#community altar work

[karmazain]

Keys & Crossroads: St. Peter Service begins June 29th

St. Peter is an enormously popular saint who is called on for all kinds of things.He was appointed by Christ as the first pope of the church, and the keys signify his authority as its first prelate and the authority of the church to bind and loose — basically to open and close the gates of heaven. This is essentially what gives the church the authority to administer the sacrament of…

[apolloslyrics]

☀️Deities☀️

I see so many people criticizing others over their relationships, or lack thereof, with their deities, so here are some reminders:

Not having deities is okay.

Having just a devotional relationship with your deities is okay.

Having a working relationship with your deities is okay.

Playing games with your deities is okay.

Harmless jokes with your deities are okay.

Doing fun things with your deities is okay.

Doing devotional offerings for your deities is okay.

Giving physical offerings to your deities is okay.

Not being able to do certain offerings for deities is okay.

Having an altar for your deities is okay, no matter the size.

Not having an altar for your deities is okay.

Laughing with your deities is okay.

Crying with your deities is okay.

Having genuine conversations with your deities is okay.

Being unable to hear/see deities is okay.

Being able to hear/see deities is okay.

Not being able to communicate through divination is okay.

Using divination as a key element in communication is okay.

Not calling on deities during spellwork is okay.

Asking deities to help during spellwork is okay.

Asking deities for help in general is okay.

This is your relationship with your deities in your practice. Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. 🫶

It's 2am, please forgive me if there are any mistakes!

[visiodeii]

pocket shrine update 🌞

[thrashkink-coven]

O, Morning Star, how I love to watch you shine ✴️

[wolfhoundwitch]

LESSONS IN VISUALISATION.

Reupload from my old account but with some changes! I was @fangwitch before.

Part two here.

Visualisation is incredibly useful in witchcraft as it is the base of energy work. From this, you can do all kinds of practices.

You can use visualisation as a tool for meditation, astral travel, and wider spellwork such as sending energy into objects among other things.

So, how do I start?

Here’s a few basic exercises for you to practice. They're very simple and many of you will probably be able to pick it up easily if you’ve already done visualisation techniques!

Exercise One

1.  If you're new to visualisation, you’ll need a quiet area where you’ll be comfortable. Even lying in bed and putting white noise in your headphones works. Get rid of all distractions, put your phone on silent if you can.

2.  Close your eyes, and imagine a mountain. It's important to remember that not everyone is capable of picturing an exact image in their head - some people only conjure the idea of a mountain or a blurry image instead. Don't get frustrated with yourself, these techniques can be built on over time but should still be personalised to your abilities

3. Allow any passing thoughts to float by like clouds, inconsequential to the strength of your mountain. Breathe slow and deep as they pass you by. Bring your focus back to the mountain each time your mind drifts away.

4. You can use this technique as a way to ease yourself into practicing regular meditation too. Try it for five minutes a day, and you can even expand on what the mountain looks like, what animals might be there, and what it sounds and smells like, in time.

Exercise Two

1. Begin again by getting comfortable somewhere quiet and without distractions. Take some slow, deep breaths and close your eyes.

2. Imagine an apple, any old apple. Slowly, focus in on the details. Does it have leaves, more than one colour? Consider each tiny detail of the apple you’ve created.

3. Next, imagine a knife. Consider the size, the weight of the handle and what kind of metal it might be made of. Once you have an understanding of the details of your knife, take it and cut the apple in half. Focus on the detail inside:  the colour, how many seeds there are etc. The more detail, the better.

4. Now, use your senses. What does the apple feel like, smell like? Bite into it and taste it. You’re using visualisation to not only see the apple but understand everything about it, how it interacts with the world around it.

5. With regular practice, you should be able to visualise and interact with objects in your mind. Practice often with anything you like.

Thank you for reading. I am trying to write regular lessons again, so please reply or message with any witchy info you would be interested in learning!

[apiswitchcraft]

altars for minor greek deities pt. 1

i'll probably end up making a part 2 to this since there's quite a lot of greek deities who are mentioned in only one story, or only a few icons, but are still important to some reconstructionists/revivalists. leave suggestions in the comments if you have any! the next post will likely include the four winds and several minor death deities

CIRCE: goddess of magic, a sorceress, daughter of Helios and an oceanid

Colors: purple for magic, blue for oceanid heritage, gold/yellow for being daughter of helios Offerings: allium moly, mandrake, peony, yarrow, poppy, rue, mugwort, wormwood, nightshade, snowdrop, any sort of medicinal herbs (like licorice, willow bark, aloe vera, etc.), pork, honey Crystals: amethyst, lapis lazuli, larimar, aquamarine, fluorite, bloodstone, citrine

GANYMEDE: cupbearer of the gods, consort of Zeus, god of homosexuality

Colors: pink, red for love. gold, silver for being cupbearer. blue for association with aquarius sign Offerings: perfume, jewelry, makeup, dice, musical instruments, writing letters, pride flags, drinks, flowers, rosemary Crystals: rose quartz, gemstones, ruby zoisite, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, pyrite, flower agate, kyanite, angelite

