altars? anyone?

[greenwitch]

ummm... my stepdad doesn't know that i'm wiccan, and i need help on building an altar that i can disassemble and hide so that my stepdad wont find out. he's just super christian, so i know he'll have a fit if he finds out.
can anyone helpme?
thank you so very much.
love and goddess bless.

[UnSolon]

Hey... I read another post almost exactly like your problem...

And presto chango... here it is:
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8878

Peace
UnSolon

[Chibi-Fallon]

Can't you just say you love the Lord so much you want to have a mini-church (or something along those lines) in your room. They burn incense in church and they have candles. Just have a clay pentagram (non-baked) with a cross on one side that way you can flip it over or if you're really paranoid or if your step-dad's nosy you can just erase it and draw it later. Or if you have a closet put it in there. Or in a dresser drawer. You can take it out when you need it and put it back in later, very spiffy if you ask me. I'd do it if I had the space, but I have to much stuff. >.< I'm such a pack-rat.
`Chibi-Fallon

[Dria El]

Yeah, what they said!

And...

Welcome to Mystic Wicks!

:)

[StormChaser]

I LOVE the pseudo christian idea.

You may also think about the fact that Mary.. is at least in MY mind.. a Goddess..

Then again, considering she was taken from the goddess Brighid\Brigit and the other tons of names for her.
I guess she really is *winks*

So if you choose to have say.. a female charachter on your alter..
Say it's to St. Brighid.

*yeah, thats another adaption*

rosewater=holy water

i'm sure you get the point.

~Storm Chaser

[Myst]

Originally posted by UnSolon
Hey... I read another post almost exactly like your problem...

And presto chango... here it is:
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8878


He's got the right idea :D

[HerbGurl]

Originally posted by StormChaser
I LOVE the pseudo christian idea.

You may also think about the fact that Mary.. is at least in MY mind.. a Goddess..

Then again, considering she was taken from the goddess Brighid\Brigit and the other tons of names for her.
I guess she really is *winks*

So if you choose to have say.. a female charachter on your alter..
Say it's to St. Brighid.

*yeah, thats another adaption*

rosewater=holy water

i'm sure you get the point.

~Storm Chaser
:thumbsup:Yes in my opinion Mary IS a Goddess in her own right as well. Are you Catholic, Greenwitch? If so there are a lot of Catholic practices that can easily be transformed into Wiccan practices, such as the rosary to say prayers on, and the use of Mary as a statue on your altar. My altar right now at college is a small cactus plant and a bunch of crystals on my windowsill. It doesn't have to be elaborate. I also have a statue of Mary, a rosary that glows in the dark (It is part of a night light), and a miraculour medal on the head of my bed. Many rosary prayers can be adapted as prayers for the Goddess. You can order them free off the internet from many Catholic sites.
Here are some prayer links of you want to use them for a rosary.

http://northernway.org/rosary.html

http://queenofheavenrosary.com/

http://www.haelen.org/treeliferosary.html

http://www.pathcom.com/~newmoon/rosarys.html

http://home.online.no/~noetic/rosary.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~ravenswan/angel_rosary.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/2310/rosary.htm

http://www.geocities.com/avirtualcoven/rosary.html


I hope this helps, and good luck to you on your path.
Blessings,
HerbGurl

[yemayasdaughter]

Originally posted by Chibi-Fallon
I think a Sampo is a strappless evening gown.
You think everything is a strappless evening gown.
I just think they're neat.

I am glad to know I am not the only one who STILL loves MST3K!!! :sunny: :thumbsup: :boing: :T :thumbsup: :sunny: :sunny: :shift:

[Chibi-Fallon]

That one and
Actor: "We're gonna run this business like my dad taught me" (or something along those lines)
Joel: You! Sit in a rocking chair. You! Put a towel on your head. You! Start swatting at invisible elves.

Actor: You know what my wife could use around the house?
Crow: A man?

Movie: Some escaping fugitives are told to "hurry up" by their leader
Joel: See if you can move faster than the plot!

I think they forgot to have stuff happen in this movie.

[Eudaimonia]

I've had a similar problem myself. Don't worry, eventualy you'll find the strength to stand up to your step-father and tell him that he does NOT have the right (legally or otherwise) to control your choice of relegion.

Until then, my solution would be a witch box. Just a box large enough to hold all your craft-things and still hide (in a closet or such). You can also put a blanket or something over the things, unless the man is super snoopy. Take up sewing or something, and wrap everything in bits of fabric, which can be used for poppets. This also will keep things from breaking so often.

I find this a very good solution, as it requires very little lying to someone who you will, most probably, be dealing with for much of your life. Hold your head up babe, it can only get better.

(or am I lying?)

[Artemis84]

You know what works really well? Those collapsable plasic bins. I use one at home. I unfold, turn it upside down, put a cloth over it and whala! Instant altar! Then when I'm done, I just fold it up and put it back in my closet. And aside from the candle smoke, no one ever knows I've been doing a ritual.

Good luck with your dad! Just think of it this way, if there's no way on earth you could tell him, college is always coming. Then you can freely practice how and when you want.

BB!

[Flaire-FireStar]

I almost had the courage to stand up to my mom today.. But then I backed down cuz I knew that I'd forget everything that I had reharsed in my head (I tend to do that often)

But anyway, yeah, it depends on how snoopy your parents are. Right now I'm keeping most of my stuff in boxes and in binders on a shelf in my room. (Yes, my stuff is right out in the open, and if she wants to snoop and find it, I have no problem with it). And for my larger items I have them in a drawer under my bed.
I'm waiting for my bro to be done making this large wooden chest for me, and I'll keep my things in there once it's done (and I can use it as an altar too. :) ) Boxes work wonders, as do tops of dressers, or shelves, etc.

