar/shrine space here" thread, I confess I am more interested in the symbolism behind the items and arrangement than anything else.



So: for either extant or planned/ideal/what-have-you shrines and altars, what meaning is behind the items and layout? Why do you have them face certain directions, or place them in certain rooms? Why did you choose the colors they are decorated in? Are there specific symbols that you will always have, even if their embodiment changes? What do they mean? Are there symbols you want to incorporate but have not yet figured out how to embody them yet?

I'll answer my own questions in another post.

My first altar was very wiccan-oriented: it had my printed favorite portraits of the deities I was worshipping according the seasons/momentary fancies but Hekate, my patron alays was on the left side, and I always held Hermes ' portrait right beside it angled in a certain way so they almost mirrored each other, because it feltimportant to do so out of respect for Her. Een today I have tentative contacts with Hermes, I have no idea of why... He used to pop up in my meditations with Her occasionally, so whatever the relationship between the two, I figured out it was fitting to have Him beside Her. Most of my portraits were made by me, especially if I was pursuing a relationship with the deity in question.

At North, I had crystals. a quarts crystal my broter brought back to me from England to represent the Hearth power
At East, an incense burner and my pendulum to represent Air
At West, seashells in a small white bowl of water to represent water
At South, a candle to represent Fire
At the center, there was an offerings bowl, and a bowl where kept herbs and symbols representing my wishes for my life.

Recently I realized that it no longer reflected my practices and that I needed something more 'intimate' than that public, semi-clutteed space on the top of my desk to meet my gods. Also, the altar used to be my favorite place to meditate because that study room was a room I almost entirely used for my religious pactices. For more than one year tough ...somehow it didn't feel that right anymore. The room was cold and while it was nice to have a sort of 'temple room' I began thinking I needed to differentiate a 'shrine' space where my gods and spirits could be attended to and a 'work' space where I could do my spellworking in peace.

So now I have a cabinet to use as a shrine: it has two shelves. One is for the lwa LaSirene, and it has tw statues, each one representing a different side of her: the dangerous, sensual seductress and the dreamy-eyes queen of the sea. Mostly, my shrine to her contains variou gifts that she has either requested or received as form of service

The other shrine is far more elaborated - the cloth is violet and black as I feel it fits all the entiies 'housed there' : on a side, there are portraits of the Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte, various items they recived as gifts from me, and on the other side there are self-made and very loved portraits of Hekate and Hermes. Hermes has wooden turtle and a pidgeon feather (in my upg I associate this bird to the god- the pidgeon is basically THE messeger among the birds) Hekate has miniature scultures of a snake and a dog flanking her picture.
Nearly on the center, I cut from a white paper sheet a crossroads - i placed my Hekate figurine there where the paths meet, I hang on Her arm silver keys to represent Her aspect as key-holder. As her figurine is flanked by two wolfish looking dogs, I put a third wolfy figurine She got me buying last year behind Her so the 'three' symbology was respected.
As Hekate is the mistress of the three realms - on each path of the crossroads i placed sybols of the three elements in involved: the pendulum to represent her dominion on heavens, hematite and quartz to reprent her dominion on hearth, a single seashell to represent her dominion over the seas.

I still have a bowl for libations on the central area too.

The top of the shelf is to be used as a shrine for the Morrigan, but i'm still working on procuring the prime material.

[SkySamuelle]

....

Somehow, I managed to completely forget my most 'abstract' shrine - the one for the Muses and Their mother Mnemosyne.

It is tiny and it sit on my writing desk because that's where i keep the laptop I use for my novels-in-progress - the dominating color is orange because that's the color issaciate the most with creativity. It's a tiny zen garden with orange coloured sably, nine white stones in circle around an orange tealight.
Right beside that, a picture of Mnemosyne with orange motives stands above a large orange candle. I love that it is so very simple and yet it speaks so much to me.

[Finn]

So: for either extant or planned/ideal/what-have-you shrines and altars, what meaning is behind the items and layout? Why do you have them face certain directions, or place them in certain rooms? Why did you choose the colors they are decorated in? Are there specific symbols that you will always have, even if their embodiment changes? What do they mean? Are there symbols you want to incorporate but have not yet figured out how to embody them yet?

