Earth Whisper Words of wisdom from the Earth

Altars as a Place of Right Relationship and Honouring the Sacred in the Everyday

"For thousands of years we have gathered in circle--around fires, around bodies, around altars-because we can't do this alone." ~ Wayne Muller

There are so many ways to create altars. Altars are a very individual expression of your connection to spirit, the great mystery, ancestors and the earth. There is no right or wrong way to make an altar. They can be large or small, permanent or transitory, in your home and outside on the land. They can be for your personal use, or for use in group and ceremonial work.

Altars are created and used by many people around the world. By indigenous, religious, and many people who have a strong spiritual practice. There is a common experience of creating sacred spaces for prayers to be focused, sent and received to and from the great mystery. Native Americans, Peruvians, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Protestants, Celtic Druids, and many more find sacred objects for sacred spaces, in order to create an altar to speak to Great Spirit, God, Goddess, and the Divine.

Altars are a sanctuary, a sacred space. I see them as a portal, connecting us to the great mystery and the spirit that resides within all things.

An altar space allows us to interact with totems, special meaningful objects, plants, crystals, stones, shells, photos or images of loved ones or teachers, seed pods, candles, incense or sacred herbal smoke, medicines, the elements, our ancestors. They are a place for meditation, daily focus or prayer, ceremony and ritual.

Altars are a microscopic container of the macroscopic biome ~ it’s a living relationship in your home that needs tending, being sure to always feed the spirit of place.

I see my altars as the forest I live in and the lakes, rivers and mountains I was born to. I will always serve these spaces and places, in my heart

EARTH

By Renée McCready Lady Pachamama, Earth Wisdom Keeper

and in my prayers and offerings. I see nature as the temple and Earth as our altar. So when I collect sacred objects together to place in a considered way, I’m honouring through these objects my own physical and spiritual ancestors and also the indigenous ancestors of the land I’m living and breathing upon.

An altar can be right were we are, in an open field, in your parked car, by the river, on a forest walk, in a hotel room, even just for a moment, in its ephemeral creation. Use this sacred space to ground and recalibrate yourself with whatever objects you have on hand, or natural objects you can collect from around you like a rock, seedpod, flower or leaf gathered in a meaningful and respectful manner.

How do I create a personal altar in my home?

There are many ways to set up an altar. My offerings here are from a shamanic and earth wisdom perspective. You can also research other methods, or create your own intuitively.

Firstly, set aside a place in your home that you feel drawn too. It might be in your bedroom on the bedside table, or on the top of a bookshelf in the living room. It might be a window sill or a special table you purchase specifically for this purpose. You can place a piece of beautiful fabric over it, or leave it as is, whatever feels

WHISPER

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most resonant to you.

Next, gather all your objects together. These might be special crystals, rocks, sand, seedpods, leaves, plants or water you have collected from significant places. Feathers you have gathered or been gifted. Plants you have relationships with, photos of ancestors, loved ones, teachers or people of importance. Candles, incense or herbs for clearing purposes. Mala beads, oracle cards, wands, sacred geometry, statues of certain deities or goddesses, plant medicines or anointing oils. The list is endless.

Sit with your objects and take each one cupped in your hands, thanking the object and taking a moment to feel into its meaning, offerings and individual story medicine. Take the object to your mouth and gently and lovingly exchange your breath with it, awakening its spirit and acknowledging its place on your altar. You can then mindfully, with focused intent, begin to arrange certain objects in each placement of the 5 directions to represent the element connected to each one.

Where you sit or stand at the altar is the south, facing you, the element of earth. Place a stone, plant, salt or crystal here to represent this element and direction. water. Place a container or offering bowl for water, a shell or an object that represents this element and direction.

At the top of the altar is the north, the element of air. Place a feather, your incense or sacred herbal smoke, or an object here to represent this element and direction.

To your right, on the altar is the east, the element of fire. Place a candle or some fire ash, something that represents this element and direction.

In the centre, place an object that represents you and your journey at present. It may be mala beads, from your yoga practice, a statue of a goddess you connect with, your favourite crystal you're working with, your main plant ally or some sacred geometry like the flower of life. This is the space of the void, of all and everything, the space of creation, and the great mystery.

Once you have honoured the 5 directions and the 4 elements, and have each represented on your alter, you can place all your other sacred objects intuitively around the altar, also gridding it if this feels powerful with your objects and crystals.

Take your sacred smoke, light it and smoke cleanse your altar and sacred objects. You can sing, chant or say a prayer as you're doing this.

Take some time each day to sit with and interact with your altar. Light your candle to the east, take some sacred smoke, light it and allow the smoke to awaken the spirit of place and each element. Say your prayers, create your intent for you day, speak your manifestations out aloud at your altar. Feed the spirit by making regular offerings of plants and flowers, changing the water, smoke clearing, lighting the candle and sending you breath into the centre, the void space.

Creating an altar and having a mindful practice of prayer, ritual and gratitude helps to design a deeper connection to yourself, the great mystery and the earth. This ancient practice of prayer and altar work anchors your prayers from earth to the great mystery weaving intentions that are the songs of your own heart.

It brings peace with focus through the heart. Try it and discover more about yourself as a sacred creator, a child of the earth, dreaming your world through greater love and heart-centred intentions.