[Dria El]

Actually, a parent does have the right to dictate what religion their child gets brought up in. Until she's legally an adult, she has to abide by his wishes. He can't change what's in her heart but he can control what goes on in his house. She won't be underage forever. Maybe patience is called for here.

And as an aside, it's terribly disrespectful to flaunt someone elses wishes in their own home. You wouldn't want someone coming in your house and going against your wishes would you?

Just a thought...

[UnSolon]

Well I dont know the home situation of the step-dad and you, but I would consider it not just his home, but her home aswell. And yes, a parent has the right to dictate what a child does untill they are of legal age, but does a step-parent (I dont know, this is a question)?

I do not belive that just because someone is not 18 (in Canada) that they are not an adult. That is bullshit. What constituts your age is up top, in your mind. We dont have growth rings like tree, some people age faster than others, some people gain knowledge sooner than others.

I would say a house that is used by a family is the families house. It is not the "man's"(or womens, dont get me wrong, please) house (ie: "Who wears the pants in the family" "who brings home the bread"). I dont care who's signiture is on the deed. A home is a home. Home is where you rest your feet, sleep, and if you can not feel safe there, than I would suggest you need a change.

But anyways... peace...

[Chibi-Fallon]

I just gave my parents a bigger problem to worry about and that worked like a charm. ^^ They forgot all about what religion I was. I didn't intentionally do it. But they think I'm sleeping with/being pimped out by all my guy friends. That's probably because whenever we go somewhere I'm the only girl (that and one of them convinced me to be a Gothic whore for Halloween, just don't ask). I'm pretty sure they think I'm sleeping with all of them. >.< Which is just gross for most of ‘em, but if they want to think that I'm not one to stop them.

[Myst]

*sigh* to be young again

My personal thoughts? Yes your parents can control what you do in their home (by the simple fact that if you don't follow the rules they can punish you or kick you out), but they can't control your religion. So I think you have the right idea of keeping your religion even if they disagree. You can try to slowly educate them on the truth about Paganism, you can set up an altar or do magickal work without them knowing, or you can try to move out so you are free to do what you want. Good luck! :)

[mato]

I have a similar problem, What I do is simple, I am a teenager my room is a mess, stuff just blurs together in my room...
Female or Male? It matters when making things invisible in a gender spacific room...
Option one; there are little doll closets they sell in hobby stores and sewing places (the horror, the horror....), like a foot tall or so and eight inches wide, you can use this. Add onto the doors some bottle holders, some cord hooks, some sort of holder thing for your loose stuff. In the back (these things are usually no more than a few inches deep) use a tack, put a penticle (a crossed circle works well as a substatute, and in my opinion, is often more compatible with the green path, as well as less dangerous) or your earth symbol. On the inside cornors place small clay (depending on your situation baked or not) figures representing the goddess and god (pillars work too), or just two candles that you will remove and burn for ritual. they sell small incense burners that you can buy from any local shop for cone incence, they are small and easier to hide than stick, less messy than making your own. Leave the herbs in the kitchen, just take what you need when you need it. Get a small dish to contain the 'stuff' of the ritual. Salt/water on the door, with a small dish for the salt water. when not in use put your alter cloth in there and keep closed (a lock is a nice feature but ya know it is likely to draw more attention than you want) Hide in plain sight, or bury it in your closet. Plain sight would be placing it amongst a doll collection, or on a girls dresser drawer, whatever. A nice subtle witchy touch that most dont understand is to place a small decorative hand broom in front of it (a tiny spell makes this an effective repelant).
Option two; A natural alter or bundle. Get a thick cloth of some sort (leather works too) gather together Images of god and goddess, tools that are often used, stones (which can be used to protect your bundle from discovery), feather fan (I like these) or straw hand broom as described in option one, one bowl for the salt water one larger bowl for the general stuff, candles cords and what not. In addition to these you would want to have a large leather (or otherwise thick and strong) cord to make the bundle itself. salt water and whatever else is spacific to your path. With a wave of a not so magick wand *POOF* youve got a portable alter you can set up anytime any place without trouble.
Option three; alter in plain sight. Use stuff that is not unique to your room, start a 'collection' of 'neat' things on your dresser top. Hide your more unique items. Spread your others around the room (a fun element/direction activity) Make things look like they belong there. Your whole room can become your alter if you want. This is also good for trying to bring it into your 'normal' life.

With all of these take into consideration certain needs before setting up, lighter incense cakes and 'ale' (fruit joice for me thanks:p) offerings and whatever else might be path spacific. As always follow all fire safety guidlines. Think small... nothing that you cant hide in 2 seconds or less, nothing that is destinctly forbidden (parents can be weird so do your homework), nothing illegal, nothing that in and of itself can get you in trouble. Also think foriegn language for your notes, or code if you can hide it well. Silence is golden!!! But music draws less attention...
Be sneeky clever and always ALWAYS one step ahead of your parents. You are in the craft were the books are that of shadow, deception illusion distraction and deversion may sometimes be necessary. Deniel works to your advantage, as does represion. Work with them until you can support yourself. Call it shadow work... It is how we have the craft today so dont shy away from proven methods.

[Merrick]

yeah! i have a witchbox...they work great! :thumbsup: its hexagonal, black and glossy and on the inside its lined with purple felt...oooo... i keep everything in there then i stuff it under my bed and put a blanket on top. its the greatest :fishtank: