Sacred in Your Pocket: The Evolving Journey of Portable Altars
Discover the fascinating journey of pocket altars, from ancient stone tablets to modern Altoids tins. These miniature sanctuaries have evolved through centuries, reflecting changing spiritual needs while maintaining their core purpose: bringing the sacred into everyday life.
The Portable Sacred: A Journey Through Time with Pocket Altars
From ancient stone tablets to modern-day Altoids tins, pocket altars have been a constant companion for the spiritually inclined. These miniature sanctuaries, small enough to fit in one’s pocket yet powerful enough to transform any space into a sacred realm, have a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries and cultures.
Origins and Early Development
The concept of portable altars dates back to the 7th century, emerging from the missionary world’s need to celebrate Mass in locations without permanent altars. The oldest surviving portable altars, found in St Cuthbert’s shrine in Durham (circa 660) and Takrit in Iraq (709–10), stand as evidence of this early innovation.
These early portable altars were not merely functional objects but sacred artefacts imbued with intense spiritual significance. Their consecration by bishops through the application of holy oil transformed them into “sacred places”, often becoming focal points of power struggles and politics.
Materials and Symbolism
Medieval Western portable altars showcased a fascinating blend of practicality and symbolism. Stone replaced wood as the material of choice, with jasper and porphyry being particular favourites. These materials were selected not just for their durability but for their perceived innate powers.
Medieval writers attributed great healing and protective powers to gemstones, adding layers of symbolism to these portable sacred spaces. The choice of materials reflected a deep understanding of the interplay between the physical and the spiritual, with each element carefully selected to enhance the altar’s power and significance.
Convergence with Reliquaries
By the ninth century, a fascinating convergence occurred between portable altars and reliquaries in the Western tradition. This merger resulted in portable altars always containing relics, often sewn onto a small cloth pocket on the back in Orthodox traditions.
This evolution transformed portable altars from simple functional objects into elaborate, box-like structures. Great churches in medieval and early modern West owned numerous such altars, which were often displayed for veneration like other relics rather than used as actual altars.
Gifting and Social Significance
Portable altars in the early Middle Ages often served as luxurious gifts, reflecting the culture’s emphasis on physical appearance and external gestures as expressions of inner virtue. Bishops and wealthy laymen were expected to commission these extravagant religious gifts for donation to churches, adding another layer of sanctity through the act of pious generosity.
Iconography and Inscriptions
The iconography of portable altars, especially in the Middle Ages, contributed significantly to their sanctity. Many featured elaborate imagery referencing the Mass, redemption through Christ, and the saints whose relics they contained. Inscriptions, sometimes commemorating the donor, were also common, serving not just as a mark of pride but as a way to intimately associate one’s name with holy things.
Symbolic Associations
Portable altars gained additional layers of sanctity through their symbolic associations with sacred things and places. In the West, they were commonly referred to as The Holy Sepulcher. Ethiopian traditions took this symbolism further, identifying the altar (called a tabot) with the Ark of the Covenant, the Womb of Mary, the saints, or even Christ himself.
Modern Interpretations
As we move into the modern era, the concept of portable altars has evolved and diversified. Today’s pocket altars reflect a wide range of spiritual practices and personal beliefs, often blending traditional elements with contemporary interpretations.
Modern practitioners create pocket altars for various reasons. For some, it’s a way to maintain a connection with their spirituality while travelling or away from home. For others, it serves as a discreet way to practice their faith in environments where open displays might be uncomfortable or inappropriate.
The contents of modern pocket altars are as diverse as the individuals who create them. They might include small crystals, miniature candles, symbolic trinkets, herbs, or even digital elements like meditation apps on smartphones. The key is personalization — each item chosen holds specific meaning for the user.
Creating Sacred Space
One of the most powerful aspects of pocket altars is their ability to create sacred space anywhere. Sara Frykenberg, in her exploration of altars without gods, describes how these personal sacred spaces allow individuals to “visit the sacred” while preserving “the sacred places where my heart lives”.
This concept of portable sacred space is particularly relevant in our increasingly mobile and often spiritually disconnected world. Pocket altars provide a tangible link to one’s beliefs and practices, offering comfort and grounding in unfamiliar or challenging environments.
Community and Sharing
While deeply personal, pocket altars can also serve as focal points for community building and sharing. Frykenberg describes creating a class altar where students could “celebrate the journey we’ve been on, to remember, to share stories and to finish our class”. This communal aspect of pocket altars highlights their potential to foster connection and shared spiritual experiences.
Practical Considerations
Creating a pocket altar requires thoughtful consideration of both practical and spiritual elements. The container itself is crucial — it should be small enough to be truly portable yet secure enough to protect its contents. Many practitioners repurpose small boxes, tins, or pouches for this purpose.
The selection of items for a pocket altar is a deeply personal process. It’s an opportunity to distil one’s spiritual practice down to its most essential elements. As one practitioner notes, “This space restriction leaves you no choice but to choose only those symbols and tools that are truly important to you and your magic”.
Common items in modern pocket altars include:
- Small candles or LED tea lights
- Crystals or stones
- Miniature representations of deities or spiritual symbols
- Herbs or essential oils
- Prayer beads or mala
- Small notebooks for journaling or sigil work
- Symbolic trinkets or charms
Adapting Traditional Practices
Many practitioners find creative ways to adapt traditional altar elements for their pocket versions. For example, those who typically use large statues might incorporate small pendants or prayer cards instead. Runes might be drawn on paper or represented by small beads. This process of adaptation often leads to a deeper, more personal connection with one’s spiritual tools and symbols.
Cultural and Religious Variations
Pocket altars, while gaining popularity in modern pagan and New Age circles, have roots in various religious traditions. In Catholicism, for instance, portable altars have been used for centuries to allow priests to celebrate Mass in locations without consecrated altars.
In some Buddhist traditions, small portable shrines or altars are used for travel or personal practice. These might include miniature Buddha statues, prayer beads, or sacred texts.
Native American traditions often include medicine bags or pouches, which, while not altars in the traditional sense, serve a similar purpose of carrying sacred and personally significant items.
Digital Age Adaptations
As we move further into the digital age, some practitioners are exploring ways to incorporate technology into their pocket altar practices. This might include using smartphone apps for meditation or prayer, digital representations of sacred symbols, or even creating virtual reality sacred spaces.
While these digital adaptations are not universally embraced, they represent an interesting evolution of the pocket altar concept, blending ancient practices with modern technology.
Ethical and Environmental Considerations
As pocket altars gain popularity, it’s important to consider the ethical and environmental implications of their creation and use. Many practitioners emphasize the importance of sourcing materials responsibly, particularly when it comes to crystals, herbs, or other natural elements.
Some choose to focus on found objects or items with personal history rather than purchasing new materials. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but often results in a more personally meaningful altar.
The Future of Pocket Altars
As our world continues to change rapidly, the concept of pocket altars is likely to evolve as well. We may see increased integration of technology, new materials and designs, and creative adaptations to meet the spiritual needs of future generations.
What remains constant, however, is the fundamental human desire for connection to the sacred, even in the midst of busy, mobile lives. Pocket altars, in whatever form they take, will likely continue to serve as portable sanctuaries, allowing individuals to carry their spiritual practice with them wherever they go.
In conclusion, the history of pocket altars is a powerful demonstration of human ingenuity and the persistent need for spiritual connection. From ancient stone tablets to modern digital adaptations, these portable sacred spaces have evolved to meet the changing needs of practitioners while maintaining their core purpose: to provide a tangible link to the divine, accessible at any moment and in any place.
Bob Lynn / 05-Nov-2024
