A pagan shrine table is a sacred and consecrated space used by pagans for worship, rituals, and spiritual practices. It typically consists of a small table or altar, decorated with various items and symbols that hold significance to the practitioner's personal beliefs and traditions. The shrine table serves as a focal point for pagan rituals and ceremonies, as well as a place for connecting with the divine and honoring deities, ancestors, and spirits. It is often positioned in a dedicated ritual space or within the practitioner's home, where they can regularly commune with the spiritual realm. The items found on a pagan shrine table may vary depending on the individual's specific spiritual path and practices. However, some common elements include candles, crystals, statues or figurines representing deities or spirits, incense, ritual tools such as an athame (ritual knife) or wand, and offerings such as food, drink, or flowers.
On the same day, Richard Coman swore that Bridget Bishop had suffocated him while he slept. She had appeared in her “red paragon bodice,” then “lay upon [his] breast or body and so oppressed him that he could not speak nor stir.” Corman’s wife lay beside him, unafflicted and unaware. Why couldn’t Corman’s wife see Bridget’s specter? Did she ask why her husband dreamed of Bridget Bishop?
She kept a house of refreshment for travellers, and a shovel-board for the entertainment of her guests, and generally seems to have countenanced amusements and gayeties to an extent that exposed her to some scandal. Bishop was brought to trial for witchcraft once again in 1692 after Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Parris named her as one of the reasons behind their mysterious illnesses.
However, some common elements include candles, crystals, statues or figurines representing deities or spirits, incense, ritual tools such as an athame (ritual knife) or wand, and offerings such as food, drink, or flowers. Each item on the shrine table is chosen with intention and symbolism. For example, candles are often used to represent the presence of the divine and to create a sacred atmosphere.
The Witchcraft Trial of Bridget Bishop
Bishop, whose maiden name was Playfer, was born sometime between 1632 and 1635 in England.
In 1660, she married her first husband, Samuel Wasselby, in England and moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony around the same time.
After Wasselby died in 1664, Bridget married her second husband in 1666, a widower named Thomas Oliver who already had children from his previous marriage. Bridget and Thomas Oliver had one child together, a daughter named Christian who was born in Salem on May 8, 1667.
Bridget and Thomas Oliver had a troubled relationship. The couple quarreled often and were even brought to court for fighting in 1670, during which their neighbor, Mary Ropes, testified that Bridget’s face was bloodied and bruised on a number of occasions, according to the book Salem-Village Witchcraft: A Documentary Record of Local Conflict in Colonial New England:
“Mary Ropes, aged about fifty years, deposed that she had several times been called to her neighbor Thomas Oliver’s, by himself, but mostly by his wife, to hear their complaints one of the other, and they both acknowledged that they had been fighting together. Further she saw Goodwife Oliver’s face at one time bloody and at other times black and blue, and the said Oliver complained that his wife had given him several blows.”
Bridget and Thomas Oliver were fined and ordered to be whipped if they did not pay their fine on time.
In 1678, Bridget was brought to court for using foul language against her husband, as described in the book Salem-Village Witchcraft:
“Bridget, wife of Thomas Oliver, presented for calling her husband many opprobrious names, as old rogue and old devil, on Lord’s day, was ordered to stand with her husband, back to back, on a lecture day in the public market place, both gagged, for about an hour, with a paper fastened to each others foreheads upon which their offense should be fairly written.”
After Oliver died of an illness in 1679, Bridget inherited his estate, which consisted of a house worth £45, ten acres of land worth £25, a variety of household goods and two pigs. Oliver’s two sons and the couple’s daughter only received twenty shillings each.
“Execution of Bridget Bishop at Salem, 1692,” illustration by Joseph Boggs Beale, circa 1885Just three months after receiving her inheritance in November, Bridget’s stepchildren accused her of bewitching Oliver to death. A lack of evidence prevented the case from going to trial and it was speculated that the stepchildren’s accusation was an attempt to get their hands on the property she inherited from their father.
In 1687, Bridget was then accused of stealing brass from a local mill by the mill owner, Thomas Stacy, and arrested. Bridget claimed she didn’t steal the brass, but found it on her property and had no idea how it got there.
She also stated that she sent her daughter into town with the brass to discover what it was, not to sell it, as Thomas Stacy accused her of doing. Unfortunately, there are no surviving records indicating the outcome of this trial.
