How to Create a Spiritual Altar
Spiritual altars are sacred spaces used to pray, meditate, worship, and practice rituals. Practices at the altar can be focused on oneself, another, or a situation.
A spiritual altar can carry many different meanings. You may want to set up an altar in memory of the ancestors who’ve come before you (like I do). Or create an altar dedicated to manifesting money, calling in the love of your life, inspiring creative expression or honor the deities closely aligned with your spiritual journey.
A sill can be a great spot for an altar because you don’t have to build anything, and the shelf will get natural light and energy from both the sun and moon. Now, there’s absolutely no right or wrong way to make an altar window or space. The key is just to let your intuition guide you in choosing what to include.
No matter your focus, to build an altar, you must always include a representation of the four elements — earth , air , fire & water Don't overthink it. Each element can be represented by everyday things you may already have in or around your home.
To represent the earth element, consider food, salt, or soil. Fire can be represented with a candle or by burning incense, sage, or palo santo, and the smoke that is released brings in the air element. A feather can represent this element too. The water element can be beautifully displayed by keeping a bowl or jar of water on your altar.
This is your sacred space to speak with the Divine and/or honor your ancestors, reconnect to yourself, and pray for the well-being of others. So, make it a place you like!
Once the four elements are represented, add other elements or sacred items like pictures, statues, herbs, musical instruments, crystals, tarot cards, a journal, and anything you want to bless or feel connected to.
Some great things to start with:
Crystals - No need to put up your whole collection (unless you feel called to). You should rotate the crystals you work with as you see fit. Maybe you need some throat chakra work and kyanite is calling your name, or you just received a new Selenite plate for charging your favorites that you can’t wait to meditate with.
Candle - Any candle works, but preferably it’s a candle you bought specifically for your altar. Not that the spirits won’t love the smell of your Bath & Body Works Juniper Breeze candle, but the intention rather than the scent is what matters most.
Tarot or Oracle cards - Keep your full deck nearby, but place any cards you’re specifically working with (whether it’s to call in manifestations, or as a visual during meditation) actually on the altar. Again, these will rotate as you feel their specific lesson comes to completion.
Art - Anything you are called to include is considered art. A feather you find on your morning walk, a stained glass piece from a local artist, or chakra wood carvings, are all art that can and should be included in your space. These don’t necessarily have to be ON the altar, but can be used as decoration in the nook or space you’ve chosen as a way to make it your own.
Rugs, tapestries or paintings are also great to create a vibe. I’ll soon be installing a set of colorful lamps I got on my travels in Turkey.
Journal & Pen - I have a special journal for writing Akashic transmissions and any meditation musings or downloads that come through. I like being able to look back on my journey, and purchasing a specific book to write it all in is a process I cherish.
Pillow - You don’t have to sit on a pillow while you’re giving gratitude at your alter, but I’ve found a comfy pillow is helpful during meditation. I even have a second pillow for my back if I’m going to be doing a longer session.
Singing Bowls/Mantra Music - This suggestion is really for any kind of sound bowl or device that will bring you further into meditation. I often put on various Mantras to relax and stop the head chatter. Or I’ll open or close my sacred time with sound as a way to ease back into my day.
Sage or Sustainable Palo Santo - I don’t smudge my space before every session—only when I feel called to clear stagnant energy—but I love the smell of both Sage and Palo Santo even when not lit. It’s important to get your Palo Santo from a sustainable source. Because it has grown in popularity, the wood is being over-harvested in some areas.
