Jazzmin -- there's a good thread on altars over at
http://www.bellaonline.com/code/ubb/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=116;t=000062 Fiona -- all the natural items we brought to the ritual last night symbolized the energies we were calling back with the Sun for the new year. They also symbolized the resources and connections we have as a community. People brought river rocks (med and small), adzuki beans (me), mustard seeds, grains, sage, mugwort, pine trimmings, pinto beans (!), bay leaves and a few other similar things. One guy brought Good&Plentys, which was funny and appropriate.
The priestess said each year she somehow received something in her life that was appropriate and of which there was enough to hand out at the ritual. This year, she was given about two dozen tiny, hand-dipped, red candlewax bowls by an artist she met at a craftfair. Each was made by dipping a balloon into wax to build up the layers until a vessel was formed. Those gave her the idea for the ritual.. After the ritual we all got Ziplock baggies to put the bowls into so we could bring them home without spilling everything and add them to our own altars as appropriate. Lots of jokes about "don't put them in the altar near the sunny window" were made.... LOL....