After Oliver’s death, Bridget Bishop married Edward Bishop, a well-respected sawyer (woodcutter). Bridget Bishop’s life at this time is sometimes difficult to trace because many historians, including Charles Upham in his 1867 book Salem Witchcraft, have confused her with Sarah Bishop, who was also accused of witchcraft and was married to Bridget Bishop’s step-son, who was also named Edward Bishop, according to the book Salem Story:
“As the first person to be executed in the Salem Witch Trials, Bridget Bishop has received plenty of attention from Salem’s historians, amateur and professional. She has served as a paradigm of the executed person as social deviant, the outsider who falls prey to a community devouring the eccentric on its margin. This is a version of Salem’s story codified in 1867 by Charles Upham, who in his Salem Witchcraft told the story of Bridget Bishop as a singular character, not easily described. ‘She kept a house of refreshment for travellers, and a shovel-board for the entertainment of her guests, and generally seems to have countenanced amusements and gayeties to an extent that exposed her to some scandal. She is described as wearing ‘a black cap and black hat, and a red paragon bodice,’ bordered and looped with different colors. This would appear to have been a rather showy costume for the times. Her freedom from the austerity of Puritan manners, and disregard of conventional decorum in her conversation and conduct, brought her into disrepute; and the tongue of gossip was generally loosened against her.’ Upham had made a mistake. Although he correctly identified Bridget Bishop as a woman who previously been charged with witchcraft, he conflated two people into one, inaccurately identifying her as living just outside of Salem Village, rather than in Salem [town] where she did live, and of being a rather colorful tavern keeper, which she was not. Upham’s mistake was understandable, since the confusion as to her identity actually goes back to 1692, and only some brilliant detective work by David L. Greene in 1981 brought clarity to the matter; still, some scholars have continued to make the misidentification.”
The mistake originates from Reverend John Hale‘s testimony against Sarah Bishop on May 22, which many historians have misidentified as testimony against Bridget Bishop because during the testimony Hale merely refers to the accused as “Goodwife Bishop…wife of Edward Bishop Jun’r.”
Since Bridget and Sarah Bishop were both accused of witchcraft and were both married to men named Edward Bishop, it’s easy to see how the two became mixed up over time.
Bridget Bishop’s Memorial Marker, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Salem Mass, November 2015. Photo Credit: Rebecca Brooks
Crystals may be selected for their energetic properties or connection to specific deities or elements. Statues or figurines can serve as representations of the deities being honored or as focal points for meditation and devotion. The shrine table is often seen as a gateway between the physical and spiritual realms. Pagans may use it as a place for prayer, meditation, spellwork, divination, and other spiritual practices. It provides a space for focusing and directing energy, as well as a place to offer gratitude, ask for guidance, or seek healing and blessings. Maintaining and tending to the shrine table is an important part of pagan practice. It is typically kept clean and free of clutter, with regular offerings made to the deities or spirits being honored. Some practitioners may also create seasonal or lunar altars, changing the items and decorations on the shrine table to reflect the cycles of nature or specific festivals and celebrations. Ultimately, the pagan shrine table serves as a sacred and personal space for pagans to connect with their spirituality, honor their beliefs, and engage in meaningful spiritual practices. It is a place of devotion, reverence, and connection to the divine and the spiritual world..
Reviews for "The Role of Incense and Smudging on a Pagan Shrine Table"
1. Sarah - 1 star:
I was extremely disappointed with the Pagan shrine table. The quality was very poor and it looked nothing like the picture. The colors were dull and it seemed like it was made with cheap materials. It also took forever to assemble and some parts didn't even fit properly. Overall, it was a complete waste of money and I would not recommend it to anyone.
2. John - 2 stars:
I had high hopes for the Pagan shrine table, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The design was okay, but the craftsmanship was lacking. There were several visible defects like scratches and uneven edges. It felt flimsy and unstable, definitely not worth the price tag. I was really looking forward to adding it to my collection, but now I'm regretting my purchase.
3. Jennifer - 2 stars:
The Pagan shrine table looked great in the pictures, but in reality, it was a disappointment. The materials used felt cheap and the finish was not smooth. The table wobbled and didn't seem sturdy enough to hold any weight. I was hoping for a beautiful centerpiece for my pagan altar, but this table fell short. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're willing to put in extra time and effort to fix its flaws.
4. David - 1 star:
I regret buying the Pagan shrine table. It arrived damaged and the customer service was not helpful at all. They refused to offer a refund or send a replacement. The table had scratches, dents, and one of the legs was broken. It was an absolute mess. I would advise anyone considering this product to look elsewhere for a better quality and customer service experience.