Alter Your Mind With An Altar To Your Heart

So many of us walk around in altered states of consciousness on a daily basis – whether its through alcohol, medication, drugs, ceremonial plant substances or caffeine/sugar overloads – the list is long. Before I go any further, I am not saying don’t take prescribed medications if you have a medical condition. Neither am I saying don’t partake of ceremonial plant-based offerings on auspicious occasions. But there seems to be an overload of ‘special’ ceremonies every other weekend and every time we feel a little low or have a few bad days we need to pop a pill. What I am speaking to today is the throw away and quick fix culture we live with, that if we take something for the symptom or get out of our own minds as often as we can, then we don’t need to deal with reality as it really is. And the false premise that by doing every spiritual workshop and offering under the sun this automatically heals us and makes us ‘all-knowing’ all of a sudden.

It got me thinking how can we alter our state of mind, without turning to substances, foods or plants? The obvious ways through meditation or movement – yoga, running, exercise – all have proven positive effects on our physiology and mental health. But what about those times when we perhaps are not able to get to a class or have an hour to sit and meditate in the ideal environment?

It then becomes even more apparent that we need a space within our homes or offices to alter our perceptions, and what better way than to create a personal altar. An altar allows for an ‘ALTERED’ state of awareness. When we are in the presence of a sacred space, we step out of our daily mundane tasks and mindsets and connect with ourselves and the Divine. We just need to visit a temple, or chapel or even a beautiful forest to know that some spaces speak to the sacred heart within us, and create peace and a safe haven while we are engaged with them.

An altar is a structure upon which offerings are made for spiritual or religious purposes. Our ancestors have built altars from the beginning of time & are found across the world at shrines, temples, churches , natural settings and other places of worship. They provide the space to create rituals, say specific prayers and make offerings from our heart. A place to find peace, to disconnect from our worldly responsibilities for a while. And if we are sincerely praying or meditating in this space with the right intention, then it is amazing how our worldly responsibilities seem to sort themselves out and don’t feel as heavy or overwhelming once we have tuned into our hearts and souls.

There is a lot of info about specific layouts etc if you follow a specific path or religion, please do look into those as there is power in cultural customs and traditions. Perhaps you work with the directions as a basis, the medicine wheel, the Buddhist meditation shrine, ancestral altars, wiccan altars, feng shui based altars – there are many to choose from. There is no right or wrong way to create an altar.

It can also be a nice little creative project for those with time on their hands – building and creating your own little cabinet or shelf, adding your own decorative flairs and fancies. An altar, created with intention, can help build a spiritual centre and be a gateway between the seen and unseen realms which connect you to the rhythms of the natural universe in your own home or environment, without having to go to temples or mountains.

We all already probably have altars in our homes which we don’t even consciously realise is an altar – a collection of statues or collectibles, heirlooms in display cabinets, collections of photographs, candles etc …really anything that has a value and significance can be part of an altar. So, if this is you, with collections and hand me downs, take the time to freshen the space up, keep it clean and neat and even spray a few drops of an essential oil in the air as you pay your respects to where they came from and what they mean to you.

Your intention can be to create a place of worship, a place of peace & tranquillity, a place to pray, a place to honour or commemorate. Since an altar is an external representation of our inner worlds, it can be a place we go to when we need to release something or someone from our lives. When we need to make important decisions.

Place objects of significance and which have meaning for you, add something fresh when /if you can – eg flowers or herbs. Other items such as crystals, shells, trinkets, relics, photos, incense, candles, rocks, oracle cards…allow it be a place of beauty and meaning. Even a simple flower in a vase can be an altar. No need to have an elaborate over-filled space.

It is a very personal space and to be clear you do not worship the altar or the things themselves – they are just an outward manifestation to REMIND you to acknowledge the Divinity within yourself and the world.

Ultimately an altar provides a connection between heaven and earth, human & Divine, a tuning fork extending into the ethers to make our wishes and wills known to our Creator/God /Great Spirit.

So instead of taking long traffic filled trips to weekly ceremonies or waiting for a weekend retreat to connect with yourself and Source, why not create a place to visit every day with no fuss or stress.

Just remember, whether you are burning your incense, lighting your candles, or smoking a peace pipe, that your heart will always be the truest altar of them all.

Nadine

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Nadine is a down to earth writer, speaker, spiritual mentor and advisor & entrepreneur. She is a compassionate claircognizant and part of her purpose is to shift patterns and awaken consciousness by fusing Eastern and Western ancient wisdom teachings from across the globe. She also integrates a diverse range of healing modalities in her sessions, workshops and retreats. Nadine believes just like the seasons we are not static creatures and the very nature of our beings is to continue evolving.

Connect with her at [email protected] or Facebook Page Global Gypsey Events