Statuary or images of deity

[Hærfest Leah]

Who uses statues or images of their deities? We all should know that we don't worship the object itself but whom the object represents and how it helps us focus on our deities that we honor.

What do you use to represent your deities in your home, work or altar? What is your view on the object itself that you use?

[indigo rain]

i have a statue of heru that i ordered off the internet and a brass cat statue that i got at walmart that makes a great representation for bast. i want a sekhmet statue, i'm still saving up for it.

i think the image gives you something to focus on and a place for the divine energy to reside while you work with it and give it offerings.

[Theres]

i have two different statues of Hekate on my altar, plus an original painting of Her on the wall behind it.
and yes, i do find that they help me to focus.

[Mercedes]

I don't exactly have statues depicting my deities, but I have ones that are related. For example, I have a jade, glow-in-the-dark statue of dolphins (Apollo) and a crystal/gold owl (Athena). They're there as symbols and something recognised. I like seeing them there because it reminds me of Their presence.

I also never noticed that my dolphin statue glowed in the dark until one night, when I left to the bathroom, and it was too dark for me to find my way to bed until I noticed it glowed. I now geekily refer to this as "following Apollo" in the night.

[aluokaloo]

Who uses statues or images of their deities? We all should know that we don't worship the object itself but whom the object represents and how it helps us focus on our deities that we honor.

What do you use to represent your deities in your home, work or altar? What is your view on the object itself that you use?



I use a model of a wolf when i am honoring Fenris, I can't have anything else until I have more room to put uhh more unsturdier items around the house. But I would like to have more statues. There is this awesome online store called the Goddess Gallery!
Oh I also put a holey stone Diana gave to me when i am honoring Her, and I have a small purple marble dolphin for when i am honoring Poseidon, a piece of carnelian agate when I am honoring Set, a small carved horse of some sort of stone, when i am honoring Epona. Can anyone reccomend statues not so prone to breaking? Anyone with rambunctious kids and pets? I also have a crow feather i got from the crows, I talk to them sometimes and throw them food, I am not sure if it is an unknown deity, or perhaps a power animal?

[Theres]

There is this awesome online store called the Goddess Gallery!
that store is run by some friends of mine, and it's a great place to visit too. (warning... leave the credit cards at home if you want to eat next month... the temptations are irresistable!)

[aluokaloo]

that store is run by some friends of mine, and it's a great place to visit too. (warning... leave the credit cards at home if you want to eat next month... the temptations are irresistable!)


That's cool! There are so many statues I would love to get there! It seems like these people make statues of all the Gods ever known and then some! I love their statue of Gaia especially! Thanks for the warning too btw.

[JadeNSC]

Oh no, I made the mistake of looking at the site! :lol: Good thing I don't have a credit or even a debit card at the moment. When we do get one, let's hope I forget about this site! :lol:

[Pol]

As I have only in the past week 'found' my deities, I as yet do not have any sort of bits or pieces to represent them, though I'm definitely shopping around.
My plan is to have one for each deity I hope to involve myself with, to focus my thoughts in prayer.

[RubyRose]

I use images of the deities I honor, currently.

[Ben Gruagach]

You can also make your own statuettes. You can use things like Sculpey (which do their hardening in a regular oven) or you can do like I did a few years ago and make the regular old flour salt and water dough and then bake your final creation.

(Here's the recipe for the flour and salt dough. 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water. Mix to make dough. You can leave your creations to air-dry, or bake them in the oven to harden them. Just be careful in the oven method as they sometimes split open. You can varnish or paint them with acrylic paints when you're done.)

[Agaliha]

The only Diety statues I have are four of Bast [two in feline form, to in human form]. They don't go on my altar though-- I have a special place of them elsewhere. All of them are about 12" and are better quality than some of the expensive ones I've seen sold online...and mine were cheap-- only 10$ each! And two were gifts.

Oh my altar I usually have things that symbolize a Diety. Here are some of the things I have done at various times.

With Saraswati I couldn't get a statue because all of them I've seen were way too expensive, so I just had a colored picture printout that I used. I also put things that were sacred to her and part of her. Books, paper, pencils and pens, pictures of rivers, swans....

For Ganesha it was figurines of elephants, which also doubled as figurines honoring my elephant totem.

For the Morrigan all I had on my altar with my bundle of crow feathers that I had found and collected. In the pile was the one that she gave to me.

When I was unsure about a things I put up angel statues I had because to me they represent the Source.

