Alters: A sacred Space
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Do You Have an Altar?
Many people have personal altars and don't even realize it. For instance, if someone is Catholic and keeps a small table with crucifix, bible, statue of Mary, a catholic candle, a rosary and a picture or two of dearly departeds - this would be considered a personal altar.
Or if you're native american and have a small table with a peace pipe, some leather, a feather or beautiful stone, a dream-catcher perhaps, any native american artifacts and whatnot this also would be considered a personal altar.
Do you have something like this? I'll bet you never thought of it as your altar before but you probably spend a little time each day either paying it some attention or keeping it looking nice or even using the tools on it (a rosary is a tool for example).
If you wish to build an altar as a way to focus your thoughts and personal energy or a place to meditate near or just because you have started amassing a bunch of stuff you use in your spiritual practice that are scattered about the house but feel might be more ordered and helpful for you to see everything at once or purely as inspiration, i have a few tips for you on how to design an altar.
Traditionally earthen objects/elements and symbols like pentagrams or crosses or stones (there's some variation here owing to color), things related to winter such as a piece of fur belong in the Northern quadrant of the altar. While air elements such as feathers, swards/blades and incense and anything associated with intellectual pursuits or intuition (tarot cards, pendulums) or spring belong at the Eastern quadrant where the sun rises. Fire elements such as wands anything to do with passion or power such as things shaped in hearts or talismans having to do with attracting the opposite sex or anything to do with sex at all or conversely anything to do with warrior arts like nun-chuks belong here (blades and swords can go here or traditionally they go in the East because they are associated with decision-making) also symbols of summer such as sunflowers belong in the Southern quadrant. And, finally, water elements such as literal bowls/cups/mugs/steins or fountains, crystal balls or vials of holy water and mirrors plus anything to do with the setting sun or the moon belong in the Western quadrant. The full moon is associated with North, the waning moon with East, the new moon/dark moon with the South and the waxing moon with the West.
If you're unsure where something belongs think this way - if it's color is brown or green or black or also if it is a life symbol or death symbol or has to do with winter it belongs in the Northern quadrant. If it's yellow or light orange or has to do with things like intelligence or intuition or spring it would go in the Eastern quadrant. If it is red, orangish red or pink or if it has to do with love or passion of any kind, including sex or summer it goes in the Southern quadrant. And finally if it is blue, purple, lavender or if it has to do with emotions or fall it belongs in the Western quadrant.
Now there are things you might not know where they go - i'll give you some examples and hopefully that will help you decide. I have a huge pin - the kind you would use to tie a diaper - that would go in the Northern quadrant (life), i have a flute - Eastern quadrant (air), i have some little pewter warriors - Southern quadrant (passion/power), i have a a large brass key that belongs in the Eastern quadrant - knowledge/intelligence, i have a pewter mug, that along with any vessel belongs in the Western quadrant. Silver goes West or North and gold goes East or South (the reasons are myriad, controversial and a bit confusing as to which scheme is best E/W or N/S). Also here's where stones and crystals may differ. If you have a large amethyst crystal wand even though it is a stone (north) and it is purple (west) it would go in the south because that's where power lies because it's primary function is as a wand and the colors and material are of secondary importance. Stones or crystals that are of predominantly one color should go in with the colors of each quadrant or all in the northern quadrant. A pipe is a kind of up in the air thing, while it has mostly to do with intuition and intelligence and obviously air it should go on the right - Eastern quadrant - but it is a spiritually neutral tool so it could go center stage and finally if it is something that you use often then i would put it in the South for fire and because it gives heat and is a stimulant. Also it is helpful if your altar faces North because it's easy to think up - North, down - South, right - East and left -West, but it really doesn't have any spiritual importance unless your particular tradition specifies it face a certain direction. You can do one of two things - either follow the N/E/S/W schematic no matter which direction the altar is facing (this is what I do) or if it feels more authentic change the scheme to go with the correct direction. (So if facing East it would go up/East, right/South, down/West and left/North.)
Now there are things that have to do with spirituality that are neutral such as salt or sage or other items to smudge such as essential oils, the color white or something that is both white and black like a ying-yang symbol or if you want a white candle and a black candle together these would all go in the center (otherwise arrange candles according to color as i mentioned the colors of each quadrant). Also pictures would be center (although i would just arrange these as how well they go aesthetically around the altar). Anything that you relate as strongly spiritual only would go center, like angels for instance.
Now that is all based on typical western-based age old spiritual traditions and archetypes. You might be more interested in Eastern and it would go in a 5 pointed star with the top of the altar being fire then going round the star to the right you get earth, metal, water and wood. Otherwise the associations are very similar but not exactly the same. I like the Western version because it focuses on four seasons and although my spiritual beliefs tend to have a more Eastern flavor i enjoy the Weatern ancient symbols because that is what i and i imagine most people reading this (but by no means all) grew up with and tend to think in terms of.
Finally, there is something to be said for aesthetics alone!! If something doesn't look right or looks out of place or is not appealing to the eye in it's "correct" quadrant it matters very little if you put it elsewhere - this is just a guide on how to get started so let your intuition and sense of flair be your guide. I really enjoy altars mostly because it gives that space of my house a sacred feel to it but also because i can light a candle and some incense and meditate near it. It's a nice conversation piece if you feel comfortable sharing it with others. Depending on the people in your life you may want to keep the altar to yourself and put it in a cabinet for instance and in that case i would follow the schematic exactly because you'll know right off where what you're looking for will be located. ( I assemble and reassemble my altar all the time based on new additions and how i'm feeling - also for spring i put pastel candles in each quadrant - North - pastel green, East - pastel yellow, South - pink and West - pastel blue - eggs would go north for new life, east for spring or south for fertility depending on how it looks aesthetically, also I arrange flowers here and there that are seasonal but strictly speaking they go by color arrangement in each quadrant or all in the North or center).
So in conclusion, it is most pleasant to have your own personal altar to do any "work" from and/or to pray/meditate near. It is also beautiful not just practical and pleasing to the eye. It is a good way to keep from losing things or forgetting where things are. And it designates at least a small part of your house as sacred. It is your own little place of peace and harmony. I put a pretty rug in front of mine and have pillows to sit on to meditate near it. It is your own way of honoring the divine in your home. I highly recommend taking the time to make one - i think you'll be pleased with the results.
Blessings to you!!