I have had an altar/shrine in my home for the last 2 decades. It has changed over the years as my own practice has changed and grown. I am now on the journey to creating an altar that fits my new ADF practice. So far, I have kept it pretty much as it had been. I wasn't worried. I have learned over the years that when it is time for something to change, the means to do so will appear.
So far, I had been using a simple small clear glass bowl for the well and a matching one to hold the candle for my flame. The World Tree was my first change towards a true ADF shrine. It is an actual tree. I was out underneath my beloved willow tree when I discovered a tiny cedar struggling to survive. It was tangled in the roots in a place where it could hardly get any sun. It was fighting and looking so sick. I decided to save it. It now lives in a little pot and sits in my bedroom window where it greets the rising sun every day. I move it to my altar when I need it, but otherwise, this is its new home. I am on the search for a bigger pot for it, but for now, the small white butterfly pot is big enough. One day, when I have a house of my own, it will be planted at the central point of my outdoor sacred site - perhaps the labyrinth my fiance and I plan to create. Wherever it ends up, it will continue to be an important part of my practice.
The past Thursday night, I was reading about the creation of the Home Shrine. I read a section about keeping an eye out in thrift stores if money is an issue. I am extremely poor, so most of my belongings come from thrift stores. I learned long ago what kind of treasures await the person willing to look. I knew this is where I would find the next piece for my shrine. Friday I was out with my best friend and my mom. Good fortune was with me! I knew for the Well I wanted something unique and special. I also wanted something that evoked the feeling of a sacred well even when it didn't contain water. I found for fifty cents a beautiful handmade pottery bowl. It is swirled with shades of cream, pale green, and tan. Looking into it feels like looking into an actual well. Another piece has fallen into place.
I also found something that for me represents the ancestors. I discovered hidden on a shelf at Goodwill an amazing little vase created by a Sioux artist. It was a price I could afford and it "felt" right. It is about 4 or 5 inches tall with a rounded bottom and a small neck. it is brown except for the design in tan. I normally don't like brown, so I was surprised at how strongly it called to me. I realize that ADF focuses on Indo-European cultures, but I am hoping that this one piece will be allowed to be from a different tradition. I learned so long ago to always go with any strong feelings. In this case, I KNEW the small little vase was meant to represent this part of my ancestry.
So this is the beginning. All of these treasures are on a table I added a glossy green marbled top to and covered with a beautiful green/purple/gold scarf from India. There is no reason for the scarf other than it simply seemed like a good fit because it was obviously very special. I am excited to see how else my shrine changes over the course of my studies!
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