So I have a couple of shrines-in-progress, but I'll talk about my Brighid shelf for now.

My Brighid shelf is on top of a bookshelf in my bedroom. Not pictured, but framing the window is a brat made by JuniperMorgan during our last Cill Exchange. You’ll notice a distinct theme of... candles.



From left to right:

Blue jar candle: for Flame tending with another cill. It’s blue because... I like blue. And it makes a visual reminder of the mystery of Fire In Water, which is a big part of the work of the other cill.

Beeswax large pillar candle: for Flame tending with the TC cill (it’s sitting on top of the lid to the jar candle because I don’t have a bowl or plate for it yet.

I want to eventually have two similar bowls to hold beeswax pillars for flame tending: probably blue, to keep the theme of Fire in Water, though I’m not sure if I want them both to be the same. I like having the visual reminder of the differences between each Cill (different members, different vibes).

Next is a silver candle holder with wee star cut-outs. I don’t have a specific purpose for this, it tend to be an all-purpose candle. I like the motif of the stars because it reminds me of the mystery of the Lady of the Stars. I might invest in another pretty holder, but this was a random one I took from home.

In the center, underneath a brass lantern candle holder, is a crocheted brat (made by Morag in another exchange!). The symbol of the Lantern is extremely significant to me. This was the first devotional piece I bought to represent my relationship with Brighid. I light this daily, at least once in the evening, if not every morning.

Next to that is a wee sun candle holder and some prayer beads with a sun motif at the base. Both were gifts from Aster Breo. The sun symbol is another very significant symbol, for Brighid, to me, is a creational force like the Sun, a Star.

In the back, is a wee stone box I got in Sequoia National Park that holds some devotional jewelry: two simple silver chain necklaces (a star charm on one and a sun charm on the other), my bronze Brighid’s cross necklace, and a wee picture of Brighid drawn by a member of another Cill. I wear the cross on my shift days, and the others when I feel like it.

And there’s a lighter at the very end.

So, lots of fire. Lots of light imagery. Which feels completely right for a shrine of Brighid.


Minor changes and additions are always in my thoughts: namely the flame tending candle holders. I’ve also contemplated getting at least one shallow offering bowl that I can use also as a symbol of the Well in ritual. I’d place floating candles in it for Fire In Water.

I’d love to get a bigger lantern too, so I could put a pillar candle in there.

Lastly, I really, really want this piece of art to place in the window or support against the wall: Flaming Arrow by Helena Nelson Reed. This is my favorite depiction of Brighid, besides one of Nelson Reed’s other paintings. This feels perfect for a shrine.

[Sharysa]

I've been planning the altar I'd have when I finally have enough money to move out and get my own place.

Most likely it's going to be a small one, either in my room or some other place where it won't be in everyone's face. A candle would represent imbas, but it would be blue or purple to represent the mental side. I will also have a pen lying on top of a knife/dagger.

For the Morrigan's fertility aspects, I'd probably have a container plant or two on my altar. I don't like wasting money on cut plants, even to dedicate to her, and the idea of cutting plants for a fertility goddess just feels wrong for me. And I'll definitely leave a copy of Spring Awakening on it--through this play, she's done more for me in a week than anyone else has managed in my entire life.

I like the idea of having stones from the beach and bird feathers around the plants to represent the sea/sky/land trinity.

And since this is California where oak trees are everywhere, there are definitely gonna be acorns in the autumn.

[The Grumble]

While I do enjoy the "show off your altar/shrine space here" thread, I confess I am more interested in the symbolism behind the items and arrangement than anything else.

I love symbolism! Good thread!

My perma-altar is located on a brick fireplace - the thing is huge and dominates our home. The brick reminds me of the earth element, a good foundation and support. The fireplace itself once was wood burning, but the previous owners converted it to gas. My husband and I plan on converting it BACK to wood burning this winter, and the fire will be a part of my workings.

Ram skull: The centerpiece of it all is a large ram skull I was given some years ago by a friend. It symbolized the typical "horned god" aspect, but also the horns represent duality, wisdom and a connection to the wild. They spiral like DNA. I'm actually an atheist, but I do worship nature as an almost deity-like aspect; non-sentient, more of a force. Through the ram skull I feel that connection.

