Creating a Sacred Space in Your Home

An altar in your home creates a sacred space for ritual practices that contribute to your health and well-being. You can use your altar space to honor the moon cycles and to tap into their energy. You can use your altar space to show reverence to your ancestors and pay respects to those who have passed away from this life. The point is, the altar is what you make it. The way you design an altar is connected to the ritual or practice you want to engage in, in the space. Here are three basic steps to get you started.

1. Find Space

Identify a quiet area in your living space to set up your altar, it can even be outdoors if you wish. It does not have to be large and expansive. I use a small wooden stool I thrifted from the Goodwill and refinished. You should have a space where you can place items such as candles, gemstones, pillows, photographs, or offerings that contribute to your practice. Make sure to thoroughly clean the space and consider clearing the energy in the area with a sage smudge stick. I try to clean my altar space monthly. You may also want to design the area in a way that affords you the ability to easily change the space based on the practice you want to observe.

2. Think about the Purpose of Your Altar

The purpose of your altar will contribute to its design and the items you choose to place in the space. When I use my altar to set new moon intentions, I think about the energy I want to let in for that time. I use gem stones that are associated with the astrological sign of the cycle. So if it is a Virgo new moon, I will place out amazonite, flourite, and jade. I will usually have a candle to burn and will pick a color that is associated with that intention. Some other functions of an altar space might be to honor your ancestors, to have a space for meditation and prayer, to create a healing space, or to create an energy in your life. Remember that the space is designed to support your own personal ritual practice. As a sacred space, it can be whatever you may need it to be and should reflect whatever you desire to cultivate and grow in your life.

3. Design Your Ritual

I think of the altar as a physical manifestation of the ritual I want to practice. Everyone has their own spiritual routine, and it is a deeply personal practice to create rituals that assist with manifestation, well-being, letting go of something, and the list goes on. Rituals create space for us to grieve, heal, and flourish. Guidance and ideas for creating rituals can come through a variety of sources and texts, it is about what intuitively resonates with you. I like the Sacred Vibes Apothecary Almanac chapter on Restorative Rites as a source of inspiration. The Almanac quotes The Healing Wisdom of Africa, “[r]itual is a tribute to the human capacity to create, remember, and imagine, and to apply that imagination for the benefit of the community.” The chapter also includes information on different herbs and flowers that can be used for ritual purposes.

In creating your own sacred space, consider what you want to focus on and be present with in the moment. Do you want to open your heart? Heal? Give gratitude or praise? These considerations will help you design your space and the rituals you perform. The answers to these questions will help you set up your space and to decide what implements and tools you will need to cultivate your ritual practice.

Tell us about your sacred space in the comments.