Many people enjoy setting up a small space in their home to honor an event, a person, or anything upon which they want to focus. The term “altar” traditionally brings up religious connotations, but many people use this term to label their home’s small sacred space.
Most people create one of these spaces after feeling compelled to emphasize one part of their lives. It might be after losing a loved one and wanting to honor their memory, or a parent celebrating a child with their photos, awards, or mementos.
I have several small sacred spaces around my home. One is fairly static, a calm corner that reflects my love of nature and includes a carving of Saint Frances (the patron saint of animals), a live plant, and a painting of nature.
Another is a blessing corner for people in my life who are struggling with something such as a death, a lost job, or health issues. My intention is to give energy and strength that may help them get past their challenge and experience the silver lining in their dark cloud. I write supportive things on slips of paper and collect them in a handmade cup; then I send blessings to individuals as well as everyone in the cup.
If you decide to create a small sacred space, location is key. Do you want it in a high-traffic area exposed to family and friends, or would you rather keep it more private, maybe in a meditation space or your bedroom?
Unused corners are excellent choices since they tend to be more private, and the positive energy can help uplift the character and energy of the room.
I kept a bubbling fish tank in my home for several decades. After deciding to remove it rather than replace it, I noticed a lack of energy in that space. To cure this, I added the Saint Frances corner to the former fish tank spot. Now the live plant and other items add life to the space without the high maintenance and expense, and it reminds me to feel grounded in nature.
Family members are popular; you can add photos, awards, baby shoes, or any other items that remind you of your family.
Want to revel in an upcoming wedding? Set good intentions by displaying items that will be used for the occasion like invitations, cards from family and friends, and even wrapped gifts. Make it a delightful space that can heighten your excitement about this upcoming event.
Some people create a true altar, perhaps with an urn of a loved one’s ashes with photos and things representing what their loved one cherished. A cross or other religious items might work well with a commemorative altar.
To help make a dream event become real, set up a space to help make it part of your reality. If you want to own your first house, collect pictures of homes you like and arrange them in a space so you can see them and focus on your goal. You might want to include a budget for saving your nest egg and representational items such as house keys and paint samples. The more a dream feels real, the faster it materializes.
