Mickie Mueller follows an earth-based spiritual path, and an ordained minister with ULC. She is a Reiki Master/Teacher in the Usui Shiki Royoho Tradition. She has just completed artwork for The Well Worn Path divination kit created by authors Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor. Mickie's spiritual artwork has appeared internationally on magazine covers and can be seen on her online art gallerys at www.mickiemuellerart.com.
I have to work late, it is Imbolc, and the sun is setting. We usually light a
candle in every room at dusk to bring blessings during the cross quarter
holiday. "I'll never make it home in time," I mutter to myself as I
come bustling out of the convenience store juggling a gallon of milk and
bottle of ginger ale, while cramming my change into my purse and deftly
avoiding the ice patches on the pavement. Ahh, the challenges of practicing
an alternative faith.
As my husband and I stumble in the door, we are greeted by our squealing
6-year-old in his Frodo Baggins cape and our 2 teenage daughters beaming.
"Hi Mom, the candles are lit, Happy Imbolc!" I look at my kids with
pride. I glance around; yes, little white candles in the living room and
kitchen, I know they are in each room glowing merrily away. "What's for
dinner?" they add, and I'm on to the flurry of preparing the family
meal. As I boil water and open packages from the cupboard, I glance up at the
little two-tiered shelf on the kitchen wall that serves as our family altar.
It is newly decorated for Imbolc just that morning, and I silently thank the
Goddess Brighid for the family traditions that hold us all together with
love.
Getting Started
A family Wheel of the Year altar is a wonderful way to bring family energies
together and teach the kids about the eight sabbats in a way that is fun. It
doesn't take a lot of money, and the whole family can contribute, making this
a real blessing to the household. Our family altar is a small shelf I
purchased at a discount store for five bucks. We decided to put it in the
kitchen, the one place in the house where we all gather. It seemed
appropriate.
We keep our altar on the mundane-friendly side with mostly natural
representations. We chose not to use big statues of Pan in all his Beltane
glory, or flaming pentagrams, so that when an outsider is a guest in our
home, it just looks like a pretty shelf with seasonal decorations. But to our
family, everything on the altar has a meaning. This is a matter of personal
taste, of course, but keep it fun! You can get some great ideas from
Llewellyn's Sabbat Series books. Also make sure that you spend a little time
discussing the meaning behind the items you choose as you change from one
sabbat to the other. The idea is to start a family tradition - a tradition
that perhaps your children will carry on in their own homes someday.
Little Treasures - Procured, Made and Found
You may wish to use some items you will have to replace yearly such as gourds
and mini pumpkins for Mabon and Samhain; fresh pine boughs for Yule; or maybe
a little vase with summer flowers for Litha. Other items will be used year
after year and will eventually inspire that same sentiment that your favorite
old holiday tree decorations do.
Some of our favorite items on our altar include a clay sun face made by my
daughter for Lughnassah, a cornhusk doll that was a gift from a friend, and a
great little porcelain rabbit we picked up at a craft store just for Ostara.
We have a small clay cauldron that finds its way onto our altar for several
holidays, usually filled with some kind of greenery, or flowers, or both. We
always create a safe place on the altar for a votive or tea light, and often
an incense burner as well. My teens are allowed to use candles and incense,
though they know not to leave these items burning while unattended. The altar
is up out of our 6-year-old's reach for safety. We let him stand on a chair
when we decorate it, and he finds this a great deal of fun, and savors the
privilege! We are always happy to lift him up to proudly add a leaf or
feather he found in the yard. Everyone gets to help with the decorating for
each sabbat, and we keep our eyes open for new items to add. Occasionally we
will make something new, which can be even better!
Shoeboxes are a good way to organize and store the items for each sabbat.
Crystals, special ornaments, little containers, small framed art, seasonal
silk flowers, and natural treasures found outside can all be wrapped
carefully in paper or cloth after the altar is changed and put away for the
following year. Make sure that you clearly mark box with the name of the
corresponding sabbat and store away in a safe place. If you find an addition
during the year for a particular sabbat, you can easily find the correct box
and add the item it to your seasonal collection.
A Sacred Space
Our family altar is a blessed sacred space. Every member of our family is
welcome to use the altar to bless a stone they plan to carry in a pocket, or
perhaps light a candle for special blessings during the day. Because the
altar is a special to our family, we may light a candle and say a blessing
during times of family stress, or request protection for a member when away
from home. The altar a family creates together links each member together
with love. And, after all, the strongest magick comes from the heart.
Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of everyday life it's hard to make time
for the spiritual side of life. A family altar makes it easy for the whole
bunch to take a moment to remember - even if it's just for a quick zap before
the witchlings hit the books or a little extra energy for the family car
until you can get it to the shop on payday. Think of your family altar as a
magickal lifeline to family togetherness in every season.
RECOMMENDED TITLES:
WELL WORN PATH KIT:
The cards can be used in divination, meditation, or for substitutes for ritual tools such as the Athame.
WHEEL OF THE YEAR:
Rituals and spells for the eight Sabbats, as well as monthly seasonal rites and recipes.
MAGICAL MEDITATIONS (AKA MEDITATIONS ON THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR):
The long-awaited reprint of Trancing the Witch's Wheel, a book of guided imagery for pagans.
ALTARS MADE EASY:
Explore the creation of your own sacred space with the first complete book on altars and altar building.
BOOK OF WOMEN'S ALTARS:
Inspiration and instruction for those who want to learn to use altars in everyday life.
CIRCLE ROUND:
In 1979 Starhawk's The Spiral Dance introduced men and women to a spirituality based on a deeply felt appreciation of the planet Earth, which is the Goddess. Now Starhawk, along with Diane Baker and Anne Hill, shows a way to pass this wisdom on to children.
These title and others can be found at Isis Books & Gifts! With over
500 Wicca and Witchcraft book titles in stock, your sure to find one right
for you!
Click here to
receive a free 90-page catalog.
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