A brief description, with photos if possible, of the Dedicant's home shrine and plans for future improvements. (150 words min.)

When I first found paganism (or it found me) I only had a small space to use as an altar.  My bed set had two side table/cupboards and I used one of them as an altar – my books in the two cupboard shelves above, the altar itself in the middle and supplies and such-n-such in the two drawers below that.  I remember that at first all I had on it was a crystal vanity set – a bottle with a stopper and a powder jar on a tray.  I had put scented oil in the bottle, and sea salt in the jar.  I still have the jar of sea salt.

After a while, I took over a section of our low dresser, and added bits to my altar.  A handmade pentacle (the design taken from a Doreen Valiente book), an incense burner, and various kinds of candle holders eventually joined the salt jar.

There was even a time when I had no altar at all.  We had just moved into our home, and since I did not have an ‘path’ at the time, I didn’t feel the ‘need’ to have an altar of any kind.  When I started hanging around with more Pagans, I felt that I needed to rebuild my altar.

Now, I am fortunate enough to have my own work room in my house.  While most of it is taken up in my library bookshelves, a sewing table, my two harps, and two sets of drawers of aromatherapy supplies, in a corner of the room is my altar.

It consists of five corner shelves, one small and four larger ones.  The small one is at the very top, almost touching the ceiling, and is used to hold the draping cloth on each side of the altar itself.

The next shelf down has some general items that I have occasionally used – a little harp, a loved pewter goblet, a set of 6 silver cordial cups, a hand made green vase, a candle and a crystal.

The next shelf has some of my old altar items as well as other items that I love: some small pewter figures – a dragon, a penguin(for my husband), a Green Tara, a generic Goddess (my first Goddess image), and a Pan.  This level also has my image of Arianrhod and a crystal ball in front of her and a wand with a triple goddess on it.  A small aromatherapy jar, a mortar and pestle and a tarot deck are also on this level in case I need them.

The ‘middle’ shelf is my main altar area.  I currently have my incense burner, a crystal candleholder – both as my representations of Fire, a glass vase that has been etched with an image of the World Tree on it as my Well, and a black onyx stone obelisk, sitting atop a rabbit fur for the Tree, and a green cordial glass as my blessing cup.  The small blue bag is my rune-stone bag.

On the lower shelf is a gift of love from very dear friends – an Altar Icon of the Morrigan.  With Her, sits my rainbow obsidian globe, and the stone bowl as an offering bowl, with a matching plate for dry offerings.  Spare candles as needed for light (I actually move them off this level when using), my salt, the blue glass is my cup for the Outsiders offerings and the two small boxes hold my oat and cornmeal offerings.  The whiskey bottle is what was left from the last ritual. 

I’ve been able to replace the cheap stone runes that didn’t really speak to me all that well with a wonderful set made of yew wood.  They really talk quite loudly and clearly and I find myself making sure that I shake the bag very well.  Eventually, I want to replace the obelisk with a more suitable Tree image, but it works find for now.  I know what I want to find, but I’m unsure if I’m supposed to ‘find’ it or ‘make’ it (I think I have the skills to make it…). {mosimage} Because my altar area is small, I’m thinking of a wire and stone tree – resembling a bonsai tree.  Right now in place of a bell, I’m using a set of Chinese finger exercise balls (the musical kind).  I want to change it to a single chime like this.  Just need to find one that I like the feel and sound of.  I’ve got a new Altar Icon in the works for Gefion, and possibly one for Arianrhod, but neither of them is done yet.  That will mean I’ll need to see what on my altar I really no longer need or want there.

 I am hoping that I'll be able to have an outdoor altar as well.  In my backyard, I have a raised area with a beautiful tree in the center of it.  At its base is a scattering of mint (as much as mint scatters) and a statue called "The Four Winds" - a wonderful representation of Air and Sky.  I want to add a fountain to the area, and perhaps a fire pit or chimera.  But that will be in the far future, as I have to 'convince' the husband. (877 words)