In the dark of winter, I light candles. I light candles at my altars.
I seem to have altars all over my house. Everywhere I look there are altars, large and small. Not all of them have candles. Not all of them have a theme. But many do. Here are a few of my altars.

1.    Artemis Altar. Here is some of my collection of Artemis posters and pieces. The climbing green witch seems to fit in with Artemis's athleticism. Artemis is the goddess of the herbalist. Artemis is the goddess of the moon. Artemis is the wild woman who runs with the wolves, the coyotes, the hounds. Artemis shoots arrows of truth. Artemis is Diana. Artemis is Selene. Artemis is Moon Mother. Artemis is with us when we are giving birth.

2.    Statue of Liberty Altar. After menopause, I was drawn to a new goddess archetype. I still love my first love Artemis, but she seemed less likely to help me with my crone issues. The Statue of Liberty wears a headband (with points!) and welcomes all. She's my new squeeze (for the past fifteen years) and here's her lair.

3.    Love Altar. Perhaps the most changeable of all my altars, this little altar sits right beside me, where I write. It reminds me of people and places that I love and that love me too. Here is a box of Goddess matches, a gift from Z Budapest. And a purple gemstone heart that my daughter and granddaughter got for me at Niagara Falls. The little elephant belonged to my mother. There is a worked piece of bone (or antler) from Grandmother Twylah's land. And a bright green glass turtle my sweetheart gave me last year. A wax goddess figurine from moonlodge. Several guardian fairies. And, of course, various images of Lady Lib: on a knife, a lighter, and a card. Life is such joy.

4.    The Green Witches on the Couch Altar. Can you tell? They are taking over the couch. I remember when three people could sit there. No only two, tightly. Year by year, new green witches come for tea with their cronies and never go home. They are such a cheerful bunch; I love living with them.

5.    The Green Witches on the Counter Altar. After taking over the couch, the green witches made a move on my counter and wrested it from my control. They now wink and giggle and shimmy as I pass by, a constant reminder to enjoy life.

6.    Silk Skirt Altar. Because it doesn't have to have candles or incense or even a statue of the goddess to be an altar. An altar is a scared space, and my silk skirt drawer is as sacred as I can make it.

7.    Bedside Altar. The energy here is old and stable, filled with dreams and magic, charms and cobwebs, goddesses and candles. On this altar every night I burn a beeswax candle for all the people I have met that day that need healing. I often add a candle for personal magic. Right now, my gold candle for a prosperous year is lit.

8.    Jewelry Altar. Ever so much better than hiding the jewels in a box, I began putting necklaces on Tara decades ago, when I was spending time with Pauline Oliveros, and have continued ever since. Can you tell that I love amber? And isn't that a great photo of me and my guardian angel Keyawis? I miss you my love.

9.    Green Tara Altar. Om Tare. Tu Tare. Ture so ha. (Ohm tah-ray, two tah-ray, two ray so ha.) Tara is the keeper of the green chi force. Tara is the Mother of all Buddas. Tara appears in a rainbow of colors, but her green manifestation is my favorite. (Of course!)