Monday Meditation – Altars
That word would have made me run a mile in years gone by, before I had worked on my adversity to anything that smacked of religion, but that’s a whole other story.
So altars, what do I mean by that?
I mean a space given over to you, your mediation, creativity, joy and passion. A space you can call your own and personalise with things which bring you pleasure and remind you of what you love.
It can be a shelf , window sill, dressing table top, anywhere that works for you, perhaps it’s outside.
It doesn’t need to be permanent as I have discovered with living on a boat. I have a few stones, a crystal and a candle which I can get out when I need them, I also have personalised my berth by tacking up affirmations, quotes and my achievements list.
I suggest this as I believe it helps set the tone and create an atmosphere conducive to mediation, reflection and contemplation. It is also all about intention; creating a sacred space to honour who we are and what we love and believe in.
At home I try to have fresh flowers which I love and connect me to nature, a little book of daily reflections, and one or two items that are special to me, perhaps a gift from a friend, a card from my child, whatever moves me and reminds me of those I love.
It is your space, do with it whatever is meaningful to you, allow yourself to have this and then use it.
MairiStones
Mairi, this is a good prompt for me as I just don’t have anywhere that is like this… except maybe in my bedroom there’s a wee shelf where I have a candle and some smelly sticks. But it’s not there with intention and I think you are right in saying that that is the difference.
In the kitchen I have a small picture with some Chinese writing and an image of The Kitchen God, and I’ve carried that around for years, it’s hung in every kitchen I’ve used. I need a kitchen god!!
I can feel an altar coming on, can work out what it’s all about later.
Glad to have inspired you to create such a space and you are right you can work it out later, just start with the intention. We all deserve a space even if it is tiny that is dedicated to ourselves.