My shrine is very simple right now and I don't feel an urge to expand on it yet. What I would like to see there in a few months time would be something representing my chosen hearth (which will likely be Celtic) and a symbol of my Patron deity (should she or he choose to reveal themselves to me by then).
The location is less than ideal. It is on a tallish dresser pushed against one wall between a bookshelf and a closet. I chose that location as I had few other locations that would work at the time but plan to find a better location in the future. My largest problem with the location now is that it's a bit high if I want to sit and pray etc near the shrine. My active and curious cats aren't terribly helpful either. I've managed to train them not to jump on it but I find myself absently placing mundane items on or near it as well, which annoys me.
I have a brass tree to represent as my world tree. It is particularly meaningful for me because it was purchased years ago when I was with my mother from a garage sale. I remember watching her clean and straighten it and then put it on display. It moved around our home through the years and was nearly given away a few times but always stayed around. My mother passed away in '06. So, when I started to think about setting up my home shrine I immediately thought of the little brass tree. It has thin brass leaves in a classic deciduous shape that flutter in drafts or when placed over a heat source, it's a very subtle and attractive movement.
For the fire I have a pink/orange rock salt candle holder about as big as my fists put together. I usually use beeswax candles I've made myself in it, partly because beeswax will burn for a very long time and burn clean (which is ideal for indoor use) and partly because it feels more ...correct, more potent that way. I love the color of the candle holder, the necessity of salt for most animal life to be healthy and functional, and the value of salt in the past. When a candle burns within it, it will grow warm - never hot - and smell faintly of ozone.
For the well I have a green/brown onyx goblet about 3" high. I prefer stone to metal, the stone feels more correct and is more attractive as well. If it weren't for the powerful associations I have for my tree it would likely be made fromwood.
On the wall behind my shrine I have a photograph of my brother and sister-in-law. The picture was taken before their wedding and shows them both in traditional Japanese wedding garments. Adjacent to that is a photograph of my mother half hugging my other brother.The picture was taken when he was home on leave from the Marine Corps and surprised her while she was gardening. It's my favorite picture of her. I'd like to add a photograph of my father as well. While all but my mother are still living I appreciate having them close to my shrine.
I have three small stone bowls of similar sizes, that I use to offer mead and other liquids to the Ancestors, Spirits, and Deities. I also have an incense burner for incense offerings though I would prefer something more in keeping with the aesthetic. I am keeping an eye out for a stone or wood burner that appeals to me. The current one was a gift from my brother years ago so I appreciate that connection but the style is a bit jarring with the aesthetic of the rest of the items.
To the right of the shrine, on a short bookcase below the bookshelves hemming the shrine in one one side, I keep incense sticks, beeswax votive candles, a bottle of my favorite mead (seems appropriate to offer my favorite brand to the Kindreds, as I would share it with any other being I cared for), a butane lighter (the kind you can buy for barbecues) and a container of distilled water (I use distilled for the well and reuse the water). I'd like to figure out a better storage method in future, the current one is certainly convenient but it looks cluttered and invites feline mischief.
The location is less than ideal. It is on a tallish dresser pushed against one wall between a bookshelf and a closet. I chose that location as I had few other locations that would work at the time but plan to find a better location in the future. My largest problem with the location now is that it's a bit high if I want to sit and pray etc near the shrine. My active and curious cats aren't terribly helpful either. I've managed to train them not to jump on it but I find myself absently placing mundane items on or near it as well, which annoys me.
I have a brass tree to represent as my world tree. It is particularly meaningful for me because it was purchased years ago when I was with my mother from a garage sale. I remember watching her clean and straighten it and then put it on display. It moved around our home through the years and was nearly given away a few times but always stayed around. My mother passed away in '06. So, when I started to think about setting up my home shrine I immediately thought of the little brass tree. It has thin brass leaves in a classic deciduous shape that flutter in drafts or when placed over a heat source, it's a very subtle and attractive movement.
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| You can see the edges of the photos at the top of this picture (iphone photo) |
For the fire I have a pink/orange rock salt candle holder about as big as my fists put together. I usually use beeswax candles I've made myself in it, partly because beeswax will burn for a very long time and burn clean (which is ideal for indoor use) and partly because it feels more ...correct, more potent that way. I love the color of the candle holder, the necessity of salt for most animal life to be healthy and functional, and the value of salt in the past. When a candle burns within it, it will grow warm - never hot - and smell faintly of ozone.
For the well I have a green/brown onyx goblet about 3" high. I prefer stone to metal, the stone feels more correct and is more attractive as well. If it weren't for the powerful associations I have for my tree it would likely be made fromwood.
On the wall behind my shrine I have a photograph of my brother and sister-in-law. The picture was taken before their wedding and shows them both in traditional Japanese wedding garments. Adjacent to that is a photograph of my mother half hugging my other brother.The picture was taken when he was home on leave from the Marine Corps and surprised her while she was gardening. It's my favorite picture of her. I'd like to add a photograph of my father as well. While all but my mother are still living I appreciate having them close to my shrine.
I have three small stone bowls of similar sizes, that I use to offer mead and other liquids to the Ancestors, Spirits, and Deities. I also have an incense burner for incense offerings though I would prefer something more in keeping with the aesthetic. I am keeping an eye out for a stone or wood burner that appeals to me. The current one was a gift from my brother years ago so I appreciate that connection but the style is a bit jarring with the aesthetic of the rest of the items.
To the right of the shrine, on a short bookcase below the bookshelves hemming the shrine in one one side, I keep incense sticks, beeswax votive candles, a bottle of my favorite mead (seems appropriate to offer my favorite brand to the Kindreds, as I would share it with any other being I cared for), a butane lighter (the kind you can buy for barbecues) and a container of distilled water (I use distilled for the well and reuse the water). I'd like to figure out a better storage method in future, the current one is certainly convenient but it looks cluttered and invites feline mischief.
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