altars
 

In the pagan community, altars are an essential item to have. After all is said and done, the focus for magic work is on magical tools but what about the altar itself? It's a must have item because where else do we place our incense, candles, etc. and of course they're consecrated before we use them.

Now I haven't seen anything about consecrating altars which got me wondering. Years ago, when I began my new path, I didn't have time to do much research on everything that was going on as a lot of things were happening at a fast pace. Somewhere in this hectic period, I was guided to use a little table, one that would easily fit in my bedroom. Once I got it, I was led to consecrate it by my guides. I used energy so I let it flow throughout my body, but particularly into my hands, and let them move as directed by the energy thus cleansing the altar and charging it.

Has anyone cleansed and/or charged altars or even heard of such a thing?

I at one time practiced wicca for a period after I had begun my path of learning about shamanism.

I have heard of shamans directing power into certain items, for purposes of healing amongst other purposes, and what you have described you had done with your altar is very similar. Energy is a great way to consecrate an altar, smudging with sage is another technique.

The thing to remember with purifying, blessing and consecration rituals, is it isn't so much in the method, but more in the faith in what we are doing. Absolute faith that the table is consecrated, sacred, or blessed is what consecrates the table, or blesses.

Adding energy is a possible, and very viable technique. There is no reason it shouldn't work in Wicca as it does in Shamanistic Practices.

Energy is energy, no matter our personal preference for practice.

So to answer your question, I personally have never charged an altar with energy, am pleasantly surprised you had decided to do that. And yes your altar is now charged and cleansed according to your faith. Or as those who practice Wicca state with intent- so be it.

Blessings.

Hello,

No I never heard of charging altars, but I assume deity and daily worship does that for you including magickal practice. I know your altars should always be clean. Your altar is where you pray and do magick. It's important to have your altars clean, because not only is it disrespectful to your deity it also reflects who you are as a person. Your life is connected to your altar, when you're practicing magick, you are spiritually, emotionally, and cosmically connected to your altar - it's part of you and it's where you go to give thanks through worship and to do magick, it's your workspace. Certain deities will be upset or angry if you remain your altars unclean and will affect your magickal results when doing magick and from what I've heard, you will feel drained and even sick.

Lepus

I had to use energy due to an allergic reaction to smoke so smudging is not an option for me. I also can't use aromatic anything for the same reason. There are times I have to get creative when it comes to magical work, hence an energetically charged altar.

I agree that a patron Deity and daily worship does charge an altar but I was guided by mine to charge and cleanse it first to prep it. I believe it makes an altar energetically stronger and more consistent. For now, my altar is quite cluttered but I'll have to clean it up for some new magical work I hope to start in a couple of weeks. Thank goodness there's no Deity mad at me.

If I need to cleanse it again, I can use a vortex I found near my house.

I've maintained a shrine for many years now. It is on a shelf in the corner of my room.

For cleansing, simple tidiness works best for me. Sometimes just clearing the shelf and leaving the space empty for a day or two also works. Spring water and occasional votive offerings will help to keep the shrine active.
As for charging, I don't focus energy into the shrine as I used to, my interests have since shifted. However I couldn't be without it.

Also, I'm not psychic and so unable to see any iridescence that may occur due to increasing build up of energy. Although one time, when I first began using a shrine, I had an unwelcome visitor enter my home and was almost psychically aware of my shrine being drained of all it's energy. In other words, I wasn't aware of any energy build up until it was gone. It was a little upsetting, though now I think on it as like a kind of spiritual anti-virus - cosmic protection.

I also keep a goldfish bowl (without water), but have seashells and rose quartz, coral, and twigs, as a secondary shrine.

What is a vortex, and how do you recognize it as one?

Thank you for sharing your experience with your shrine.

Vortices are formed when two ley lines meet. I first became aware that ley lines were running through my house by the cats behaviour. They would act a certain way when something was happening that I couldn't see.

I finally used dowsing rods made from wire coat hangers and spent some time outside tracking down the ley lines. When I walked to the area where the vortex is, the dowsing rods moved to the side, one to the left and the other to the right. I then determined if the vortex swirled clockwise or counterclockwise. It swirled clockwise which means positive energy is in it.

I have a little folding table that I put in the vortex for a couple of hours. It's now cleansed and charged so I can put tools, crystals, etc on it so they too can get cleansed and charged. Also, the table altar is ready for any spiritual work I want to do.

What's left is to find quiet time. :smile:

Hello,

I honestly never heard of this vortex before until you mentioned it. Is it a rare phenomenon?

Lepus

If you want, you can try dowsing for ley lines. If you find two, track them to where they meet and that is a vortex. Ley lines are common and if you find one with a positive flow, you can use that instead of a vortex as those are rare. If you're in an energetically active area you might have a vortex worth looking for.

You won't know for sure if you have either of those unless you dowse for them.

How would one go about dowsing for ley lines?

That is to ask what would anyone look for with the rods, movements and etc? How does one tell? What is it to look for?

A few questions.

It has been quite a while since I have practiced with dowsing.

Blessings.

My hubby took 2 wire coat hangers and bent them into shape. They had one short end for a 'handle' and the longer ends for pointing. That formed an L shape and now called dowsing rods.

I can only tell you how the wires moved for me as it may be different for you. It took a bit of practice for me to find out what the directions meant. First, I had to be aware of overhead power lines so that it wouldn't interfere with the rods.

Hold the handles loose enough so that they can turn but not so loose that the ends point down. You want to hold them at a 90 degree angle.

When you stand still with them, think of finding ley lines and focus on that. Watch what the rods do. Note what direction they're aiming at. If they point in one direction, stand and slowly turn in that direction. Very slowly walk in the direction that both of them are pointing to. When they cross, forming an X, that means you are standing in a ley line. If you take a couple more steps forward, the rods still want to make an X and will try to point behind you. It means you crossed the ley line assuming you took a couple more steps.

If the rods don't do any of the above then it might mean a vortex. The rods will either make an X and keep crossing until they're parallel in front of your body OR they will spread apart and try to point behind you. If you think you found a vortex, you'll have to determine its size and if in fact it's round instead of a line.

You'll also have to determine if the energy you found is positive or negative. You can do this inside with a pendulum and ask a series of questions that can be answered with 'yes' or 'no'. If you found a negative ley line then a positive ley line should be nearby. Those two do not meet to form a vortex. If you do find a positive ley line, you can still use it to cleanse and charge magical tools.

Hope this helped and good luck.

Hello,

Thanks for further explaining how to locate ley lines. I never dowsed before but I've seen videos of it. These vortices sound like the cone of power formed by covens during ceremony - the base of the circle's energy stays - easier to raise energy when doing ritual. I'd imagine these vortices dissipate after use, correct?

Lepus

Hi Lepus,

The ley lines are natural and the vortices that are formed from them are natural too which makes them permanent. I don't know the origins of such energy. What I do know is that I don't do a thing to raise their energy or to keep it running. Since such energy runs 24/7, it doesn't dissipate at all.

I am curios though. I wonder what would happen if you formed a cone of power on a positive ley line. I haven't made one so I have no clue what's involved with it.

Chrysalis

Hello,

Interesting.

You know what, I never thought of that! You can perform this alone, but it will take practice and timing to know when to release the energy. You will also require different procedures for raising the cone of power. I think the vortex will facilitate the process of raising energy.


The Cone of Power

It was believed that witches put a stop to Hitler from invading the UK by performing this method.

Lepus

okay i'll see it :)