Creating Sacred Space
I’ve been working to up the energy level of my apartment as a sacred space ever since we moved in. I’ve recently added a lot of new aspects to it, as they’re seemingly attracting me (and vice versa) more often than ever before. Anyway, I’m happy with the feel and flow of the apartment these days and I thought I’d share some of the charms and what not around the place, and introduce you to my “household gods” while I’m at it.
Entryway: Protection and Blessing
The above picture shows the little rune symbols I have hanging on the inside of the door. I made this when I was first getting into runes and I have a feeling that I’ll be changing that soon, but for now, that’s what I have. The top rune, Ingwaz, represents common sense, family love, caring, human warmth, the home, rest without anxiety and listening to yourself. The middle rune, Othala, stands for home, what is truly important, land of birth, spiritual heritage, safety, increased abundance, group order and prosperity. The bottom rune, Fehu, represents earned wealth or abundance, energy, foresight, fertility, creation/destruction (becoming) and luck.
When you enter the apartment, the first thing you see is the entryway where I have my shoe rack, which is also my gargoyle, Gregory’s perch. Gargoyles ward off evil spirits, which I didn’t believe until it happened to me: when I was living in Pennsylvania, I shared a house at one point with 5 other people, including two Wiccan women. One of them was not smart about what she did and invited an evil presence into the house. Long after she moved, I would hear phantom footsteps on the stairs - completely different from the ghosts in the house (the builders and previous owners who were also my then-boyfriend’s grandparents). In the basement where she had stayed a dankness and unsettling feeling settled and I didn’t know what to do about it. My friend Brittany did, luckily. She lent me her gargoyle, which effectively kept the spirit (don’t really know what it was except it was a man-shaped shadow) at bay. After that, I firmly believed in their power and so now I keep Gregory watching at the door. He is also inscribed with a rune that I charged with catching any negative intents from people entering and to “store” them until they leave and take their negative energy with them.
Beneath him, is a little container that once held a candle. My boyfriend’s mother gave it to us and the symbol on it stands for love. It holds holy water and is another pergative aspect of the entry way as well as defensive.
General living area: Household Gods
This is a Polynesian fertility god gifted to me from a woman who briefly offered spiritual and emotional solice. Since I don’t know it’s name or anything more about it, I call it “Lord Tutankhamen” because I’ve always found that name whimsical and I find the lovely carving on this god to ‘feel’ the same. Anyways, I’ve told him I mean no disrespect, so it’s all good. As you can see, I have an offering of our change bowl for him. Mostly this is because I’ve been having lots of $ problems the past year. Recently things are looking up significantly, and I credit part of this to the positive vibes we get from and give to Lord Tut. He is also always sitting beside plants, because fertility gods love making plants grow (at least historically). I love this little guy, and he’s quite special being only one of two ‘gods’ gifted to me.

This is Ganesha, god of overcoming difficulties. He’s a diety I have always loved, but recently became much closer to, especially since he helped me graduate from grad school (when I technically shouldn’t have!). My boyfriend also has a strong affinity for Ganesha, which is one of the things I love about him (plus, my guys got a big ole head like Ganesha which I find adorable). We want to give him a bowl of milk, but we’ve got to deal with our fungus gnat (they love potting soil) problem before we do that! I waited for years to buy a Ganesha statue, waiting to find the perfect one. My bf and I recently purchased this together, which I found completely fitting.
This is my Gaia/earth goddess altar. The figurine is a recent purchase I was very excited about. I’d always loved the idea of having an earth goddess figure like this, but never ever ever saw one. Then, when I went on my crystal search, it led me to finding this! I was extremely excited and have displayed it with a bunch of crystals, partially for that reason. The darkish thing on the far left is a red votive candle holder. In the center is an incense cone holder I’m using to hold rose quartz and moonstone crystals. The lid is propped up by a heart-shaped rock that is one of two lasting relics of the most moving same-sex relationship I’ve ever had (that lasted all of 2 weeks ::sigh::), and to the far right is a beautiful quartz crystal with all sorts of gorgeous wand shapes coming out of it.
Bedroom: Dreams and Zen
This is one of the dream catchers in the bedroom and it’s also the largest (the other one is 2/3 the size and white/green). Our roof slopes down over the bed, which is supposed to be positive feng shui, and the dreamcatcher is hanging right over where our heads fall. I love dreamcatchers for their web of life symbology among other things. It feels very peaceful with it there.

Though I am by no means a Buddhist, I absolutely adore Buddha. He is the only man-god (others being Jesus & Muhammad) that I revere in any fashion. I love him absolutely for his compassion, his patience and his joyfulness. I spent a lot of time meditating on/with this figure and it is very dear to my heart. I am comforted when I see it, which is one reason why I keep it in the bedroom where I will see it quite often. Also, I have him underneath a plant to simulate his Bodhi tree. I think he likes it.
This cat figure is the second relic of the same-sex relationship I referred to earlier. She gave this to me for Christmas and I love it because cats are one of my totem animals; I absolutely love Egyptian goddesses like Bast and Ishtar; and because it was the first spiritual gift I’d ever received. This is on the second tier of the table Buddha is on, facing the window where my cat Frederick loves to hang out, sleep and watch the wildlife. I like to think that Frederick’s energy lends to it, and it’s also why I have a tiny jingly bell from a toy of Frederick’s (that I accidentally stepped) on between the cat figure’s paws.
So that’s it for now. Oh, except I have a tear-drop shaped crystal hanging around on a mirror right now because I can’t decide where it goes. Hopefully it will come to me soon.
Add comment July 11, 2008












Uruz - the insistence of life to continue against insurmountable odds, patience, courage, endurance, timely aggression, creative force, resourcefulness, persistence, will to live, primal impulse to be/become, growth through conflict/change, overcoming obstacles, healing, rejuvenation, physical & mental strength, new opportunities, risk-taking [
Ansuz - communication, consciousness, intelligence, reason, air, sound, poetry, speech, ancestors,
Raido - control, movement, ritual, personal will & rights balanced with tribal/community rights, earned power & authority, judgement, taking charge of one’s self, acting from personal will/master of one’s circumstances, conscience, courage to act, extending one’s degree of control, taking initiative, cycles of seasons, shamanic travel into realms of consciousness
Kenaz - knowledge, consciousness, intellect, to know/be familiar with, craft, torch of knowledge, kin/like-minded people, spiritual leadership, esoteric knowledge, sex magic, cunt, consciousness of self, inborn knowledge, self-trust, light on the inner path, enthusiasm, inspiration, uncovering secrets, ridding unwanted influences/attracting desired ones, keeping knowledge maintained in altered states, bringing forth from the mind or body
Sowulo - life-giving femininity, sun, nuturing, comforting, higher self, higher will & intent, individual evolution, inner self, spiritual guidance, leadership, lightning,
Teiwaz - battle for justice, law & order, social values, contracts & oaths, valor, bravery, honor, power to tackle a difficult situation, spirit warrior, masculine fertility, sky father, Yggdrasil
Berkana - earth goddess, female fertility, gestation, birth, child care, female health, healing, sacred trees, altered states of consciousness, soul journeys, ’shrooms, rebirth, growth, creativity, childbirth, motherhood, protection for vulnerable females (when in a triple rune charm). [