Home Shrine
By art
My home shrine started with the “three bowls and a stick” approach described by Dangler, using convenient unused bowls. I must say I did not understand the use of each part of the shrine initially; for one thing, I thought the Well- bowl was to be filled by offerings. Eventually, through devotional and High Day practice and learning I began to understand the idea of the three hallows and then began to find items to suit each of them. My Fire, initially a single candle, became three tea-lights; my Well, initially a simple kitchen bowl, became a glass bowl I still use; my Tree, initially a stick that would not stay propped up, was replaced with the branch shown in the pictures. I have included a picture of the approximate original layout for clarity; the additional items, most notably the incense burner, were for purposes of making offerings.
My shrine has grown more complex over time, per the picture. In the center you see the important parts, atop of the tree-slice table and the black shelf atop it. At this point, my Fire is a triple-wicked oil candle I found. I still use the glass candy dish for a Well, filled with water; I typically keep suitable water for refilling in the brown bottle next to the candle lighter. The Tree, a three-forked stick, is held up by part of an essential oil warmer (though I did not originally know that was what it was) – the star serving to remind me of the Sky Power. To each side of the well and tree you see a cup and a dish for offerings. Aside the cup is the Freyja statue I ordered from Germany. To one side of the oil candle is the bell I use for “musical signals”, and in front of the candle is my candle snuffer (quite useful with the oil candle, which gets very hot).
In front (not shown) there are reused yogurt containers; they are full of grain and beans for offerings. That’s what the Lillet is for as well (though in the cup at the moment is a pre-mixed beverage called Hot Sex I had offered to Freyja). There are crackers for offering to the ancestors as well. In the left corner, behind the brightly colored candles (they are shaped like fall leaves and to be used at the fall equinox) my group ritual supplies hide.
Back to the table top, you can see an incense burner for the occasional offering on that basis and candles to either side. Also a few rocks are present to help connect me to the Earth Power, as I live on the third floor.
The bookshelf behind serves a few purposes. The shelves hold books of various utility and accuracy. On each side of the shelf, ritual jewelry, my original runes, and my drinking horn hang off pegs; behind and underneath ritual gear for Hemlock Vales Protogrove is stored. The top shelf, in addition to books, holds the runes made for me by another ADF member, my Travel Shrine, and a Nature Spirit photograph.
There are many improvements possible, though I have been very conservative about making changes prematurely. The one I am most actively looking for is a more magnificent Tree. I would also like a Well that matches the oil candle I use for the Fire, though the oil candle does not appear to have any sort of artists’ mark on it. Alternately, I might prefer a cup and offering bowl that matches the Fire.