Once
you have chosen to create a sacred space, the first question is--How do
I begin? Are there guidelines? Rules? What do I need to create my altar
space? There are many questions that you may want or need answers to when
beginning a new endeavor. This page will hopefully provide information,
answers to general questions and give some basic ideas on altars and their
purpose. It is my hope that we understand that altars are not specifically
for one culture, religion, or people. Altars are a universal symbol of
what we create in our life, the gifts we find special in our heart and
the ideas we hold dear.
Items you may choose to place on your altar :
Items can be as simple as an egg or as varied as a chosen Deity.
Chalice-- Holy Grail, fulfillment Holy Ash--from a sacred fire or cremation of a Holy person Medicine Bag--a bundled collection of sacred objects Prayer Beads/Mala/Rosary--use as a focus for your prayers Book or Books--to energize your altar or to read a passage out
of daily Prayer Wheel--Tibetans use this hand held "windmill" to focus Mandala--Sacred geometric design used for focus and aid in meditation
Circle--completion/wholeness Can be made of anything you hold dear
Cross--In Christianity symbolizes the intersection of heaven and
earth Egg--new beginnings, regeneration Feather--unity with Creator, also used in smudging rituals Pentagram--five pointed star of harmony and balance Star--symbolizes the heavens, great attainment Pyramid--symbolizes revelations, ancient mysteries Triangle--symbolizes the divine trinity or path toward higher union
Key--used as a symbol of opening inner realms Picture--placing a picture of something dear to you symbolizes
your heart Statue--many altars contain a statue of a chosen deity for focus
and love
Deities
Denise Linn in her best selling book, Altars states, "..Welcoming
the energy of the deities of the past can sometimes fill a need not addressed
by the religious system of our times. A figurine or a painting or drawing
of the deity can be p laced on your altar as a reminder of the qualities
that the deity represents. For example, a figurine of Chinese Kuan Yin
usually represents compassion and the nurturing mother..." Some
deities are listed to the right, this of course is only a small sampling
of the deities that are in existence.
Buddha -- purveyor of compassion Confucious--wise teacher Kuan Yin (Quan Yin)--goddess of compassion, nurturing mother
Jesus (Christian)--the savior St. Christopher (Christian)--patron saint of travelers Virgin Mary (Christian)-compassionate mother Horus (Egyptian)--Sky god and hero Isis (Egyptian)--mother goddess, inner feminine mysteries Osiris (Egyptian)--powerful fertility god Athena ( Greek) --goddess of wisdom Zeus (Greek)--king of the gods Durga (Hindu)--mother goddess Ganesha (Hindu)--helps to overcome all obstacles Krishna (Hindu)--Incarnation of Vishnu (The supreme being) Shiva (Hindu)--god of destruction which insures rebirth Odin (Norse)--god of wisdom and war Freya (Norse)--goddess of fertility and birth Minerva (Roman)--goddess of wisdom
Offering Suggestions
An offering on your altar signifies your gift to the Universe. Each
culture has a variety of offerings which can be utilized. A few suggestions
are shared here. A copper bowl as the one depicted below, can be used
as a container to place your offerings.
. Ashes --represent purification and regeneration Corn--in many cultures represents harvest and abundance Flowers--one of my favorites which represents an emblem of the
Divine Fruit-- symbolizes the feminine spirit and harvest Grain--symbols of prosperity and renewal Rice--represents good fortune Salt--symbols of purification and resurrection Tobacco--symbolizes a connection to the spirit world Water-- a representation of cleansing and spiritual attunement
Wine--symbols of the blood of life, eternal life
Colors and their meanings
Whether you burn candles as part of your ritual or lay cloth on your
altar, color does play a role in the creation of your sacred space.
Listed here are some basic colors and what they represent.
Black --Introspection Blue--relaxation, meditation, peace, also represents the
5th Chakra Green--healing and balance, also represents the 4th Chakra Orange--happiness, socializing, also represents the 2nd Chakra
Pink--love, softness, also represents the 8th Chakra Purple--royal, intuition, in most cases, represents the 6th Chakra
Red--stimulating, activating, passion, also represents the root
or 1st Chakra White--purity, in most cases represents the crown or 7th Chakra
Yellow--wisdom, communication and represents the 3rd Chakra
