Altered Altar Boxes
Hello, my beautiful souls,
I am thrilled to share with you a new creation born from my heart and hands — the Altered Altar Boxes series.
Embodying Sacred Space
Altered Altar Boxes
These unique, handmade trinket boxes were crafted during a special time in my life as I prepared for a transformative medicine journey. It was a time of introspection and exploration, of diving deep into the labyrinth of my inner world. Through this journey, the Altered Altar Boxes series came to life as an extension of my creative and spiritual practices.
Creating a Travel Altar
for a medicine journey
The first altar box I made used an empty cardstock perfume box. I was preparing for my medicine journey, and wanted a way to bring some tokens or talismans with me to help ground me and set intentions for the journey. In addition to the natural and celestial imagery I collaged onto the surface of the box, I also added some mineral tokens, including tourmaline, smokey quartz, sea salt, and a fossilized ammonite. Organic elements included a dried shimeji mushroom, a rose bud, wildflowers and sunflower petals. I also had a small vial of sea water and incorporated a sea urchin spine along the box’s inside cover. Gold foil wings are the central and grounding imagery of the box. Bits of thread also wind around the box, holding a dangling crescent moon in the top corner. Along with my Tarot cards, the imagery of the box and the talismans contained within helped me to feel comfortable and prepared for the unknown. Setting up the altar was a way to enter into the heart space of the journey and its presence helped me to invoke spiritual guidance along the way.
Each Altered Altar Box in this series is a testament to the power of collage — the process of layering image, symbol, and intention — to create new meaning and understanding. This transformative art form allows disparate elements to come together, creating something wholly new and yet intimately familiar. Each box is a fusion of vintage and found paper ephemera, collaged onto a wooden trinket box and secured with a brass latch.
The Forest Path
This box has a fairytale vibe with lots of the kind of imagery I imagine one would encounter on a walk through an enchanted forest. There’s a cat playing a banjo on the front of this box, I guess that’s why it’s my cat’s favorite!
Every image that adorns these boxes — from the celestial moths and mystical mushrooms, to the verdant herbs and flowers, the busy bees, the fantastical sea creatures and divine goddesses — is thoughtfully chosen. They are potent guides and talismans, their symbolism resonating with the mystical wisdom of the Tarot and the innate magic within us.
More than just containers, the Altered Altar Boxes are intimate sanctuaries, inviting you to hold your treasures, jewelry, notes, intentions, or other mementos within their confines. Each box is a manifestation tool, imbued with energy to empower and amplify your intention setting.
With these boxes, I extend an invitation for you to create your own sacred space. Fill them with special items and memories that hold personal significance. Let the powerful symbolism and imagery of the box inspire your meditative and creative practices, guiding you towards a deeper introspection and spiritual awakening.
This series is a testament to the magic that exists within each of us. I hope the boxes serve as a reminder of the sacred in the everyday, and an invitation to connect deeper with the magical world around us.
Whether you're seeking a sacred vessel for your personal treasures or looking for a unique gift imbued with intention, I invite you to explore the Altered Altar Boxes series in the shop. They are waiting to find a home with those who feel their call.
