Portable Temple Part 4
How To Build Your Own Portable Gnostic Mass Temple
The Super Altar
|
Parts List • 16 2"x2"
construction grade, 17" length Note: the measurements need to be adjusted if you use a different thickness of material. |
The altar itself is simply a six-foot folding table, covered with a fitted red cloth. We use a "butt cloth" on top of the fitted red cloth, where the priestess sits; this makes cleaning after repeated use easier. The cloth covering the super altar is similar to the cloth covering the altar, and is also fitted.
The super altar is constructed in two pieces. The bottom piece is 5 1/2' wide by 1' deep by 1 1/2' tall. The second is 4' wide by 6" deep by 1 1/2' tall. Note that you may wish to assemble the super altar a little shorter, as in our assembly, the Stele of Revealing winds up higher than the shrine assembly, and can look a little awkward from some angles.
To assemble, first take 6 of the 2"x2" members, the one 5 1/2' by 17", and the two 11 1/2" by 17" pieces, and assemble as shown below. The additional two 2"x2" members will be added later, when the top and bottom of the super altar piece are added.
The top of the super altar is assembled similarly, with 6 2"x2" members, the one 4' by 17" ply, and the two 5 1/2" by 17" pieces. Once the sides are assembled, the top and bottom pieces are added, and finally, the last two 2" by 2" members are added.
This leaves the back of the super altar hollow, and can be used for storing small objects during transport and storage.
Setting Up The Altar
The altar and the super altar assembly sits on top of the dais. Below is a side view of the assembly.
First, note the presence of a chain holding the back of the table down to the dais. This is to lend stability to the table. One problem that occurs during the mass is the weight of the priestess tends to tilt the table forward, toppling the super altar. Thus, we sank four eye-hooks, two in the table, and two in the dais, and strung heavy chain between the hooks. This prevents the table from tilting forward when the priestess is seated on the altar.
The second thing we do (and not shown in the diagram above) is use four 2" C clamps. Two hold the top of the super altar to the bottom of the super altar, and two hold the bottom of the super altar to the table. This prevents the entire assembly (with lit candles, no less!) from toppling during the performance of the mass.
Conclusions
Of course there is a lot more to the construction of the portable Gnostic Mass temple setup than just building a bunch of wooden boxes. The props are equally important as well. From the candle holders to the veil material to the butt cloth, all of the pieces that make up the portable Mass setup were graciously donated by the membership of L.V.X. Oasis for use by the Astarte Apophis sanctuary and for use by NOTOCON 2001. Without the hard work and sacrifice of the L.V.X. Oasis membership, as well as the generosity of L.V.X. Oasis itself for providing a significant portion of the funds for construction, the portable Mass temple setup would not have been possible.