Rituals and Travel

[Yex]

I'm going to be traveling abroad for a week to-morrow. I have certain nightly rituals that I preform. Since I will be staying mostly in hotels and with family, I won't be able to incorporate certain things that I usually use in the ritual such as candles, incense, certain offerings, et cetera. I was wondering how you all deal with rituals and travel.

[Siona]

When I travel I like to take along a little portable altar box. Depending on where I'm staying it can have anything from small statues of my deities, or other small representations of them (like a gemstone or small jewelry charm), tea lights or a chime candle, or even a battery powered tea light, incense and a mini burner, a mini smudge stick, a little sake cup, prayer beads, little odds and ends to use as offerings... My minimalist version is just the small symbol of a deity, or prayer beads, and maybe a little cup. I hold the object/beads during prayer, and might offer water or something as part of the prayer. (Well, the real minimalist version is just prayer without bringing anything, and maybe making a libation at a rest stop or something. )

What'll work for you really depends on your ritual and your limitations. If you can't have a candle, can you have a battery candle? Can you do without? Depends on why you include the candle in the first place... Some scented oil in place of incense? Offering what you have rather than something particular? Just completely changing the ritual you do while traveling... instead of a detailed ritual, maybe just private prayer over breakfast, or during the morning shower, or something?

[AdastraJunction]

I have a Saint Christopher's Medal (patron saint of travelers) my mum gave me many, many years ago when I was still Catholic that I wear on my travels. So I ask him for protection as well as my other deities before I leave. I also carry a portable altar with your basics for rituals, blessings and protection. I carry a Worry Stone and a protective Rune Stone when traveling as well