"Building Altars" is a great exercise for letting you get a sense of what is sacred in your life, as well as the often unconscious things and ways you might be praying for something that is missing.
Last week, I was working on creating an exercise for the virtual 21-Day Journaling with Collage class. It being Friday the 13th, I felt the need to try to find something either superstitious or spooky, so I dug through my Archives until I found the perfect collage - one with a black cat.
Last week, I was working on creating an exercise for the virtual 21-Day Journaling with Collage class. It being Friday the 13th, I felt the need to try to find something either superstitious or spooky, so I dug through my Archives until I found the perfect collage - one with a black cat.
As I studied the collage for possible prompts, I noticed how very much the bottom portion of the piece resembled an altar of sorts. So, the subsequent prompt was easy to conceive. I asked my students to do a writing detailing:
1.) Who built the altar.
2.) What was it built to invoke, celebrate or request, and
3.) Why specifically each of the items on it were used.
1.) Who built the altar.
2.) What was it built to invoke, celebrate or request, and
3.) Why specifically each of the items on it were used.
What with being one of those "transparent" sort of teachers, I felt obliged, as I do in all my classes to answer the questions myself. Here's what "came out":
"It’s clear to me that the giant blue-eyed bird built the altar, because someone has stolen her voice and locked it in an ancient suitcase. The suitcase presented here is actually a clue, as she realizes that she is expected to circumnavigate the Globe, in order to win the right to have it back.
The five cobalt blue petals on the altar symbolize the 5th chakra, the throat chakra, the color of which is associated with cobalt blue. The throat chakra, of course, rules the Voice.
The 21 candles symbolize adulthood, and the idea that she needs to stop behaving like a child and finally -claim- her own life. The “stealing” of her voice wasn’t actually meant to be a punishment, as (is so often in life) it’s the Journey itself that will bring her voice back to her. Only through the finding, and telling, of stories, hundreds and hundreds of glorious stories will she fully earn the right to claim Her Voice.
The oranges, which are –almost- on the altar, are to remind her to partake of the sweetness of life, which is still something of a “thing” for her, so they haven’t quite made it up on the table yet.
Her current God, in the form of the Sacred Cow, is quickly disseminating in a cloud of smoke and is soon to make its way (with a final farewell glance backward) –out- the nearest window. Without her Sacred Cows to guide and direct her, she’s going to have to take life’s mystery and alchemy into her own hands. She’s going to have to decide for herself what is holy and how to let it guide her Life.
The tiny Bedouin people know the ways of the Wilderness and are happy and willing to guide her through the trickier parts of her Journey.
She’s more than just a wee bit terrified, as seen by the look of abject look of panic in her blue, blue eyes, but she knows its Time. She’s gone long enough without a Voice. It’s time, it’s SO, so time to get it BACK."
"It’s clear to me that the giant blue-eyed bird built the altar, because someone has stolen her voice and locked it in an ancient suitcase. The suitcase presented here is actually a clue, as she realizes that she is expected to circumnavigate the Globe, in order to win the right to have it back.
The five cobalt blue petals on the altar symbolize the 5th chakra, the throat chakra, the color of which is associated with cobalt blue. The throat chakra, of course, rules the Voice.
The 21 candles symbolize adulthood, and the idea that she needs to stop behaving like a child and finally -claim- her own life. The “stealing” of her voice wasn’t actually meant to be a punishment, as (is so often in life) it’s the Journey itself that will bring her voice back to her. Only through the finding, and telling, of stories, hundreds and hundreds of glorious stories will she fully earn the right to claim Her Voice.
The oranges, which are –almost- on the altar, are to remind her to partake of the sweetness of life, which is still something of a “thing” for her, so they haven’t quite made it up on the table yet.
Her current God, in the form of the Sacred Cow, is quickly disseminating in a cloud of smoke and is soon to make its way (with a final farewell glance backward) –out- the nearest window. Without her Sacred Cows to guide and direct her, she’s going to have to take life’s mystery and alchemy into her own hands. She’s going to have to decide for herself what is holy and how to let it guide her Life.
The tiny Bedouin people know the ways of the Wilderness and are happy and willing to guide her through the trickier parts of her Journey.
She’s more than just a wee bit terrified, as seen by the look of abject look of panic in her blue, blue eyes, but she knows its Time. She’s gone long enough without a Voice. It’s time, it’s SO, so time to get it BACK."
The first writing is just -that- of course, the FIRST writing. If this were a student's or client's writing, I would ask all manner of follow-on questions, like:
1.) Where in your life do you feel you've lost your "voice"?
2.) Where in your life is it time for you to "grow up"?
3.) What "sweetness" in your life is begging to be experienced? (and why might you have held it back?)
4.) What Sacred Cows are asking to be "disseminated"?
5.) What "wilderness" do you need help navigating?
1.) Where in your life do you feel you've lost your "voice"?
2.) Where in your life is it time for you to "grow up"?
3.) What "sweetness" in your life is begging to be experienced? (and why might you have held it back?)
4.) What Sacred Cows are asking to be "disseminated"?
5.) What "wilderness" do you need help navigating?
See how the answers can lead to even more and deeper questions? That's the beauty of Contemplative Collage. Come join the fun at the next 21-Day Journaling with Collage challenge beginning May 1st. OR give yourself the gift of a Private Session. There's sooooo much magic to be unearthed in all of us. Let me help you with that shovel ...
with heaps of Love and Light!
Dante
with heaps of Love and Light!
Dante
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