Little Sacred Spaces

      After posting my healing altar in February I planned to be well enough in March to create and post an altar for the Spring Equinox. Perhaps this would have happened if my femur hadn't been broken during surgery. Having to keep both hands on my walker has prevented me from doing much of anything other than read, write, knit and put together jigsaw puzzles for the past six weeks.      While I was not able to create a spring altar, I was blessed by an outpouring of love and support - some in the form of cards, some as floral arrangements, prayers, visits, gifts, meals, and baked goods. This arrangement of get well cards is a testament to all of the family and friends who have helped me through this difficult time. I am grateful for every one of you!

    Valentine's Day is celebrated throughout the month of February with red roses, hearts, and chocolates.   Traditionally it is the celebration of romantic love, but children exchange valentines at school, and many people send cards to family and friends. This year I decorated with symbols of every kind of love!     Many years ago, Mark spent ten days in the Dominican Republic as a medical missionary. While he was there he bought the statue of a man and woman kissing. Obviously, that is my symbol of romantic love, but it also represents the love of art.      The angel playing a violin represents divine love as well as the love of music. The heart-shaped earth symbolizes love for the entire world.       On the tree hangs a heart ornament with two deer representing love for the animal world. The snowflake represents water and the uniqueness of all the people and things we love. The cardinal reminds us of our love of birds. ...

     You are probably familiar with the terms, "everyday sacred" and "be here now." That is what the favorite chair is about. Many homes have a favorite chair - where the home dweller sits with a cup of coffee in the morning, to read a devotional and contemplate plans for the day. Then to sit with a cup of tea in the afternoon, to relax and focus on "being in the now." In the evening, with a glass of wine, to share our thoughts with a loved one - who wasn't so fortunate to get the favorite chair for our conversation!      Several years ago we replaced an old wing chair with this much more comfortable polka-dot recliner. I chose this upholstery because I was ready to add some pizazz to our old-fashioned country decor. It immediately became the favorite chair for everyone in the family and every visitor to our home.      Back when the chair was new, our daughter and her family lived with us for a few months while they were in transition. Our gr...

    Long before Friday the 13th became known as a bad luck day, it honored as the Day of the Divine Feminine.   The name,  Friday, is derived from Old English and means "day of Frigg." Both Queen of Asgard and a powerful sky goddess in Norse mythology, Frigg (also known as Frigga) was associated with love, marriage and motherhood in Pagan times.       The number 13 was believed to hold a potent feminine energy because of its  link to the number of lunar and menstrual cycles that occur in a calendar year. Fertility was prized in pagan times, and artwork would often draw connections to menstruation, fertility and the phases of the moon.     The essentialness of the divine feminine to human life was lost during patriarchal times, but the day has come for a re-awakening of the feminine in each an every one of us so that we can regain the balance of yin and yang within humanity.      Today, January, Friday the 13th, 2...

     This fairy house sits outside in the garden during the summer. Outside the ants and squirrels wreak havoc with the fairies' home, so it's nice to have it inside where I can add the crystals and whimsical details that fairies love. The first summer that I had this house outside my granddaughter left Bluebell's sister, Buttercup, inside the house between visits. The next time she came to play we found the house full of ants and dirt. Buttercup was so filthy she could not be rejuvenated.      Instead of tending flowers, house fairies like to get into mischief and tease the human occupants. There is no evidence of fairy activity in our home, but an old friend told me there must have been at least one fairy in a lakeside cabin where Mark and I stayed for a week one summer. I had placed my sparkly green earrings on the nightstand before we went to bed and found one missing in the morning. I looked everywhere and couldn't find it, but later that evening it sh...

    I have noticed in recent weeks that my blog,  Building Bridges of Oneness has received many views from Russia. I like to think these views are from Russians who want to build bridges of peace and oneness with their neighbors in Ukraine. It is my belief that most Russians disagree with Putin's decision to wage war on Ukraine, and would like to see peace between their nations. This altar is for you, the Russians who are looking at my blog, and for your Ukrainian neighbors who are longing and praying for peace.      The blue vase of yellow flowers on the altar represents the Ukrainian flag, while the red, white, and blue candles represent the flag of Russia.      Hanging on the little tree is an ornament made in Russia and a necklace made by a Ukrainian artist. At the base of the tree sits an egg painted by a Ukrainian. Here is a close-up of that egg:        Also on the table is a set of Russian stacking dolls and a bowl...

     At the beginning of a new year we often make resolutions and set our intentions to better ourselves. Many of us wish for more peace in the world as each new year begins, and that is what I'm doing with the altar that I have dedicated to peace.      As I placed the symbols of peace on this altar I prayed that 2023 will be the year that the Era of Peace truly begins in the world of form. The Christmas card framed in green and gold displays the word "peace" in eleven languages. This and the golden globe hanging on my little tree remind us that people all over the world long for peace. Wars are waged by powerful and egotistic leaders, but most common people desire peace with their neighbors. When the will of the people, and the will of God prevail over the will of the egotists, there will be peace.      Doves of peace and a paper crane hang from the little tree along with the golden globe. Paper cranes have been symbols of peace since a litt...

