My altar is my Cathedral.
It is the place where I go each morning to worship, to pray, to meditate.
I make my altar new with each ritual I perform, infuse it with more of my essence, my intention, my magic.
There is fire on my altar.
There is water on my altar.
There is wood on my altar.
There is a place to make offerings to the Three Kindred, and there is special recognition of Brigid, my patroness.
Atop my altar is The Awen, and Brigid’s Cross.
I placed The Awen above all else because, to me, The Awen represents the Source of All Things. It is, in my understanding, the First Inspiration, the Eternal Fire, The Essence of us all.
The Brigid’s cross is a sacred symbol that I acquired during a pilgrimage I made to Ireland almost 10 years ago. I journeyed as a Christian, along with a group of other pilgrims. On this trip, I first encountered Brigid, visited her sacred well, and established my first, conscious connection to the Irish land.
I have placed a statue of Brigid on my altar. She stands, serene and prayerful, at the edge of a well. At her feet are two young sheep. Her head is framed by the rays of the sun.
I grew up in a tradition that accepted statues as useful tools for focus, but not physical embodiments, necessarily, of the Divine.
I chose to have a statue on my altar because I value the reminder of the Personhood of Brigid. She is a real, active force, and seeing a physical representation of a person helps to keep that understanding forefront in my mind during worship.
In front of Brigid, I have placed the candle, the wand, and the chalice.
I stand before this altar in the morning and make my offerings. I give thanks. I pray. I meditate. I am filled with wonder at just how close the Kindred are.
They are no more than a deep breath away.
Comments
7 responses to “My Altar: A First View”
[…] my early experiences as an acolyte all the way to this morning's ADF-styled ritual before my very pagan altar, and I'm ok with the existence of that line. I'm not a Pagan who feels he must make a clean break […]
[…] my early experiences as an acolyte all the way to this morning's ADF-styled ritual before my very pagan altar, and I'm ok with the existence of that line. I'm not a Pagan who feels he must make a clean break […]
Your Brigid statue is gorgeous! Where did you get Her?
Thanks, Elinor! I got her at Isis Books in Denver. Here’s the link: http://store.isisbooks.com/BRIGID_STATUE_p/jmbri.htm
[…] developing a new spiritual routine. I’ve risen each morning and made my way into my little sanctuary of a room, lit my candles, and worked at teaching myself new words to say to new Gods. (That is, […]
Beautiful altar and entry.
Thank you so much. I appreciate the comment.