For the still unconfirmed sea associated goddess I have sea things-- shells, starfish, figurines of sea life, sand, sea glass, pics of sea life and the oceans. This one is still up, but is not on my altar like it was-- it's on my desk-- a better place with more room.

For the Earth, which is on my altar now, I have my plant, miniture clay pots, a harvest bowl thingy and earthy colored cloths.

You can see them all HERE (http://www.mysticwicks.com/photoalbum/thumbnails.php?album=1017) and HERE (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2142459&postcount=478)

So for me I do well without a statue image of them. Eventually I would like to get some though-- it's always nice to have an actual image of them to focus on, but I like symbols as well.
Plus for those that can't have blatant Pagan things [I can as no one in my family minds] symbols related to the Diety are a good way to honor and focus on them.

[instinct]

I currently have 6 statues:

3 of Yinepu, all in black and gold:
- 1 8" standing (gift from a friend)
- 1 5" long reclining jackal (bought him off ebay)
- 1 6" long hand-made reclining jackal, he's up on one of those coffin box things too. he's just beautiful and he's my favourite :smile: (gift from a friend)

2 of Bast:
- 1 8" sitting Bast cat, black and gold (gift from my mother)
- 1 around 4" carved black from Egypt (gift from a co-worker)

1 of Set:
- 9" bronze coloured standing. I bought him from somaluna.com

I have found 1 statue of Mut, however it's an Artisan's Guild statue (they don't make them anymore) and it's gold leafed and very beautiful, but a bit too expensive right now. So for her I have a cold framed papyrus, which she seems to like "I don't mind having a papyrus, as long as the frame is expensive". Queen of the Gods, through and through.

I also have another framed papyrus on my wall with Hethert (Hathor), Ma'at, Aset (Isis) and Nefertari.

I want more statues! always more statues! YAY!

[Gypsy flower]

I travel alot, I cant carry around statues and such, I make my alters and deitys of things around me since most of the time I work out in the open forest areas.. after I complete my work I return them to the earth and thank them!

[Theres]

okay gang, grab your drool buckets...

http://www.statue.com/items.asp?CartId=&Cc=GREEK&tpc=

[Romani Vixen]

i have an alabaster Bast icon.

I also have a now retired Lord and Lady... they were sculptures which I did some time back and used when I was Wiccan.

I see them as a point of focus.

[argento_occhi]

*looks at overly crowded shrine*

Er, I have just a few...

- 1 of Sebek
- 2 cats for Bast
- two of Aset suckling Heru, made of different materials
- a winged Aset
- large Yinepu He insisted I buy
- a sphinx
- an ibis I bought at the markets
- two crocodiles, one 30cm, one about 7-8cm long
- another cat, curled up and sleeping
- another ibis I made from clay
- a scribe
- a small cat
- small statues of Sekhmet, Yinepu, Aset and Ma'at
- a picture of Djehuty I drew
- a bookmark of Wesir
- a picture/art thingie I made for Aset with Her image in it. The one from Age of Mythology, my fave image of Her. I got some metallic card as a birthday present, black, copper and silver, and used it to make a frame type thing with decorations and such. Wrote hieroglyphs on it in silver pen
- a small beaker and a couple of droppers for Djehuty. I don't know why. He just claimed them.
- two small soldiers I found at a shop one day. Not sure who they're for, but I like to think they're guarding my shrine.
- and I forgot my Ganesha icon
- and my 130cm long stuffed (plush) crocodile Sebek seems to have claimed. No, really, He likes it. He thinks its adorable that I bought it for Him. It's so cuddly too.

And I think that's all. Yeah, I have a lot of icons. OK, so some may not exactly wualify as icons in the strictest sense, but they are icons to me. They represent the Gods for me, and that's what an icon should do, right?

Argent

[SylverStar]

Hmm...I have currently 2 statues of Ganesha...a small pewter one of him dancing, and a larger resin one. I also have a picture of him and lakshmi. As far as the object I see it as more than a mere picture or object. I feel when I look at the statue I am face to face when Ganesha himself, but I feel this way with any statue of him.

[argento_occhi]

I feel like that with my Ganesha statue too. It's like I'm looking right at Him. I feel that way with a lot of my icons too, but I've noticed it most with Ganesha.

Argent

[instinct]

- large Yinepu He insisted I buy

:lol:

how very Dad. :T

[argento_occhi]

Oh, wait, I forgot my Aset papyrus. Yeah. Can you ever have too many icons?

