This week is all about Magic and the purpose that it has in my life. Having a sacred space, is such an important part of my practice. I’ve had an altar of some sort, since I was fifteen and it has always felt like such an important part of my space. Something that I don’t just want, but that I need as well.
Today’s card comes from the Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue and is Nemetona: Sacred Space.
“Your Sacred Space is within you now. By creating an altar or visiting a sacred site, you connect with the symbols and energy that have been infused with meaning and prayer.”
This would be a great time to build an altar in your home, magically cleanse your sacred space, seek healing in a calm, quiet, place, and figure out what spirituality means to you!
Your altar can be anything that you want it to be. If you aren’t familiar with magical practices, an altar might feel like a confusing concept. The easiest way to explain it is that an altar is a special place where you put things that have a spiritual or religious meaning. You might even have one already!
Altars come in many shapes and sizes and purposes. If you are Christian, you might have a special place to keep your bible, statues, and crosses. If you’ve lost someone, you might have a bookshelf dedicated to pictures of them and mementos that remind you of them. Or maybe you just have a special place to pray and meditate.
An altar is any place that you make for yourself, that spiritually nourishes you.
My altars have consisted of flat rocks, set outside in a hidden place. Bookshelves dedicated to my favorite deities. The top of my dresser. The top of an old desk with a wobbly leg. My kitchen counter. An old microwave cart. Two, old, cardboard boxes of the same size, with two sides from an old bookcase laid on top of the boxes to make a flat surface. It lasted for years, and it was perfect! It was just the right size to sit in front of and relax, speak, pray, meditate, and most of all, be cherished, because that’s how it makes me feel.
Currently, my altar is the top of my dresser and a moss-covered stone with an old stump in my backyard.
When I sit at my altar, I feel like I am wrapped in a bubble of awesome. I feel so many things all at once. A lot of it, I can’t even put words to. I feel safe, I feel powerful, I feel in awe as if I am sitting at the base of some huge, majestic mountain, staring up at it, mesmerized. I feel like I am the only person in the world that matters and it feels good. Everyone should be able to feel like that.
I have a challenge for you.
If you don’t have a sacred space in your house, make one today. If you do have an altar, spend a few minutes of your day there. I’d also love you to blog about it, or post a picture on facebook or twitter so that I can see it!
Things to put on your altar:
Pictures
Stones and Crystals
Candles
Statues
Spiritual/Religious books
Mementos
Things from Nature
I really love being able to take a peek into your magical practices and see how you do your thang. Spirituality is so sacred and unique, different to every person. I love seeing the differences and similarities between me and you!
I absolutely love your altar! Before I had the kids I used to have really nice altars. Now I have one confined to one tiny shelf out of reach of little hands. It is on a high bookshelf next to my side of the bed, and the wall there is covered with little inspirational prints (two print outs from this site are there too)! This is the place I call my "Sheldon spot" because no one is allowed to be there but me and its the one place I can try to escape family life (although they do follow me in there a lot). I also have a little cafe table on my front porch that I sneak out to for some moon magick late nights after work. I will try to take some pictures.
I used to have an altar when I lived in Sydney but since moving to the UK and sharing a house, I find it hard to keep everything in my room sacred and lovely. But you've inspired me to look at ways to make my bedroom as sacred as possible, a sanctuary, so thank you :) Also, love Deanna's comment on her Sheldon spot! I'm such a BBT fan, and I totally want to have one of those! :) lol
Your altar is gorgeous & magical!
I sort of have a space where I have my books, and then I have a hanging shelf on my wall that is dedicated to the Goddess Aine. But, I have recently been contemplating expanding my sacred space to a full altar. I just don't know where, because I have a three-year-old son & the only free room we have is what used to be my husband's & my bedroom, which has been transformed into the game room. *lol* At the same time, your post is fueling that thought in the back of my mind that I really & truly want an altar.
Thanks so much for sharing! :)
)O(
I have an altar, but my cat has taken over the space. Love yours, mine isn't nearly as nice…
Like you, I love to look at other people's altars. I had an altar now for over 13 years now. It a place of peace, spirit and self expression. Here's a link to how I had my altar dressed for the Autumn Equinox: http://swanofdreamers.blogspot.com/2012/09/welcome-autumn.html