Q: Tell us about your Altar:
A: I built this altar in Papago State Park on my way home from the Scottsdale Human Rights Commission meeting where was discussed various discriminations and how to deal with them.
I had just come from speaking with the Scottsdale Human Relations Commission about the recent hate crimes in their community, and showing support for the Transgender community who is dealing with a bigot in Scottsdale who is baring transgender people from his dance club. So I asked Njord to speak to help the situation.
Q: What's on your altar and why, how did you find/get it?:
A: Candles: 1 tall Red for love, 3 white tea lights for cleansing and truth, 1 small blue 1 small green for harmony, Safety flyer wrapped around red candle with requests for Njord written below, Bottlecap from Goblin Ale (to collect green and blue wax, and then hold the blue and green candles) , Cedar incense stick (to help light candles), Cedar incense log (burnt as an offering with sage leaves), Sage leaves (burnt purification incense), Peice of turtle shell (representative of protection),Various rocks (for courage, community building, clarity/truth/communication), Various beads (one skull for those who have gone before us, leaves and a blue ball bead for earth and water), A bell, 3 feathers (air), A bag of pink rosebuds (strength, courage and connection), Piece of leather, Pin from an annual GLBT event,
Purple cloth donated by Nvc. Sister B'neatha
Q: Why did you choose the location you did?:
A: I was on my way to Scottsdale's HRC meeting and saw Papago State Park. I told Carlie, if there isn't a place right there outside the meeting, I think we should come back here to set the altar up. It would be perfect. As we were driving in, I told her where to turn and we just felt lead to where we put it.
Q: Why did you choose to create this altar?:
A: I wanted to learn more about various Gods and Goddesses, so decided to participate in the altar project as a way of growing in my understanding of such things... this particular altar just called me to make it. There is a lot of discrimination and hate crime going on in Scottsdale right now, and I felt the community could really used a mediator like Njord to speak for us.
Q: How did this experience change you?
A: I had been feeling a bit discouraged by recent events, but building this left me feeling inspired and renewed.
Q: Anything else you would like to convey?:
A: This has been an interesting project. I was surprised to find it coming together sooner than expected, but I have learned to listen to that inner voice that I call my gut. It's always lead me in the right direction. My gut seems to be my connection to the God/desses and so I set out tonight with all the supplies to build my altar in Scottsdale should the right location present itself. And oh it did. I did this altar to Njord.
It was a little hard to leave the altar sort of like saying goodbye to a child, but as I left I felt happy and that I'd added something powerful to my community. It left me feeling empowered and that I'd helped to empower others.
I look forward to making other altars in the future.
