image credit Clifton John Galasinao
Creating an Altar or Sacred Space
Creating and maintaining an altar can be a simple and effective way of shifting our focus from an outer world of doing to an inner world of being. An altar is any surface or area dedicated as sacred space that provides for a focus of spiritual intention. An altar doesn’t need to be fancy or ornate. Simplicity can actually help you to create focused intention.
Our intention for Soul Bridging is to create a place of rest, replenishment, delight, and discovery – in that way Soul Bridging itself could be considered an altar for Michelle and I. We carefully choose what contributes to it, in order that it holds the highest vibration possible. Through the energy of our intention we support connection, both for you internally through your personal work, but also through connection to wonderful and ordinary people doing soul work in the world.
Michelle and I want to share our personal altars with you in hopes that you will do the same. Let’s start a conversation about how we create sacred space in our everyday lives!
Michelle’s Altar
I have several altars in my home. Each of them hold sacred space that always reminds and calls me to remember who I am, and who I am called to be.
The altar in my creative workspace has a cloth from my Grandmother which represents all my ancestors. Placed on the cloth are two clay pieces; one, a woman representing the Divine Feminine and the other, a hand representing the Divine Masculine. Between them is a small basket that holds small gemstones that I use to offer prayers and intentions. I am committed to uniting these two energies within me.
Behind the cloth is a braid of sweet grass. Said to be the hair of Mother Earth, it is made of three braided strands representing love, kindness, and honesty, known by some as walking the Beauty Way. With the sweet grass is a sage stick. Sage medicine purifies and dispels negative energy. Quan Yin, the Goddess of Compassion, is to the left and she holds the door of compassion open always for me. On the right is a horse , a very important energy in my life – my journey with the horse invites me deeper into self discovery around true power, presence, friendship, and an indescribable love. Above my altar space I have placed my drum. It represents a renewed connection to rhythm and relationship that transports me in to greater connection to all that is.
My candles represent Spirit and serve as a reminder of my eternal connection to the light, as well as my commitment to continue to transform my darkness and bring the light to those places.
May you be inspired to create your own altar.
With love, depth, and beauty;
Michelle
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Therese’s Altar
My altar space is a very simple table in my workspace at home. A statue of Quan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is seated on a violet silk cloth with a candle behind her. Violet is the energy of bringing heaven to earth, and the candle is symbolic for bringing light into the world. Quan Yin carries the divine feminine (Sophia) energy of wisdom and loving kindness. I chose her to be the centerpiece of my alter to support me in being kind. I have a quick nature and this can be experienced by others as abruptness and impatience. Quan Yin’s presence serves as a reminder for me that I must always work through compassion and kindness to bring light into the world. Beneath the silk cloth and the alter are crystals that I sometimes use during meditation.
Next to the alter is my meditation space and burning bowl. During times of anxiety or stress, I will write my worries, fears, or unfulfilled hopes on a small piece of paper and place it in the bowl. When I am ready to let it go, I take the bowl outside and release them with fire.
We hope you will share your altar story. Sacred practices inspire others and your story may inspire someone else to make room for the sacred in their lives.
Love, light, and blessings;
Therese
Create Your Own Altar
A personal altar can be very easy to create. Choose a quiet space – a table, shelf, room, or even an area in nature will do. As you establish your altar space, it is important to set an intention that the space will be used to hold the energy of the divine. Light a candle, or burn incense to sanctify the energy of the space. As you select objects for your altar, choose meaningful items that represent, for you, your focused intention. They will serve as a regular reminder of what you are attempting to accent in your life. You may choose to cover your altar with a cloth, select a color or texture to the cloth that is symbolic or representative of intention. As you place the objects on your alter, focus your intention and infuse them with the power of your thoughts. Don’t be afraid to change your altar items over time. When new changes and challenges present, bring them to the altar for focused intention and inspiration.
The new moon/solar eclipse in Pisces occurs at 6:58am PST, on Sunday, February 26th. New moons occur when the Sun and Moon are sitting right next to each other in the sky, intensifying the energies of those two planets. Usually new moons represent new beginnings, a fresh start, but since this is the last of the current series of eclipses in Pisces and Pisces is also the last sign of the Zodiac, it can also signify endings. Since this eclipse also occurs in the South Node, symbolizing the past, we may be dealing with old outmoded behaviors or the lower octave of Pisces. These include patterns of defeatism, escapism, idealism and a tendency to sacrifice oneself in service to others. Where in your life might these patterns be manifesting and how can you begin to let them go? In this particular new moon we have 7 points that are in the sign of Pisces. This is a lot of Piscean energy to deal with. We are plunged into the watery sea of emotional feelings and sensitivities between the conscious and unconscious. We must venture into the darkness to recognize and release that which is in need of healing. Our bravest [...]
Nature is the vastness that exhilarates and frightens us. We sense that there is so much more than meets the eye – a mystery so fathomless we hide from it, fearing for the safety of body and soul. We dominate and control that which we do not understand. We strip Nature of her resources, use her up even as she gives and gives, dominate her by “right,” take without thought or thanks, lost in the delusion that we are different, separate from her, better than her. It is time we wake to the Dream! We are part of Nature. Her breath is our breath; her pain is our pain. Our Spirits flow together down hidden paths, gossamer strands of energy link us one to another. The deer and the bear are my brothers. Water is my life’s blood. I am the hawk, and the hawk is me. All That Is reflects my soul back to me in a myriad of ways.
Pisces signifies the end of a phase and synthesizes the characteristics of the preceding eleven signs. As a water sign, Pisces has an emotional or strong feeling quality to it. This sensitivity can show up in one of two ways. There are those who keep a great deal hidden inside, perhaps focused on their inner journey or intent on maintaining their privacy. These folks are often perceived as shy and reticent since, for them, things percolate and are reflected upon below the surface. Yet there are others ...
It’s the stories that cause the trouble. Actually it’s a combination of lousy stories, plus resistance to what is happening that causes me misery – that causes me to suffer. Case in point. I notice sensation in my throat. Here’s what happens next. [First the story] “Oh no – this feels like the beginning of a cold.” [Now the resistance] “This can’t be happening.” [More story]
Aquarius is a sign that frequently suggests something “future oriented” or visionary, perhaps even idealistic. I’ve often wondered whether people like John Lennon are actually a little ahead of their time. They seem to think and act differently from the masses, and stand out as being unusual or rebellious. This quality is so firmly rooted in some people that they have very little concern about acceptance. Their beliefs are so deep that their reality, or vision of what could be, is not a question for them. They simply have the need...
The world is always speaking to you if you choose to listen deeply. The Universe is offering us signs and messages. It is those special moments, when we are captured by the wash of colour in the sky, by the chatter of the birds in our backyard, or by a feather floating to the ground at our feet. It is when an animal shows up in your life in an unexpected way. Perhaps a Pine Marten crosses your path, or you see an image of the same animal multiple times over a short period, or you may see an animal behaving in an unusual way. It is these moments that carry the magic and the message, information that can guide us on our road and open new paths of awareness.