    A nativity scene is featured in many homes at Christmas time.  In my family we also referred to it as the manger scene. Some sets include shepherds, sheep, and wise men - perhaps even camels - but central to the scene are Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus and an angel. The scene reminds us of the religious meaning of Christmas, the celebration of Jesus' birth, and the much-loved story of how this came about.      Nativity scenes come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. This one that graces our home now once belonged to my mother. It has replaced the set that our kids grew up with since I gave it to my daughter. When the kids were little we hid baby Jesus until Christmas Eve. Vera and Peter took turns putting Jesus in the manger when we got home from church that night. When they became teenagers, and Peter had grown wiser, he realized that nobody would have been in the stable before Christmas Eve, so he hid Mary and Joseph, too. Vera would try to find where he ...

     Today, December 21st, we honor the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, which heralds the return of the sun. This day has been celebrated in many cultures throughout history, but was largely forgotten as the celebration of Christmas grew more popular. Growing up, I never heard anything about the solstice, but judging by the numerous Facebook posts about the winter solstice today, I believe it has regained popularity in the world.      This is the first time I have added a winter solstice altar to my Christmas decor. Instead of red, I'm displaying a yellow bird and lemons to honor the rebirth of the sun. Of course the candle flames are another reminder of the sunlight we will celebrate as it increases every day after today.      I will close with one of the odes to the solstice I found on Facebook today: May you find peace in the promise of the solstice night, that each day forward is blessed with more light. That the cycle of n...

          Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.   According to tradition, Mother Mary appeared to Juan Diego, who was an Aztec convert to Christianity, on December 9th and again on December 12th, 1531.  According to the traditional account,   the name of Guadalupe, as the name was heard or understood by Spaniards, was chosen by the Virgin herself when she appeared on the hill outside Mexico City.      I have created an altar to commemorate this feast day (even though I'm not Catholic!) and to emphasize the significance of this occurring on the twelfth day of the twelfth month of the year. The figurine represents Our Lady of Guadeloupe, the Divine Feminine, who is flooding the earth with Her blessings and love - to restore the balance of masculine and feminine energies to humanity and our world.      The twelve tea lights symbolize the significance of the number twelve,  a symbol of balance, ...

       I think most people who celebrate Christmas will agree that the best ones are those shared with children who are young and innocent enough to believe in magic. My brother, Steve, and I both remember the Christmas Eve when we were three and four, that he got in my crib with me so we could share our excitement. There was so much magic in the air, and we were sure we heard sleigh bells on the roof!     The little fireplace in this arrangement was mine when I was a child, and the little boy waiting for Santa was part of a gift from my Aunt Jeanie when I was very young. He used to sleep inside of a snowball ornament, lost or broken long ago. Now he sleeps in a little rocker, waiting for morning when he will see what Santa has left for him under the tree that Mark made for me.      I created this arrangement to delight my granddaughter when she comes to visit, and to remind me of the enchantment of a child's Christmas   When Mark a...

       In her book about altars Denise Linn discusses wall altars that can be created on a shelf. She also says: "Some of the most magical altars are handmade. By building a shelf for your altar you are infusing it with love and care that will continue to emanate from it for a long time."     This shelf was handmade with love by my husband a very long time ago. For many years it hung on the wall in our living room. Now it hangs on the wall in my own room where I can see it from my desk and from my green chair.      Over the years I have placed a variety of objects in the cubbies of this shelf. Each item is meaningful to me. The current display includes photographs of my two children when they were younger. The madonna and child icon was carved for me by my father. The two icons of Jesus were gifts from our neighbors in Oneonta who used to go to Greece every summer to visit family.      The eggs on the top and the bottom of the...

       While rummaging through the Christmas decorations in our attic, deciding what to display this holiday season, the white glass angel inspired me to create an altar for the White Light of Christ consciousness, purity, and wholeness. White light contains the frequency of all the colors in the rainbow - thus its symbolism of wholeness.       People who report near-death experiences describe a brilliant white light that emanates unconditional love. Those who have the ability to see chakras tell us that the crown chakra, our gateway to divine love and spiritual wisdom, is white. Jesus, Mary, and the saints are pictured with halos around their heads, because their crown chakras are so brilliant.      I placed a white scarf on my altar table before arranging on it the white symbols. There was so little contrast between the white crystals and shells, and the white cloth, that the objects were barely noticeable.  I switched the wh...

