I’ve been really digging this small shelf in my kitchen that I’ve been using as a household altar. I was confused for a while why somebody would put this shelf between the back door and the pantry door in our kitchen. It’s a bizarre spot, but my older witch friend, Sonja, told me it was where the older generations would’ve put a house phone. So the energies of communication associated with the shelf make the altar all the more potent.

For this season I wanted to focus on the positive energy of the summer solstice. The members of my house have been having a rough time so I needed to bring in the fun.

On the altar, as always, are plenty of crystals: a selenite “log”, rose quartz, and citrine. The black and white candles were used in several magickal rituals preparing for my wedding (post on wedding magick to come) and embody love, happiness, and duality. Also from the wedding are two sprigs of dried lavender. Behind the white candle is a fake mango and behind the black candle is a copper cauldron which is representative and not used in actual practice. The small crystals are on top a strip of green fabric symbolizing life and the abundance of nature. The final item is a simple incense burner used for offerings to house spirits and the occasional deity.