Home Shrine: Update

My Shrine/Altar use to be situated under my bedroom window, but 7-month old kittens wanting to hang out in the window sill, kept knocking everything off so I had to move it to a safer place.

My shrine has gone through several changes over the years.  I try to keep it simple because I can't stand clutter.  It's on top of a small dresser so my space is limited.  Eventually, I'd like to hang a couple of shelves above it so I will have more room to add pictures and other representations of the Kindred. 

Here is what I currently have on my altar:

1.  Altar cloth that I knitted with a multi-colored yarn.

2.  World Tree:  I printed out a beautiful Yggdrasil graphic onto a clear, full-page label and wrapped it around a white 7-day candle.

3.  Shed Deer Antler:  Found out in my woods (Freyr symbol)

4.  Memorial candle for the beloved pets I have lost.

5.  A vase that I keep full of fresh flowers that I pick from the wild and my gardens (for Freyja)

6.  Cat figurine I received as a Christmas present from my brother because  I rescue and foster cats for my local shelter (Also a Freyja symbol)

7.  Seasonal candle (Summer)

8.  Earth Mother:  A beautiful white rock mass of fossilized seashells that my husband found when he was working down south along the Gulf Coast a few years ago.

9.  Well:  Clear, blue bowl

10.  A glass candle holder for three tea candles (that also represent each of the three Kindred).

11.  Two decorative bottles (one clear and one pink) that I purchased as housewarming gifts for myself after I celebrated my divorce in 1998 and moved into my first apartment. 

12.  The Catholic rosary that belonged to my Grandfather who died when I was seven years old (Ancestors).  I have it hanging on the clear decorative bottle.

13.  Holder for incense sticks

14.  Jar with stones and feathers I have collected on my property (Nature/Land Spirits)

Virtue #1: Wisdom

(Rough Draft of Virtue Essay)

    

Dictionary Definition:  www.dictionary.com

wis·dom

1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.

2. scholarly knowledge or learning: the wisdom of the schools.

3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts.

4. a wise act or saying. 

      I believe that wisdom is gained through experience and observation, and as very small children, we begin gathering pieces here and there that will influence our choices and behaviors for the rest of our lives.   

      First we are taught right from wrong, proper manners, and how to treat others with decency and respect.  Then we go out into that big world and put those teachings to the test.  As kids we observe:  our parents, our peers, our extended families and communities.  We  benefit not only from the wisdom of those who attempt to steer us down the right path in life, but even from those who seem to habitually make the worst judgment calls—haven’t we all had the friend or family member whose messy and chaotic life was far from one we’d choose to emulate?  

     Wisdom is not limited to age or intelligence (I’ve met some very smart people who lacked any real world common sense).  Wisdom is choosing the right course of action and understanding that the consequences of any decision we make will affect other people besides just ourselves.   Wisdom is knowing when to speak up and when to remain silent.   

     It is being able to discern the truth from the lies.  Wisdom comes from making mistakes and sometimes in the process of starting all over again, we begin to break the cycle of self-defeating and negative behavior that only keeps us spinning our wheels.

     After writing this essay, I went on-line and did an internet search for “wisdom quotes” and found this one that resonates with what I wrote: 

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: 

             First, by reflection, which is noblest; 

             Second, by imitation, which is easiest; 

             and third by experience, which is the bitterest."

                                                       (~ Confucius~) 

Word Count:  238

Birth of a Nemeton (Photo Heavy)

It's hard to tell from these photo's, but the ground underneath this thick growth of ferns was littered with fallen dead trees.  But I knew this was the perfect place for my Sacred Space/Grove/Nemeton.  To be honest, it's even better than the first site I had chosen--it's more open and shaded, and there always seems to be a constant air current moving through the trees that keeps the area nice and cool.

Sacred Space - Before Photo

Living Maple Tree Arch

Before

Before

Nature/Land Spirits Shrine

 I started work on Wednesday, July 23rd clearing the trail leading west from the Nature/Land Spirits Shrine to the top of a short "hill". The trail would eventually curve to the right and continue north on my property. 

Beginning of Trail

Up the hill

Almost to the top

 The top of the hill is where I stopped working for the night.  Looking through all those trees and brush, I tried not to get discouraged by all the work that still needed to be done.

**The leaning Poplar tree in the background is right behind my Maple Tree Arch and gives some perspective on distance**

This little Red Squirrel kept me company as well as entertained with his constant scolding for having invaded his space. 

What started out late Saturday morning as just a "work on the trail project", morphed into clearing out the entire area as well.  I was out there for close to six hours and with just an axe, saw, plant pruner, and good old-fashioned muscle, I was able to get so much accomplished in that time.  I lined the trail with some of the small trees I cleared out of the woods and created a border around the Nemeton with some bigger trees as well.  It's far from perfect and there is a great deal of work still left to do, but I made a huge dent.  

Trail heading to top of hill

Around the curve - trail headed north to Nemeton

Tree lined west border of Nemeton

That large downed tree in the foreground was too heavy to move by myself, so a chainsaw will cut it in two and it will become part of the border on the east side of the Nemeton

Southwest Corner of Nemeton

I removed a dozen or so rotting tree stumps and cut out the ferns one-by-one with my pruner.  I loaded them all up in my wheelbarrow and fed them to my chickens who go absolutely nuts over them. 

Debris pile

View looking south from Tree Arch

Trail leading away from Nemeton

Leaning Poplar Tree (it just grew that way)

Death and Life