Argent

[Agaliha]

Hmm...I have currently 2 statues of Ganesha...a small pewter one of him dancing, and a larger resin one. I also have a picture of him and lakshmi. As far as the object I see it as more than a mere picture or object. I feel when I look at the statue I am face to face when Ganesha himself, but I feel this way with any statue of him.

Aw, lucky! I wanted to buy a good one of him and Saraswati but they were too expensive-- 200+ :(

So I just have a billion elephant figurines, for him and for my totem.

Where did you get yours, if you don't mind me asking...?

[WitchCraftWeaver]

Who uses statues or images of their deities? We all should know that we don't worship the object itself but whom the object represents and how it helps us focus on our deities that we honor.

What do you use to represent your deities in your home, work or altar? What is your view on the object itself that you use?

I have a 6 inch Spiral Goddess (arms raised above her head in a circle w/spiral on her belly) and a 7 inch seated Green Man called "Wisdom" by the artist.

To me, they are simply aids in focusing on the "Being" of the Lady and the Lord.

[Ben Gruagach]

Aw, lucky! I wanted to buy a good one of him and Saraswati but they were too expensive-- 200+ :(

So I just have a billion elephant figurines, for him and for my totem.

Where did you get yours, if you don't mind me asking...?

There are places on the web that sell Hindu deity figurines, artwork, etc. that might be more affordable. Here are a few that have some neat (and not too expensive) Ganesha statues.

https://www.indiaessence.com/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=13

http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/ (search for the deity name you're looking for)

http://www.sacredsource.com/ has some that aren't too expensive, at least compared to other stores.

And then there are all sorts of Ganesha statues on ebay that might be what you're looking for.

[Shadowsong]

I have a statue of the Morrigan but it's not on my altar, I have icons of Her, Djehuty, and a spiral galaxy to represent the Universe and the Source of the Divine. It just helps me focus on Them, you know? Especially the icon of the Morrigan I have--it's like She's staring at you! :lol:

[Ben Gruagach]

Especially the icon of the Morrigan I have--it's like She's staring at you! :lol:

A loving Goddess can't help Herself but watch Her chosen!

[Khaelo]

All of my statuary is handmade by me, using Sculpy clay, wire, and tin foil, painted with acrylics. They're not very attractive or sturdy. It was a challenge just to make them stand up by themselves. They still tip over on occasion and need parts glued back on. :p But they're more "accurate" than anything I could find in stores (my deities are non-traditional).

Owning statues, I don't use them for much. They primarily function as seasonal decoration for the altar. I rotate them as the seasons change but don't pay a lot of attention to them otherwise. The real prayer was in creating them.

It would be very nice to have gorgeous statuary like the items on those links. However, I don't know if it would be the same, buying something from someone else and sticking it on the altar. I'd lose the only part of the statue-process that connects me with deity. :awwman:

[Arion]

Here are pictures of the statues I have of Aphrodite and Dionysus, both of which I ordered online. I love them, especially the Aphrodite one. I saw this pic online and it inspired me to study her and I realised she was the goddess for me and I bought the statue quite a while later. I also have little cheap statues of Amun-Re and Sekhmet, they're not my patrons, but I saw the statues at a market and liked them, plus they were only about $3 ;)

[Agaliha]

Thanks for the links Ben :)
The only one I knew of that you listed was SacredSource.

I got my four high quality Bast statues clearance at Burlington Coat Factory. They have [I]tons of India, SE Asian, African and Egyptian replicas and such for cheap. They have a big Buddha statue selection too.

Once I figure things out [Diety and path wise] I want to buy some more statues and make some.

PurplePanther: That is a beautiful Aphrodite!

[yavanna]

I have a plastic bunny to represent the feminine aspect and a little statue of budda to represent the male aspect. Pretty lame, but there it is. Most of my stuff is still packed :(

[yavanna]

Burlington Coat Factory. They have tons of India, SE Asian, African and Egyptian replicas and such for cheap. They have a big Buddha statue selection too.



Ok, I am going to have to go to Burlington tonite!

[TaysatWesir]

I have statues of Skhmt, Bast, Ra and Maihes missing Mut. :fpraiseyo

[Agaliha]

Ok, I am going to have to go to Burlington tonite!

