kimberlyautumn

re: Altar set-up

Posted on 04/06/09, 02:55 pm

Heylo everyone. Does anyone have tips, pointers on the best way to set up an altar that's somewhat unobvious? I live in a spot where I need to keep my altar a bit on the downlow and small.

If I were Christian and placed all sortsa Jesus and Mary stuff about my apartment, my landlord would not be offended. But, this is just proof that alternative religions are still untolerated and misunderstood.

BTW, I'm not picking on Christians, I'm just saying...I hate hiding in the broom closet.

• Reply #1 04/08/09  11:52pm
  
  earthwalker
  I know what you mean. I have a chinese altar cabinet it is probably a bit bigger than what you need, but that is a useful and fairly unobtrusive piece (it is in our bedroom in a special corner). It is rosewood with the typical altar shape, with two swing out doors and a small drawer. Basically you could use a small cabinet or a small wall mounted piece with two doors, so when the doors are closed it just looks like a little wall mounted cupboard.
  
  Ultimately, it is purely personal choice. My altar is not set up like others I have seen, mine is mainly a place to keep my special books/tools and decorated with simple natural objects. A Wiccan friend has a quite elaborate altar, some like to have them in the garden, made of stone or other materials. Maybe you could hunt around antique/collectors/ethnic markets and find something suitable....after all recycling is in the nature of most pagans....Hope you find something that meets your needs.
• Reply #2 04/09/09  2:41pm
  
  Phoenix07
  I like Earthwalker's ideas, just something simple and discreet is probably best; and besides, if only you understand the significance of it, that makes it all the more personal to you. How about some kind of plant growing in a pot with a few natural objects or stones next to it? Or a photograph/print of one of your favourite natural sites?
  
  I've never really had a formal altar, I just like having a few personal items around the house like my rowan 'wand' or the odd few bits of tree branch or stones that I pick up on my walks. And of course there's all my houseplants as well lol! For me it's just whatever helps me feel a bit more connected to the natural world - it doesn't have to look particularly 'pagan' or 'occult' to do that for me.
• Reply #3 04/14/09  1:04am
  
  kimberlyautumn
  Wow. cool:) Thanx so much. I wouldn't have thought of a small cabinet on my own. And plants sound like a great idea...if only my cat, Lightning Bug, does NOT nibble on them. He's always finding something to nibble on.
  Thanx a bundle and brightest blessings to the both of you.
• Reply #4 04/14/09  8:00pm
  
  earthwalker
  Check out the internet to see what houseplants available to you are non-toxic. I know there are quite a few plants, Diffenbachia for instance which are quite dangerous for our feline friends. You could always put up a simple wall bracket and hang plants on those, that way LB won't be able to munch unless he is a very good aerial acrobat! I have 2 cats and though they always jump up to investigate surfaces, they don't nibble. Mind you they have 1/2 an acre to roam in. My friend has an inside cat and she grows trays of cat grass for him, maybe you could find a store that sells it...that way he'll have his own little patch of green. Love, light and peace...
• Reply #5 04/15/09  4:39pm
  
  Phoenix07
  I used to have a tabby cat who'd always want to chew up my ivy plants - even if I tried to put them on a high shelf out of his reach he'd still find a way to jump up there and get to them. It turned out the little b***er was getting high from them lol! Ah well, he lived to a fairly good age, so I don't think it did him too much harm.
  
  I've got a rose geranium plant that the cats seem to leave alone - it's quite a nice herb to have around the house anyway, but it does need a very warm sunny spot if it's going to survive.
  
• Reply #6 04/15/09  8:24pm
  
  kimberlyautumn
  Yes. My cat is also a taster. He has to taste everything. I have to watch over him often. He, seriously, will eat anything.
  
  LOL! I never knew cats could get high off ivy.
  
  Thanx for the ideas. I will DEF google non-toxic plants.
  Blessings
• Reply #7 02/08/10  10:22pm
  
  tantrica
  I used to have this problem. I used a little table with a cloth over it made of silky material. When I wasn't my ritual items I would keep them under the table, hidden by the cloth.

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