Yes, Guyomech, I really like what the ammonite represents, or spirals in general. I see the movement of the universe in it and also the progression of life. Great inspiration there.

Parshvik, I feel exactly like you about the Buddha symbols. There is great wisdom there that I'm continually drawn to but I have to stop short of devotional worship. I must admit though that I covet your eagle feathers. I like the symbolism of feathers too and try to keep some around, turkey feathers work well, but I like to pray with them (not to) and give them away as physical blessings to certain people, or leave them at special places in nature.

So... I believe there is something healing in these symbolic objects, if not in the objects themselves, then in the way they inspire us with the spiritual power they represent. The yin yang symbol, for one, comes to mind and never fails to overwhelm me with wonder. Take care folks.

Agave - I would love to see pictures of your altar. You have some excellent ideas. I had been very drawn to feathers and antlers as well of late.

Thank you for your inspiring thoughts!

I think above all, an altar is a point of focus and one populates that point with objects, images, and ideas on which one wishes to focus. The method of focus is also entirely at your discretion.

I realized yesterday that using objects to help channel attention, or infusing objects with a particular experience that one wants to remember, is a troubling concept for me because the fact that we can infuse objects with such meaning seems like evidence that we do not need the objects to begin with. In a way, it may take power away from us to endow meditation-assisting objects with abilities/purposes that are already innate in us.

I see what you're saying hixidom and have asked similar questions of myself - but for me it has made focusing attention easier - no to say I couldn't do it with out - but with is a little easier. I definitely don't REQUIRE a car to get to work - but it makes the 19 mile trip easier for me. (Although the comparison probably isn't quite as fair as it should be.)

I know this isn't a pocket alter but I wanted to share anyway! My Santería shrine in the basement.




Close up.



There are many random items mixed in that have meaning from experiences I've had. (Spot the woman's body cup in the second pic?) Hehe.

Those ones are actually not mine (my bf's) but they are indeed awesome. we also have a pair of feathers we use for smudging (in addition to an abalone shell) that have stylized handles which are really cool.

i have yet to find any feathers myself, but i have seen quite a few eagles around here..


i believe the abilities are innate in me, the objects just act as a catalyst to help me bring it out. same principle as psychedelics, after all, you don't NEED psychedelics to get to these spiritual states.

Those are beauties! and I love the beaded quills. Last summer I found a fresh red tail hawk that had apparently dove into a barbed wire fence. it was hanging there crucified with it's wings spread wide, head nearly decapitated. I gave it an honorable burial but first relieved it of it's feathers and a wing on one side. Made a beautiful fan of the lower wing portion and is great for smudging with. I'm sure he/she would have been coyote scat by nightfall so I figured it was my gift.

Good point, though it makes me wonder why I depend on psychedelics to get me there (probably laziness, lack of time).