Altar Issues

[Kris Hughes]

I've lived in my current house for almost 3 years, and I have yet to put up an altar.

A little background. I previously lived on my own, in an apartment in Edinburgh, Scotland. Two of the rooms had cozy gas fires, with nice hearth areas, which first unconsciously, and later more consciously, became altars. I don't perform "magic" or cast circles, as far as I understand these things, but these were definitely places where I went to focus on the spiritual, make small offerings and so on. They felt good to have in my home.

My current Colorado farm house is so different from my previous home. The hearth area is ugly and dirty (wood burning stove, badly designed area, etc) and no room feels like it has a "centre" or even an appropriate corner. The whole house, even when clean and tidy, feels sort of anarchic. I live here with my new partner (I met him shortly after moving). He isn't a spiritual person, but he's open and supportive, and has no objection to me having an altar. I just can't seem to figure this out, and it's causing me some unhappiness. I can't figure out whether this is somehow a reflection of what's going on in me (I haven't been terribly happy here), some energy coming from my partner, from the house itself, or just more pragmatic things like the layout of the house. I wonder whether it's something to do with the fact that I'm just used to living alone and only having my own energy around. There are some trees on the far side of the farm that I go to, but it's a good half mile walk and awkward to get to.

I know you might want to tell me that it's okay not to have an altar, but it isn't something I think I "should" do, it's something I want to have in my life again.

Has anyone dealt with something like this? How did you solve it?

[skydove]

Have you tried a simple house blessing to make yourself feel more comfortable within it. Its something you can do yourself in each room. Maybe the more work you put into the house on a spiritual level the more it will become to feel like home. Try meditating in each room, lighting candles and incense, bringing in objects or leaves and twigs from outside. It does take time to build your own space and feel comfortable. As you settle down inwardly I'm sure the house wont feel as strange and unwelcoming.

[Karl]

I don't know what your opinion is on Feng Shui or leylines, but (assuming its all the same thing) maybe you need to find the 'flow' of the house, become more in tune with how people move in each room and how people behave. Ie kitchens are a lot more busy and energised. I might suggest an embrionic altar which you can move around; a small square of material and some symbols that you can put here, or there or anywhere. Move it around every day or so and I'm sure that somewhere will fell more right than any other.
Even if there are specific reasons that are blocking the sacredness of your space (be it partner, location, psychology, etc) there will be somewhere more receptive than others, and once you have one block in place you can work out from there.
At least, that's what I'd try.

[Kris Hughes]

Karl - you may be a genius!

I can get very linear in my thinking sometimes. You know 1. designate space 2. place altar 3. arrange altar blah blah blah.

Your thoughts are a breath of fresh air. Thanks!

Further thoughts from others also appreciated.

[Kris Hughes]

Have you tried a simple house blessing to make yourself feel more comfortable within it. Its something you can do yourself in each room.

I've done things like this, but no harm in trying again.

[Kima]

I've lived at my current place for a little over three months and it took me time to settle. I had to change the altar spot a couple of times and I think I've found where to put it but it might still change. It was so much easier in my previous room! There was a corner that looked like it was meant for an altar.

I have yet to perform a home blessing and might do it around Imbolc - it would be a perfect time for that. I only rent a room in the apartment so I'll have to get a little sneaky if I want to bless the whole living area (I'll spare my host's bedroom) I understand the difficulty of sharing space; in my case I didn't even choose the person with whom I cohabit. What really matters to me is having an area that is solely mine. That is where I would place my altar.

[Astrid]

hey Kris did you move across the pond by yourself and into a house or did you move into your partner's house?

[Kris Hughes]

hey Kris did you move across the pond by yourself and into a house or did you move into your partner's house?

The former. I had been here about five months when we got together.