Rattle: Right now, in front of the ram skull sits a large gourd rattle I use to announce my workings to the spirits - I shake it loudly when I'm about to do something at the altar. I made it myself and it's one of my most treasured tools. I meditate through trance mostly, and using a rattle assists in that.

Wand: I don't use the wand I have very much, but it sits near the ram skull. I don't know why I have it, other than the fact I like making wands. I have used wands in the past as focusing tools. I do have a few branches sitting in the basement drying, which will probably become wands at some point, and maybe I will connect with one. (yew, holly, and cedar).

Brigid cross: A gift from a friend some years ago. I don't worship Brigid, but I like equal armed crosses for the symbolism of the four directions.

Skeleton "Voodoo Doll": I got this on a trip to New Orleans. I love bones and skulls and thought it was adorable. It sits by my human skull, representing the darker aspects of life and the mystery of death.

Representations of my animal guides: These can change depending on what guide I am working with at the time. Typically I use bones but I also have used carvings of the animal(s).

Chalice: The goblet my husband and I drank from at our wedding. I use it to offer libations. Also symbolizes the element of water.

Sage smudge stick: Burned for cleansing. I used to make these myself when I lived in the desert, but sadly now I have to buy them. I love the smell of sage.

Hag stones: Found them in my travels. Symbolize protection, but I also just love them. They're so neat and look so "witchy". I have one that has like 6 holes in it.

Colored Stones: Collected from a river in southern Utah. They're the colors I use to symbolize the four directions - red, black, white and yellow. Also represent the element of earth.

Incense burner: Represents the element air. I also burn herbs as offerings.

Offering Dish: It's actually a piece of bark I shaped into a circle. I leave offerings on it over night and then bring them outside under a tree.

Tiny Cauldron with candle inside: Represents the element of fire, but also life coming up from the darkness of the earth (or womb).

Human Skull: It's real - it was a gift from my husband. It symbolizes my ancestors, and wisdom of the ancients. I call her Grandmother.

Stang: Made from a branch that fell during the tornado outbreak last year here in AL, as well as a piece of forked antler. Symbolic of the world tree, a ladder connecting the three worlds, as well as a focus for my intent. Right now it's decorated with the flowered wreath I wore at my wedding.

Big Cauldron: I burn things in this during spell work. It's like a big empty void of potential where things spring from.

Broom: Sweepy sweep. Also, I just love brooms because I have a thing for "witchy" things. This particular broom was jumped over at my wedding.

Large rock from the yard: It sits on the hearth, tying the altar to the land. A friend swears there is a werewolf face on it, which is very fitting for me and our house.

Lanterns: Bought only for the pretty factor. The mantle is so huge it needed some big decorations. They help illuminate and set the mood.

[Vella Malachite]

I've been planning the altar I'd have when I finally have enough money to move out and get my own place.

Hah, me, too; I'm living in a dormitory shoebox that barely has enough space for all my stuff let alone an altar.

When I get a proper altar, I think I'm going to put, not images of the gods, but representations of them on it: I have a small swan statue for Aenghus, and I cross-stitched a triskele for Manannan, but I still need to find things for Lugh and Ogma. I also have a couple of candles collected in colours and scents that I thought were pertinent to the deities; a pale blue and white candle with "island something" scent for Manannan, a yellow candle whose scent escapes me at the moment for Aenghus, an aubergine-purple candle for tM, when I thought I would be following her, but it turns out I didn't.

I'll probably embroider an altar cloth with symbols or Ogham runes if I want an altar cloth in the future, and I'll continue to collect things which remind me of Them and myself as I go, I expect.

[Liadine (dragonflyeyes)]

So: for either extant or planned/ideal/what-have-you shrines and altars, what meaning is behind the items and layout? Why do you have them face certain directions, or place them in certain rooms? Why did you choose the colors they are decorated in? Are there specific symbols that you will always have, even if their embodiment changes? What do they mean? Are there symbols you want to incorporate but have not yet figured out how to embody them yet?

Both of my altars are in my room because I'm living with my parents right now. One day I'd love to have a kitchen altar as well, and a hearth altar if I can find somewhere with a fire place...

