Daniel Mack 

Altars

Spiritual Work Areas: Laboratories, literally: places to work, express and pray—to seek the intercession of spirit in human affairs. Tragedy, trauma and just the wear and tear of living and aging can be helped by creating Altars,

June 2021

Working on Altars (disguised as "shelves") from Burnt Logs, Large Elk Shoulder Blade, Driftwood and oyster shells

There are about a dozen finished ones in the Studio,

all ready to go to people

who need them.

Email Me to see them


What to do with an Altar?
• Express, Manifest, “Matter” personal and group concerns
• Seek Blessings for self, others
• Give Expression to the missing, deferred, rejected, overlooked
• Honor the Departed
• Honor Truths: Impermanence (decay, change, rebirth)
     Suffering (practicing to hold opposites as one)
     Egolessness (practicing living in the present. Using gerunds)

• Express Appreciation for nature, change, living, beauty
• Sacrifice as a reminder of our oneness with everything


Ways to Compose, Re-Compose altars


LOOK AROUND and see how many you have ALREADY composed!

Where have you located special objects?

USE the Mother-Father Model (MATER-ial PATER-n)
Select Materials which have meaning and put them in some Pattern on the Altar.   Do this many times

USE the Haiku Model:
o Use something Seasonal-Sensory-Contrast/Compare
o Express a Universal sentiment and an allusion to Nature
o Be brief-technical-expressive subtle-indirect- yet with piercing clarity

What to put on an Altar?  Start with the Elements:
Water -- the life force: a tabletop fountain, sea shells, chalice, bowl of purified water, fresh flowers or flower petals
Air: feathers, wind chimes, reeds, incense, pictures of birds, fragrant herbs, music, leaves
Fire: candles, fiery gemstones (onyx, ruby), Images of the sun (male) or small dragon figures, lights, ashes, charcoal
Earth: houseplants, potted herbs, pentacles, stones, obsidian, red jasper, crystals, glass, mirrors, nests, salt for purification
Spirit/Aether: photographs, toys, trinkets, religious symbols, important personal objects.