Little Altars Everywhere!

The "altar" at the top of my writing desk in my living room

​In the midst of daily life, I gradually noticed that without realizing it, I had created altars throughout my house. I have one special altar that I’ve set up for daily practice, where I do yoga, meditate and read tarot among other rituals. But over time, I have come to see that altars exist all around me, both in my house and in my studio. 
 
What do I mean by daily practice?
The altar where I do daily practice has evolved over time (and I think I have written about it here before.) It is a place to put talismans, keepsakes and objects that have special significance. A talisman is a ritual object believed to carry healing powers-meant to heal, protect and hold meaning for its keeper. It may include writing to amplify its energy, and the materials used are ideally aligned with the talisman’s intention. 
 
Some are objects on the altar were gifts to me and others are items that I have collected over the years-reminders of significant times and places.  
 
My main altar
More recently my approach to this main altar--tucked in a corner of my bedroom, has become more intentional. I’ve identified four animals, sea turtle, lion, hawk and rabbit, as my spirit animals. The sea turtle has been with me the longest, probably as long as I’ve been together with my husband, which is a long time-almost 40 years. In the past, I used to receive gifts of sea turtles in many forms-felted, wood, metal, glass, from family and friends, each who knew how meaningful they are for me. Lately not as much, though I still love them. While these gifts are rarer now, my love for sea turtles remains strong. 
 
My connection to sea turtles began with a powerful dream:
 
In the dream, I come upon a well that has become covered in muck and weeds. Next to it is a pile of handwritten papers, roughly organized and a bit scattered. I begin to look at the papers and as I go down the pile, the pages become typewritten on neater paper. Then as I go lower still, the pages become illustrated pages from an illuminated manuscript. As I read what is written there, I realize that these are instructions to care for the well. The caretaker has died or gone away and has left these words to instruct whoever is meant next to care for the well. It tells of turtles who swim below in the well. The water must be cleaned out so that the turtles can swim freely and safely. I begin to clean out the well. I must be the next caretaker. I know when I wake up that this is a significant dream. 
 
The lion came to me in an active imagination journey and has taken on different meanings over time.  In the 90’s I had a shamanic journey where I saw the four animals as my guides, each representing a season and a direction. Since then, they have appeared consistently, each time in the same arrangement. 
Until recently, I only had the turtle represented on my altar. I didn’t have any representations of lions, hawks or rabbits. Recently I have started to remedy that. I have a cloth lion now and a small pottery hawk, and am waiting for delivery of a cloth rabbit. I have some of my dolls on or near my altars, especially the ones I created last year using black walnuts as heads. However, most of my dolls are in my studio. 

"Altars" in various places throughout my house and studio

​The Informal Altars throughout my Home…
The other altars developed organically. On the top of my writing desk in the living room I have a set of tiny finger puppets on a stand-one of the first playful purchase that my husband and I made together. We’ve both always been drawn to whimsical, playful objects. 
 
Next to these is a tiny village of houses, part of a snail-mail exchange with a group of art therapists. Each of us created enough houses to send one to each participant. 
 
Nearby are two photos of me with my two sisters. One from when we were in our teens, photographed by my father on one of our every-other-weekend visits to him in NYC, after my parents were divorced. We are standing in a courtyard of the Columbia Law School campus, across the street from the apartment where I grew up and where my father was still living. The other was from much more recently-about ten years ago, during a visit to my sister’s house in the suburbs of NYC. Together they form a little village on top of my desk--a tribute to family and home. 
 
I won’t go into as much detail about the other altars throughout my home and studio, including the kitchen, bedroom, living room and even the bathroom. Each hold special energy, aligned with the purpose of the place-creating a feeling of comfort and peace. 

A page in my book of notes from the "Manifest from Beyond" class about altars

A Class on Altars
Last fall I took an on-line class called Manifesting from Beyond, consisting of a series of lectures by various creatives, artists, healers about channeling spirt and creativity. One session--led by Heather Greene--focused on altars. I loved learning how to approach my altars with more intention. 
 
We learned how to consecrate (and deconsecrate) altars, how to work with the directions and elements and how altars can be adapted to the unique demands of our lives. For instance, all you need for a traveling altar can be packed into a cigar box.  
 
Since then, I’ve learned to integrate some of these techniques. I have consecrated some elements of my altar with selenite crystal, and though I haven’t yet purified items for the altar in the full moon (too many cloudy nights!), it’s something I’d like to try. I’ve also learned to adapt to the realities of my space: I can’t use smudge sticks because my husband is allergic, so I have to find alternatives. 
 
There is so much more to learn, especially about crystals and stones and how to integrate their energies into my altar. One resource I’ve found helpful is Altars Made Easy: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Sacred Space, by Peg Streep. My hope is to continue to evolve my altars into truly living spaces.  
 
Altars in nature
Not all altars are created consciously. Simply by stepping into nature you can find them--if you know where to look. A cluster of mushrooms, a circle of stones in the woods or a patch of wildflowers can all feel like altars. On a beach you may find beautiful pebbles, sea glass or wood that has been worn by the elements. I am curious to know what altars you discover or create. Perhaps one day I may offer a workshop on this topic, especially to inspire you to create an environment for the dolls you make. Stay tuned.