A Sacred Altar
By Amanda Collins
Saving space for sacred spirituality.
An altar invites us to reconnect with the deepest parts of ourselves, for an altar is a window to the Divine. It opens the channels of communication to the world of Spirit. An altar offers us a space where we can ask for guidance and strength, express gratitude, tap our inner magic, set intentions, offer blessings and meditate. By creating an altar, we connect the physical and the spiritual worlds. A home altar is not a necessity but it can remind us to connect with Source throughout the day.
Locating your altar
Find a space in your home that is private and where you will be comfortable spending time each day. You can place it in a meditation or yoga room, but I do not recommend placing it in the bedroom for this is the place for rest and romance. If it must go in the bedroom, place a screen around to give the altar its own space.
If your home has no private area, your altar can be placed in a special cabinet that can be enclosed. Your garden could also become the site for your altar, thus inviting you outdoors to spend more time with Mother Earth. While sitting at your altar, it is best to face East, the direction of the sun’s rise, which signals new beginnings.
Creating your altar
Set an intention as to the purpose of the altar. It may be for connecting with your higher self, for abundance, love or healing, or it may be related to all of the above. As you create your altar, keep in mind the left side is the feminine side, the receiving side, and the right is the masculine and the giving.
If you love to travel and enjoy the comfort of having some of your sacred items with you, you can also create a traveling altar. Simply pack up a few ritual items in a small bag. You can also create an altar as you travel by adding special things that you find on your journey such as rocks, feathers, leaves, and tokens you purchase.
What to include
When assembling items for your altar, consider a table and table cloth, spiritually symbolic items, candles, charms, incense, a magic wand, sacred texts or pictures that inspire you and perhaps oracle cards to draw from when you are looking for guidance.
Including the elements in your altar
- For Earth: crystals, stones, sand, dirt from a site sacred to you.
- For Wood: flowers, greens.
- For Metal: metal items such as a statue, singing bowl, bells.
- For Fire: a candle or incense.
- For Water: purified water, blessed water in a bowl.
- For Air: incense, sage or sweetgrass, a feather.
Remember not to overcrowd the altar as this can create a cluttered mind, just as an altar that is too bare can represent a lack in your life.
To keep the vibration high and clear on your altar, include only items that you love and that feel in alignment with you. Changing the arrangement of items weekly and adding fresh flowers will keep the energy flowing.
Dust and wipe down the area around your altar, and use fresh candles, for burnt out candles could reflect that your energy feels that way in your life. Light your candles, incense or sage regularly to keep the passion alive and flowing in your life as you visit your altar daily—and with love.
Amanda Collins, Founder of the International Feng Shui School
The Feng Shui Certification training will be in Ireland May 2014
www.InternationalFengShuiSchool.com
