Fireplace/Alter

 

A central focal point of each church/temple/coven etc. is in it's sacred alter. Spiritual altars have an ancient history, used across cultures and faiths as sacred spaces to connect with the divine. The use of altars can vary greatly within traditions and also within individuals’ personal practices. Some may choose to create a personal altar in their home or outdoor space, while others may use communal altars in temples or churches. 

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Altars have been an integral part of spiritual and religious practices for centuries. They can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where people would offer sacrifices to gods and goddesses in hopes of receiving blessings or protection.  In many cultures, altars are considered a spiritual space that connects individuals to their higher selves or divine connection. For example, in the Hindu tradition, an altar is called a puja mandir and is a dedicated space for prayer and offerings to various deities. In the Catholic faith, altars are a central focus of the mass and are used for the consecration of the Eucharist. In Buddhism, altars often feature a statue of Buddha or other enlightened beings and are adorned with offerings and incense.

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A church altar is used for kneeled prayers, communion, weddings, and other sacred rituals. Historically, the altar is a structure where people make offerings to a god (such as an animal, or even a person, in some cultures). The Hebrew word for altar is mizbeah, which means “to slaughter.” In Greek, the word for altar is thusiasterion, which means “a place of sacrifice.” 

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Indigenous cultures created earth and stone medicine wheels to harness divine energies. Ancient Egyptians furnished grand temples with altars to deities, while Eastern traditions incorporated intricate home shrines for offerings, prayers, and meditation. The intention is to create a focal portal for communicating and communing with spiritual realms. Altars can also serve as a connection to ancestral spirits or deceased loved ones. In African culture, ancestor altars are commonly used to honor and communicate with ancestors. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead celebration incorporates altar-making to honor the deceased.

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Here are a few examples of types of altars:

• Personal altar: A sacred space created by an individual to practice their personal spiritual beliefs with selected items such as altar candles, altar crystals, altar statues or deity representation, and altar cloth.

• Ancestral altar: A space created to honor and connect to ancestors and loved ones who have passed.

• Outdoor altar: An altar created in a natural setting, such as a garden or forest, to connect with the elements and nature.

• Indoor altar: A space created in a home or place of worship for spiritual practice and rituals.

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In the Native American Church (NAC), there are two main umbrella fireplaces (ceremonial peyote altars passed down generationally from family) that are conducted: the Half-Moon fireplace and the Cross-Fire fireplace. The Cross Fire group uses the Bible for sermons, which are rejected by the Half Moon followers.

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Half-Moon Fireplace:

• Uses a half-moon shaped sand altar, the color of sand and size used varying between tribes

• Uses tobacco and corn-shucks during main sections of the service

• Little to no bible recitation during the service

• Coal design patterns differ from tribe to tribe during the service

• Staff is passed around the tipi during singing sections

• Mainly non-Christian songs sung, main four ceremonial songs sung.

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Cross-Fire Fireplace:

• Uses a horseshoe shaped sand altar, with a corresponding mound outside of the tipi parallel to the firepit – to represent the “grave of Jesus Christ”

• No tobacco used

• Staff is placed upright in the ground and does not get passed around the ceremony during singing sections

• Bible sections are recited and used according to the family’s prayer for the particular service

• Cross design within the coals to represent certain elements of Jesus Christ.

• Mainly Christian peyote songs sung, with the main four ceremonial songs appended to the Cross-fire

There are many variations of each fireplace, and they depends greatly on tribe and environment. There are also special fireplaces that do not exactly fit into the mold of either main style, so the above list is by no means authoritative.