When thinking about my home shrine several things came to mind. The first being, I share a very small mobile home with my fiance’ and due to my passion for books, I have virtually no space available for quiet meditation and daily devotionals. Secondly, I have never in my life felt a comfort inside a building. Fortunately I have been blessed. I live on 28 acres of land in the country. It was a given that my home altar/shrine would be outside.

Choosing the area was not as easy as I had initially thought. It came to me as I was mowing. It was the perfect spot. 

Next came the task of finding an altar I liked and was comfortable with. With the help of my fiance’, and a great sale at Lowe’s, concrete planters enhanced the area and soon became the perfect altar.

The altar faces East with a view of the Appalachian Mountains beyond my field, pond and woods. 

The Altar is home to a tree incense burner that I use to represent the Tree, a cauldron, 3 candles, my smudge stick, a sensor for a holder, an offering bowl, stones from sacred places along streams here in the mountains and several special stones (red jasper, crystal and amethyst cluster, blue kyanite, amber and a small waterfall jade turtle given to me by my elder.) Owls are very dear to me, so I have a statue of an Owl beside the Altar. The area is home to a birdfeeder, wind chimes, dream catchers and unbelievable peace.

At this point I have opened it up to all Deity, Spirits and those things of Nature that desire to drop in. I do my daily devotionals there and have found one that was the most meaningful was when it was pouring rain. It was beautiful. If particular Gods/Goddesses decide to drop in and leave a strong presence, I will know and will then add things to pay respect to them. Until then, I am enjoying the area for what it was intended, a place for meditation, daily devotions, ritual and a safe place for the Spirits of Nature to come to when needed. I am sure it will change in time as all things do, but for now I am pleased with it in every aspect. My first High Day spent at my altar was Samhain. Perfect…..is the only word I can think of to describe it. 

Overall I am very pleased. I would like at times to say my shrine is dedicated to this or that God or Goddess, but at this time on this Path, nothing is just jumping out at me yet. So…all are welcome and when the time comes for dedication to one or two, I will know. Right now they are basically telling me, leave things as they are, a lot of growth will take place here. 

My future plans for this shrine are fairly simple for the time being. I am on the lookout for a nice concrete fountain to add to the area. Later, as certain Deity present themselves to me, and my heart is pulled towards one or the other, I plan to add statues in their honor. Not just a statue of the particular Deity, but things represented by them as well. I eventually would like to plant an Oak in the area, perhaps behind the altar. Three lanterns for candles will soon replace the candles on the altar and I also plan to obtain a decent stash of water from a sacred place to me in the Wilderness. I will keep this on hand to use during rituals and devotions as the more things I add from the areas in Nature that are dear to me, the more I connect with the space. By doing this I imagine the energy to flow more smoothly. As I have recently adopted a dog from the shelter, I will soon be placing a fence up in two areas. This will not be anything too obtrusive. I have a wooden deck fence that has been waiting for a good use. I will put it up where needed with a nice little gate. This will still leave the area open as I desire it to be, but prevent the dog from damaging anything on or near the altar.

Share This