...Or and altar in my pocket

Dawn Thebarge Hill 2001

There are those for whom "On The Road Again" has become a theme song in this new age where "moving and shaking" our way up the ladder of success can mean lots of travel. For those who travel extensively, or even sporadically, creating sacred space can be a difficult accomplishment. When creating sacred space in a familiar environment we have continuity. There is a connection with the place and the tools we have at our disposal. When traveling it is often difficult to feel a connection to the place you are in and to set aside time to worship. It is unfortunate that, too often, our spiritual needs are put on hold when traveling. If we were to combine the familiar with the unfamiliar, by taking our spiritual tools with us, we could then have an easier time creating sacred space and taking the time to show our devotion to deity.

Tools have no true power of their own. We must impart or give that to them. While we know these tools are not necessary, most individuals feel the desire to enhance the mood and shift their focus from the mundane word to those of the spirit by using certain items. This can be accomplished, whether we are home or not, by taking tools with us no matter where it is we might find ourselves.

Creating portable sacred space or a portable altar need not be expensive. I have different altars that I use for varying circumstances. You will find that travel by plane, bus, car, or foot, all provide one with different obstacles and, therefore, different needs. I have one rather large portable altar that I use when traveling to festivals, and another that I use for hiking and camping trips. A third one was kept in my desk when I worked in a corporate setting. There is yet another that has been used in the back yard. No one can tell you how many or what type of altar will work best for your situation. Meditate on it, go over in your mind all the circumstances that you encounter when you are away from home, and your needs will be made clear to you. 

My largest version carries just about anything you would want or can imagine. It is made from a good-sized wooden box  (about 20 inches deep, 20 inches high and 24 inches long) and that looks like a small trunk. My Great Grandfather made this particular item and he used it for carrying tools in the back of his model T Ford. When my mother no longer wanted it taking up space in the basement she asked if I would like it. I immediately thought it would be a wonderful altar. I simply painted it black after a little clean up, and now carry my regular altar tools with me whenever I go to a large festival or on a campout with a larger group. I have thought about painting sigils, runes or a picture of some sort on it but nothing has really struck me as "needing" to be on it and so it is plain-for the time being, anyhow.

The second altar is a separate entity, so to speak. I use it most often. All the items in it stay within a beautifully carved wooden box that I picked up for about seven or eight dollars at a flea market. It measures five by eight inches.

In it are:

Tea lights-Green, yellow, red, blue for each of the four directions, white in a silver "cup"(Goddess candle), white in a gold "cup" (God candle), white in a clear cup (The All, One, Spirit Candle)

A men's silk handkerchief- altar clothe-if you find a plain one or use a small cloth you make yourself you might embroider, paint or draw symbols or pictures on it that appeal to you.

A tiny broom-there are some available for dolls but I made this one from a long wooden match and some bristles from my "every day" broom. I did this by cutting the match head off, rounding the end and attaching the bristles to the stick with strong thread. You might want to do something similar or even use a small stick and dried grass you collect yourself.

Pentacle-a pewter pentagram charm that I cut the bale off of

Two tiny God and Goddess statues-There are many of these available through different sources. The ones I use actually came from a small Chinese market.

Small censor with cone incense-if you cannot fit the whole censor in your box you may use just the bottom dish part. You can usually find small censors though. I have seen them as small as my thumb!

Matches

A small lighter

A dram bottle with anointing oil

A film container with holy water

A small boot knife for an Athame

A small owl statue-I actually got this from a box of Red Rose Tea! He represents the element of air to me. You might also use a feather or some other item to represent this element.

A small stone-to represent the element earth. You could use a stone that appeals to you for this or even some larger rock salt crystals.

A tiny sea snail shell I found on the beach for the element of water.

For hiking or times when it is not possible to bring too much with me I use what I have heard termed a Nanta bag. This is a great little item that can be taken anywhere. You can even toss it into a brief case or purse. I have also suggested this one for those people who want a little sacred space in the office without having to be worried about offending because it can be kept in a drawer. The Nanta bag is simply a bag that you either make or purchase (it can be of any fabric you choose) filled with items you use to represent your tools. You might like to use a drawstring bag, but even a small piece of cloth or a man's silk hanky can be used and tied with a string or cording if you prefer. My bag is one made of scrap fabric that I had from a cape I had made. I use glass "drops" or stones for the four directions (in different colors for each.). An athame is made out of a large flat needle whose end I have wrapped in black thread, a thimble represents the chalice and a small twig is my wand. Another glass drop has a pentagram painted in it for my altar pentacle, and I also have two more glass drops one with a sun (in gold) and one with moon (in silver) painted on for the God and Goddess. If you prefer not to use the glass drops you might like to find your own stones while on your travels. I also have some larger birthday candles for Spirit, etc. and to set them up I use a piece of Sculpey clay. You might use this, Fimo or even children's modeling clay.  Now you might want to shape small holders for your candles and bake or dry them to make them permanent but I find leaving the Sculpey soft and in a small plastic bag works well for me because I can just shape it into a small ball, stick the candle into the clay and stick it down wherever I want to. I never have to worry about breaking the candleholders and they do not fall over because they are stuck to the table or other object I have them set up on. I also have some tiny sticks of incense and I stick these into another little blob of the Sculpey. Not fancy but it does the job! You might also use small incense "matches" that actually come in a little "book" if you prefer an even more compact tool. I include a dram vial of anointing oil in this set too.  Last, but not least is a small scrap piece of velveteen that I have cut into a rectangle with a pinking shear (so it will not unravel), which I wrap all the items in.

A stang is another altar that can be portable. A stang is a staff of wood that you hang things from. I have used a large branch that is forked to represent male and female divinity being part of the whole. The stang can be stuck right into the ground or hung from a wall if you prefer by attaching hooks to it. The only draw back to this is that it is obviously much harder to carry about discretely! I have seen them used most often out doors and had one in my back yard until the elements "had their way with it" over the winter. My stang had feathers, seashells, bells and stones hung from it with yarn, ribbon and cording. I had carved runic and other symbols into it as well. This was a nice addition to my garden and could be taken out hiking if I wanted to and used as a very pretty staff.

These are ideas that I have used successfully, but remember to use what is available to you and to be creative. Keep your eyes open at flea markets, auctions, tag sales, around your own home and even at doll, craft or hobby stores. Look at everyday things in a new light. Each circumstance presents its own unique situation that can be an opportunity for creativity and connecting with deity.

Devotion in Motion