moonlightsonata wrote:My roommate got to where it wasn't safe to continue to live there. So a friend of mine offered to let me stay with her. She is a very conservative Catholic but I thought it would still be ok. I was stupid enough to openly set up my altar in my room.
When I came home yesterday she told me she had thrown everything away, and she had the priest over to bless the house today.
I lost my wand, my athmane, my cauldron, chalice and Goddess and God candles, as well as my sage bundle and incense holder. She also threw away all my pictures of the Goddess.
I'm not going to buy anything else until I am living on my own, which will probably take a few weeks (I need to find a place). So is there a way to do rituals without any tools? I know I can do guided meditations and such, but I want to actually do a ritual. And if there are representations that aren't obvious that I could put pictures of up, I'd like to know that too.
That was terrible of her to do without warning you (and I'm terribly sorry for your loss), but also probably not the wisest move on your part to do it without asking, frankly. It is still her house, after all. But bygones are bygones, and I assume you've realized that at this point. Anyway, not my job to harp on you. :3
As for practicing without tools - 85% of my practice is done without tools, frankly. I've always been of the belief that the only thing you really need is
intent and will. Everything else, for me - every incense, herb, crystal, and tool - is just bells and whistles, so to speak. They help get you into the mindset, help your psyche and subconscious realize that
okay, it's magic time now, and therefore make the magic stronger. They help things along, but in the end, they aren't essential - especially if you've been doing magic for a while and are fairly confident in your Craft.
Subtle witchcraft is also its own art, and usually it's the case that unless you have pentagrams and a giant poster of the Horned God, no one who isn't a practitioner is going to realize they're seeing an altar. Since she already knows, however, you'll have to be more careful. Some representations/tools you could use:
- St. Bridget is a Christian saint, but as I understand it her original form was that of the Celtic goddess Brigid.
- Mary can also be used as a representation of the Goddess, if you're comfortable with that.
- Candles are pretty darn innocent, especially white or scented ones. You can use a white candle for any ritual in a pinch, and scented candles can be used in place of incense.
- A butter knife can be used for an athame, a pair of cheap wooden chopsticks for a wand, a bowl for a cauldron, etc. I have one friend, living with her dad the Lutheran pastor, who uses a blessed-and-consecrated hand fan as her wand. You can also use your finger to gesture like you would with an athame or wand. Seriously, whatever works.
On another note - and feel free to ignore this, if you like, because you didn't ask for this advice (and it may or may not be usable given your situation), but I'm going to give it anyway. If it's safe, if it's possible, if there's any chance she'll listen, talk to your friend. Stay calm, try not to get emotional, but talk to her about it. Acknowledge that you were wrong to set up your altar in her house without talking to her about it beforehand, and tell her how hurtful it was for her to do what she did.
If she argues, ask her how she would feel if you did the same to her religious signs. Explain your Craft, your worship, your beliefs - what they are and what they're not. Let her ask questions, if she wants to (and if she does, that's a very good sign). It's going to be a hard conversation to have, but if you value this friendship - or even if you just want her to try to understand, regardless - it's one that has to happen. She may not want to listen, and if that's the case, you may have to back off. But there will never be an understanding between you unless you open that conversation up, calmly and honestly.
But always, always,
always, keep yourself safe above all else. Your safety is always more important, and right now that's partially reliant on the shelter she's giving you. That may mean not having the conversation at all, or that may mean waiting until you have another place to stay first.
Your safety is always more important.
Bright blessings!
. Be inspired & use the experience to work outdoors, closer to Nature. It also respects your hostess’ beliefs. I've used a bottle of spring water as a chalice. You can do a self cleansing with 
see-hear-speak no evil hand gestures. Center yourself by tracing 
from 3rd eye to the solar plexus & shoulder to shoulder with 2 
fingers. Cast circle by pointing and when you're done use the same fingers for a peace sign to dismiss quarters. To charge an object, 
tent your hands to make a window to peer through. Then push the power from the belly through centers of both palms, while you intensely focus your gaze through the window. It really targets the intention.
have points 
- hint hint. A bouquet of flowers 
represents the Goddess. The 
food we eat IS the body of the Goddess & God. An 
apple (another pentagram within), and 
grapes (Dionisus/Bacchus) is the bounty of the Earth, and very appropriate. Eat a portion and distribute the rest directly on the ground for the land spirits and critters. A pocket knife for cutting 
is useful. Find/make a walking stick for hiking & outdoor circles 
. I walk with a cane & use it as a short staff.
