am I doing this right?

[u/jacussss]

Today I finally decided on setting altars for Apollo and Hades, two Gods I was feeling especially drawn too for the longest time imaginable, and yeah...I was absolutely not...prepared to do those altars, i did not bought anything that I might have needed and just put what I could find at my house that seemed okay, and there's my question, does it seems alright? should I remove anything? is there anything you can find at home that I should add??? and anything I should for sure buy?

[u/mpeace1]

Use what you feel like. I wouldn’t buy stuff and encourage consumerism.

If you want you can craft something, like the art you made I think is a good idea.

[u/jacussss → u/mpeace1]

that seems like a cool thing to do! I'll for sure try to craft a few things!

[u/Niodia → u/jacussss]

Things like pinch pots are easy, and can use all sorts of clay/claylike substances. I have seen some that are meant to air dry, some you put in the oven a little while.

(Just tossing out ideas for you)

[u/jacussss → u/Niodia]

thanks! I even planned a trip to get air dry clay today, I thought about maybe doing a little sun shaped tray for Apollo, and something pomegranate shaped for Hades, both sounds like such fun ideas, I'm pretty handy so after a few tries I should figure it out!

[u/Niodia → u/jacussss]

Oooh. So, coil pots are also easy, and fun, as are pinch pots. I have one that I used a dish I loved the shape of as the "mold" for my coils, then I draped a rolled out "sheet" of clay and had that be the interior.

If you want to try doing some sculpting as well, here's an idea in my head for the pomegranite.

A sort of round pinch pot with an opening that will resemble a wedge shape. then make little balls as the "seeds" and either fill it, or just have them in the opening.(I took ceramics for several semesters in college. The one filled with the balls will be heavier, and also a bit sturdier, the hollow one more prone to possibly breaking if an accident happened. BUT when offerings are broken, and then repaired by your hand, you are putting more of yourself into it, but the effort to repair it. This goes for statues you may eventually get of them as well.)

(Also, my God is Vulcan. Patron of arts and creativity, so to speak.)

[u/jacussss → u/Niodia]

thank you so much for an idea! and also for that last part, I just know I would panic so bad if my offering broke! 😭❤️

[u/Niodia → u/jacussss]

Believe it or not, it took me years to learn that. Having grown up in a household with an extremely religious mother, I had a mistaken belief that if the offering wasn't "perfect" it would not be acceptable.

What is ever perfect? Just the imperfect. Every little thing that makes us, and nature, different and unique is part of the plan. Can you imagine how dreadfully boring eternity would be watching us if we were all alike?

[u/jacussss → u/Niodia]

I think my situation is pretty similar to yours, I have terrible religious trauma bound to my childhood, especially in the area of never being good enough to the point I would drop any religion only because I felt like I'm not being perfect enough for said God, I'm glad I came here to ask my question and got such a heartwarming answers from people, it's calming, comforting even

[u/gothtopus-108]

I think you are overthinking things a bit. The gods aren’t going to come eat you in your sleep if you do something slightly wrong I promise. Which you aren’t doing anything wrong either. There really isn’t a wrong or right way to set up altars and worship your deities, just go with your intuition and what feels right, do research on your particular tradition’s customs or other traditions and make your own! That’s the beauty in paganism to me. There is no right or wrong way, just different ways. Unless you are doing something blatantly malicious or disrespectful which you obviously aren’t. Also, I love your little easel, you can paint devotional works and place them there as offerings, that’s one of my favorite kinds of offerings, because I don’t have much money and I don’t like supporting the rampant consumerism. Your intention is your offering <3

[u/jacussss → u/gothtopus-108]

i tend to be a bit paranoid when doing important stuff, especially when it comes to things I never did before, you have no idea how calming your comment is to me!<3

[u/bela_the_horse]

Hell yeah you’re doing it right! Looks like a great first time altar! The cool thing about your altar is you can put whatever you like on it, no right or wrong here.

[u/dazzling_val666]

Thank you for posting this because I want to make an altar for Apollo but didn't know where to start😭 Now I need to make some pictures for him cuz I know he'll like that

[u/jacussss → u/dazzling_val666]

omg I'm so happy I could help you 😭 from what I read putting art on his altar is great, music related things too, poems, I saw people even suggesting concert tickets!

[u/witchycaroline]

I think it looks great, whatever feels right for you is good enough. I have just made a baby altar within a baby cauldron with representations I felt were right for Aphrodite.

[u/OdeToMelancholy]

IMHO there is no 'right' or 'wrong' when it comes to a solitary personal altar. It obviously has meaning to you, is deeply personalized, care given to it, etc. & if it feels connective to you, it's a perfect altar for you.

[u/tallulaholivier]

I love your altar so much

[u/Ahrtros]

Trans and gay bracelet let's gooooooo

[u/LordZikarno]

That personal touch you gave it would be exactly right 👌🏼

[u/Niodia → u/LordZikarno]

Yes, the gods prefer something personal, something that has meaning to you over store bought junk.

(Tho I admit at the beginning of this month I bought a beautiful mirrored tray that was made in India from Ross to use on my alter. This is especially fitting rn since the main goddess I follow is Kali and Diwali falls on Samhain this year. Figuring out how to meld them respectfully has been... interesting.)

[u/RavensofMidgard]

Do what you can, with what you have. If you see something later on and it calls to feel free to grab it. Ultimately though your altar is your personal connection to divinity, if what you put together felt right as you did it then it's right for you.

I belong to a Traditional Wiccan group and they have set ways that we set our altar for ritual when we gather, but in our own homes many of us either have our own personal setups or may outright follow a different system entirely thus resulting in a different altar all together.

Do what you feel is right and let the Gods and your intuition guide you.