:acheeer:
Hopefully the one by you carries all that stuff. I just know in WA, they do. And they are all clearanced! One of my Bast statues is supose to have an ankh in her hand, but it was broken :( -- I bought it anyway because at the time it was the only one, beautiful and only 9$. But not everything there is damaged, btw. All my others are fine. It's in the home decor area.

Let me know if you find anything. And if not, I'm sorry :(-- I only know what the ones in Tacoma, WA sell. I'll just consider myself lucky.

[Khaelo]

That's a gorgeous statue (Aphrodite), purplepanther. She's so sensual and flaunting it -- not coy like most of the Venus/Aphrodite statues I've seen.

Now I'm thinking of ways I could paint/accessorize a statue like that into the likeness of one of my deities instead. :fpeek: Would that be disrespectful? I've thought of "adjusting" Virgin Mary statues before but never gathered the funds, time, or courage to follow through. It's only stone...mass-produced stone at that...but it somehow seems disrespectful to change the dedication of an image. It's almost as if you're stealing the image from the first god. Rationally, of course, this is pretty silly. It's not like Aphrodite is running around counting her statues. ;) Has anyone done something like that -- changed the image of one god into another?

[Ben Gruagach]

I think it's very much in line with tradition to do things to modify or "dress up" a holy statue. There is a golden baby Jesus statue in Europe (for the life of me I can't remember where) that my sweetheart saw once on a trip that apparently has HUNDREDS of little outfits they dress him in. They have special outfits they put on him for the different holidays, the seasons, etc.

Statues in India are also frequently daubed with pigments (like the red or white dots on the "third eye" area) and are bathed in special liquids such as rose water, holy oils, or milk. They often get dressed up too for special occasions. And at the very least they get plenty of flower garlands draped on them.

I'm attaching a photo of a clearly-loved Ganesha that my sweetie saw on a trip to India.

[aluokaloo]

okay gang, grab your drool buckets...

http://www.statue.com/items.asp?CartId=&Cc=GREEK&tpc=



Ooh! I love the ones of Artemis and Athene!

[aluokaloo]

Here are pictures of the statues I have of Aphrodite and Dionysus, both of which I ordered online. I love them, especially the Aphrodite one. I saw this pic online and it inspired me to study her and I realised she was the goddess for me and I bought the statue quite a while later. I also have little cheap statues of Amun-Re and Sekhmet, they're not my patrons, but I saw the statues at a market and liked them, plus they were only about $3 ;)


Oh wow! That one of Aphrodite is just awesome!

[Hærfest Leah]

Sorry I'm just now posting back on here to this thread, I've been very busy with work. The only statue we have so far is of Anubis and my husband just had to have it when we were staying in the Luxor casino in Vegas in 2001 I believe, we got it in the gift shop. The pic is attached below, we just have the lid not the base.

I saved the link to the goddesse gallery & statue.com, thanks. I plan on getting some of my norse gods when I find the right ones.

[StormVixen]

i have the horned god statue from this site... (but i got it cheaper!)
http://www.witchcraftshop.co.uk/index.php?cat=0121

[Isischild]

Who uses statues or images of their deities? We all should know that we don't worship the object itself but whom the object represents and how it helps us focus on our deities that we honor.

What do you use to represent your deities in your home, work or altar? What is your view on the object itself that you use?

Well, while I certainly don't worship the object itself, I have several statues and other objects of my deities I'm closest to.
I have two 3 to 4 foot and one small statues of Anubis, one four foot statue of Horus and several statues of Isis (none of them that big though...darn). I also have feathers on my altar, found on the ground as I was walking along representing Isis. Come to think of it I even have an Isis lamp on my end table.
Why do I have all these Isis's and such....heck if I know, I'm just a freak I guess :-) Nah, you know one takes to a special Goddess or pantheon and over time one collects all this stuff through themselves or is gifted some or what have you. It's all fun.

Isischild

[Hærfest Leah]

Well, while I certainly don't worship the object itself, I have several statues and other objects of my deities I'm closest to.
I have two 3 to 4 foot and one small statues of Anubis, one four foot statue of Horus and several statues of Isis (none of them that big though...darn). I also have feathers on my altar, found on the ground as I was walking along representing Isis. Come to think of it I even have an Isis lamp on my end table.
Why do I have all these Isis's and such....heck if I know, I'm just a freak I guess :-) Nah, you know one takes to a special Goddess or pantheon and over time one collects all this stuff through themselves or is gifted some or what have you. It's all fun.

Isischild

No not wierd ever. lol My husband would love all your Egyptian stuff.