     I like to make an Advent wreath for our home each year. The traditional candles are three purple, one pink, and the white Christ candle in the middle. I'm not a very traditional person, so I use different colored candles - sometimes red, sometimes blue, last year purple and pink, and this year green. Green is my favorite color. It symbolizes healing and eternal life - good things to think and pray about during the holiday season.      We lit the first candle on Sunday, November 27th, to symbolize the Hope of Advent. We hope that Christ will be born in every human heart this Christmas - or at least very soon! I am not referring to the person Jesus, whose birth many celebrate on Christmas Day. Christ consciousness refers to the spiritually evolved state of being that Jesus exemplified. One does not have to be a Christian to attain Christ consciousness. If you don't feel comfortable with that term you can call it something else - perhaps spiritual enlight...

    During the first 42 years of my marriage, I often wished that I had a room of my own. A room that I could keep free of clutter, artfully decorated with my favorite books and momentos. Three years ago when we moved from Oneonta, New York to a new home in Delavan, Wisconsin, I finally had my own room.           My room is a sacred space in itself, a place where I can go to connect with friends and family via my computer, or connect with the Divine in whatever way I feel inspired. Sometimes I light a candle and sit in this chair to meditate, read, journal, or pray.      The little table and the green chair both belonged to my father, and the lace-trimmed handkerchief was my mother's. I like to change the objects on the little table from time to time, but they always include something symbolic of the four elements of Nature, such as the dish of crystals for earth, the blue bird for air, the seashell for water, and the can...

     The hutch that Mark built many years ago is now decorated for  Thanksgiving with symbols of abundance and gratefulness. The book, One Hundred Graces by Marcia and Jack Kelly   was a gift from one of the doctors Mark worked with in Worcester, New York.  This book includes blessings from many traditions, including  Christian and Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist, Islamic and Native American. No matter who or what we believe to be the source of our nourishment, people of every faith offer thanks to show our gratefulness before partaking of the food provided.      The bread plate that says: "Give us this day our daily bread" was a gift from Mark's sister that offers the beginning of a Christian prayer. The whole prayer is in our book and goes like this: Give us this day our daily bread,  O Father in heaven, and grant that we who are filled with good things from Your open hand may never  close our hearts to the hungry,  the homel...

          A good friend of mine just gave me Denise Linn's book: Altars: Bringing Sacred Shrines into Your Everyday Life. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in creating a home altar of any kind. Many of her words echo my own thoughts about altars. Linn says: "The urge to create sacred spaces is so deep in the human psyche that we often create them unconsciously. A gathering of photos on a piano, an arrangement of personal objects on a desk or fireplace mantel, are perhaps outer manifestations of an inner desire to establish hallowed and holy spaces in our environment."     When an altar is considered a sacred space where we can deepen our connection with the Divine, Linn calls it a spirit altar. I like to make spirit altars in different parts of my home, and I frequently rearrange them, so their energy is never stagnant.      The backdrop for this altar is a mandala surrounded by symbols of the world's major rel...

     When I created this arrangement in our living room it was not intended to be an altar, and yet it does include three of the elements necessary for a sacred nature space. The earth is represented by the fruit and bare twigs which are replaced by pussy willow in the Spring.  On the wall a partridge in a pear tree represents the element of air. Above that is my father's wood representation of the Great South Bay, the body of water near my childhood home.      The only element missing in this arrangement is fire. But one morning the sun hit the nearby piano lamp in such a way that it created a halo of light over this scene, transforming it into a sacred space. My husband recognized the beauty of this fleeting gift, and took the picture.      Homemade altars often include connections to and reminders of family members and ancestors. The music cabinet on which this arrangement sits belonged to my mother, and the doily was tatted by my pat...

          I grew up in the little hamlet of Sayville on Long Island, New York, just a five-minute walk from the Great South Bay. Several ferries to Fire Island left from a dock at the end of our street. I took it for granted that I could visit the ocean beach almost any time my family or friends invited me to go. Every summer I spent as much time as possible swimming, sunbathing, getting burnt, and collecting shells.      When the time came for me to "spread my wings," I decided I had to get off Long Island so that I wouldn't have to drive through city traffic in order to travel anywhere else in the country. I also thought it was time to trade the ocean for mountains, and a different kind of scenery. I met my husband in the Rocky Mountains of Yellowstone Park. Later we lived near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee for seven years, and then 32 years in the Catskills of New York.      The mountains of upstate New York are beau...

      One of the ceremonies I created and performed in my capacity as a life-cycle celebrant was my version of a wise woman or croning ceremony. Traditionally this ceremony was celebrated by pagan women to honor their passage through menopause into wise old age. My non-traditional ceremony included an altar that I decorated with items symbolizing young womanhood. Later in the ceremony I replaced or transformed these items into symbols of older and wiser womanhood.      The bouquet of flowers symbolizes the freshness and beauty of youth. The spiral on the goddess figurine symbolizes spiritual growth. The clock is a reminder of how regimented our daily lives were when we set the alarm to get up for work or to take the kids to school.      The stacking dolls represent a mother with her young children. The spoon symbolizes the nurturing we did for our families. And the closed shell contains the annoying bits of life that we had to deal with in t...