The Home Shrine

Over the last few years my home shrine has evolved considerably.  Its original state was atop an antique cedar chest that I bought a few years ago.  On my altar were two dragon candle holders for the God and Goddess.  Next to them were generic carvings  depicting the God and Goddess.  In the centre of the area was my well, it was a marble dish that was used to grind things in and served as a receptacle for the waters.  In the front of the well was a small slate pentacle plate on which sat a tea light candle that served as my fire.  Off to the right was my incense burner, again in Dragon form.  I love Dragons, for their strength, wisdom and the connection to deeper mysteries.  On its opposite side was a small bowl of salt I used to cleanse the altar of negative or mundane energy.  These were the basics of my altar.  I also placed items that were significant to me, such as my Dragon pentacle pendent, a sheaf of wheat from a ritual and a token from the Pagan Gathering, things that had a specific memory for me.

Over the years I have consciously looked for items that felt they belonged in my spiritual area and have either replaced or added them as they were found. It is now located in a set of bookshelves that are in my home office.  I find it helps when I am trying to centre.  

On the main shrine itself from the left… Firstly is a representation of my patron Goddess…The Morrigan.  I feel a connection to her as a triple goddess.  To me she represents the Goddess of sailors and soldiers and consort to one of my male deities… the Dagda.  Next to her we have my dragon wine glasses.  Then comes the candle for the Goddess.  Next to that is a ceramic tree that my wife gave me for a gift.  I told her of my search for a tree representation and she gifted it to me.  It is hollow in the middle and as such is suitable to hold incense sticks, or sage bundles as they burn.  Then follows the candle for the god and of course the statue to the god.

In truth I have three gods that I call my patrons…  Lugh the sun god, Cerrennos god of the forests and hidden places and Dagda, father of the Gods.  

In front of these items is the working area of the shrine.  Again from left to right… First we have a large ceramic cup that I use for the offerings to the out dwellers.   In the middle row is a bowl used as my fire.  Beside that is the bowl used as my well.  I have them placed as to form a triad with the tree and the small water pitcher for filling the well.  In the very front are three identical bowls used to hold offerings. 

These are the main items on my Shrine.  There are however several crystals intermixed with the items, and even a small piece of Bluestone from the UK.  My Grandfather on my mother’s side was a military man like me and after he retired drove trains through Quebec City.  His train conductor watch is also on my shine as a link to the ancestors.  The cloth you see under it all is a piece of tartan from Wales, so to honour my father’s history. 

On the shelf under my shrine is the box where I keep my ritual supplies and tools.  My torc sits in the middle, on the left is my leather bound book that contains my notes, references and rituals.

As for my future thoughts… I would like to find more representations of God statues for Lugh and Dagda.  I find having a visual representation helps when trying to speak to them.  While our home is too small for a designated room for shrines and meditations we are looking to convert part of the attic to just such a purpose. 

I am also working to have several small shrines throughout our home, these will represent various deities that we feel associate more to a place.  For example we would have Brigid in the basement where my wife and I have our crafting spaces, or Cernunnos near the front door to keep negative spirits out.  My wife and I, have also begun the process of building a outdoor shrine and meditation area.