A Snarky Altar Space

Severus Snape has had a presence on my home altar, off and on, for quite a long time now; since at least 2010, actually, though it wasn't obvious then. It began with the relicquary bottle of red simulacrum blood and remained thus for years. But now, I've stopped caring about hiding the truth. Severus is Severus! He's a powerful set of archetypes, and he's a part of my life; probably from now on. (When any figure, fictional or not, gives you solace and a new passion for living after the death of your closest parent, you kiiiiinda don't simply forget it.)

Severus' small piece of altar space,

circa March 18. Snape is all about

the black . . . and potions

A couple weeks ago on eBay I found a small vintage (2001, ha!) statuette of Snape, clearly a Christmas ornament, and bought it for my altarspace. It is Snape as I've always thought of him, pre-Rickman: sneering and greasy and amusingly unpleasant, in floor-length black robes. He certainly promises dire consequences for any foul beings that threaten my space and security! (He'd scare everyone away from the Christmas tree, too, those dunderhead brats.)

On the night of March 18 I unwrapped it, three days after receiving it: There was a kind of happy butterfly fest of anticipation in my stomach, part excitement and part fear, of opening the small box and beholding that snarky face up close. This fellow truly does radiate an incredible presence, despite being only three inches tall. But that's Professor Snape for you! There is simply no other entity quite like him. And look at his wee black fingernails. ♡

I "consecrated" the figurine with some smoke and placed him up next to my tiny pewter Naga Kanya or "Mama Cobra" deity from the Raven's Wing shop, where the two of them can glare at everyone meaningfully. Hsssss!

At home on the Altar of Potions Mastery, holding court in front of his own large (to him!) portrait. Plus a copy of a painted drawing I happen to love, for obvious reasons. I mean, that's my dream desk, and sort of how it ends up anyway.

March 12

In fan-written writings, one of Snape's pastimes is often shown to be chess; we have to assume he'd be terribly good at it. I haven't played chess in many years, but am now living with two kids who compete at chess at the State level! Whether or not I end up playing them, I decided to find my own set, preferably wood. During the search at an antique shop, I ran across this dear bronze box (above), which appears magical for sure.

I at last found my chess set...

Or rather, sets. Good ol' Scrap came through again, with a bin of random game pieces. I dug out all the similar chess pieces I could find, hoping for a full set. What I got was clearly two amalgamated sets instead, judging by a Light side a bit heavy on clergy and fortifications; polygamous Dark side royalty; and obviously both kingdoms have very good recruitment propaganda, as evidenced by the veritable litter of pawns.
Les majestes! En garde, varlet!

A day before tinySnape came in the mail, this came. It turns out I won't be vending at Pagan Faire as either PPM Labs (the Puddleton Potion Master) or as the HipSpinster because, a), I haven't had time to build an inventory due to work, and b), I'm rather p.o.ed at its host organisation Sister Spirit right now. That sounds petty, but it turns out the emotional abuse, gaslighting, nepotistic ("old girl", i.e. favoritism combined with a contrary reluctance to actually let new or younger members have an active voice) tendencies and just overall poor management is as rife in some women's organizations as anywhere else, and my poor friend had to put up with such crap for ten years. So, no Pagan Faire vending for Snape's protege; but I did agree to take a bit part in the afternoon ritual, as "2nd Druid". Whatever that is.

March 14

The organizer sounded desperate, of that particular last-minute variety (insert Snape sarcasms here, "Well that's how it is when you wait til the last minute, dunderhead!"), and it's no great difficulty for me. What she also did was redeem herself by putting this awesome Snape-celebrating stamp on the envelope!

Then there's this:

It's not mine. Yet, if ever. Order something from as far away as the Ukraine and you don't even know if it'll reach you. But how exquisite!

This 1:6 scale statue of our favourite wizard laboratory teacher and traditionally stern English schoolmaster is the sort of thing one can find on eBay. It's also the sort of thing I'd love someday for a Snape altar on which, ideally, there's plenty of room.

It's also well over a hundred dollars, understandably. I am just talented enough, and just masochistic enough, to try making my own possibly smaller altarpiece from polymer bake-clay in an attempt to achieve something like this; hence, my grabbing photos of this from every angle.

I've heard of dancers who speak of their confidence at being able to make their bodies do pretty much anything. Mine resides in art and craft power: When it comes to making stuff, in my scope, only time is of the issue.

Until my next masterpiece, then, I'll stick with tinySnape!