My day-to-day altar is on an bookshelf, which is useful. On the shelves below I keep my herbs, oils, cards, books, and miscellaneous bits and bobs that come in handy.

Left-hand side:
- The herd of candles is there because I like working by candlelight sometimes.
- Right now there's a jeweled branch and a feather in the bud vase, but when possible I try to find a flower or two to put in there - partially because I like having flowers for Brighid, partially because I like having flowers on my altar in general. (The peacock feather is a little more complicated; I know it needs to be there, but I don't know why.)
- The white piece of rabbit fur has a silver-and-amber rose on it; it was a gift from a friend, and it's my favourite symbol for Brighid.
- The tiny notebook is on the altar because I use it a lot while working.
- The bell's also there for practical reasons, and next to it is a tea-light holder of the skyline of London. I'm planning on moving there within a year, and the reminder helps keep me focused on all the things that need doing to get there.
- The tiny bowl between the two ivy candle holders is there because of some work I was doing earlier, normally it lives in one of the bookshelf baskets. Sometimes it also holds offerings if one of my larger bowls won't fit/work.

Right-hand side:
- The tree candle holder was the first thing I purchased for my altar, and I couldn't imagine having a main altar without it anymore. When the candle is lit it casts branch shadows on the wall.
- The cast-iron stag on the brown rabbit fur is one of my favourite possessions, and it represents the horned guy (the god I work with who apparently doesn't have a name, or at least not one I can find). Also on the rabbit fur are an arrowhead (hunting and practical craftsmanship, among other things) and a carved bone.
- The little sachet is for a prosperity spell, which reminds me that I should probably renew it soon.
- The little bottle of perfume is BPAL's Grand Inquisitor's Heretic's Fork, which has a lot of scent associations with the horned guy.
- I keep his incense mix in the glass, plus the cinnamon stick I use as cheat-incense when I don't have time to light up any charcoal.
- There's some kitchen witch resin incense in the jar; it was a purchase on Etsy and I've been using it a lot lately.

I should probably sleep now, I'll post my Brighid shrine later.

[iulla]

So: for either extant or planned/ideal/what-have-you shrines and altars, what meaning is behind the items and layout? Why do you have them face certain directions, or place them in certain rooms? Why did you choose the colors they are decorated in? Are there specific symbols that you will always have, even if their embodiment changes? What do they mean? Are there symbols you want to incorporate but have not yet figured out how to embody them yet?

I live in a pretty small apartment, so my altar (in my path, it's called a lararium) is in my room on top of a bookshelf. Oh the symbolism...hahaha.

I have a white cloth on top of the bookshelf, first off. I think I chose white because it is the color of purity in the Religio, and not because every little incense particle used to show up there (before I switched to oil).

There are three statues of my patrons on the altar. One is a statue of Mercurius, which I recently painted. Another is a smaller figurine of Iuno. The third one is a stone reworked into an owl, which is a representation of Minerva.

On the back of the altar is a hand-drawn picture in the style of the fresco of an ancient lararium. On the left is Ianus, the god of gateways, doors, beginnings, etc. He is holding a key in his left hand and a staff in his right, symbolizing his functions as a deity. To his right is the Lar Familiaris, the protector of my apartment; he is holding an offering dish in one hand and a rhyton (drinking vessel) in another. To his right is a representation of my iuno, which is sort of like a tutelary deity; she is holding out a dish to the Lar and is holding a cornucopia. Typically, this would be a genius (the male version of the iuno, but as I am a female, this is not so. Hahaha. To her right is Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and home; she is holding a sheaf of wheat and a flame, symbolizing baking and her sacred flame, respectively. Below the four deities is a snake, which is a representation of fertility and protection.

Other things that are on the altar are an oil burner with a candle to represent Vesta and a shallow indent on the top for scented oil. I use oil instead of incense, because I'm allergic to incense.

There are two offering dishes, one for liquid and one for food, a replica of a Greek vase, and a couple pictures of my family. The lararium is as much an altar to the family as it is to the gods, maybe more.

[MarieBay]

While I do enjoy the "show off your altar/shrine space here" thread, I confess I am more interested in the symbolism behind the items and arrangement than anything else.