HEBE: cupbearer of the gods, daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of eternal youth and patroness of brides

Colors: red for association with brides. gold, silver for being cupbearer Offerings: lettuce, drinks, turmeric, chamomile, ginseng, calendula, basil, ivy, feathers Crystals: honey calcite, pyrite, red/yellow jasper, gems, ruby zoisite, lapis lazuli, aquamarine, angelite

EILEITHYIA: goddess of childbirth and midwifery

Colors: pastels for babies Offerings: raspberry leaf, chamomile, catnip, cohosh, crampbark, peppermint, baby toys/blankets Crystals: calcites, agates, moonstone, labradorite, rose quartz, amethyst, quartz, citrine, lepidolite, celestite

EROS (the younger): god of love, intercourse, and fertility

Colors: red, pink for love. white for his wings Offerings: roses, apples, pomegranates, rabbit skins/feet, basil, myrtle, rosemary, thyme, feathers Crystals: bloodstone, rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite

ANTEROS: erote of mutual love

Colors: red, pink for love Offerings: basil, flowers, rosemary, thyme, myrtle, feathers Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite, milky quartz

HIMEROS: erote of sexual desire

Colors: red, pink for love Offerings: basil, rosemary, thyme, myrtle, feathers Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite, red jasper, carnelian, garnet, citrine

POTHOS: erote of passion

Colors: red, pink for love. purple for passion Offerings: basil, rosemary, thyme, myrtle, feathers Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite, milky quartz, red jasper, carnelian

HERMAPHRODITOS: child of Aphrodite and Hermes, erote and god of androgyny

Colors: red, pink for love. blue for androgyny Offerings: flowers, star anise, makeup, icons of genitalia, myrtle, lavender, cinnamon, ivy Crystals: rose quartz, moonstone, watermelon tourmaline, ruby kyanite, labradorite, jade, morganite

NEMESIS: goddess of revenge and retribution

Colors: red, black for revenge Offerings: basil, oak, pine, nettles, thistle, symbols of a wheel or sword, angry letters Crystals: smokey quartz, obsidian, bloodstone, red jasper, carnelian, tiger's eye, onyx, black tourmaline

AMPHITRITE: the wife of Poseidon, nereid and goddess of sea life

Colors: blue, green for the sea Offerings: coral, pearls, beach sand, kelp, celery, pine, ocean water Crystals: aquamarine, chrysocolla, malachite, amazonite, lepidolite, lapis lazuli, sodalite, jade

PAN: god of nature, animals, shepherds, and fertility

Colors: brown, green for nature Offerings: acorns/pinecones, leaves, pan pipes, phallic symbols, grapes, basically any herb or flower Crystals: jaspers (various), agates (especially moss, tree, flower), tiger's eye, obsidian, carnelian, sunstone, malachite, jade

IRIS: goddess of rainbows and messenger between gods and humans

Colors: rainbow Offerings: irises (and other flowers in that family), orris root, hyssop, suncatchers, feathers, snake skin Crystals: moonstone, labradorite, aura quartz, morganite, fluorite, agates (especially multicolored), malachite with azurite

THANATOS: god of death

Colors: black, grey, white for death Offerings: cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, willow, mugwort, wormwood, lotus, spider lilies, asphodel, bones, poppies Crystals: quartz (especially milky, smokey), obsidian, onyx, bloodstone, jaspers (various), black moonstone

PSYCHE: goddess of the soul, lover of eros

Colors: white for the soul. purple for magic Offerings: feathers, myrtle, vervain, sage, chamomile, lavender, flowers, figs, nuts Crystals: amethyst, rose quartz, rhodonite, quartz (especially milky and aura quartz especially), moonstone

[boofindoopin]

Thanatos has recently taken to calling me ‘child’. He has also taken to calling me ‘silly’. He just started today, but, he really likes calling me that I think lol. Here’s a conversation we had today (I have permission to share dw yipeeee)

Me, after telling Thanatos something very traumatic that happened recently: I’m too young for this. I’m way too young for shit like this.

Thanatos: It is, you are still just a child. Not even fully grown yet.

Me: Ehhh, child is a bit of a stretch haha

Thanatos: No, you’re still a child to me.

Me: Really?

Thanatos: Yes, child. I’m immortal. Have you forgotten?

Me: I did forget, honestly! Do you view me as your child, Thanatos?

Thanatos: No, I wouldn’t say something as far as that. You are a child, yes. But, you are not my child. I view is more as friends.

Me: oh, okay! That makes sense. AM I YOU’RE FAVORITE FRIEND?

Thanatos: I do not pick favorites among my devotees, silly child.

Me: WHAT?! Silly? I am not silly. >:(

Thanatos: Yes you are, child. You are incredibly silly, for that matter. You are forgetful and have a habit of bringing me rocks.

Me: … do you like the fun rocks…?

Thanatos: I love my fun rocks. Fret not, child.

_____________________________________

along story short, Thanatos thinks I’m silly, and the gods do in fact like the little trinkets we bring them. Later in this conversation when I asked if I could go chug my Snapple Apple, he went: ‘Yes, you may, you silly girl.” :)

[god-of-annwn]

~ Greek Mythology - Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty

[angelicstarsight]

My current altar for Apollo. 🌻 He wanted to be on my desk where I study and create.

