An altar is a sacred space upon which one can wholeheartedly express themselves. It’s a gathering & intentional placement of treasured objects like crystals, smudge bundles, tarot cards, photos, totems, instruments, etc. It’s a space one can go to find center, to create ceremony, to meditate. It’s a physical temple space & also one we carry within wherever we go. It’s a beautifully set kitchen table with abundant offerings of nourishment. It’s the wild Nature found on a mountaintop, warm beach, or steady stream. It’s a space to honor ancestors, plant or animal allies, the four elements & cardinal directions.
Today my altar sits upon a Shipibo woven tapestry from Peru. It includes four singing bowls & a daily oracle card. There’s lavender, rapé, bear/osha root, and birch bark surrounding a small glass of water. Homemade smudge sticks of sage, cedar, palo santo, and sweet grass rest in an abalone shell. And various crystals are sprinkled in anywhere they fit.
— To create your own altar, simply begin with what you have.
– Grab a pretty mat or scarf & place it somewhere safe & quiet like a side table or dresser or even on the floor of a yoga/meditation space.
– Gather up any precious items you love – maybe things you’ve found in nature like rocks or feathers or shells, instruments, statuettes, candles, incense, cards or photos. It’s common to have a totem to represent each of the four elements (fire, water, air, earth).
– Cleanse the area regularly with dried herbs & place your special objects in a way that looks nice & feels good to you.
– Feel free to add or remove any objects as you wish, changing according to season, moon, or specific intention. And be sure to spend time here daily to acknowledge what is sacred to & within you.
Wild Altar 