Altar at the Maryland Faerie Festival 2010,
which is an open-to-public event.
copyright 2010 Myth Woodling
|
Altar at the Maryland Faerie Festival 2010, which is an open-to-public event. copyright 2010 Myth Woodling |
The CPC booth was part of the MDFF Public Outreach and Education Program for Nonprofit organizations. CPC has had a booth in order to distribute flyers for CPC upcoming events, including CPC's Summer Gathering. The booth also distributes free faery folklore drawn from a variety of sources, including Shakespeare.
This altar was set up on the right side of the booth entrance. Therefore, this altar was designed not only with a bit of whimsy, as befits a faerie festival, but also with public safety and practicality in mind.
In the center is a large figurine of a goddess seated upon the moon. Personally, I view this as a representation of the Wiccan Goddess Aradia, but it could be any one of a number of female spirits associated with the moon. In front of her, not really visible in the picture, is a small, white, metal offering bowl with spring water. (MDFF does not allow alcohol on site during operating hours.) To the Goddess's right, by her feet, is a small, white faery figurine and a brown bell. To the Goddess's left is a small, tan cornucopia and a white shell. In the front, also not visible, is a blue, non-breakable glitter wand. Hazel nuts are scattered on the altar.
Behind the Goddes is a candle holder with three white, unlit candles, representing the two-fold aspect of divinity, the Goddess and the God, with a candle representing the unity of spirit in the center. Behind the altar is a beautifully illustrated poster of the Earth's ecosystem, titled, "Fragile, Handle with Care."
The altar cloth was chosen for its bright, beautiful, spring colors. Besides, that cloth happened to be the right size.
In case you are wondering what the large, purple ball is on the right side of the moon goddess's feet, that's a bit of whimsy I added for the Maryland Faerie Festival. It's a somewhat less than serious divination tool known as the "Mystic Orb." Basically, it's the same thing as the "Mystic 8 Ball." At least two different people recognized the ball and each asked it a question.
This brings up an important point. Items set on a low altar at the front of your information booth will probably be handled by several members of the public. Don't put anything fragile, breakable, or irreplaceable on it. In the interest of public safety, there is no metal athame on this altar. Several children gently patted the faery figurines, picked up the glitter wand and kept moving the hazel nuts around the altar. One rang the bell. None of the children were destructive and their parents would warn them, "Be careful with that" or "Put that down."
Fire safety polices of MDFF aside, there is no lit candle, which someone wearing dangling ribbons or flowing dress could brush up against.
At the far right of the altar, safely tucked to the back where people don't walk, is CPC's traveling Goddess, who stands at a lot of our public displays. Under the edge of the altar is a small, faerie figurine seated on a small slice of cedar. This tree was felled by the last big snows of the past winter.
 This decorated table is not an altar. copyright 2010 Myth Woodling |
This table is simply a lovely faery display. Arranged attractively on the table is a jar of sunflower seeds, a couple of faery figurines, a wee faery house and a bowl of sunflower seeds for anyone who would like some. In front of the table is a purple Tinkerbell bucket with free river rocks. Beside the table are two large hunks of cedar with faery figurines. This cedar was part of the same tree felled in last winter's storm.