03/18/2026
The first photo is my back porch altar, after susta8ning this past winter. The Spring Equinox is upon us and spring cleaning is a ritualistic endeavor that has been around for a very long time. I took some time to dust off and reposition many of my treasured items and then took some photos. There's so many stories between these items collected over the last 40 years. I can't believe it's been that long.... but some of these minerals and crystals are items gifted to me as early as 10 years old. I have fond memories of evening spent at the El Paso rockhound Society with my elderly neighbor. There's a keychain and two trinket boxes from young women who I adore and have had the pleasure of mentoring some. Bones and minerals from countless adventures across the Southwest United States, seed pods from my favorite tree on the NMSU campus, locks of hair from treasured pets and even from my mother, crafts from my sister's adventures in Greece and Saudi, rocks from my Germany trips, a tooth from one of my old dogs, a ceramic goddess from an admirer, incense from a friend's trip to Japan, chaos Water bottled in a old Mead bottle consumed with a trusted friend over tears and many stories, a Cauldron gifted by a partner, and so much more on these two shelves. And together they collectively help to charge my space and remind me that it is my stories and experiences that are indeed important. The lessons never stop. But sometimes we're allowed to create space where we can pause and remember. That's an altar, like this one, in shamanic practice.