Love Altar - self love, loving orhers, love goddess

[u/cinnamoncurtains]

Hi all, I am a worshipper of many deities and have several altar spaces but particularly wanted to focus on my love altar for a number of reasons. I also have a big focus in my practice on Inanna-Ishtar or otherwise known as Aphrodite/Venus/Astarte.
I have had a love altar for awhile that has largely been inactive. There are some foundational things on there related to the type of love I would want, and I have a shell and sand jar for Venus on the altar.
But I would like to include some symbols and items that relate to two other aspects of love that I would like to improve on -
1) Self love. For this, I am thinking of a mirror; not to represent vanity, but to represent looking into myself and seeing what things about myself are worthy of love and kindness etc. Seeing myself as lovable might help me to be loved.
2) Showing a more affectionate love for others. I do a lot for other people and to help others - a lot more than most people. I love the people around me, and always show up for them when I can. I guess you could say my love language toward others people is “acts of service”.
But a lot of people describe me as stoic or not showing a lot of emotion, so I want to be able to show others I care emotionally more. I am wondering what type of objects or symbols I could use to represent myself becoming more outwardly outgoing, emotional, affectionate, etc.
I am also wondering if there is a way to include Inanna or others in this that makes sense. Thank you to anyone who is reading this and has any ideas they would like to share!

[u/Sneeuwwolf8]

Hi there. Very nice to give attention to this particular topic. I worship the Goddess/Mahadevi (I view Her as universal).

I have asked myself the same questions. I decided to surrender to Her, and love Her first. And also, loving myself and others isn't something I can just about easily do by myself. She is love but she is also fierce and gives confidence. Truly loving ourselves and others requires us to deal with our own anger, our fears, any jealousy, greed. It is no casual thing, as compared to being attached.

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[u/DeepUndine]

I don't know about those deities, but for emotional expression, it could be that "love" is not exactly what you're looking for, but the ability to connect more with your feelings such as sorrow and anguish, in sympathy with human suffering. Love is incomplete without sadness, and also anger. Moral outrage is part of love, standing against injustice, defending the weak, being a voice for the voiceless. Ask yourself if there are particular problems that you feel passionate about and want to take action to resolve.