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
.
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.
Our ninth sign in the zodiac is Sagittarius, the sign of the Archer. This is the half human and half horse centaur of mythology. He is represented by the glyph of bow and arrow, reflecting Sagittarius is brave and adventurous, always on the move. This is a forward looking and vision oriented sign than doesn’t tend to dwell on the past. In general, Sagittarians are generous, outgoing, optimistic, and have a great sense of humor. They love to travel and enjoy the company of other people, with the chance to learn different perspectives. Open minded and curious, Sagittarius is a great explorer often delving curiously into different cultures and philosophies.
This new moon in Sagittarius invites us to let go of old outdated beliefs and mind sets. We must always be our own best compass and use discernment to detect when a habit has outlived its usefulness. Only then can we choose, consciously the way forward that will best ensure our evolutionary progress.
The journey into the underworld is what Scorpio is all about. This journey is symbolized for us in the mythical tale of Hercules. In this ancient legend, we have the story of this “man-god” who faces twelve challenges as he seeks to elevate his
As the ruler of Scorpio, this is an ideal time to introduce the planet Pluto. Since I began my study of Astrology I have heard a great deal about this planet, including warnings about its power from well-meaning Astrologers. “His energy is not to be ignored”, and he “is truly a force that commands respect”, are phrases that I have come to understand and appreciate. Recently, I attended a conference where discussions of Pluto factored large, mainly as a result of upcoming transits relative to the Chart of the USA, amplified as a result of events surrounding the recent election and its results. I believe those of us in the Astrological community will continue to observe the effects of this powerful energy and discuss the implications for many years to come.
We are all a part of a glorious whole that has lost its sense of interconnectedness. Beyond the political rhetoric lies a loving place of heart and compassion, one of unity. It is only from that place that we can begin to bridge the divide and find a way to the bright future that awaits us. The underlying cause of our deep divide is the foundational truth that we are all afraid. We must remember that the frightened right is not our enemy and they are as afraid as we are. We are all struggling to find steady footing in a dramatically changing social, economic, and environmental landscape as we emerge into a new consciousness. When we recognize that fear (the opposite of love) is the true energy of the divide, we can begin to bridge our differences with energy of loving connection (opposite of fear).
This new moon in Scorpio finds us entertaining the energies of Scorpio, who loves nothing better than the mystery, the unknown, the darkness. She moves in like a detective, ready to unveil all that is hidden and secretive, that which is below the surface. She will not rest until she discovers the deepest, underlying message beneath all the subterfuge.