How to make your own Mercy House Altar for your own home—it’s not that pagan, really.
An altar is a structure or assemblage upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made or placed for religious purposes. They are used particularly in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism (until the destruction of the Second Temple), and Modern Paganism. Many historical faiths also made use of them, including Roman, Greek and Norse religion.
The first altar in the Old Testament is built by Noah. Altars were also erected by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses.
In the Christian tradition the Altar is used in worship as a re-presentation of the sacrificial act of Christ or a re-presentation of Christ’s definitive act of Mercy at the last supper. In Norse religion the hörgr or altar would hold a bowl of the blood of an animal sacrificed to a Norse deity, then one would dip a bundle of fir twigs into it and sprinkle the participants with the blood. So, there are a whole range of options.
A House Altar can include the uses of the altar in the place of public worship, and further serves as a physical focus or locus for pray and meditation; and often include items symbolic of prayer and items which represent those things one prays for or meditates on.
How to make your Mercy House Altar
Designate a place for your altar, it can be a shelf, table, niche, mantel, nursing stool, or a place outside, in your yard or on your porch or fire escape.
Define your altar space with a piece of fabric, a piece of wood, a flat stone, a brick, large old book, or an album cover.
On your altar include:
- A candle, perhaps the one blessed at Candlemas and or incense (which represent or are seen as prayer)
- An item from everyone one in your household
- Dirt/earth/soil, or a rock
- Wine and bread (which may be used for communion as well as representing the presence of God), oil or water (which may be use for anointing)
- An item representing family/ancestors
- An item representing God, the trinity (individually or as one—it works both ways), the Madonna, a saint, or deity as you understand deity
- A representation of the resurrection and new life/unquenchable hope (which may either be held out until Easter or covered on Good Friday)
Make it you own, do what helps you in your prayer and meditation, worship and gratitude—A place that contains the mystery of the Presence Radical Mercy in your home.
And not to change tone abruptly—take a picture of it, post it, and tag the House of Mercy! Fun and Poignant is our middle names!