[buriedpentacles]

Why I Don't Have An Altar

One definition of an altar is:" in religion, a raised structure or place that is used for sacrifice, worship, or prayer" from Britannica and they have a number of different forms but typically in Pagan or Witchcraft communities they're a surface dedicated to a deity, spirit, ancestors or just their general craft. They're super common and a lot of people take real pride in them, as they should.

But I don't have one.

I used to have one just a year or two ago. So why did I get rid of it?

In a way, I didn't. Not entirely. I no longer have a set place to worship Mother Nature or Commune with my Ancestors but my altar is now scattered across my living space - my plants sit on my windowsill, my tarot cards are wherever I choose to keep them that day, I have crystals all over my room and pieces of nature on my bedside table and desk. I don't have a dish for offerings, or a place to perform spells.

The reason is because I realised that my altar would never give me the feeling of closeness and connection as the world outside gives me. When I prayed before my candles and crystals I felt connected to my Goddess of course, but praying to the wethered old oak in the woods, or to the waves that crash onto cliffs, or to the mother fox that watched me from across the stream is when I *knew* that she was there, that was when I felt her so intensely and deeply.

My altar was performative, it was an act I put on because I felt like I had to. Now, I don't feel that pressure. Now, I feel my ancestors more deeply because *I* am the altar - I am their blood and soul, so I worship them through myself. Now, I feel Mother deeper than before because I am actually experiencing her - not the faux version I had built inside a box.

It is, of course, all personal preference. In the future when I hae a more permennat home I may built an outdoor altar or have a small one for my ancestors, I might not. But, you don't NEED one, and you definitely don't need to spend a lot of money building the biggest and "prettiest" altar. If you want one, build an altar that suits you and whatever purpose it will serve, not one built for a performance.

[the-mortuary-witch]

MY ALTARS

I had each of their permission to post their altars on my socials, please don’t screenshot and share with other people!

Top left to top right: King Hades and Queen Persephone, Mother Hecate, and Lady Aphrodite.

Middle left to middle right: Lord Loki, Lady Hel, and Lord Fenrir.

Bottom left to bottom right: King Asmodeus, Mother Freyja, and Mother Lilith and Lord Lucifer.

[karmazain]

St. Anthony Novena and Chaplet Service - June 13

Have a light set on my St. Anthony altar with your petition or prayer in a community novena and chaplet prayer service beginning on June 13th.  I will begin a nine-day novena and chaplet recitation to St. Anthony on this same day. Your petition/intention will be included daily in my novena and chaplet work and offerings of bread, water, wine, flowers, and incense. After the conclusion of the…

[artemis-potnia-theron]

I'm always so in love with people's altar spaces so here's mine for Artemis Potnia Theron! 🌙🏹🦌

[skogjeger]

"He who could never slip from my mind. For his hands were hellbent and calloused, his silence shaken my very core... all to assure me of his presence."

[thrashkink-coven]

Finally reorganized my altar after so long. It’s 10000x more functional now :))

[apolloslyrics]

Pros and Cons of Having an Altar

Disclaimer: this post is based on my opinion, and should be taken with a grain of salt.

When I first started my path in paganism, I was taught that altars were 100% needed. For some, altars may be a comforting aspect of their practice, something to keep motivation, or even a way to show devotion. In reality, altars can be anything you want them to be.

For me, though, no matter what I tried, altars just weren't something I could keep up with.

This was something I didn't realize until now, and I needed the help of a deity to tell me (thank you, Athena!). Noticing the pattern of the love-hate relationship I had with altars was hard. When I finally saw, though, getting rid of my altar was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

This is not to say that altars are not good, or not helpful. They can be anything for anyone. So, instead of telling you how altars are big, bad, evil places, these are my pros and cons to having one.

Pros (for me)

Showing devotion to a deity/multiple deities.

Having a reminder of your practice around.

Motivation for continuing your practice.

Having a space to keep your things.

Having a space to go to for prayer, deity work, spell work, etc.

Cons (for me)

Can be difficult to upkeep.

Pressure to do more/be at the altar more

Can be draining of energy

Might cause burnout

Time consuming to build, keep, etc

There are many more reasons as to why you should and shouldn't keep an altar, and ultimately, the decision is up to you. If you want to have an altar, but you don't think you can keep one, here are a few different ideas!

Devotional journals to deities

Book of shadows

Minecraft altar

Draw/paint an altar

Dedicate an item to your practice and use it

Use jewelry/clothing to create an altar (color magick, crystals, etc). This one is sort of like a bring-the-altar-wherever thing.

Imagine your altar in your head/Meditate

Music altar (playlists on spotify, YouTube, etc)

Pinterest board altar

Use a candle as your altar space; light it wherever you're doing work, praying, etc

Remember: your practice is yours. No one else can tell you what to do inside of it. Altar or no altar, deity or no deity, glamor magick or crystal magick, green witch or divination witch– all of these are what you get to decide for yourself. Don't let other people define you!

~ Sun/Jordan