I've moved A LOT in the past two months (6 times), so most of my lovely altar items are stowed away until I find a permanent home.

I currently work with a small "travel kit" that consists of:
- Statue of Ganesh, a gift from my aunt. He's my primary deity, and it's a pretty brass statue.
- Vintage hand-crocheted doily, a gift from a close friend, to replace an altar cloth. I work with textiles, so having some scrap of fabric around is important.
- Rocks and crystals and bits of wood, mementos from travel. I carry a chunk of stone from the place I grew up, some quartz for energy work, a small rock my sister painted, and a few other oddities. They're either for energy work or they're just pretty.
- A candle of some sort. For candle business.

It's pretty simple. Usually I have:
- A beautiful handwoven altar cloth. Well, several on hand for different occasions. I've made all except one of my cloths. The latest one had goddess figures woven in!
- Statue of Ganesh and a little travelling buddha statue
- Candle holders and beeswax candles (locally made!)
- Stone offering jar full of fresh bay leaves for Apollo, or dried leaves if the grocery store runs out
- Lots of incense (snow lion, nag champa, and patchouli) and my eagle feather
- Flowers as an offering
- Significant stones, depends on what I'm working on
- Handmade cloth prayer flags
- Brass bells to clear the energy and ground me after meditation
- My cat. He liked to sleep on my altar and nothing would deter him.

I can't wait to settle down for a little while and set it all up again! I had it set up on my teeny kitchen table in my old apartment, and it always looked like I was celebrating some sort of festival in there.

[Malia]

While I do enjoy the "show off your altar/shrine space here" thread, I confess I am more interested in the symbolism behind the items and arrangement than anything else.

So: for either extant or planned/ideal/what-have-you shrines and altars, what meaning is behind the items and layout? Why do you have them face certain directions, or place them in certain rooms? Why did you choose the colors they are decorated in? Are there specific symbols that you will always have, even if their embodiment changes? What do they mean? Are there symbols you want to incorporate but have not yet figured out how to embody them yet?

I'll answer my own questions in another post.

My altar is in my bedroom and on my desk because 1) having it elsewhere would raise questions from and get in the way of my family, and 2) it's the only space with enough room for my stuff. My room is very small (the width is the length of a twin size bed, and the length is 1.5 twin size bed lengths), so my desk is stuffed into a corner, causing my altar to face east by default.

My altar consists of an offering bowl with two candles--white & purple--on either side. There's also a small black triangular easel waiting to hold a depiction of Rhiannon; to the left of that is a red and blue stained stone goblet (it's off to the side till I finalize my altar). Also to the right of the offering bowl is a "fairy lantern", this wirey beaded thing a friend made for my birthday. And in front of all of this is a wand made of alder with white yarn wrapped at the bottom for a good grip, a copper Tree of Life pendant strung onto the yarn. There's also a seagull feather to the left of the offering bowl. (There's currently no meaning behind their positions.)

The white candle basically symbolizes Rhiannon's association with the moon and appearance in lore as/with a white mare; it's also just a basic candle. The purple candle is to aid the spiritual part of my path since Rhiannon's from the Otherworld and all. The goblet is to symbolize water, since that's related to the moon. The seagull feather basically represents air, but also water and my association of Rhiannon with the ocean. The wand is made of alder so as to allow me control over my life (and magical workings, of course); the white yarn may achieve some meaning later on, but the copper pendant helps with the wand itself. The fairy lantern...yeah, still don't know about that, but I suppose it could somehow be connected to the Otherworld. Nothing to be said for the easel and offering bowl; they're just filling in until I find something to either replace or give meaning to them.

But that's not all there is to my altar space. To the right of the area I mentioned, I have a jewelry box with my seashell collection atop it (including a sand dollar), a small box of milky quartz for charming, a small chest of drawers for some of my jewelry supplies (atop which I have my Tarot deck), and a large black leather box to store my stones. Above my altar, there's a shelf half-filled with glass/plastic lidded containers to be used when I get around to making oils and whatnot.

As for what to incorporate later on, I'd really love to have some sort of white horse statuette, or get some flameless rose incense since that's Rhiannon's flower.