21 May 2009

Springborn Altar

I got a new keyboard, yay!!

The above image is my first outdoor altar that I've put together just for myself. The table top is actually marble that a good friend brought over from his place of work; it was left over after an older building was torn down or renovated, I can't remember which. The wood is from our sycamore tree that The Great Ice Storm of January 2007 took out. Since sycamore is a soft wood these blocks won't last more than a couple of years but there are always trees coming down around these parts somewhere and I have an "in" with someone who has access to trees removed by city cleanup folks. So, it's not going to be an everlasting altar but is semi-permanent. It's hard to tell from this image but most of the rocks on the ground have little, or lots, of quartz or gypsum, or both. These are rocks I took from the little stand of trees down the hill from house; it was hard work but worth it! There are also some rocks with interesting fossil imprints, a few holey river rocks and a couple of (to me) unusual rocks from Minnesota. Since I'm such a rock hound I will, of course, be adding more as time goes by. The little black thing that kinda looks like a knife is actually an old railroad tie that I saved with rustproof black paint. Ever since I found it I thought it would make a great ritual tool perhaps as a stand in for a knife or wand. However, I don't really use either in my workings so I don't know what I'll use the tie for. Maybe I'll leave it there to add to the rustic look.

I don't know why it took me so long to finally put together an outdoor altar. I've been thinking about it for year and years. I've mentioned before my disinclination, or inability, to use fancy, store bought ritual items and it still holds true. I just don't care much for the expensive, or even expensive looking, ritual tools. All of that sterling silver and brightly polished stuff usually leaves me magically cold. Yeah, it looks nice and if someone gifted me something like that I would be eternally grateful. But I just prefer old, weathered things I find along the way. The rail road tie came from the bottom of box of auction items. And many of my magical items have come from an old pickup truck that was left to rot way back behind our house. It's a really old funky truck that's at least 70 years old and chock full of treasures. Inside it was a veritable shitload of horse shoes and the remains of a big 'ol glass thermometer which I plan to dig out and add to the outdoor altar.

The vase holds a few of our roses and a bit of honeysuckle and it's just a small sampling of the wonderful blooms and blossoms to be found in these hills. I simply love how all of our neighborhood flowers are opening up. Our compost roses are going wild and our other rose bush will be covered with blooms in another week. There's pretty, but scentless, honeysuckle next to the chimney and delicious wild honeysuckle along the driveway. The peonies, planted several years ago, have finally put forth two large and intoxicating blossoms over the grave of our dear, departed Dalmatian Missy. The multi-flora wild white roses are popping out too. I love them so much and still can't believe it when people go to great lengths to kill them. They have pretty foliage, gorgeous, copious white flowers and they seem very resistant to mold and bugs. And, as if that weren't enough, they smell heavenly! Once bush can perfume an entire country yard!

Since we were nearly drowning for a few weeks everything is growing by wild leaps and bounds. We just finished mowing the other day and will have to start again this weekend. Now that we've had some dryer days folks are cutting hay like mad. All of the grasses and trees and foliage paint the landscape with a multitude of gorgeous greens. There are deep, forest greens, and vivid emeralds along with bright, yellowy-greens and every shade in between! And the sky is so brilliantly blue that just stepping outside is like falling into a painter's palette replete with the freshest scents. It's absolutely heavenly. I'm so glad spring has finally taken hold; it's healing my battered and bruised heart and psyche. Spring; it does a body, mind and soul good!

P.S. We now have bats and lightning bugs, double yay!!

13 comments:

Idris said...

Look forasrd to reading you again when you are back online. Being broke is a bummer! May money come to you soon.

RetroKali said...

so peaceful. all of your posts make me feel relaxed.

Lilith Sativa said...

Hey hon sorry to hear about your keyboard. We may have an extra one lying about. I can ask the Dragon when he gets up. He is doing ok for now, we just don't know what summer will hold with all the humidity. For now we are maintaining.
If we do have a keyboard for you, can you come up and get it? That would be the big question I guess.

Maebius said...

that is an adorable and wonderful little outdoor setup there! I can almost even see a little faerie living betwixt the logs. :)

Lilith Sativa said...

After talking with the Dragon we do not have an extra keyboard. I am sorry, I really thought we did.

Cygnus MacLlyr said...

SWEET!!! Very Nice, Lady Indica!!!
And, i'm with you on the store-bought tripe. SO MUCH MORE magic in the personal, the natural...

Good mojo there (the altar), Lady...

Thanks!

Livia Indica said...

Hi Idris, I knew who you were immediately! Yep, being broke sucks donkey knackers, but I guess we're all learning that these days. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi RetroKali, really? That's good!

Hi Lilith! Nice to hear from you!! Managed to buy a new keyboard, obviously, but thanks for the thought, it's appreciated. Here's hoping the Dragon, and you, are feeling okay.

Maebius, Fairies! Yep. They are one of the reasons I picked that spot. Right in front of the altar is a nice white clover patch and since fairies are historically linked to clover it seemed like a good choice.

Anonymous said...

Great altar, and I like how you've used so many found objects. I lean toward using more natural tools myself. I'm making a staff right now out of a maple branch I found in my backyard--very excited!

Yes, so glad spring is here. It's a beautiful day in my neck of the woods!

Livia Indica said...

Hi Riverwolf! Ooh, a homemade maple staff, that sounds very cool. And since you made it yourself it will have great energy already put into for magical use; very nice.

Susan said...

I love your altar! I just moved to a place where I can have one, also. I like all kinds of ritual tools. I've bought several of mine and made others. There is something very powerful in crafting your own. I will be visiting your blog often. It's wonderful!

Blessings!

Livia Indica said...

Hi Susan, welcome! I don't know why it took me so long to set up my own outdoor altar. I guess there's a time and place for everything. It's good to have a yard isn't it? I love having tons of yard space most all of the time. There's room for all the dogs, pool, garden, etc. The only time I don't like it is when it's time to mow. We've got over an acre to mow and it's a bitch sometimes. I'm glad you like my blog, I put a lot into it, thanks!

Yarrow said...

That is a beautiful altar! I love outdoor altar! Blessings.

Livia Indica said...

Thanks! I'm still adding to it and will probably post another photo at some point.