Altar questions

[SpiritTalker]

just some random thoughts:

The pentacle will function to condense energy if it's placed at the center of a standard dual (-) passive and (+) active energy altar. Energy flows from passive to active polarity. I think with your pentacle being made of magnetic material like iron it would intensify this flow. By placing your (+) right hand above the iron pentacle you completed a circuit to the (-) left hand which intensified drawing the flow from (-) to (+) up thru your feet. That's what we do when we ground and raise power. IMO it's the electromagnetic force of the earth itself that we can program with focussed thought for an intention. We're energy conduits.

Iron affects polarity & that releases vitality. That's why iron cauldrons are used for brewing, to release the plant's vitality into the brew. To be honest I can't stand the buzzing in my hands when I hold iron. It makes my teeth itch, and that is an electrical thing. It also happens when Im near electric power-line towers only worse - My skin crawls & my hair itches. Anyhow from these similar sensations from 2 different things, i figured out iron effects electricity in my body. Earth energy is electro-magnetic. Paint a target. Um...rambling, aren't I?

So you could use this iron pentacle for consecration as you say & for setting your intention into what you place on it; use it for charging your wooden wand or staff with the blue light & then hold onto the charged tool during meditation to aid safe exit OOB to spirit travel; ride the charged current connecting thru Ley lines. Probably it's a good idea to ground excess energy remaining in you after use.

Channeling raised energy thru a standard, steel blade would seem to complete the same circuit as you experience holding one hand over the iron pentacle. Most modern blades are steel & not pure iron, & with their insulating wooden handles we don't feel energy passing thru. (If we store our blades with a small magnet, it keeps them toned up.)

[SpiritTalker]

...
The second is regarding the altar itself. I've read in books that the altar is something that is included in the circle during rituals. Yet I see people who have their altars on shelves or dressers. How does that work if they can't cast a circle around the altar? :

A circle is just the intersection of a sphere with a plane. The sphere extends above & below the surface of the Earth, or flooring if indoors. The circle just naturally does this; we don't have to think about it. People who see the energy say it's in a constant, spiraling motion. The circle is energy and will pass thru obstructions to form a sphere. So a wall-altar sits to one side, inside the rim of the circle, which would pass right behind the back of the altar. Also a work table can be picked up & moved at any time we are working within the circle. We are free to move around in a 9' sphere.

[Corbin]

Thanks for the post

So if in a ritual circle environment the iron is condensing energy (as it appears) and not absorbing it. I assume its natural grounding properties help deal with any issues of accidental lingering residual untasked energy? (as it has no huge ... no "contained" :~ energetic signature in itself?) .

It also occurs to me that when it comes to raising energy (cone of power) - creating a "parcel" of tasked energy and releasing it out of the circle it is a good foci for such tasks?

[SpiritTalker]

So if in a ritual circle environment the iron is condensing energy (as it appears) and not absorbing it. I assume its natural grounding properties help deal with any issues of accidental lingering residual untasked energy? (as it has no huge ... no "contained" :~ energetic signature in itself?) .

I had only referred to the pentacle's condensing function in regard to it's position in the center of a (-/+) altar. The iron seemed to intensify that conducting function. It seems that the metal blade also makes a more laser-like beam than a wand does when directing energy as in, for example, casting a circle. I don't think the circle itself as an environment effects the actions of iron, if that was what you meant. What we're missing is that Iron attracts & the pentacle centered on an altar balances & condenses. Add them together & iron intensifies the condensing function of a centrally placed pentacle.

Also, as far as ive had experience with it, Iron does have an energy signature of it's own in that I notice buzzing whenever I'm handling it. I'd say that's a recognizable energy effect common to iron. What's a "signature" but a repeatable effect?

As for iron automatically grounding residual energy ... (?) i don't know if it does. I had said it's probably a good idea to ground residual energy. Maybe if it's guided into the ground like how an early iron lightening rod worked. When I was a kid, we'd had an aluminum siding out-building with an aluminum door. In humid weather, every time anyone touched the door to open it they'd get a substantial static electric shock. My dad fixed it by wrapping a nail at each end of a wire; then attached one end to the door frame by pounding the wrapped nail into it, and burying the nail on the other end 6 inches in the ground. Aluminum is a conductive metal but not magnetic like iron is. The connecting wire (copper) had much to do with grounding the static.

Hmm, that's significant. In trad-craft a staff/Stang is shod with iron or has an iron nail in the bottom end. It would act like a reverse lightening rod; to attract the electrical earth-energy and the wood insulates it away from zapping the Crafter. Then, in theory, it can be imprinted with an instruction & directed on it's way.

It also occurs to me that when it comes to raising energy (cone of power) - creating a "parcel" of tasked energy and releasing it out of the circle it is a good foci for such tasks?

I"'d say iron helps raise the energy because it attracts it. My mind goes back to the iron-shod staff. When I've seen the blue light spiraling up the staff that I'd held with it's foot touching the ground, the light was that intense, electric blue, spiraling around &'upwards. However in comparison, when I ground myself & raise the earth-light to channel thru me without holding any tool, it harmlessly surrounds my hands and clings like smoke until I focus my thoughts, point and push to direct it. Holding an athame makes this easier to do. It's very much still a work in progress.