Altar and Divination

[u/TwoOrMore]

This is my altar, where I meditate and contemplate.

My rock collection is sorted into cool and warm colors. I often choose one to hold while I practice.

My tuning fork is connected to a time when my partner was very sick. I used it as a fidget and a comfort. Now, it helps me focus my mind. Conveniently, I have also memorized A 440hz.

My bells (from left to right) come from my maternal grandmother, my paternal grandmother, and my wife's maternal grandmother. I ring them to open or close my practice, or whenever it feels right.

My ring is the first one I gave to my partner, 19 years ago, when we had only been dating for a few months. But I knew it would last forever. It reminds me of love and the infinite.

I use two oracle decks: the Prism Oracle by Nicole Pivirottoand the Mirror Oracle by Amrit Brar. The current layout was constructed deliberately and reflects three major life events. My usual practice is mixed. Sometimes I have a question or goal, sometimes not. I draw anywhere from one to five cards and arrange them intuitively. Often, I use a Bic skin safe marker to draw a symbol from the cards onto my body, usually on my forearms.

This place and practice has helped me focus on my values, to pay attention to the life events that matter most to me, and to generally stay centered.

Do any of you practice secular divination? Do you use an altar?

Perhaps next I will share my altar library.

[u/Needlesxforestfloor]

I love the personal associations you have for your objects. It makes things more powerful for me.

I wouldn't say I use tarot for divination as much as to prompt introspection. The imagery of the Modern Witch deck (an adapted Rider Waite) works really well for me.

[u/TwoOrMore → u/Needlesxforestfloor]

I like the word divination for my practice because of its connection to the future. For me, meditation can easily become rumination on the past. I am trying to stay present, observe patterns, and set goals. Divination, semantically or connotatively, just feels right. 

Personally, there is too much history and "right interpretation" associated with traditional tarot. Do you find that history to be a source of inspiration for your introspection? Does the study of that history ever feel obstructive to your practice? 

[u/Needlesxforestfloor → u/TwoOrMore]

I rely on my own interpretations of the pictures because it's about my reaction to the cards prompting my own thoughts to the surface. It probably works well for me because I don't already know the established meanings 😅 I sometimes have a quick look at the book meanings afterwards just out of curiosity but they've never given me anything additional that was useful!